The Christian Wardrobe (NKL Pt. 7)
Notes
Transcript
GOOD MORNING, MISSED you all LAST WEEK!
***PLEASE TURN in your Bibles to Colossians 3:12
***BEFORE BEGINNING - PITCH PICNIC.
Recap
Recap
NKL: New kingdom BY GRACE…HOW should we LIVE?
First 2 CHAPTERS = FOUNDATION…4 commands
CH. 3 = 17 commands.
Indicative precedes the imperative.
Our CHRISTIAN LIVING is the RESPONSE to GOD’S GRACE…the RESULT....NOT the CAUSE.
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LAST MSG....PUTTING to DEATH EARTHLY things… + GOD-HONORING THOUGHTS.
THIS WEEK we CONTINUE the idea of WHAT we are SUPPOSED TO DO …IN LIGHT of GOD’S WORK/GRACE
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Read Text (Col. 3:12-17) & Pray
Intro:
Intro:
HOW MANY HAVE CLOTHES/HAT that REPRESENT INTERESTS? IF you DON’T I’m sure YOU KNOW SOMEONE who does!
SPORTS TEAM, Penn state, Steelers, etc.
BAND/ARTIST…
PLACE YOU’VE BEEN…
HOBBY... FISHING, firearms, etc.
With this, people can identify something about you, usually something you love.
2X at KNOEBELS…CONVERSATION STARTED.
LBC SHIRT - CREATION
OLD BAY HAT
THESE THINGS REPRESENT PART OF OUR IDENTITY…SOMETIMES LESS EXPLICITLY THOUGH TOO
***STORY - TYLER (I’M WEARING GRAY PANTS)
REGARDLESS, THESE VISIBLE THINGS HELP TO IDENTIFY US, WHO WE ARE, ETC.
SIMILARLY - FAITH should BE DISPLAYED/noticeable…
NOT NECESSARILY JOHN 3:16 HAT
I LOVE JESUS SHIRT,
OR BUMPER STICKERS
Our lifestyle, our words, our actions, even our demeanor should reflect our Lord and show others that we have been saved and are now a follower of Jesus Christ.
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Text
Text
Colossians 3:12–17 (ESV)
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
“Put on” = IMPERATIVE/command
GK Word - SENSE of PUTTING ON CLOTHES, getting dressed…Paul’s saying, “Dress yourself like this”
CHRISTIAN = DRESSED ACCORDINGLY...NO CASUAL FRIDAY!
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COMMAND = FOR GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE…HOLY & BELOVED
NOT FOR UNBELIEVERS
1. GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE = CHURCH…LETTER WRITTEN to THE BODY @ COLOSSAE
In the OT he chose ABRAHAM (PAGAN MAN) and MULTIPLIED his DESCENDANTS into ISRAEL the NATION...
NOW BOTH JEWS & GENTILES…WE’RE INCLUDED…GOD’S CHOSEN
2. We are CALLED HOLY = SET APART
POSITIONALLY RIGHTEOUS IN CHRIST! RECEIVE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
INCREASINGLY HOLY/RIGHTEOUS in CONDUCT/LIFESTYLE OVER TIME.
3. We are CALLED BELOVED.
Literally, “Those who are being loved by God” (CONTINUAL/ONGOING)…DESCRIBED BY LOVE WE RECEIVE
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3 THINGS TRUE CORPORATELY....ALSO INDIVIDUALLY!
YOU ARE CHOSEN
YOU ARE HOLY
YOU ARE BELOVED.
AMAZING! GOD of the UNIVERSE…CREATOR…SOVEREIGN…CHOSE YOU, LOVES YOU…DESIRES RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
MANKIND IS SPECIAL IN GOD’S EYES, BUT WE REALLY DON’T DESERVE THIS…== GRATITUDE & WORSHIP
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AS GOD’S CHOSEN, HOLY, & BELOVED PEOPLE...DRESS ACCORDINGLY!
FIVE VIRTUES TODAY VS. FIVE VICES (LAST MSG)
Here’s the to do list:
1. Put on COMPASSIONATE HEARTS, (heartfelt compassion)
Literally “bowels of mercy” Compassion is a “display of concern over another’s misfortune” -in the seat of the emotions, the depth of your being.
