Raised with Christ: The Facts | Resources
Sermon Text: Colossians 3:1–4
“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (CSB)
Devotional
There are moments in life when everything changes. These are moments when the way you think and live has to change for you to thrive. Consider when you went to college for the first time, the first week of your marriage, or the first few days of being a new mom or dad. Those new life experiences are staggering; if you don’t adjust quickly, those early days can be debilitating. Fortunately, those moments in our lives aren’t done in isolation. Praise the Lord for friends, community, family, and spouses who walked with you through those turbulent days and were patient with you as you adjusted to your new life circumstances. Those friends and family patiently helped you think differently, which allowed you to eventually flourish.
This week’s text reminds us that this is also true in our new life in Christ. When we believe, or as our text says, “raised with Christ,” everything changes. But, one of the difficulties we have as forgiven sinners is that we are often slow to think differently at the pace of our new life.
At your conversion, you receive a heavenly father, a spiritual family, the indwelling of the Spirit, and, as Ephesians 1 says, “every spiritual blessing in the heavens.” This moment is more staggering than anything else you will ever experience.
The challenge our text gives us this week is to adjust. Specifically, it challenges us to change the way we think. “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Friends, can I ask you to consider today, how have you adjusted? Has your mind caught up with your new reality, or are you still thinking like the old creature you used to be?
Today, pray and ask God to help you set your mind on things above and to protect you from focusing on earthly things. The key to flourishing spiritually is quickly adjusting to the new reality that has been given to you!
Discussion/Reflection Questions
1. Why is it so easy for our mind to focus on earthly things? How can we guard our minds this week?
2. What are “things that are above”? Make a list of things that we should focus our attention on.
3. What makes being “hidden with Christ” such a beautiful concept?
4. What is the promise in verse 4? What does this teach us about the good news of the gospel?
5. In light of this text, what does it look like to obey the prompting of the Spirit this week?
Memory Verses
“Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20 (CSB)