Returning What Was Stolen

I want to invite you to open your Bibles to Ezra chapter 1. Last Sunday we looked at the Spirit who stirs—God rousing Cyrus and families in Babylon. We saw the pattern: when God stirs hearts, people move toward where He dwells. Now, tucked into this passage is one of the most beautiful pictures of what God does when He brings His people home.

Look at verse 7: "Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods." These aren't just vessels. These are the instruments of worship—the tools through which God's people offered sacrifice, burned incense, presented offerings to the living God. And they've been gone for seventy years. Sitting in pagan temples. Serving false gods.

Defiled. Displaced. Stolen. And now they're coming home. So here's the question: Why did these vessels need to return? And what does their return tell us about what God is doing in us? God restores what was taken so worship can be rightly offered again. We are being restored to worship Him rightly. MOVEMENT 1: Preserved Through Judgment—Called Out Think about what happened to these vessels. Seventy years earlier, Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, and took everything.

The gold bowls, the silver basins, the lampstands—everything used in the worship of Yahweh. He didn't just steal them for practical use. He took them as trophies. He put them in the temple of his gods in Babylon. These sacred instruments, made for the worship of the one true God, were now sitting in a pagan temple serving false gods. The very tools meant to mediate between God and His people, now defiled, displaced, serving idols.

For seventy years they sat there. And when I think about that, I think about us. We were made in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 tells us: "So God created man in his own image." You, and I were created to reflect God's glory, to worship Him, to commune with Him. Just like these vessels were made for worship in God's temple, you were made to know God and make Him known.

But sin, did to us what Nebuchadnezzar did to these vessels. Sin took us captive. Sin displaced us from our purpose. Sin defiled us and put us in service to things that were never meant to be worshiped. We became like these vessels—made for God's glory but serving false gods. And you'd think these vessels would be lost. But they weren't. Look at verse 8: "Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah." They were counted.

Every single one. God knew exactly where they were. Nothing was lost. Nothing was forgotten. He preserved them through the judgment, through seventy years of sitting in enemy hands. They survived because God had a purpose for them. They were going home. And here's where this gets personal. You were made to worship God. But sin took you captive. And for some of you, that exile has been long. Years of living for things that don't satisfy.

Years of serving desires that don't deliver. Years of feeling far from home. But God never lost sight of you. Even when you were in exile, even when you were serving other things, God knew exactly where you were. He knew your name. And He was preserving you because He had a purpose for you. You were coming home. This is what Peter means in 1 Peter 1:3-5: "In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade...

who through faith are shielded by God's power." You are preserved. Not because you held on to God, but because God held on to you. Now I want you to understand something. When God preserves, He's not passive. He's actively at work in you. Paul writes in Philippians 2:12-13: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." There's something critical happening in that verse.

Paul tells us to work. That's our responsibility. But then immediately he tells us why that's possible—because God is doing the real work inside us. Think of it like this… A lightbulb doesn't generate electricity, it receives power and then radiates. That's us. We don't generate spiritual life, we receive it from God and then live from it. Think about what Paul is saying. God works in you to will and to act.

Two things. First, to will. He molds your heart. This isn't just talking about wishes. This is talking about the depth of your genuine desires. What we're saying in faith is, God, I want what You want. God, I live in a culture where I am surrounded by the pleasures of this world. I need new appetites from You. I need You by Your grace to change my desires. And second, He empowers your life.

He puts His Spirit in you to enable you to follow His commands. To will and to act. God, I need You to enable me to work. I need You to enable me, not just to desire holiness, but God I need You to enable me to be holy. God, not just I desire to serve people around me, I need You to enable me to serve the people around me.

And here's what that means practically. When you woke up this morning and something in you wanted to seek God—that was God at work in you. When you're in temptation and something in you says "no"—that's God working in you. When you cry out to God for help—that cry is evidence that God is sustaining you. Because a dead person doesn't cry out. The fact that you're reaching means God is drawing.