2. KINDNESS,
(also goodness) … “the quality of being warmhearted, considerate, humane, gentle, and sympathetic” also: “the quality of being helpful or beneficial”
3. HUMILITY,
A humble attitude, without arrogance, can also mean “modesty”, seems like a not flashy lifestyle
4. MEEKNESS, or gentleness
the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance, gentleness, humility, courtesy, considerateness, meekness (BDAG)
or “gentleness in behavior/dealings with others”
5. PATIENCE
“state of being able to bear up under provocation, forbearance, patience toward others” (BDAG)
NOT NECESSARILY PATIENTLY WAITING, BUT PATIENT W/ PEOPLE.
>>>>EVER RUN OUT of PATIENCE with someone? - Personal struggle FOR ME...
I’VE SAID TO SELAH… SHE DOESN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS!
& AS CHRISTIANS, WE SHOULDN’T RUN OUT!
***DELAYED RESIDENCY…FRUSTRATED…DON’T KNOW WHOLE STORY. BE COMPASSIONATE, GIVE PEOPLE SLACK, BE PATIENT.
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**CHRIST’S EXAMPLE OF PATIENCE…CONSTANTLY INTERRUPTED & LET DOWN by DISCIPLES!
As Christians we are supposed to put on patience and bear with others, especially towards our brothers and sisters in Christ!
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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.
Bear with one another..LITERALLY = PUT UP WITH one another (faults/shortcomings)
UNREPENTANT SIN = CONFRONTATION... FAULTS = PUT UP WITH/BEAR WITH.
CAN YOU REFLECT CHRIST BY PUTTING UP WITH THOSE WHO BOTHER YOU?
ALSO: FREELY OFFER FORGIVENESS
***NONE OF US DESERVED FORGIVENESS @ SALVATION…OR FOR YESTERDAY/TODAY’S FAILINGS
THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US PROBABLY DON’T DESERVE OUR FORGIVENESS EITHER, BUT IT SHOULD STILL BE OFFERED.
***PARABLE- UNFORGIVING SERVANT (MT. 18) OWED 10,000 TALENTS
Through grace we have both the power & the mandate to be gracious & forgiving to others.
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14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
CLOTHING METAPHOR: LOVE = THE COAT, ABOVE EVERYTHING.
THE IDENTIFYING MARK of the Christian (John 13:35) If we get everything right but don’t have love, we’ve missed it!!
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***In today’s passage, these commands were exemplified by Christ!!
(v12)
Be compassionate as Christ was towards you
Be kind as Christ was kind to you
Be humble, as Christ was humble
Be meek as Christ was meek
& Be patient, as Christ was patient with you.
(v13)
Forgive as we were forgiven
(v14)
love as we’ve been loved (1 John 4:19)
CHRIST = EXAMPLE
LOVE brings HARMONY & PEACE to body of Christ.
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15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
CHRIST = SOURCE of PEACE, it comes from him!
NOT directed INDIVIDUALLY, but CORPORATELY…to the church!
WORD “RULE” --- Not “reigning....but rather more of ruling as in “judge/decide”
“Let the peace of Christ be the decisive factor in your hearts” (BDAG)
CALLED to be PEACEMAKERS....live in HARMONY w/ each other, EXERCISING PATIENCE etc.!
Doug Moo: “In all these texts the point is that God has chosen his people not simply to be his people but to live a certain kind of life. That life is bound up with the calling and cannot be separated from it.”
WE’RE CALLED to be a PART of 1 BODY, a UNIFIED EXPRESSION of GOD’S saving PURPOSES on the earth.
SAVED INDIVIDUALLY…BROUGHT INTO COMMUNITY…GOD’S CHOSEN = THE CHURCH
NECESSARY TO GATHER....CHURCH = GOD’S IDEA.
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Finally, he says in (v15) “BE THANKFUL”
GRATITUDE UNDER GIRDS EVERYTHING else so far.
Reasons to be thankful:
Salvation, that precedes all commands.
God has given us clear direction from his word
He supplies us with his grace & the power of His Spirit to obey his commands
Brought us into community, blessed us w/ church family.
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ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
THINGS…BUT FOR PEOPLE AS WELL!
***Thanking God for family, friends, church family, etc.
ESPECIALLY in the BODY of Christ - strengthening the body! BE THANKFUL for the service of OTHERS, even if its imperfect.
