Audio Recording

Sermon Outline

Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Maturing in Christ

Colossians 2:6-15 (ESV)
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 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.

Sermon Outline
Real enduring growth flows out of the change that begins with the unique work that Christ does.

1. Circumcision

v11 “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands… the circumcision of Christ”

2. Crucifixion

v13 “you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh”
v14-15 “canceling the record of debt that stood against us… nailing it to the cross…He disarmed… put… to… shame”
v13 “God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses”

3. Baptism

v12 “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God…”

Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, who works powerfully for your people: forgive all our sins. We have not been thankful for your sacrificial love. We have not believed that your ways lead to life. We have trusted in our own judgements even when they have conflicted with your teachings. We have acted on corrupt desires, even when we recognized they lead to death. We have not been faithful to the covenant nor honored our relationship with you. Our hope is in Christ, who cancelled the record of debt that stood against us. Forgive us in him. Cleanse us and fill us with your Holy Spirit as we look to you with faith and give thanks for your grace. Amen.

Questions for Reflection

Are you abounding in thanksgiving? How often do you experience envy, resentment, or in some way dissatisfaction because you feel like you don’t have enough? What are some of the themes of negativity that persist in your life?
Jesus calls us to a new way of life. How would you describe it? How does it work? What don’t you understand about it?
Why is God concerned about our hearts?
Why is the work of Christ described as a circumcision of the heart?
How does the crucifixion of Jesus bring forgiveness to us? How does it work?
How can reflecting on what Jesus did for you help with your struggles of shame or efforts to be free from all that holds you captive?
What does baptism picture? What are we supposed to see when we observe a baptism?
What does it look like to have faith in the powerful working of God?
What changes can you make this week to make progress in walking “in Christ”? How will you try to think differently? What habits will you put aside? Which will you take on?