This is why we can't earn our salvation and we can't earn our preservation. Both are gifts. Grace isn't just the doorway you walked through when you first believed. Grace is the air you breathe every single day. And this is why the Holy Spirit is essential. Jesus said it plainly in John 15: "Apart from me you can do nothing." Apart from Him. Nothing. And the way Jesus lives in you is by His Spirit.

The same Spirit who gave you new birth sustains that new life every single day. Listen. The vessels sat in Babylon for seventy years, but they were never Babylon's. They belonged to God. You may have spent years in exile, but you were never theirs. You belong to God. And He preserved you so He could bring you home. So the bottom line is this: No matter where you are, no matter how long you've been in exile—you are made in the image of God.

And even while you're living in sin, even while you're far from home, God sees you. God knows you. God is extending grace to you right now, calling you to come home. And if you sense that stirring in your heart, that's not you—that's God drawing you. That's God saying, "You belong to Me. Come home." MOVEMENT 2: Counted and Entrusted—Set Apart Now look at verse 8. "Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah." Counted them out.

Every single one. By number. Down to the individual basin, lampstand, censer. Each one mattered. Each one was known. Now I don't know about you, but I can't keep track of anything. I lose my keys three times a week. Just this week I spent ten minutes looking for my phone in the car and found out I left it at home. And you're telling me that God kept track of thousands of vessels for seventy years?

Look at the Scripture—29 silver knives. I can't begin to tell you how silverware gets lost in a house full of teenagers. But here, not one was lost. God doesn't misplace things. He knows exactly where everything is. And more than that, He knows exactly where you are. Look at verses 9-11—the detailed inventory. Thirty gold basins. Four hundred ten silver basins. One thousand other vessels. Why do you need to know this?

Because God doesn't do vague. He doesn't do "around 400-ish vessels, give or take." He does exact. He does specific. He knows you by name, not by category. This should make your heart leap for joy. He knows you. He treasures you. Listen to Scripture. Psalm 139: "O LORD, you have searched me and known me!... How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!" Jesus said in Matthew 10, "Even the hairs of your head are all numbered." God said through Isaiah, "I have called you by name, you are mine...

Because you are precious in my eyes." Jesus said in John 10, "I know my own and my own know me." You are known. You are treasured. You are His. Now, fast-forward 500 years. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:7, "We have this treasure in clay jars." We are those vessels. But Paul goes deeper than Ezra could have imagined. God isn't just bringing the vessels home to a place where worship is.

God is putting Himself inside the vessels, where worship happens. Look at Colossians 1. What Paul says right before "Christ in you" is one of the most stunning descriptions of Jesus in all of Scripture. Colossians 1:15-20, 27: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross...

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. Think about that. God is spirit—you can't see Him with physical eyes. But Jesus makes Him visible. Jesus is the one through whom everything was made. Every mountain. Every ocean. Every star.

Every atom. All of it came into existence through Him. And not only did He make it all, He's holding it all together right now. The reason the universe doesn't fly apart is because Jesus is sustaining it. The reason your heart is beating, the reason your lungs are pulling in oxygen, the reason the earth is spinning at exactly the right speed—Jesus is holding it all. He's not just holding creation together.

He's the author, creator, sustainer of you and me and eight billion other people who Jesus is sustaining right now with beating hearts and breathing lungs. Even if you were here today and you hate God, the reality is your breath comes from the very one you hate. He's sustaining you. Not to mention two hundred billion trillion stars that He calls by name and that's only the ones we can see.

And this same Jesus—the one who spoke galaxies into existence, the one who holds eight billion people in His hands—this Jesus is also the head of the church. He's the firstborn from the dead. And in Him all the fullness of God dwells. Everything that God is, Jesus is. So here's the point. If this Jesus is anywhere near you, everything changes. But Paul isn't saying Jesus is near you. He's saying Jesus is in you.

