August 16, 2026
Where's The Hope? | The Old Life
The Colossian believers were figuring out what needed to stay and what needed to go in their lives. Paul, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, picked out two areas that needed special attention: sex and speech. These things reveal who we are at the deepest level. Thankfully, it isn’t a matter of nitpicking and navel-gazing; the right way to find health and freedom in these areas is to stay close to Jesus, study him, grow in knowledge of him, to stay close to him. Christianity isn’t harsh rules; it's a vibrant friendship.
Songs for this week: Spotify
Colossians 3:5-11
Questions:
- Describe a habit that you had to kick. What was your plan, and how did it go?
- “Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature”. What is in that category for you these days? What could it look like for ’that’ to be put to death?
- What’s the right way for Christians to understand “God’s wrath”?
- How are you ‘growing in the knowledge of your Creator’ these days? What has worked well for you in the past?
- What would you say to people who think that Christians are way too uptight about sex?
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Recent Sermons
2 Samuel 24:18-25-After his second colossal failure, David refused to cheap out on his sacrifice. See how God used his obedience to end a plague and build the Temple.
1 Samuel 23:14-18-Using the life of David, we’re taking four weeks to look at four essential practices that Christians have devoted themselves to for two thousand years: Gather, Grow, Give and Go. These practices are what Jesus has always called his church to do. This week we’re talking about growing … together.
1 Samuel 17:32-Join as we begin a 4-week series exploring the Vision of St. Paul’s through the life of David. Discover four essential practices Jesus has called His church to for 2,000 years: Gather, Grow, Give, and Go. This week, we begin with Gather—why gathering together matters and what it means to be the church.
Colossians 4:2-9 - Prayer isn’t meant to be an afterthought—it’s an invitation to stay connected to God. Paul’s final words challenge us to pray with purpose, keep our eyes open for what God is doing, and look for opportunities to share Jesus. A great way to wrap up a letter—and launch us into the world God loves.
Colossians 3:18-4:1 -Paul closes his letter by showing how following Jesus transforms our everyday relationships—with spouses, children, parents, employees, and employers—and calls us to care for one another with kindness.
Colossians 3:12-17-Sometimes Christianity gets known for what we don’t do. But Paul points us toward something better: how we live, love, and treat one another. What marks a genuine Christian community? It all starts with who God is and how deeply He loves us.
