INTRODUCTION
1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2. For the last 8 weeks, we have focused our study on the first 17 verses of Colossians 3. Living Life in a New Way!
3. Today, I wanted read the complete text but our focus will be on verses 15,16 and 17…
4. As we are committed to Living a New Way - Listen for new attitude we are to have
5. Read Colossians 3:1-17
6. Colossians 3:15-17 -- 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. NIV
7. Living a New Way means having a New Attitude…
8. You make the Choice – and God will empower you to make the Change…
I will Let the Peace of Christ Rule in my Heart (3:15)
1. (eg) A four-year-old and a six-year-old presented their mom with the gift of a house plant. They had saved and used their own money to buy it and she was thrilled. The older of them said with a sad face, "There was a bouquet at the flower shop that we wanted to give you. It was real pretty but it was too expensive. It had a ribbon on it that said ‘Rest In Peace,’ and we thought it would be just perfect since you are always asking for a little peace and quiet so you can rest.
2. Let the Peace of Christ… This word for peace shows up in every New Testament book with the exception of 1 John. Peace is a word for harmony, for quietness, for settledness… Peace is His Strength in our Struggle. Peace is His Calm in our Chaos and is His Confidence in the Confusion of our lives. Peace is Faith when there is Fear. Peace is the Tranquility of your heart when there is a troubled heart.
3. Jesus, Himself gives us insight into the peace He is and the Peace He gives… It’s the night of His betrayal and Jesus is meeting with His disciples and sharing His final words with them…
4. John 14:27 -- Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. NIV
5. John 16:33 -- "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
6. Let the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts. His Peace is to umpire and referee our hearts. When the umpire makes the call – it stands. When the Referee reviews the play and the tape – that’s the final decision… We are to Let His Peace make the call, determine the decision, have the final say… Let the Peace of Christ Rule in your heart – His Peace decides. His Peace and determine all the matters of the heart. His Peace is to have the Final say, the final word on the matter. Let the Peace of Christ arbitrate – settle the matter. Let the Peace of Christ Rule!
7. What rules your heart? what governs your emotions? What decides you? What directs you? What determines you?
8. Peace will have no place if we let other things or other people rule our hearts. If you live only to please others – there will be no peace. If you live only to disagree with others – there is no place for peace… If you live life only for you – there will be no place for peace… If you let Worry have it’s way - there will be no peace... If you let Complaining and Criticizing Control – there will be no peace. If you let Divisiveness dominate – peace has no place… If you let your Guilt grip you – peace has no place. If you let Anger rule; Bitterness Rule; Malice Rule; Revenge Rule or Fear Rule – peace will have no place
9. You make the Choice and God will make the Change – Let Jesus Rule in your Life and His Peace will Rule in your heart, your words, your relationships, your attitude
10. Let the Peace of Christ Rule in your heart… Let His Peace Wage war on your Worry… With your Faith – you can Fight your Fear... With His Strength you can wrestle in the struggle. His Peace will be your Calm in the Chaos and will be your Confidence in all of the Confusion. Give Him Praise – you will have Peace!
I will let the Word of Christ Dwell in me Richly (3:16)
1. Colossians 3:16 -- Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
2. Let the Word of Christ Dwell in you. It means the Word of Christ is to move in to your life and make your life it’s home. The Word of Christ is to have a new address – 123 Your Life. The Word of Christ is to find a home in your heart
3.(eg) When we moved into our house – we had boxes everywhere. We brought all of our stuff from St. Louis to Indianapolis. This was our house now. We decided who would have each room. All the boxes that had Nathan’s name on it – went into his room. Everything that had Anna’s name on it went into her room. Everything that said Master bedroom – went to our room. If it was marked office – it went to JoDee’s office. If it was marked garage or attic or storage – We were moving in… Once the boxes were unloaded - We started unpacking the boxes, arranging the furniture, setting up the beds... This was our House – and we moved in. We wanted to make this house our home…
4. (eg) before we moved, we mentioned to Dawn Gentry that it had taken us several years before we really started hanging pictures and paintings on our walls the way we wanted. And about the time we get the house the way we wanted – we moved. The day we moved in – we found out that the staff had “broken” into our house and had little surprises all around – it was great… Included was a Picture hanging kit.