Right now, if you've put your faith in Christ, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe is living inside you. That's not a metaphor. That's actual reality. Paul calls this a mystery. He means something that was hidden for a long time but now has been revealed. It's like when you're a kid and your parents are planning a surprise party. It's a mystery to you, but the moment they yell "Surprise!"—it's revealed.

So what's the mystery? Well, I'm glad you asked. All through the Old Testament, God's pattern has always been to be with His people. Over and over again, what is the constant refrain we see in God's relationship with His people? God is saying, "I am with you." I'm with you, Abraham. I'm with you, Isaac. I'm with you, Jacob. The Lord was with Joseph. I will be with you, Moses.

When we get to Joshua, I will be with you, Joshua, just as I was with Moses. I will never leave you or forsake you. I will be with you always. I'll be with you, David. I'll be with you, Solomon, just as I was with David. God dwelt with His people first in a tabernacle and eventually in a temple. Over and over again, He'll say through the prophets to His people, "Fear not for I'm with you." That's the whole Old testament.

Then the New Testament starts. Jesus comes on the scene and His name shall be called Immanuel—which means God what? With us. God with us in the flesh. He is the tabernacle. He is the temple. God with us in Jesus. But then John 13:33, Jesus looks at His disciples and He says, "I will be with you only a little longer." What? And then Jesus, God with us, is gone.

Jesus dies on a cross for our sins. He rises from the grave and ascends to heaven. So what's going on in this story? All God's people have known is God with them in the tabernacle, in the temple, in the flesh, but now He's not with them. Look at what Paul writes back in Colossians 1:15-20, 27, "God has chosen to make known among you the riches of the glory of this mystery"—which is not God with you but Christ the image of the invisible God inside you.

That is amazing and that changes everything about how we view the Christian life. So many Christians believe Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins and that they're going to heaven as if that's the whole story. Which that's a great story but thats not the purpose of the gospel, so many Christians are completely missing out on all that means here today. So many live compartmentalized Christian lives where Jesus is over here, but the daily stresses of life and family and work and stuff in this world are over here.

In the middle of it all, many Christians are living frail, frustrated, anxious, restless, sometimes rote Christian lives where you constantly feel spiritually defeated, sometimes feel, if you're honest, spiritually bored. I get it.. You’re born because this faith isn’t producing what you had intended it to produce. The reason is because you're missing out on the mammoth truth that you have Christ Himself in you in the middle of all of this.

The mammoth truth that Jesus died for you 2,000 years ago so that He might live in you today. The Christ who died for you is not dead. He is alive and not just alive in heaven. He is alive in you, which means that Jesus is more than just your savior. As awesome as that is, Jesus is your life. He is your life. He doesn't just forgive your debts.

He transforms your days. I think about Hudson Taylor, the missionary to China in the 1800s. For seven years he tried as hard as he could to live the Christian life. He worked. He strived. He exhausted himself trying to be holy, trying to serve God, trying to abide in Christ. And he was miserable. Then one day his sister sent him a letter that wrecked him. She wrote about a conversation she'd had with someone who said, "For seven years with utmost sincerity, you have been trying to live for Christ on His behalf, when all along Christ has been waiting to live through you." And it hit Taylor like a lightning bolt.

He wasn't supposed to generate Christ-likeness through effort. He was supposed to receive Christ's life and let it flow through him. He wrote back to his sister, "Oh, my dear sister, it is a wonderful thing to realize I really am one with a risen and exalted savior. It is joy to feel Jesus living in you, to find your heart all taken up by Him, to be reminded of His love by His seeking communion with you at all times, not by your painful attempts to abide in Him.

He is my life, my strength, my salvation." He went on to say, "I'm no longer anxious about anything. It makes no matter where He places me or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me, for in the easiest position, He must give me His grace. In the most difficult, His grace will be sufficient. So if God should place me in great perplexity, must He not give me much guidance?

