Raised with Christ: The Acts (Part 1) | Resources
Sermon Text: Colossians 3:5–11
Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.” (CSB)
Devotional
I have faced many challenges in my walk with Christ, but one of the most difficult challenges I faced revolved around the use of inappropriate language. When I transitioned into high school, the pressures of my friends and the salty language they used seemed normal in conversation, but what I failed to realize over that time was that the language I used would soon change. I spoke words that dishonored the faith that I had proclaimed in Christ. As my language deteriorated, I noticed my spiritual walk decline, along with my testimony to others around me.
As I moved into college, I was surrounded by a group of friends who used their words to edify rather than to tear down, and it brought me back to why my language problem was such a big issue: If I died with Christ and were raised with Him in new life, why would I still hold on to the practices that He died for? I was brought back to Ephesians 4:29, “No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” I do not have to be a slave to the ways that I once walked in, but I can experience freedom from my former passions by continuing to submit to the Holy Spirit that renewed me and continues to each and every day.
What element of your earthly nature do you need to put to death today so you may put on the new self? Experience the freedom that comes with submitting to the Holy Spirit so He may transform you to look more like Jesus.
Discussion/Reflection Questions
1. What emotions well up in you when you read verses 5-6? What is Paul’s call to action?
2. Why does Paul include these groups of people in verse 11? What biblical principle can we apply to our lives from verse 11?
3. What does actively putting sin to death look like?
4. Do you struggle with your words? Why is watching our words such a vital thing to do?
5. What does this text teach us about the gospel?
Memory Verses
“In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.” Colossians 3:11 (CSB)