PURPOSE
- To understand what it means and takes to make Jesus Lord of your life.
- In the gospels, following Jesus is called discipleship.
- In the epistles, following Jesus is called Lordship.
- When we become disciples of Jesus, he becomes Lord of every aspect of our lives.
JESUS IS LORD OF OUR CHARACTER & ATTITUDE
COLOSSIANS 3:1-4
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
- Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things – We learn to process the world differently as Christ’s followers. We have a different perspective.
- You died and your life is now hidden with Christ – We must strive to think of heavenly and spiritual things. This is why we need daily prayer, Bible study, meditation, and fellowship.
- Q: How do we set our minds on things above on a daily basis?
COLOSSIANS 3:5-10 (REFLECT BACK TO SIN STUDY)
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[a] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
- Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature – no more anger and rage. No more slander and gossip. No more lies. No more selfish ambition. No more lust and impurity.
- Put on the new self, which is being renewed – being a follower of Jesus requires constant renewal.
- Q: Are you committed to dying to your sinful nature daily?
- Q: What do you believe your greatest challenges will be?
JESUS IS LORD OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS
COLOSSIANS 3:12-17
12 Therefore, as Godâs chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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.
- Clothe yourselves with…We are to live in imitation of Christ in our relationships.
- Q: Which of these characteristics are the most difficult for you to “put on?”
- Forgive as the Lord forgave you – God’s forgiveness is our standard.
- Q: How would you describe the forgiveness you will receive in baptism?
- Q: Are you ready to forgive those that have sinned against you?
- Q: Is there any particular person that you are struggling to forgive?
COLOSSIANS 3:18-25
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.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers,[a] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
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.
- Wives, husbands, children, fathers – God cares deeply about our family life.
- Q: What changes do you need to make to fulfil the family role that God has given you?
- Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord – When we are at work, we are serving the Lord.
2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-18
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[a]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
âI will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.â[b]
17 Therefore,
âCome out from them
and be separate,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.â[b]
17 Therefore,
âCome out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.â[c]
18 And,
âI will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.â[d]
JESUS IS LORD OF OUR FINANCES
MATTHEW 6:19-24
19 âDo not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 âThe eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 âNo one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
- Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth – As a follower of Jesus, we are told to not invest financially in the things that the world invests in.
- Q: How will this change you financial focus as a disciple?
- Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven – Jesus shares this in contrast to storing up treasures on earth. We do this instead of working for financial gain.
- Q: What do you think it means to store up treasure in heaven?
- You cannot serve both God and money – Why? What happens?
1 CORINTHIANS 15:58
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 CORINTHIANS 16:1-2
Now about the collection for the Lordâs people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
- Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord – We are to give everything to God’s purposes; time, energy, and money.
- Set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income – Paul communicates that our giving to the church should be regular and proportional to what we make.
- Q: Are you committed to regularly financially giving to the work of the Lord?
CONCLUSION
MATTHEW 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, âAll authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.â
- After you are baptised Jesus still expects you to be taught to obey His teachings.
- How do you feel about being in an ongoing discipling relationship?
ACTS 2:42-47
42 They devoted themselves to the apostlesâ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
- They devoted themselves – Immediately following the 3000 baptisms at Pentecost, we see these new converts devoted to each other, a spiritual focus, and the work of the Lord.
- Q: How did they put into practice the three attitudes we studied today? What was the result?
- Q: Are you willing to make Jesus Lord of every area of your life?
- Q: Do you think it is worth the cost?