In positions of great difficulty, much grace? In circumstances of great pressure and trial, much strength? I have no fear that His resources will be unequal to the emergency and His resources are mine for He is mine and is with me and dwells in me." Church, have you grasped this? Jesus Christ is in you. Not just near you. Not just with you. In you. And that means the Christian life isn't about trying harder to be a better version of yourself.

That makes your salvation about you. It's about consecrating your life and surrendering your life so that Jesus's life is lived in you and through you. The Christian life is impossible at every single point without the power of Christ at the core of who you are supernaturally transforming the way you think, what you desire, how you act, how you relate to people around you, your whole reason for living.

You can't live and love, be and do all that God has designed you to be and do without His life and His power and His love and His strength and His peace and His wisdom, His life at work in you from the inside out. You can't manufacture patience on your own—but Christ in you is patient. You can't generate love for difficult people on your own—but Christ in you loves the unlovable.

You can't create joy in the middle of suffering on your own—but Christ in you is joy. This is why Jesus told Nicodemus, "You must be born again." Not improved. Not reformed. Born again. Completely new. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, the new has come. You're not just being restored to usefulness. You're being filled with the very life of God.

You are counted. You are known. You are entrusted with Christ Himself. MOVEMENT 3: Making the Journey Home—Being Transformed Now look at verse 11. "All the vessels for gold and for silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem." The vessels made the journey. These holy vessels didn't just teleport to Jerusalem—they went on a journey. From Babylon to Jerusalem.

From pagan temples to the house of God. From exile to home. But here's what's easy to miss. When these vessels arrived, they couldn't just be immediately put back into service. They had been in pagan temples for seventy years. They were defiled. And according to the Law, anything defiled had to be purified before being used in worship again. Numbers 31 gives the process: metal objects had to pass through fire or be washed with water of purification.

They had to be cleansed. Consecrated. Set apart again as holy. It wasn't enough that they came home. They had to be made holy again for God's use. And listen, church—how much more true is this for us? These vessels needed fire and water to be cleansed. But our defilement runs deeper than anything fire or water can touch. Our defilement is sin. And sin requires blood. Hebrews 9:22 says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." We needed more than ritual cleansing.

We needed a sacrifice. We needed the blood of Jesus Christ poured out on the cross to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That's how you're made holy. That's how you're consecrated. Not by your own effort. Not by your own purification rituals. But by the blood of the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. And that's the picture of what God is doing in you. You're not just being brought home and left as you are.

You're being purified. Cleansed. Transformed. Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:21: "If anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy." So here's where this becomes practical. You've been preserved. You've been counted. Christ is in you. But now comes the journey. Now comes the daily walk. Now comes the process of being transformed as you move toward home. This isn't instant.

This is a journey. And the danger is we can start strong but not finish well. We can begin the race and quit halfway through. Look at 1 Corinthians 10:12: "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." Paul is talking to Christians. Believers saved by grace. And he's saying, "Be careful. Don't get comfortable." Because confidence can turn into carelessness. We can start to think we've got this figured out.

And that's when we're most vulnerable. When we get confident in ourselves, we stop depending on God. We stop being desperate for His Word. We stop seeking Him in prayer. And then temptation finds an opening. Here's the bottom line. It matters how we live. Because we have a mission—showing the world what Jesus looks like. And if we're preaching the gospel with our mouths but living in contradiction to it with our lives, we're hurting the mission.

So Paul reminds the Corinthians of Israel in the wilderness. Verses 1-5: "Our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses... and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness." Every Israelite experienced the same blessings.

God's presence, God's power, God's provision, and Christ with them. But verse 5 says: "Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased." Most of them. Their bodies were scattered across the desert. They started the journey but never made it to the Promised Land. Paul isn't saying they lost their salvation. He's saying they missed out on what God had planned for them. Three things took them down: Uncontrolled desire.

They started craving things God hadn't given them. They were tired of manna. They wanted the food they used to eat in Egypt—the cucumbers and melons and garlic and onions. And they obsessed over it. They complained about it. They let that desire control them. And here's the principle: when you have to have something more than what God has provided, when you can't be satisfied with what's in front of you and what you have right now, desire will start to take over.

