Sermon Tone Analysis

Paul wrote this letter the to Colossian believers to remind them of the true gospel.

The good news that though we were separated from God, our holy, righteous Creator by our own rebellion against him, God loved us and sent Jesus to reconcile us to him.

But that good news was not just a matter of reconciling us to Himself, it was giving us a whole new life!

We have been made alive in Christ!

Alive to live in Him!

A new life that is not ruled by our old sinful ways, but one that is like Him!

That is good news!

Freedom from condemnation from our sin, and Freedom from the power of our sinful nature to live as God’s dearly loved children!

As God’s children, we should no longer live the way we used to.

We need to live as true Christians.

We need to be like Jesus.

We need to be patient.

We need to be kind.

We need to always think of others, and not just ourselves!

We need to keep God’s perspective, and not get caught up in the things of this world.

Easy, right?

Well, Jesus died for you and raised you to new life, so live like a Christian!

Don’t lose your temper!

Don’t covet what others have.

Be a loving husband.

Don’t exasperate your children!

Submit to you husband!

Easy stuff.

Right?

Just Do It!

Well, Just Do It!

As we look at the passage for today, we could easily fall into thinking Paul is just giving the commands, and we need to, “Just do it,” if we want to be good Christians.

Let’s look at the passage for today,

Just do it?

Legalism

Ritualism

Mysticism

Asceticism

No… Christianity is real and relevant to everyday life.

There are ways we need to live, but there is also a how to do it in Christianity.

It is not a matter of sheer will-power.

It requires change from the inside out.

It starts with the mind and heart, and then the outward actions will follow.

That is what we have seen all the way through Colossians 3.

The heart to Just Do It:

What is the heart attitude here?

Sincerity and

Reverence the Lord

Sincerity - integrity, singleness of heart, absent from self-seeking motives

reverence - respect for the Lord

not when their eye is on you… classroom, gym class

Did God provide this job for you?

Recognize that you work for the Lord

Work at it with all your heart!

Chariots of Fire, the fact-based, Oscar-winning movie, depicts the quest of Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell to win gold medals in the 1924 Olympics, a feat they both accomplished.

The difference between Abrahams and Liddell is transparent: Everything Abrahams did was for himself, while everything Liddell did was for the glory of God.

Eric’s sister Jennie mistook her brother’s love of running for rebellion against God, and pressed him to return to the mission field in China, where they both were born and their parents lived.

One day his sister was upset because he had missed a mission meeting, so Eric decided to have a talk with her.

They walked to a grassy spot overlooking the Scottish highlands.

Clutching her arms, trying to explain his calling to run, he said, “Jennie, Jennie.

You’ve got to understand.

I believe God made me for a purpose—for China.

But He also made me fast!—and when I run, I feel His pleasure!”

That is in sharp contrast to a scene later in the movie, one hour before the final race of Harold Abrahams.

While his trainer gave him a rub-down, he lamented to his best friend, “I’m twenty-four and I’ve never known contentment.

I’m forever in pursuit, and I don’t even know what it is I’m chasing.”

Both men won a gold medal, but one won his medal for himself, while the other won his medal for God.

Do you feel God’s pleasure in what you do or, like Abrahams, does contentment elude you?”166

Rejoice in the Reward from the Lord

The story is told of a man who visited a stone quarry and asked three of the workers what they were doing.

“Can’t you see?” said the first one irritably.

“I’m cutting a stone.”

The second replied, “I’m earning a hundred pounds a week.”

But the third put down his pick and thrust out his chest proudly.

“I’m building a cathedral,” he said.

People view work in many ways: as a necessary evil to keep bread on the table; as a means to a sizable bank account; as self-fulfillment and identity; as an economic obligation within society; as a means to a life of leisure.”167

Righteously Fear the Lord

1 Peter 2.18-20 - suffering for doing wrong vs. suffering for doing right

Recognize the Lord