In some ways Paul seems to be motivating us, Christ’s team, to get out on the field, use what we have learned in practice, and give an all-out effort to be winners. The words are clearly intended to speak to us as individuals but can give us some ideas about living our congregational life.
Read the complete scripture:
Colossians 3:1-11
1-2 So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.
3-4 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
5-8 And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.
9-11 Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
From The Message
1. Paul dictated his letters, what picture do you have of him if he spoke them in front of us today? Was he lecturing, motivating, or something else?
2. The fact that words like these seeming appear repeatedly in scripture tell us about the reality of living life as a person of faith? What are some positives you get from hearing them and what questions do they raise?
Colossians 3:1-2 So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.
1. What seems to be the important in living ‘this new resurrection life? What does his advice to “pursue things over which Christ presides” mean to you?
2. Can you relate to the shuffling along, eyes to the ground allusions? How might this reality affect things like practicing spiritual disciplines, relationships with others, sharing our faith?
3. Are we liable to find ourselves shuffling along in our congregational life? What might be some signs that we are off track?
4. What is the antidote to shuffling? What does his advice/admonition mean to you? Do you have any issues or questions about his words?
Colossians 3:3-4 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
1. Paul speaks of old and new life, how does he describe this new life? What questions does it raise?
2. What has made the idea of a new life real for you in your spiritual journey? What are some examples of things you have seen die and come to life?
3. We are in a time of reflecting on a new life for the congregation at this point? Do you think that we have incorporated any of his encouragement in carrying out our discernment process? What are some important components of the process so far we need to continue and what might we add as we continue on?
Colossians 3:5-8 And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.
1. We hear words to this effect over and over again during our spiritual journey. As you read them does anything strike you as a truth or a new insight?
2. Why do you think that words about changing our behavior is a constant theme? What truth does it reveal about us as human beings who are seeking a spiritual life?
3. What do you think might need to “killed off” in our congregational life? How have we gone about doing that so far and what might we need to add to increase our spiritual vitality?
Colossians 3:9-11 Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
1. How important is honesty to our spiritual lives? Who do we need to be honest with? What keeps us from being honest?
2. How do you like Paul’s allusion to new clothing? How can the clothing we are wearing at any given time affect us, our attitudes, and our behavior? Have you had occasion to feel spiritually dressed differently, closer to God, during your journey?
3. What have you heard during our discernment process that you think will help us dress differently, wearing something “custom-made by the Creator?”
Closing Prayer
O Holy Spirit, whose presence is liberty, grant us that freedom of the Spirit which will not fear to tread in unknown ways, nor be held back by the misgivings of ourselves or fear of others. Amen Oxford Book of Prayer
Next Week’s Scriptures: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 or Genesis 15:1-6, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 or Psalm 33:12-22, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40
Colossians 3:1-11
1-2 So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.
3-4 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
5-8 And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.
9-11 Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
From The Message
1. Paul dictated his letters, what picture do you have of him if he spoke them in front of us today? Was he lecturing, motivating, or something else?
2. The fact that words like these seeming appear repeatedly in scripture tell us about the reality of living life as a person of faith? What are some positives you get from hearing them and what questions do they raise?
Colossians 3:1-2 So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.
1. What seems to be the important in living ‘this new resurrection life? What does his advice to “pursue things over which Christ presides” mean to you?
2. Can you relate to the shuffling along, eyes to the ground allusions? How might this reality affect things like practicing spiritual disciplines, relationships with others, sharing our faith?
3. Are we liable to find ourselves shuffling along in our congregational life? What might be some signs that we are off track?
4. What is the antidote to shuffling? What does his advice/admonition mean to you? Do you have any issues or questions about his words?
Colossians 3:3-4 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
1. Paul speaks of old and new life, how does he describe this new life? What questions does it raise?
2. What has made the idea of a new life real for you in your spiritual journey? What are some examples of things you have seen die and come to life?
3. We are in a time of reflecting on a new life for the congregation at this point? Do you think that we have incorporated any of his encouragement in carrying out our discernment process? What are some important components of the process so far we need to continue and what might we add as we continue on?
Colossians 3:5-8 And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.
1. We hear words to this effect over and over again during our spiritual journey. As you read them does anything strike you as a truth or a new insight?
2. Why do you think that words about changing our behavior is a constant theme? What truth does it reveal about us as human beings who are seeking a spiritual life?
3. What do you think might need to “killed off” in our congregational life? How have we gone about doing that so far and what might we need to add to increase our spiritual vitality?
Colossians 3:9-11 Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
1. How important is honesty to our spiritual lives? Who do we need to be honest with? What keeps us from being honest?
2. How do you like Paul’s allusion to new clothing? How can the clothing we are wearing at any given time affect us, our attitudes, and our behavior? Have you had occasion to feel spiritually dressed differently, closer to God, during your journey?
3. What have you heard during our discernment process that you think will help us dress differently, wearing something “custom-made by the Creator?”
Closing Prayer
O Holy Spirit, whose presence is liberty, grant us that freedom of the Spirit which will not fear to tread in unknown ways, nor be held back by the misgivings of ourselves or fear of others. Amen Oxford Book of Prayer
Next Week’s Scriptures: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 or Genesis 15:1-6, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 or Psalm 33:12-22, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40
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