You begin serving that desire instead of serving God. And those who were strewn across the wilderness, they were a people who failed to bring their bodies under control. Instead, they indulged in every desire, lust and craving. The Christian who brings his or her desires under control, who's content with what God has given, stays in the race where God has placed them and receives what God has promised in His timing, not theirs.

Idolatry. This is in Exodus 32. Moses was up on the mountain for 40 days. Down below, the people got restless. They started to wonder if God was even real. Have you ever been there? You pray and it feels like nothing's happening. You cry out and heaven seems silent. You wonder if God even sees you, even knows you're struggling. That's where they were. So they went to Aaron and said, "Make us a god we can see." What did Aaron do?

He gave in to their desire. That's dangerous. Because when leaders give in to what people want instead of standing on what God says, everyone falls. Aaron melted down their jewelry and made a golden calf. And they said, "This is the god who brought us out of Egypt." They convinced themselves they could worship the true God through a false image. What happened next? They threw a party. They ate, they drank, they "rose up to play"—which is a polite way of saying they had an orgy.

They did what the pagans did at their idol festivals. And God killed 3,000 of them in one day and sent a plague on top of that. Now we're probably thinking, "I'm not tempted to bow down to a golden calf." True. But we're more sophisticated in our idolatry. Think about this—an idol is anything that takes God's place in your life. Anything that gets your love, your time, your attention, your desire or your worship before God gets it.

When your job consumes you more than your relationship with Jesus does, that's an idol. When you're more concerned about what your kids think of you than what God thinks of you, they've become an idol. When your phone gets more attention than your Bible, when your fantasy team gets more passion than your worship, when accumulating stuff matters more than adoring your Savior—that's idolatry. It's Halloween every day of your life because all you've done is just dressed up all the things you desire and your idolatry in 21st century clothes.

The Christian who keeps Jesus as the supreme treasure of his life stays in the race. Grumbling. This is in Numbers 16. Three men didn't like Moses' leadership. They thought they could do just as good a job. They didn't like the authority God had put in place. So they started complaining. And it wasn't silent complaining behind Moses's back, it was out loud. They stirred up dissension, spread distrust, created division.

And God opened the earth and swallowed them alive. Grumbling is dangerous because it's not just complaining about circumstances. It's questioning God's wisdom, God's goodness, God's plan. When we grumble about our job, we're saying God made a mistake putting us there. When we grumble about our church, or other churches, we're saying God doesn't know what He's doing. When we grumble about our season of life, we're accusing God of not being good.

And here's the thing about grumbling—it spreads. One person starts complaining and pretty soon everyone's negative. It's like a virus. It infects the whole community. The Christian who stays content, who trusts God's plan even in difficulty, stays in the race. So there's the warning. Uncontrolled desires, idolatry, grumbling—these things disqualified Israel from reaching the Promised Land. But Paul doesn't end with warning. He ends with hope. Verse 13: "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.

God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." Three truths. First, whatever temptation you're facing, you're not alone. It's common to humanity. Someone else has faced it. You're not the first person to struggle with this. Second, God is faithful. He won't let you face something you can't endure with His help.

He knows your limits. He knows what you can handle. And third, God provides a way through. Not a way out—a way through. He doesn't snap His fingers and remove the temptation. He walks with you through it and gives you what you need to endure it. So be encouraged. The temptations coming at you this week aren't new. God knows about them. And He's already prepared the way for you to walk through them without falling.

CONCLUSION As the worship team comes up—we're running a race. The race of treasuring Christ so His glory overflows in worship and compassion to our neighbors and the nations. The question is: Are you going to stay in the race? Are you going to finish well? Think about it, The vessels made it home. Look at Ezra 1:11 one more time: "All the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400.

All these did Sheshbazzar bring up." All of them. 5,400 counted out in Babylon. 5,400 that arrived in Jerusalem. Not one was lost. And fast forward to Ezra 6:16-18: "The people of Israel... celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs... for the service of God at Jerusalem." They arrived. They were consecrated.

