Newness of Life TCBC Group Lesson Guide For Sunday, April 7, 2013

Transcription

1 Lesson Guide for Sunday, Apr. 7, 2013 Sermon: Baptism Celebration Teacher s Notes: Series Description: The Gospel of Mark We could define "free" like this: "Released from anything that controls, restrains, burdens or enslaves us." It seems that in so many areas of our lives we are controlled by something. In so many areas of our lives we aren't free. What if we could actually be free"?? Series Schedule: 7 Apr Acts 2: Apr 2 Tim. 1:7 21 Apr Matt Apr Luke 12:15 5 May The Gospel Project Freedom Celebration Free from Fear Free from Hurt Free from Stuff Sermon Text: Acts 2:41 47 Sermon Main Points: for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control Newness of Life TCBC Group Lesson Guide For Sunday, April 7, 2013 Col. 3:1 7 1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. 12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, 1

2 so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Introduction: The fancy word is protocol, meaning a way of behaving or a prescribed code of conduct attached to a certain environment or situation. Government officials learn the proper protocol for each foreign government they deal with in order to communicate within the boundaries of that culture s acceptable behavior and communication. Christians have a protocol too, but it s not one that encourages becoming like others, but like Christ! We re supposed to be living and behaving with our eyes focused on the heavenly; in this way others will begin to see heaven through us. This takes great wisdom!! This lesson will show us the Scriptural reason and heavenly power to live like Christ and to walk in newness in this present world. Main Ideas: Ice Breaker: 1. As believers we have been hidden in Christ. 2. As believers we have been chosen for Holiness and Love. 3. As believers in Christ we should be filled with the Word. An article in a San Francisco newspaper reported that a young man who once found a $5 bill on the street resolved that from that time on he would never lift his eyes while walking. The paper went on to say that over the years he accumulated, among other things, 29,516 buttons, 54,172 pins, 12 cents, a bent back, and a miserly disposition. But he also lost something the glory of sunlight, the radiance of the stars, the smiles of friends, and the freshness of blue skies. I m afraid that some Christians are like that man. While they may not walk around staring at the sidewalk, they are so engrossed with the things of this life that they give little attention to spiritual and eternal values. Perhaps they ve gotten a taste of some fleeting pleasure offered by the world and they ve been spending all their time pursuing it. But that is dangerous. When God s children, who are seated with Christ in the heavenlies, give their affection and attention to a world that is passing away, they lose the upward look. Their perspective becomes distorted, and they fail to bask in heaven s sunlight. Taken up with the baubles of this world, they become defeated, delinquent Christians. Buttons, pins, and pennies, but no treasures laid up in heaven. 2

3 The apostle Paul said, If, then, you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above... (Col. 3:1). To live for the things of this world is to miss life s best. Let s set our sights on the heights! P. R. Van Gorder Contextual Background: Throughout the book of Colossians, knowing that all wisdom is in Christ, Paul urged the Colossian Christians to continue in Him not being deceived by vain philosophies. Since believers are identified with Christ, they are not to live under Jewish laws, for that would only rob them of their rewards. They have died with Christ and need not submit to legalistic rules. Also, they have been raised with Christ. So they should set their hearts on heavenly things, put to death sinful worldly practices, and clothe themselves with Christ s virtues. Stated in another way, believers are to seek spiritual values, and put on the virtues of their new life in Him. This should affect their relationships with other members of their families, church and society. Beginning in chapter three and continuing to the end of this epistle, Paul teaches believers practical applications to what has been written in the two previous chapters. Text: Colossians 3:1 4 Teaching Point #1... As believers we are Hidden With Christ. In verses 1 3, the apostle encouraged believers in Colossae to live out their lives as new spiritual creations that were characterized by radically new desires and ways of thinking. Here he reminded them that they had been raised up with Christ to new life in complete contrast to what they were before they believed in Him. In fact, the radical break they had made with their past way of living could only be spoken of as death you have died with Christ (v. 3). At one time they were dead in their sins (2:13), but now they had come to know both the life and freedom found only by faith in Christ. In verse 3, Paul further described the Colossian believers as those whose lives were hidden with Christ in God. In other words, this new way of living was not, nor would it, be seen or appreciated by the world in which the Colossian believers lived. Like the Christ Himself who was (and is) not understood, accepted, or believed by the world, the life granted to those who were united to Him by faith was also unseen, at least for the present moment. Since these things are true, Paul encouraged his friends (and ultimately all believers) toward two specific actions or responsibilities related to their new life: Keep seeking the things above (v. 1) This command has to do with what we set our affections on. Paul meant that their desires should be consistent with their new lives in Christ. As the Christian grows in his relationship to the Lord, he should learn to love those things that God loves and reject that which does not please or honor Him. 3

