Welcome to the Future

Currently buying a house

Colossians 3:1–17 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Hoarding has helped us

Hoarder Illustration

Colossians 3:1–4 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Sometimes we’re spiritual hoarders!

Last message in series

Next is ADVENT!

So far we learned

5 things about Jesus:

He is fully God

He is fully man

He is the Creator

He is the Head of the Church

He is our Savior

As a result, we get to suffer for Christ

5 things about suffering:

All suffering is not equal

Suffering is better in community

Suffering prepares us

Suffering is to be expected

Suffering is a reason to rejoice

5 things that creep into our culture

Intellectualism

Scientist think the universe is smart now...

Ritualism

Legalism

Mysticism

Asceticism

Today is about the end game

Colossians 3:1–4 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1–4 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

People live according to what they believe.

I believe this stool can hold me, so I will sit. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t.

If you believe Christ has risen, you should be changed

Why Kirby salesman vacuum your floor

The only reason you can seek heavenly things is because Christ is risen

We believe we are “raised with Christ?” What does that mean?

Resurrection is a key to our faith

1. Proof of Messiah

2. Prophetic of our raising

3. Empowering our works in life

The message so far is “Being a disciple is hard”

Last 2 weeks - all road blocks

Now Paul tells us how to cope

Don’t think about this world, think about that one

How bad I wanted a tree house, now I don’t care. I want a Bible house.

When you get to heaven, you won’t care about your house here either

Right now we are children, but someday we will have proper desire

Live today as you will one day live forever with Christ

Note, you will NEVER do this perfectly in this life

First we have to kill the old self

Colossians 3:5–7 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

Colossians 3:5–10 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Nekrosate (nek-row-saw-tae) – means to kill completely

Suppression is not enough, it must die

Adam Clarke - "To gratify any sensual appetite is to give it the very food and nourishment by which it lives, thrives, and is active."

Sin is a Gremlin

Phinehas (fin-aye-us) in (24,000)

It wasn’t to have things his way, but to make people listen to God

The plague stopped instantly to show how important righteousness is to God

What we’re not supposed to do with sin:

Rationalize - like an alcoholic saying drinking isn’t a sin

Experiment - like just a little inappropriate touching

Take risks – like engaging the opposite sex because “your marriage is strong”

BTW never say you would never cheat – everyone can!

That’s why you keep barriers in place

Accept – like being proud to lie their way through a situation

Paul gives specific sins in a list to avoid (Back to passage)

Not because God makes rules, but because He has a complete view of the consequences

No running on the blacktop!

God makes rules with good reasons

Many have seen this type of illustration before

Air represents sin, ping pong balls hold air

Label ping pong balls

1. Fornication – sex outside marriage

Ping pong

2. Uncleanness (impurity) – which is the same concept but applies to all sin

Ping pong

3. Passion (lust) - intense or unrestrained sexual craving

Ping pong

Paul talks about sexual sin more than any other sin

It is a special kind of sin

1 Corinthians 6:18–20 ESV

18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Sex is one of Satan’s favorite weapons for a reason

No one is born into alcoholism or drug addiction

Everyone is born with sexual desire

If left unchecked, it will ruin your life!

How to say fornication in Greek: porneia Sound familiar?!

That where we get pornography, which appeals to our lust as well

This is something that is an epidemic!

Overall, porn is an epidemic and I’m not afraid to say it

Sex industry is roughly twice the NFL, NBA, and NFL revenue (more than $50 billion)

But less than $1.8 billion is for videos (less than 4%), so how is it an epidemic?

There’s no money in videos because it’s free!

12% of websites are porn, with 68 millions searches per day

Old people say “I don’t get technology so I’m safe,” but what about the next generation?

Take the most secure Smartphone in here and any teenager can find you free porn right now

It just gets worse and worse over time

Sin will affect your children! (, )

This is something we cannot be a part of as Christians!

Sex was meant to be a sacred thing

“But is it a sin...?”

: But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:27–28 ESV

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Something ONLY to be shared by a man and woman within a marriage

4. Evil Desires – Desires lead to deeds so focus on the good

Ping pong

2. Greed which is idolatry – Interesting that he chose to link this one sin to idolatry

5. Greed which is idolatry – Interesting that he chose to link this one sin to idolatry

Ping pong

Because Money and the desire for stuff will become your God

As humans we once walked this path, but as Christians we are called to abandon it

Felling called to ministry

Number reason they don’t? MONEY!

Now Paul goes from the big stuff to the small stuff

Christians have a reputation for judging the big sins, and ignoring the little ones

Maybe you’re a master at maintaining the big ones but slipping the little ones

If you got through that last section, it’s about to get A LOT harder!