And they were put back into worship. From Babylon to Jerusalem. From pagan temples to the house of God. From exile to worship. From being defiled to being consecrated. From misuse to their purpose. Here's what I want you to hear this morning. You've been preserved. God hasn't lost sight of you. You've been counted. God knows you by name. If you right now do not know Jesus and you're living in exile—you're not forgotten.

If you're here this morning, God has drawn you here today, or to watch online, saying, "Here is the group going from exile to the promised land. Walk with them, travel with them, do life with them." But first, you need to repent. You need to consecrate your life. You need the very presence of Christ in you. And that happens when you give your life to Christ and say, "Jesus, I've been in exile long enough.

I've been serving idols that don't satisfy. I've been defiled by sin. But You came to bring me home. You died on the cross to pay for my sin. You rose from the dead to give me new life. I'm turning from my sin right now. I'm turning to You. Come into my life. Make me new. Fill me with Your Spirit. Bring me home." And for those of us who've already made that turn, who've already given our lives to Christ—here's what you need to hear: Christ is in you.

The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in your heart. That's not just good theology. That's your daily reality. That's your power for the journey. That's your hope for the race. So this week, when temptation comes—and it will come—remember you're not alone. Christ is in you. When discouragement hits, when you want to quit, when the journey feels too long, remember you're not alone. Christ is in you.

When you feel like you're still in exile, when you feel displaced from your purpose, when you wonder if God even sees you, remember—He does. He's preserved you. He's counted you. And He's bringing you home. Let's pray. Father, we thank You that You don't just save us and leave us to figure it out on our own. You preserve us. You know us by name. You've placed Christ Himself inside us.

That's staggering. Help us to live from that reality this week. When we're tempted, remind us that Christ is in us. When we're discouraged, remind us that You're bringing us home. When we want to quit the race, give us strength to endure. Not by our power, but by Yours working in us. We love You. We need You. And we're grateful that these vessels—us—are Yours. In Jesus' name, Amen.*

Deep Faith

I want to invite you to open your bibles with me back to Luke chapter 5. And then, Find with me Colossians chapter 3. Luke 5 is our anchor text this morning, and then Colossians will be how we dive into what it means to have deep faith. We started this journey last week with a simple but piercing question: Can He use your boat? That question was less about a sermon and more about a posture—one of surrender.

We talked about Simon, how he was tired and discouraged, scrubbing his nets after a night of empty fishing. And yet, when Jesus stepped in, Simon said yes. Not to deep water yet—just to a little push from the shore. Just enough room for Jesus to speak. And we ended last week with this thought.. Obedience and love often begins with small steps. That comes from verse 3 hen Jesus and Peter was in the boat and Jesus had asked him to put the boat out into the shallows.

Easy right…. I mean, I imagine Peter being tired going, ok this isn’t bad, I'm not too far from the shore, and I’ll let him preach a little and we’ll be done. Now of course, that’s no where in the Scripture, I’m just seeing my life in this story. How I would of felt in this moment. But here we are again—same boat, same Jesus… but the invitation has changed. Verse 3 was about the shallows.

About saying yes when it’s safe. But now look at verse 4: “When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch.’” That’s the turning point. Jesus is inviting Peter—and us—not just into a moment of obedience, but into a depth of obedience. Into something that isn’t safe or predictable, something that requires trust beyond what makes sense. And maybe you’re asking—what does that really look like in my actual life?

What does it mean to go deep with Jesus—not just emotionally or spiritually, but practically, day by day? That’s where Colossians 3 comes in. Because Paul shows us what a deep, surrendered life really looks like in real time—in your thoughts, your habits, your relationships, and your worship. So, let’s turn to Colossians chapter 3 together. I want you to see these words for yourself, because Paul isn’t just talking about a future hope or a past miracle—he’s laying out the blueprint for how you and I can live a deep, surrendered life right now.