4 Set your mind on the things above (v. 2) This command has more to do with how someone thinks and what someone thinks about. Paul meant that the believer in Christ is to think in a distinctively Christian way. The words where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God help to clear up what it means to think on those things which are above. The fact that Christ sits enthroned in the heavenlies at His Father s right hand indicates His place of honor and sovereignty over all things. So, thinking about heavenly things means bringing every thought under the Lordship and reign of Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5). In verse 4, the incentive for having your desires and thoughts fixed on Christ is expressed as Paul spoke of the coming day when Christ, who is our life, is revealed. Paul used the absolute certainty of Christ s Second Coming as a motive for holiness in this life. In one instance, all those who have trusted in Him will also be revealed with Him in glory. In this event the believer s faith in Christ will be proven before the world. We will no longer be so very hidden! Illustration/Discussion Ideas: 1. What parts of being in hidden in Christ are instantaneous and what parts are being worked out with fear and trembling on a daily basis? 2. In what ways can we DAILY live in the reality that we are dead and our lives are hidden in Christ? What do we need to die to daily?? What practices do we need to incorporate in order to have the awareness of our exchanged life? 3. What things are stealing our affections from the things above? What do we need to change? 4. Does the certainty of Christ's Second Coming serve as a motivating force for us? Why or why not? Text: Colossians 3:12 15 Teaching Point #3...As Believers we are Chosen for Holiness and Love. In verse 12, Paul appeals to his brothers to live as devoted followers of Christ and also responsible members of the church by reminding them of the incredible gift of their salvation. Those who had confessed Christ as Lord, had actually been chosen by God. Their adoption into the family of God was due to God s amazing mercy and not to any work on their part (Ephesians 2:8 9). As far as God is concerned they are both holy separated from the world for the service of Christ alone and beloved recipients of God s amazing love (also 4

5 see Colossians 1:22). This incredible truth was to be their primary motive for living out their lives in holiness and love. In light of such truth, in verse 13, Paul calls his friends to display kindness and mercy towards one another within the body of Christ. This Christ like love was to be shown in several practical ways within the church: They were to put on a new heart characterized by compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (v. 12b). They were to constantly be bearing with one another through the ups and downs of life (v. 13). In the same way that Christ had forgiven them, Paul called the Colossians to be continuously forgiving each other for personal hurts, offenses, and complaints that would (and will) always occur within the fellowship (v. 13). However, according to verse 14, as the absolute proof of their salvation and true spiritual change, Paul commanded that they put on love which functions as the perfect bond of unity among Christian brothers and sisters. The love implied here is that love which is patterned after Christ s sacrificial, self giving love for sinners a love personally experienced by every member of His body. A love like this provides the only lasting foundation for real Christian unity. Verse 15 details how, not only was the body of believers to be characterized by the showing of Christian love and unity, it was and is to be a body controlled by peace. Paul s command was that they let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. As each believer came to experience peace with God through Christ (Rom. 5:1), they would be able to enjoy great peace in their relationships with others. Illustration/Discussion: 1. What hindrances are in our hearts and lives to unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ? 2. How would a typical Sunday change if we bore with one another and forgave one another just as Christ forgave us? What differences would show up in our churches? 3. How does our peace with Christ then manifest itself in peaceful relationships with others? Peace ruling in our hearts can extend to our families and friends. How? 5

