August 4, 2019 Eight Sunday after Pentecost

“1 ¶ If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 ¶ Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 ¶ But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” (Colossians 3:1-11 NKJV)

It is easy to wallow in the brokenness and filth of this world and our life. It also is easy to see the “good”, beauty and bright lights of this world which is but a fake and perverted view of what creation should be. Paul calls us to look up!

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

What does “Set your mind” mean?

What is the difference in the things above and the things on earth?

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

What does “your members” mean?

List each word from this passage on another page and find the definition in a Bible dictionary or Strong’s concordance. (Other dictionaries have either a wrong or incomplete definition for Christians.)

“8 ¶ But now you yourselves are to put off all these:”

What does it mean to “put off”? (Is it like taking off clothes?)

“11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” (Colossians 3:1-11 NKJV)”

Look at each division which come together in Jesus Christ. What is God doing?

Greek or Jew

circumcised nor uncircumcised

barbarian

Scythian

slave nor free

The epistle (letter) of Paul is written to the Colossians and though the message is for all Christians what does it tell us about the people this letter is for? What does it tell us about ourselves?