Let’s read, starting in verse 1: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1–4, NIV) Let’s pause here for a second.

Paul is saying, “If you belong to Jesus, your old life—your old ambitions, your old priorities, your old way of doing things—it’s over. = Now, your whole life is anchored in Him.” In other words, if you want to go deep with Christ, it starts with what you set your heart and mind says on the shore and in the shallows. It’s not about living for the approval of others, or chasing whatever makes you comfortable.

It’s about making Jesus the very center of your desires. And that leads us to the first mark of a deep life with God—the first “test,” if you will—and it’s this: the test of sacrifice. Paul puts it bluntly in verse 5. Listen to his language: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Let’s be honest—this isn’t easy to hear.

“Put to death” sounds a lot more serious than “try your best” or “work on it when you have time.” Paul is saying, if you want to walk in the deep with Christ, something has to die. It’s not just about avoiding the “big sins.” What had to die for Peter in our Scripture in Luke? Well, I think his understanding. Right? Think about it… how could a carpenter tell a fisherman how to fish?

Peter even says in Luke, Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing.. Peter thinks its about fishing. But Jesus is trying to show him its not about the fish, its about the people. You’re gonna fish for people… its the people still on the shore, and maybe even in the shallows.. You see, the test of sacrifice is our willingness to obey even when we don’t understand. It’s about surrendering every part of yourself that’s pulling you away from Jesus—desires, habits, even things that might seem normal or harmless to everyone else.

Its the, this makes no sense… Here’s the question I want to lay before you, church… What is God asking you to let go of so that you can walk deeper with Him? Maybe for you, sacrifice looks like releasing an old grudge, forgiving someone who hurt you, or finally surrendering a habit you’ve justified for years. Maybe it’s about letting go of your need for control, your obsession with being right, or your constant pursuit of “just a little bit more”—more money, more affirmation, more comfort.

Paul is calling us to get practical: Where in your life are you still living for the things “below”—earthly things—rather than setting your heart and mind on Christ “above”? You See, sacrifice isn’t about earning God’s love or impressing other people. It’s about making space for more of Christ in your life. The more you let go, the more He fills. The more you surrender, the more you find real, lasting life.

Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Daily—every morning, every decision, every moment, we’re invited to lay down our will so that His can be done. And I want you to hear this: Sacrifice isn’t loss—it’s the doorway. You’re not surrendering something precious to a God who wants to make you miserable. You’re letting go of lesser things so you can finally be free to live the life God designed for you.

There is more joy, in this surrender.. I want that kind of joy. Don’t you? Don’t you want real joy—not the thin, fleeting pleasures that leave you empty by nightfall? Not the cheap imitations the world holds out—pleasures that promise so much and deliver so little? I want abundant joy. Overflowing joy. The kind of joy that rises up, even in the dark, and will not be put out! And listen: this is what Jesus offers you.

This is what He died and rose to give you. Not just pardon. Not just a clean slate. Jesus says, “I have spoken these things to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Full! Not a trickle, not a drop—fullness. Oh, church, don’t you hear it? The living God is not in the business of rationing out a few scraps of happiness to His children.

He is the fountain of living water (Jeremiah 2:13). The table is spread. The invitation is real. Do you want it? Do you want the kind of joy that Paul tasted—so rich, so overwhelming, that he could sit in prison and sing? That he could lose everything—reputation, comfort, even his own life—and call it all “rubbish” compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, his Lord (Philippians 3:8)? This isn’t stoicism.

This isn’t grit-your-teeth religion. This is joy—deep, blood-earnest, unshakable, resurrection joy! But, oh, how easily we settle for less. How quickly we trade the river for the mud puddle. We cling to our comforts. We grip our little treasures. And all the while, the fountain flows—free, full, forever. Church, hear me: The greatest lie Satan whispers is that God is a killjoy, that surrender means loss, that obedience is drudgery. But look at the cross!