6 Text: Colossians 3:16 17 Teaching Point #3... As believers we are to be Filled with the Word. In these final verses, Paul pleads with his friends to experience the message of the gospel in its fullest. His charge to Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you may be understood as a call to focus upon Christ and those things that are revealed about Him in the gospel story. With such a focus upon the Word, believers would be able to serve the kingdom of Christ with all wisdom, exercising their gifts to the glory of God. Specifically, the ministries of teaching and admonishing one another would be accomplished in the healthy atmosphere of godly wisdom. This atmosphere is often absent when admonishing occurs. The phrase with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs indicates that one of the primary vehicles for this teaching and instruction is music. The main focus is on the fact that the church s music should perform an instructional function. It should be completely doctrinal in content and completely focused on God. It should clearly communicate the truths of the Gospel while directing the hearts and minds of the worshippers to the One who is THE focus of true worship. Personal preferences become less and less important. Additionally, Paul stated that such singing should be performed with thankfulness in your hearts to God. The meaning is apparently that Christian singing should be done with energy and enthusiasm which comes from overwhelming gratitude for what He has done in and through us. Finally, Paul described the over arching atmosphere in which the believer was to conduct his life. He must do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus while giving thanks through Him to God the Father. The Christian is to conduct the totality of his life under the Lordship and preeminence of Christ. The believer, through his actions, must demonstrate his belief that God s headship and authority involves every aspect of life, not only the so called sacred and 'spiritual' but also the secular and everyday. Illustration/Discussion: 1. How do we make sure, on a daily basis, that we are allowing the Word of Christ to dwell richly in us? What can we do to make it a priority? 2. When we fail to be filled with the Word we will fail at the teaching and admonishing. How will this affect a body of believers? 3. What part are singing and music to play in the lives of believers? Why is musical preference so divisive in today's churches? Music is such a great avenue for worship, 6

7 Satan would love nothing more than for it to lose its proper place and turn it into something that divides God s people rather than making much of God. 4. How do we daily bring our lives (the everyday and the common) up under the Lordship of Christ? Closing Thoughts: If we all had to line up at a microphone to share our Christian story, it would not take long before most of us would start to sound like echoes of each another., "Well, my story is pretty much just like what Jill and Chip already said.... I was born in a Christian home, baptized, went to Christian schools," and so forth. And, of course, that is beautiful. But the world needs to see what difference our Christian faith makes now on how we live. We may sometimes find it difficult to define what does make our lives Christian. Think of it this way: if someone came up to you tomorrow and asked how your being a Christian affects your life, what would you say? "Well," you might reply, "I go to church every Sunday. I was a deacon a couple of years ago and now I'm on the building committee. I contribute to the general fund and make sure my kids go to Sunday school." But suppose this other person said, "No, no, no: I don't mean church stuff. What does being a Christian mean the rest of the week? What do you do that makes you different from some of our other neighbors who don't claim to be Christians?" What would you say? Could you find things in your work, the way you do your work, in your supermarket interactions, in how you act when behind the wheel that would be different? Maybe that's why, despite his opening call to focus on heavenly things, before Colossians 3 is finished Paul ends up talking about matters that are very earthly, very practical, very everyday in their nature. In Colossians 3:17 Paul even uses what may well be the single most explosive word in the New Testament: Whatever. But in the mouth of Paul as we find this word in Colossians 3:17, "whatever" takes on a devastatingly powerful force. "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus." That phrase is breathtaking in its sweep. Because what that means is that the horizons of Jesus' Lordship are limitless!! Is there anything particularly holy about trudging off to work or school tomorrow, about driving to the store or playing with your child, about greeting your co workers or smiling at strangers? Well, those are holy things if God's Spirit is in all of it. And if the Spirit of the Lord of the universe really is there, then everything you do has a shot at being at least a little different, a little better, and maybe sometimes a lot better. That's true of everything. Everything. Remember: whatever. 7