Colossians 3 – The Soil, The Weeds, and The Seeds
Main Topics Discussed
Introduction
Opening:
Welcome congregation, invite them to open their Bibles to Colossians 3.
Brief recap of the previous week’s message on Paul’s encouragement to the church, highlighting Jesus' superiority over man-made religions.
Set the context: Today’s passage focuses on the Christian life and transformation through the gospel.
The Structure of the Christian Life
Paul’s Approach:
Paul organizes this passage into three distinct sections that reflect the Christian journey:
The Soil – The foundation of our faith.
The Weeds – The sin we must remove.
The Seeds – The virtues we must grow.
The Soil: Foundation of the Christian Life (v. 1-4)
If You Have Been Raised with Christ (v. 1):
The foundation of Christian life is rooted in the transformative power of the gospel.
Set Your Minds on Things Above:
Spiritual focus on Christ’s resurrection and what is eternal.
You Have Died, and Your Life is Hidden in Christ (v. 3):
Our identity is no longer in worldly things but in Christ.
Application: Christian growth begins with the acknowledgment that our lives are hidden with Christ. This is the essential "soil" for true transformation.
The Weeds: Putting to Death What Is Earthly (v. 5-9)
Put to Death What Is Earthly in You (v. 5):
Paul lists sinful behaviors that must be removed from a believer’s life: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness (v. 5).
The Wrath of God is Coming (v. 6):
These sins are part of the old self and invoke God's judgment.
List of Sins to Remove:
Anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk, and lying (v. 8-9).
Application: Sin is like weeds that choke spiritual growth. The Christian life involves daily repentance and turning away from these destructive behaviors.
The Seeds: Putting on the New Self (v. 10-17)
Put on the New Self (v. 10):
Just as we remove sinful behaviors, we also actively pursue godly virtues.
List of Christian Virtues:
Compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace, and thankfulness (v. 12-15).
Above All, Put on Love (v. 14):
Love binds all virtues together and creates harmony within the body of Christ.
Let the Word of Christ Dwell Richly (v. 16):
The Christian community must be rooted in God’s Word, teaching and admonishing one another in wisdom and worship.
Do Everything in the Name of the Lord (v. 17):
Every action and word should reflect Jesus and be done in gratitude to God.
Unity in Christ (v. 11)
No Greek or Jew, Slave or Free (v. 11):
Paul emphasizes that in Christ, social, ethnic, and cultural distinctions fade in importance.
Christ is All and In All:
The church is unified under the lordship of Christ, transcending earthly divisions.
Practical Application: How to Live This Out
1. Put Off the Old (v. 5-9):
Reflect on specific sinful behaviors that need to be removed from your life. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal areas for growth.
2. Put On the New (v. 10-17):
Identify which virtues you struggle with and ask the Holy Spirit to grow them in your life. Acknowledge where God has already worked and celebrate that growth.
3. Ground Everything in the Gospel (v. 1-4):
Recognize that transformation comes from being rooted in the gospel—Jesus sees us, loves us as we are, but also desires us to grow and be transformed.
Closing: The Power of Communion
Communion as a Reminder of Gospel Truth:
The bread represents Christ’s body broken for us; the cup represents His blood shed for our salvation.
As we take communion, we remember that the foundation of our transformation is the gospel. We can put off the old and put on the new because of what Christ has done.
Call to Action:
Reflect on your own life, identify the “weeds” to be removed and the “seeds” to be cultivated, and do so in the rich soil of Christ’s love and grace.
Prayer
Conclude with a Prayer for Strength:
Ask God to empower the congregation to put off sinful behaviors, embrace godly virtues, and live lives rooted in the gospel. Thank Him for His constant love and grace.
Biblical References
Colossians 3:1-17 (Main passage)
Verses 1-4: "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Verses 5-9: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices."
Verses 10-11: "And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all."
Verses 12-15: "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
Verses 16-17: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
These verses lay the foundation for the sermon, focusing on the transformative power of Christ's resurrection, the need to put away sinful behaviors, and the call to put on Christian virtues like love, compassion, and humility.
Reflection Questions
The Soil:
In what ways is your life "hidden with Christ"? How does acknowledging this foundational truth impact your perspective on spiritual growth and transformation?
The Weeds:
Which of the "earthly" behaviors (e.g., anger, slander, impurity) mentioned by Paul do you still struggle with? What practical steps can you take to actively "put them to death" in your daily life?The Seeds:
Which of the Christian virtues (e.g., kindness, humility, love) comes naturally to you, and which do you find the hardest to cultivate? How can you intentionally "put on" the new self and grow in these areas?Unity in Christ:
How do social, cultural, or personal distinctions influence your relationships with others in the church? How can you better embrace the reality that "Christ is all and in all" and foster unity in your community?Grounding in the Gospel:
How does your understanding of the gospel shape your approach to change and growth? Are you trying to change in your own strength, or are you relying on the truth that Christ’s love and grace empower your transformation?
Daily Activities
Monday: Spiritual Focus – Set Your Mind on Things Above
Activity: Begin the week with a morning meditation on Colossians 3:1-4. Set aside 15 minutes to reflect on your identity in Christ. Write down in a journal the things that might be distracting you from focusing on “things above” and surrender them in prayer.
Application: Commit to keeping your thoughts and actions aligned with Christ throughout the day. Whenever you feel distracted by worldly concerns, pause and refocus your thoughts on eternal things.
Tuesday: Identify and Uproot the Weeds
Activity: Take 30 minutes for personal reflection using Colossians 3:5-9. Write a list of the "weeds" (sinful behaviors or habits) that may be present in your life. Identify one or two specific behaviors that you want to work on removing.
Application: Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give you strength and wisdom to overcome these behaviors. Throughout the day, be mindful of situations where these behaviors might appear, and consciously choose to act differently.
Wednesday: Cultivate the Seeds of Virtue
Activity: Meditate on Colossians 3:12-14. Write down the virtues that you feel God is calling you to grow in—such as compassion, kindness, or patience. Identify one practical way to cultivate this virtue today.
Application: Intentionally practice that virtue throughout the day. For example, if you choose kindness, find a way to show kindness to a family member, friend, or coworker in a tangible way, such as offering help or encouragement.
Thursday: Live in Unity with Others
Activity: Reflect on Colossians 3:11 and the call to unity in Christ. Consider your relationships with others, especially those from different backgrounds or perspectives. Identify any divisions or biases in your life.
Application: Reach out to someone with whom you’ve experienced tension or distance, or someone who is different from you, and initiate a positive conversation. Seek common ground in Christ and show them love and respect, reflecting the unity we have in Him.
Friday: Ground Everything in Gratitude and Worship
Activity: Spend time reading Colossians 3:15-17 and reflect on how gratitude and worship are foundational to the Christian life. List 3-5 things you are thankful for, especially focusing on spiritual growth and how God has been working in your life.
Application: Incorporate gratitude into your daily routine. Throughout the day, practice giving thanks in all circumstances, and conclude the day with a time of worship—whether through prayer, singing, or reading Scripture—letting the peace of Christ rule in your heart.