You can FIND REASONS, even for those you might not like.
***CONSIDER SHADOW SIDE of someone’s gift?
I CAN TALK in front of crowds, but can dominate conversation...
SUSIE in Coudersport, PERSISTENCE = GOOD QUALITY... but I don’t like being on the other side of it!!
CAN FIND REASONS TO BE THANKFUL FOR OTHERS = KEEPING PEACE IN BODY
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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.
WORD OF CHRIST = GOSPEL MESSAGE...
“DWELL” means to INHABIT, TAKE UP RESIDENCE…comes from the root word that means house.
GOSPEL CENTRALITY!! INDIVIDUALLY & CORPORATELY.
CAN’T BUILD CHURCH W/ PROGRAMS & EVENTS W.O. GOSPEL!
Man has methods…but God has a message.
So with God, the message is the method!
ROM 1.:16 - THE GOSPEL = POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION
ROM. 10:17 FAITH - FROM HEARING - FROM GOOD NEWS…(NOT BIBLE READING, BUT PREACHED WORD ABOUT CHRIST)
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I TRY to INCLUDE GOSPEL in ALL MESSAGES…NOT JUST TEXTS ABOUT CROSS.
The gospel must be central to the ministry of the church!
CHURCH ISN’T SOCIAL CLUB, BUT GOSPEL FACTORY
SINNERS HEARING ABOUT HOLY GOD - DIRE SITUATION
BELIEVERS EDIFIED, REMINDED OF GLORY OF SALVATION
GOSPEL MESSAGE GOING FORTH.....LIVES, MINISTRIES, MISSIONARIES, ETC.
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Returning to v16:
The WORD of CHRIST DWELLING amongst us.
TEACHING & ADMONISHING one another w/ songs, hymns, spiritual songs
Singing to the Lord
With thanksgiving!
TEACHING = what to do....ADMONISHING = what not to do
PREACHING & SONGS BOTH TEACH!
GOD-CENTERED MUSIC at our church !! Not seeker sensitive/me focused music! Songs teach theology!
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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.
DOUG MOO: The combination “word” and “deed” is a common way of referring to the totality of one’s interaction with the world
In everything....GK = all things/everything! Literally!
Doesn’t mean saying “in Jesus name” but reflecting him!!
Big Idea: The fruit of true faith cannot be hidden, but like clothing the Christian’s entire life, including both actions and demeanor, must display the glory of Christ to the world around them.
No exceptions. no coupons, no freebees
Doesn’t = perfection…but there aren’t days off.
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CONSIDER how your ATTITUDE REFLECTS Him...
KIDS DRAGGING something simple out… “UGH” MENTALITY.
Don’t claim Christ & live with an “ugh” mentality about obeying him!
Last, in EVERYTHING we’re to GIVE THANKS.
PRESENT TENSE…CONTINUAL
**6 VERSES TODAY…LAST 3 MENTION THANKSGIVING.
Takeaways
Takeaways
PART OF GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE!! BELOVED & HOLY! AMAZING!!…REMIND YOURSELF OF THIS....SHOULD INFLUENCE EVERYTHING WE DO...
WHEN PEOPLE LOOK @ ME…WHAT DO THEY SEE ME WEARING?
do they see compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience?
ESP. THOSE CLOSEST TO US!!
FRUIT of the SPIRIT....WE MUST CULTIVATE
HOW DO WE AS A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS REPRESENT OUR LORD??
Notes on the corporate witness of the church from The Deliberate Church
A GRACE CHAPEL DEMEANOR???
IN LIFE, I not only REPRESENT MYSELF, my FAMILY, I represent my CHURCH and most important my LORD and SAVIOR!
AS PART OF GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE…HOLY, SET APART!
DO EVERYTHING you do for the GLORY of GOD.
It doesn’t matter where you work,
or whether or not you work,
whether you’re a stay at home parent, etc.
W/ GOOD ATTITUDE THE “I GET TO” MENTALITY - JOHN MAXWELL
I don’t mention these things to bring you into bondage or a form of legalism. But to make us all think. To remind us that we don’t get days off from serving Jesus, and that for all he’s done for us, we can do all that we do for him. It doesn’t mean we need to live and work at the church all our time. But we can reflect him publicly, by putting on these qualities and living for him, before a lost and dying world.