Colossians 3:8 ESV

8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Colossians 3:8–11 ESV

8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Anger, wrath and malice work together

Ping pong ball

Anger is the personal, inward attitude of hatred that is bottled and builds pressure

Wrath is what comes bursting out in rage of uncontrolled display

Malice is the desire to see or create misery in others

Today we call that “ANGER ISSUES”

Dan Howard at Costco

That’s not a part of the Christian life

Slander - Ruining another person’s reputation with lies, gossip and rumors

Ruining another person’s reputation with lies, gossip and rumors

Ping pong ball

Filthy language – swearing or sexual innuendo

Ping pong ball

Some people say they like to swear because it gets their point across

I think it shows a lack of intelligence and vocabulary

Lying – wrecks unity by destroying trust

Ping pong ball

Tasha HATES lying – I can’t even lie to her (student loan call with Javier)

You might think small sins are the microscopic dirt that doesn’t need to be cleaned

I say it’s the last part of the root of a weed and that’s how the big sins can grow back

You have to “put off the old man.”

Lifepoint magnet and driving

Response: that’s why I don’t put cross on my car!

I think we live our lives that way “Can’t get rid of the sin so I won’t preach”

Put off the old man or woman!

What do these have in common (slander, language, lying…)?

They are done with WORDS

Uncle Mike was a remarkable man

Had a heart attack/stroke

Suffers from ephaysia

They say Uncle Mike is still in there but...

Now he sits off by himself quietly

There is nothing more he would like now that his words

Why? They’re powerful things!

James 3:4–5 ESV

4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

James 3:4 ESV

4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.

I have a dream, four score, that’s one small step...

As Christians we must use our most powerful tools for good

FOR ALL SINS...

Why can’t we keep it? Why would you want to?!

You are a new creation, let go of the sinful, flesh ridden past

I’m in college, I never finger-painted, took a spelling test or ate paste

If you’re a believer and plan to work on your sin someday, today is the day

And don’t think you’ll be finished any time soon!

HOW DO WE GET RID OF THEM

The old must be replaced

Colossians 3:12–17 ESV

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:12–13 ESV

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Colossians 3:12–15 ESV

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Best measure of Christian life, how they treat people

gdb

How to remove sin from your life

Compassion

Water Cup

Matthew 8:1–3 ESV

1 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Luke 5:12–14 ESV

12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

two blind men are by a road as Jesus passes

“Lord, Son of David have mercy on us.”

Told to be quiet but they yell louder

Jesus says, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“We want our sight.”

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes

There’s a key to compassion in that story

Jesus says, “What do you want me to do for you” and He does it

He seeks a need and responds - That’s compassion

2. Kindness

Water Cup

chrestotes - same word as “My yoke is EASY”

Means that the needs of your neighbor are as important to you as your own

3. Humility

Water Cup

What separates people? PRIDE!

Pride is that thing that makes you want to be better

Makes you want to win

But as you do, it builds walls between you and people

I’m here, you stay over there...

4. Meekness

Water Cup

Meekness is not weakness...

It’s the ability to show grace

To say, here you go first

That plays into this one

Driving back from Mexico

I let a guy in, no one would let me back in

Wait for the next one

Are you okay with going second? You should be!

5. Patience

Water Cup

That’s a scary one

Driving back from Mexico

Don’t pray for patience!

I let a guy in, no one would let me back in

Wait for the next one

Patience is a virtue that carries a lot of wait

Pastor’s male parrot - Let’s pray, let’s pray

Are you okay with going second? You should be!

Deacon’s female parrot - Let’s kiss, let’s kiss

Thank you Lord, my prayer’s been answered

Lesson, if I keep telling jokes like that you’re going to need patience

6. Forgiveness

Water Cup

Forgiveness is the most important gift you can give

And that’s because it’s the one that best resembles Christ

Jesus says, “So you must also do!”

Hope you’re not asking for it to be easier...

People ask for prayer - help me to forgive them

This is a COMMAND - you have the power to do it!

There’s a secret here… these all have to do with RELATIONSHIPS!

Problem is we’re imperfect vessels

Someday we will be in this state permanently

But now we have human flesh

Let’s call it a faulty container

Puncture container

We can’t contain our perfection so we’re constantly letting sin back in

To fight this, we have to keep filling ourselves with good things

col 3:

Colossians 3:14–17 ESV

14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:16–17 ESV

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Paul has been saying, let go of the sin tied to the old man

Cling to the good things of the new

Not perfect

But it’s a picture of how we’ll be FOREVER with Christ!

Every time someone does something kind - picture of heaven

Every time someone says something nice - picture of heaven

Every time someone forgives - picture of heaven

All about gratitude

Jan Grzebski was hit by a train in 1988

Woke up in 2007

The world had changed

In 1988, Poland was communist

Lines at gas station

Food was rationed

Now in 2007, Poland was free

Said, so man goods in shops it makes my head spin

“What amazes me is all these people who walk around with their mobile phones and yet they never stop moaning."

He woke up in a great new world, but everyone just complains...

We were once dead in sin

Now we have a chance for salvation and hope

Shouldn’t we be thankful!?

Welcome to the Future

Introduction

Recap

Recap

Challenge:

Don’t Do That!

Do This Instead!

Closing