Message Outlines
Week 1: Colossians 3:1-4 Focused on What’s Above
Week 2: Colossians 3:5-11 Out With the Old Self
Week 3: Colossians 3:12-17 In With the New Self (Part 1)
Week 4: Colossians 3:12-17 In With the New Self (Part 2)
Series: Colossians
Week: One
Passage: Colossians 3:1-4
Title: Focused on What’s Above
Focus: Seeking and Setting Security in Christ
Introduction to Book: Colosse was an agricultural town located in what we would know as modern day Turkey about 110 miles away from Ephesus (Ephesians). It is said that Paul wrote the letter to the Colosse people before a massive earthquake ruined the city.
What’s Happening: A “philosophy” (2:8) was apparently threatening the Christians in Colosse. This philosophy was
• Passing judgment for the Christians not participating in Jewish food and drink restrictions (2:16) or participating in the observance in festivals (2:16, 2:23).
o Paul preached Christ, not tradition and the need to stay connected to Jesus as the Head of the church for which growth comes. Tradition was to shadow that which was coming.
Why it Was Important: The Gentile Christians in Colosse were being badgered for their about their faith by Jews who took offense over their claims. The gentile belief was that they had become heirs to the promises of Israel, which Paul affirmed (3:12) Therefore Paul wanted to:
• Confirm the faith (belief that Jesus has come) of the Colossians (2:4-5)
• Watch out (guard and protect) the “new” Christians (2:8)
• Warn against doing what was not right (2:16,18)
Why it is Important Today: The life of a Christian is faced with constant oppression. The letter to the Colossians stresses many important components for the New Testament church today. It is therefore our job to:
• Help confirm the truth that was preached to those outside the body keeping Christ as the head.
• Stand on guard and protect the “younger Christians” as they continue to enter the flock.
• Give instructions and warnings about what is not right (traditions) in order to keep Christ as the Head of the Church.
• Christians must be “above reproach”
Passage: Colossians 3:1-4 (NASB)
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
Introduction to Passage: “If” you have been raised with Christ (salvation) there is a change of perspective on what the eyes have been programmed to see morally and into a full spectrum of life lived for eternity.
o Romans 6:8-10 “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him... For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.”
o Colossians 2:12-13 “Having been buried with him in baptism (spiritual), in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.”
GOAL: Changing Earthly Perspectives to Eternal Mindsets
Point #1: Seek the Things Above: The External Action (Colossians 3:1)
• Explanation: Seek (used 121 times in the NT). Means to search for in order to find, to demand or strive for earnestly.
o SEEKING ILLUSTRATION: Revelation 9:6 “And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.”
• After the Lord comes people who refused to go through a spiritual death will seek actual death and not find it. They will hunt earnestly, demanding it but it will “flee from them”.
• Christians who have undergone the spiritual death with Christ will fix (seek/strive for earnestly) their attention on earth toward “things above”. This is an action of centering life around that which is alive and will last forever. When we seek (strive) for that which is eternal…
o God will FILLS the Earthly Voids (Ephesians 4:10)
o God will get the HONOUR (John 17:5)
o God will be EXALTED (Philippians 2:9)
• Illustration: Work (being on facebook via doing the job at hand). Parents – Mom and Dad (seeking eternal investment for our children instead of our own self gratification)
• Application: There must be a striving in the sole of a Christian to externally desire the things off the Lord. This is a discipline of discernment on what is profitable for a Christian based of the direction of Scripture. It is the reason in which we must know the Word so that what we do will be an accurate reflection of Christ.
o As Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
• Questions:
o What will you deem profitable on earth that will please the Father? Where did you obtain that information?
o What do you actively seek out that is of the Lord? What do you actively seek out that is not of the Lord?
o Where does there need to be accountability?
o Who do you need to give the authority to so that you can become accountable?
Point #2: Set your Mind on Things Above: The Internal Action (Colossians 3:2)
• Explanation: Setting in the passage focuses on “fixing” of the eyes. This is the second step. The passage original means to “mind the things above”. This is a concentration or internal action on what is eternal. This is a perspective on the proper foundation or direction that one must go. If the seeking is a striving then the setting is a concentration.
o “For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” 2 Cor. 4:18.
• How it’s done (THERE MUST BE…):
• An Internal Meditation (The Soul)
o Illustration: Star Wars I Light Saber Battle
o Joshua 1:8 “The book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night.”
o Psalm 4:4 “Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.”
• An Internal Craving (The Heart)
o 1 Peter 2:2 “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”
• If you do not have this… ASK!
• An Internal Way of Thinking (The Mind)
o 1 Corinthians 2:16 “For, "Who can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?" But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”
• Illustration: Doctor Story – Something is wrong, therefore you go to seek out the issue, the diagnosis is given, now you must be mindful of the actions steps to get healthy.
• Application: Paul’s declaration is that this life “in this world” will be better if it is lived by a power beyond this world, the power of the resurrected, ascended, glorified Christ. There must be an acknowledgement that the Holy Spirit is in control. We set our mind on the counselor. The “earthly things” are to be avoided are moral, not physical.
Point #3: Hidden with Christ: Safety (Colossians 3:3-4)
• Explanation: The ultimate question after one starts to seek the Lord through action and set the mind on what’s above is why? Why should I do this as a Christian is “all is meaningless”? A believer, according to Paul, is now hidden with Christ in God’s salvation. (Story of picture with guy getting rocks thrown at him) He/She is safe and secure in the salvation that Christ alone offers.
o “Hidden” implies that there is concealment (invisibility) and safety (security). You are secure and safe in Christ! This was a promise to those who believe. (Corinne’s Security)
• Christ would leave “the world will not see Me anymore” (John 14:19). But will return “we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) and we will appear with Him in all His glory.
• “We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2
• Application: So Paul added a new direction to the believers’ focus of attention: they should look upward to Christ’s reign over them in heaven and also forward to His return for them in the clouds.
• Questions:
o Why do you go after that which does not fill you?
o Why do you dwell on that which does not make you whole?
o Do you desire to be safe and secure?
o Do you desire that which is above and not below?
• Enter the safety of salvation that only Christ offers.
Conclusion: How do I change my perspective to see Christ?
1. Externally Seek God
2. Internally Set Your Mind on God
3. Secure Safety in Christ
