Living the Resurrection (Colossians 3:1-17)

The audio of the message from our Resurrection Sunday gathering, “Living the Ressurection” (Colossians 3:1-17), is now online. Here are the “Four summarizing thoughts” I promised to post last night, as well as the small-group discussion/personal application questions:

1) The gospel isn’t mainly about going to Heaven, it’s about ushering in Heaven here.

2) The death of Christ is mainly about what we’re saved from.  The resurrection of Christ is mainly about what we’re saved into.

3) As believers in Christ, we work to live in step with God’s will and in a way that is distinct, peculiar, and counter-cultural not mainly because we feel we must, but because we are new creations living the resurrection life.

4) We celebrate the resurrection not just because it vindicated Christ, showing him to be who he said he was, but also because it promises us a new kind of life before death.

Small Group Questions

Icebreaker: Tell us about a quirky, unique or disgusting habit that you have.

Have someone in the group read Colossians 3:1-17 out loud.

1. What was convicting, challenging, encouraging, or hope-giving for you in this message?

2. Can someone explain what PB said about what verses 3-4 have to do with verses 5-11, and what verses 1-2 have to do with 12-17?

3. What do you think it means to “set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (verse 2)?  What would that look like in your life?

4. What do you personally need to “put to death” in your life by the Cross (see verses 5-11)?  What do you need to “put on” in order to live out the resurrection life more fully (see verses 12-17)?  Do you have a plan for how to do that?

Next Week: “How to Be Spiritual (even without crystals, yoga and body prayer)” : 1 Corinthians 2.9-13