Audio Recording

Sermon Outline

Speaker: Rev. Tim Chang
Sermon Series: Maturing in Christ

Colossians 2:13-23 (ESV)
13 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, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Sermon Outline
1. The allure of self-made religion

[16] Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
[20] …why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—[21] “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” [22] (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?

2. The burden of self-made religion

[23] These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
[20] If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations.

3. The freedom from self-made religion

[13] 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, [14] by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
[15] He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Prayer of Confession
Our gracious God, you have made clear for us the way of salvation, and yet we turn instead to the many laws and regulations of self-made religion that promise life but never satisfy. We cannot save ourselves. Lord, we need the rescue of Jesus. We turn to him for freedom, for he has given us forgiveness and he has disarmed the rulers and authorities. By your Spirit, help us to enjoy being with Jesus more and more each day, and to live in the freedom he has won for us.

Questions for Reflection

What connected with you from the sermon or the passage?
Paul says that self-made religion has the appearance of wisdom. Why do you think this is the case?
What versions of self-made religion do you see today?
What does Paul mean when he says that the practices of self-made religion are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh?
How have you seen rules or expectations become the goal rather than a tool in spiritual life?
In what ways do you struggle with doing things for Jesus rather than enjoying him?
Describe how you might struggle to rest in grace instead of striving or proving yourself.
What do you sense God calling you to do from this passage?