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
Colossians 2:20-3:4 - Religious baggage can pull us in all kinds of directions—from expecting God to fit our preferences to trying to earn His approval. Paul’s message to the Colossians was simple: stop guessing what God wants and get back to the core of Christianity—Jesus.
Colossians 2:13-19 - Humans have a problem that we can’t save ourselves from—not through secular programs or religious systems. The good news of Jesus is that on the cross, Jesus dealt with it all. In him we are alive, forgiven, and free!
Colossians 2:8-12 - Paul warns the Colossian church not to trade the freedom found in Christ for religion or spiritual experiences. Jesus is more than enough.
Colossians 2:1-7-The way forward for the first Christians wasn't always easy. False teachers brought confusion and deception, prompting Paul to point believers back to the truth. Just as the best way to spot a counterfeit is to know the genuine article, the best way to recognize false teaching is to know Jesus.
Colossians 1:24-29-Suffering is one of life's hardest realities. We might expect that following Jesus would mean less pain, but Jesus himself suffered and made it clear that his followers would too. The good news is that our suffering is never lost on God and is never in vain.
Colossians 1:21-23 - Paul contrasts two powerful words—alienated and reconciled—to tell our story. Discover how Jesus did the work of reconciliation and why that is the heart of the Gospel.
