The New You

The new you

Week 4: 3:17-4:18

Colossians 4:7-18

7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews[c] among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”

18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Paul was a human talking to other humans 

This was not a one man show

 but a community of people with one cause 

Colossians 3:17-4:6

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.

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Husbands are not in charge of marriage, Jesus is.

All of the roles in this list are under the banner of the new Kingdom

Bound together with selfless love  

Wives are to submit to their husbands

Because they are to trust the love and care they will provide

Husbands are to submit to death

Because if they are to love their bride like Jesus it takes everything

Marriage is a picture of the Gospel

Two becoming one in trust and sacrifice

Bound together in selfless love

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Children watch and learn 

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

The Gospel is suppose to work in the home 

Your home should be made new

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Be wise with the way you act in every opportunity 

“Wise or unwise choices precede almost every moral victory or failure” 

In other words it's harder to make good moral choices when your house is built on sand

Let every conversation be…

Filled with grace

I will bare the burden of your ignorance harshness and boringness 

Seasoned with salt

I will fight to see you as a creation of God’s hand   

Wisdom, Grace and Salt are necessary ingredients to get answers right… not just the right answer

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.

The new you

• Knows to listen and learn from God
• Knows that God is the wind in our sail if we will raise it
• Knows when we feel lost or uncertain look to Jesus not rules

Knows everything we do either declares the mystery of Christ or the dominion of darkness

In our homes

In the wise way we live

Down to every single conversation