5. We moved in, we set up the house the way we wanted to. It’s our house. It’s where we live. We move in and we take over. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you! Let God’s Word move in to your life and set up house. Let the Word of God unpack the boxes, arrange the furniture, paint the walls, remodel, refinish, replace – whatever… Let the Word of Christ – move in and determine you and define you…
6. So in this way - The Word of Christ is not to be a guest, not to be a visitor for a day – Let the Word of Christ own the home! Move in and own your life…
7. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you Richly. Be filled with His Word
8. Let the Word of Christ saturate our lives… Let His Word invade your World. In everything we do – the Word of Christ is to fill us and flow in us and flow through us… The Word of Christ filters for us all that we experience… When we talk and teach, when we encourage, when we counsel, when share – the Word of Christ saturates and soaks everything we say… When we sing Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs – the Word of Christ is to permeate every lyric, reflect His Truth in every line, we sing
9. This is a New attitude. When it comes to the Word of God -- Love it! Learn it! Live it! Get into the Word so that His Word can get into you… Think His Word and you’ll Live His Word… You can read His Word everyday; You can listen to it – I’ve got the Bible on CD and MP3 – just plug it in…
10.(eg) One of the best ways to get into the Word of God is to get into a small Group Bible Study…we call them LIFE Groups… A LIFE Group is a small group of people that come to together to share LIFE together in the Word… Study together; Learn together, Pray together, Share together and do Life together…
11. (eg) Do you use the teaching insert? On the last page, there questions and reflections to help you get into the Word and to help the Word get into you.
12. Let the Word of Christ – move in and take up residency in your life…The Word of God will clean your house; Remodel your Life; Remake your Priorities; Reshape your thinking; Replace the old life with His New Life
I will do everything in the Name of the Lord (3:17)
1. Colossians 3:17 -- And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. NIV
2. The Message Paraphrases -- Colossians 3:17 -- Let every detail in your lives — words, actions, whatever — be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
3. Do it all in the Name of the Lord. That means whatever we do – we do it for the Lord… Whatever we do – we do it - to Honor Him; to Please Him; to Glorify Him; to Exalt Him; to Serve Him; to Love Him... we Represent Him in everything we do
4. WOW – that’s different… can you grasp the impact and implication of that Attitude shift? It’s about me making everything in my life about Him! Everything! Not some things – Everything!
5.(eg) Think with me – It’s Monday morning. The alarm goes off. You reach for it – with a New Attitude…Everything I do – I do for the Lord… How will that change your day? I’m not talking about doing something for the Lord – We’re talking about doing everything for the Lord…
6. Think through your day – Everything I do – I do for the Lord… How will this attitude be fleshed out for you in your actions? How will this Attitude change you behavior? This Attitude will radically realign our lives! Every moment, every minute – everything!
7. ???Let me list several topics and in your heart – what will this mean for you? Getting dressed; Driving; Greeting others; going to work; doing your work; School; Telephone; Conversation; E-mail; Internet; Lunch; Job performance; Television; relaxation; entertainment; Parenting; Parents; Family;
8. You make the Choice and God will empower the Change! What you Believe will Change your Behavior. Everything I do – I will do for the Lord…
I will be Thankful (3:15-17)
1. 3 times in this text – we are called to give thanks! (Circle the words…)
2. Colossians 3:15-17 -- 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. NIV
3. Giving Thanks is a mark of Living Life in a New Way…Those that have been given a New Life are Grateful for this New Life…
4. It is amazing what an Attitude of Gratitude can do for you and do in you…
5. Giving Thanks will change your perspective and your priorities… Instead of looking for the bad – you’re looking for the Good. You’ll have more to give and less to grumble about… You’ll be more Content with less Complaint... You’ll Count your Blessings, not your burdens… You’ll be Grateful for what you have – and less greedy for what you don’t have. You’ll be Hope– filled and not be Help-less... You’ll shout with Praise and not shout in protest. You’ll have Joy; Peace; Hope; Love... You’ll look for what’s right and not always looking for what’s wrong…
6. (eg) 2 old friends bump into each other on the street… One of them looked miserable, on the verge of tears… What has the world done to you, Old Friend? The sad guy said, “Let me tell you. 3 weeks ago, my uncle died and left me $40,000. “That’s a lot of money!” “2 weeks ago, a cousin I never knew died and left me $85,000 free and clear”. “Sounds like you sure have been blessed through all of this!” “You don’t understand, he interrupted. Last week my great aunt died and I inherited a quarter of a million dollars.” Now the friend was really confused – “Then why do you look so glum?” The sad friend sighed, “This week – nothing…” (Contributed by: Jeff Simms-sermoncentral.com)
7. There is so much to be Thankful for – and if you Think – You’ll Thank. What you fill your mind with – you fill your life with… What you think about is what you Life will be about… Thanks giving will lead to Thanks Living…
8. When I fill my Mind with Giving Thanks – When I have an Attitude of Gratitude… There will be Burdens – but I know, in Him, there are so many more Blessings! There will be Problems – but God always provides Possibilities... There will be Pain – but God is Present – never alone…God has promised... In my guilt – there is His Grace... In my Hurt – there’s His Hope... In my Failure – there is His Forgiveness... In my Fear – He strengthens my Faith
9. If you Think – you will Thank…Life is different with an Attitude of Gratitude…
CONCLUSION
• Make the Choice! God will make the Change!
• What you think about is what your Life will be about…
• Living a New Way means a New Attitude…
• I will let the Peace of Christ Rule in my Heart
• I will let the Word of Christ Dwell in me richly
• I will do everything in the Name of the Lord
• I will be Thankful…
