Sermon Tone Analysis

As we look at our world today, it would seem that it’s just gone crazy.

Children walking into elementary schools shooting children and teachers; the police waiting an hour to go in, despite the cries for help and pleas to do something.

Allowing procedure to supersede human life.

Wars being started just because someone in power decided they wanted more, because of greed.

There are still instances of unprovoked police shooting and killing unarmed citizens for minor or no offense.

Parents are abandoning or mistreating their children, children are mistreating their parents, spouses are mistreating each other.

Drugs are rampant in our streets; people are dying daily.

In a ten-year period from 1999 - 2019 nearly 841,000 people died from drug overdose.

Human trafficking is commonplace, and the victims are being victimized yet again as they are placed under arrest and must now not only overcome the fact they were treated as property to be bought and sold and used anyway the person wanted to abuse them, they must also deal with a criminal record if they’re ever fortunate enough to break free.

Children as young as eight years old are seeing suicide as their only option.

It’s time the church, and I mean the people of God, be a safe haven, not a judgement zone.

We talk about putting on the armor of God, but there are some things we need to put on before we get to the armor.

Church, it’s time the people of God get clothed.

Col 3:12-15 NLT - 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.

Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.

For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.

And always be thankful.

For a title this morning, “Put Your Clothes On”.

The book of Colossians is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the people at Colosse.

We know this for sure because he states it in chapter one, verse one.

Colosse, a once leading town, it was a happening place before Paul’s day, but now it was a second-rate market town.

It was no longer the place that had the hustle and bustle of being a major thorough fare of trade.

The towns near it had outgrown it.

But what Colosse did now have was a town of converted Christians.

The church there was founded by a man named Epaphras.

Epaphras was converted by Paul during Paul’s three-year ministry at Ephesus.

Once Epaphras was converted, he carried the gospel message back to Colosse and a church was started.

Which was great, it’s exactly what we are all called to do, spread the gospel message of Christ.

But how many know with the good, Satan will always try to mix in some bad?

And this was no exception.

In this young church, there were heresies being introduced.

So what is heresy?

Heresy is an opinion that is contrary to the Word and will of God.

It’s adding requirements to salvation or conditions on living a life that is pleasing to God.

So, any stipulation, requisite, or demand in any form a person, a church, or denomination says you must do to be saved, and it’s not what God asked of us, is a kind of heresy.

In Colosse, there were those adding things like dietary restrictions, circumcision, festivals, angel worship, and even the strict observance of some traditions.

So, to combat this, Epaphras pays a visit to Paul in Rome to tell him what’s going on, which leads Paul to write this letter to the Colossians.

Paul is letting the saints at Colosse know what’s true concerning being like Christ, he’s letting them know that Christ is all and that He is in all, regardless of their heritage, status, ethnicity, or any other identifying factor.

So as we come to this portion of Paul’s letter, it is very clear he is speaking to the saints of God saying, “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves,”.

You were chosen by God, before the foundation of the world, you were chosen even before you were saved, it was not by happenstance, you weren’t an afterthought, you were not a mistake.

You are here on purpose, for a purpose, you’re here to be the holy people God loves.

Paul goes on to say you must clothe yourself.

When you think about clothing yourself, you typically think about getting dressed, you think about the clothes you put on your body.

The clothes you have on are the generally the first thing people are going to notice about you.

People look at your clothes and begin to form opinions about you based on what you’re wearing.

Some focus on labels.

The question you hear over and over on the red carpet of award shows is, “Who are you wearing?”

People will make decisions and assumptions based on how you clothe yourself.

Some will assign social status.

Some will assign worth.

Some will decide whether or not you have good hygiene, if you’re poor, or neat or messy, based on the condition of your clothes.

o Are they clean?

o Are they wrinkled or ironed?

o Are they tattered?

o Are they torn?

(Although nowadays torn is a style)

o Are they in style?

But these clothes deal with your outward appearance.

Paul is addressing a different type of clothing, Paul is speaking of your character, he’s talking about your inward nature, and he gives a list of character traits you need to clothe yourself in.

It’s time for God’s people to get dressed; church, it’s time to put your clothes on.

Paul says since God chose you, you must, it’s not a choice, you must clothe yourself with these inward traits.

Let’s get clothed.

The first thing you need to clothe yourself with is

1.

Tenderhearted mercy - are you compassionate to your sister or brother when they’re in distress, when they’re sick, when they’re grieving?

Can you show mercy when they mess up, and not make them feel worse when they realize they’ve made a mistake?

When you see the atrocities of war or a life senselessly taken, do you just turn the channel or does it cause you to hurt to the point of not just wanting to, but of actually doing something.

Maybe you can’t go overseas, maybe you can’t join the military, maybe you can’t join the police force, but you can do something, even if it’s to fast and pray at your house.

Not everyone has the ability, to march, protest, or give money, but everyone can pray.

Put on some…

2. Kindness - do you show kindness to everyone, or do you have your favorites?

Are you kind only to those who are kind to you? Are you mean and spiteful, vowing and dishing out vengeance as you see fit? Are you kinder to some animals than you are to humans?

Not that we shouldn’t be kind to animals, but have you seen people who can show kindness to a kitten or puppy, but won’t comfort a person?

Isn’t a person worth at least that?

To show kindness is free, it could be as simple as a hug, a listening ear, a word of encouragement, or making a casserole.

Next the church needs to put on some…

3. Humility - are you humble, or do you lift yourself up, thinking you deserve certain things or special treatment.

Do you think more highly of yourself than you ought to, thinking rules and laws don’t apply to you?

That you can interpret them the way you want, to fit what you want to do.

Would others describe you as humble or have you declared yourself to be humble?

By the way, if you declare it yourself are you really humble?

Is it practicing humility if you have the ability to do something, but you make sure others know what you did?

Is it truly humility, if you have to make sure you get the credit?

Things that make you go hmmm?

And now we need some…

4. Gentleness - when you interact with others do you say please and thank you, do you speak softly, are you considerate of their feelings and experiences?

Or are you loud, rude, demanding and abrasive?

Can you empathize with what they’re going through?

And finally…

5. Patience - are you patient with others, how about with your spouse, your significant other, your children or your parents?

Or are you a dictator, are you irritable and unwilling to wait?

If someone doesn’t understand, do you take the time to calmly explain or do you give the heavy sigh and eye roll?

Do you make the other person feel like they’re less than, stupid, or dense?

When you are God’s chosen people there are character traits you are to exhibit and ways you are to interact with others, all others, beginning at your house.

If you were being graded, what would your grade be so far?

There’s more, the first list Paul gives is how you are to behave, they are attributes you should display at all times toward others.

Then Paul addresses how Christians are to respond to the way others treat them.

He starts by saying…