Look at the empty tomb! Joy flows from Calvary. Joy explodes out of the grave. If you want that kind of joy You’ll find it where Jesus leads you—through sacrifice, through surrender, through the emptying of self—right into the arms of the Savior, where there is “fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). But Paul doesn’t stop with sacrifice. He moves us even further into the deep. Because the life Jesus calls us to isn’t just about what we lay down—it’s also about who we let lead.

So the next mark of deep faith that Peter experienced is the test of submission. Peter said, Jesus there’s no fish. Nothing. In my expieince all night, my toil, my suffering, there’s no reason do do what you’re asking… then there’s something… look at what Peter says… BUT, if you say so ill let down the nets. This submission. Jesus would do this in the garden, If this cup can pass yet, let your will be done.

Full and total surrender…. Even to death. Not my will but yours. Paul would say in Colossians in verse 6 and 7, “Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.” (Colossians 3:6–7) Paul is saying, “Look, that was your old life. That was who you once were… before Christ. But now, your walk—your lifestyle—is meant to change.” And that change is not just about behavior modification, but about a new authority in your life.

It’s about surrendering your will, your plans, your independence, and saying, “Jesus, You get to be in charge. Submission means that I stop arguing with God about what He says is true. It means I let Him define what is good, what is best, and what needs to go. It’s an attitude that says, “I trust Your wisdom more than my own. I want Your will, not just mine.” Submission isn’t just about the big, dramatic moments—it’s also about the little choices, the daily habits, the ways I treat people, the way I handle my words, my money, my time.

Look at verse 8 and 9… Paul tells the Colossians, “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices…” (Colossians 3:8–9) Did you notice? This isn’t just a list of things to quit—it’s a call to let God’s Word and God’s Spirit have the final say in how you live You might think you have a right to hold on to anger.

You might think it’s just normal to say what’s on your mind, to gossip a little, to stretch the truth to protect yourself. But the test of submission is: Will I let Jesus be Lord, even in these “everyday” things? Will I let Him transform my heart, not just my habits? And, honestly, that’s not always easy. I don’t know about you, but there are times when my pride gets in the way.

Times when I’d rather be right than be humble. Times when I want to defend myself, or make sure I’m seen in the best light, or just have things my way. But Jesus keeps inviting me—inviting us—to trust that His way really is better, even when it feels hard or unfamiliar. So let me ask: Where do you need to stop fighting for control and let God have His way? Is there an area where you know what God wants, but you’ve been holding back, making excuses, or just trying to do it your way?

Are you willing to say, “Lord, I surrender—even this—to You”? This is the test of submission. It’s the step deeper that Jesus calls us to take, and it’s where freedom and transformation begin to take root. We have the test of sacrifice and submission—yes. But next comes the test of sorrow. Look with me again, in verse 8-10… “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 taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:8–10) In other words, if you’re in Christ, you’re not who you used to be. The old you is gone. God is doing something brand new in you. But, let’s be honest—letting go of those old habits, that old way of life, that’s hard.

It’s not just about changing what you do. It’s about changing who you are. And here’s where the sorrow comes in. Let me put it this way: The things that hurt you the most are usually the things you care about the most. The deeper the relationship, the deeper the pain when it’s broken. If you accidentally bump into a stranger, you say, “Sorry!” and move on. No big deal. But if you say something harsh to your spouse or break a promise to your kid—oh, that hits different, doesn’t it?

There’s real pain, real regret, because that relationship matters to you. It’s the same with our relationship with God. When we sin, when we drift, it’s not just about breaking a rule. It’s about breaking the heart of the One who loves us most. So if you’re feeling that sorrow, that weight, that “ugh, why did I do that again?”—don’t ignore it. Don’t stuff it down. Don’t brush it off. Here’s the truth: Sorrow is often the sign that God is working on your heart.

Think about that… even in my sorrow, God is still drawing near. He promises in His Word that He draws near to the brokenhearted. And I just have to wonder—how many times, right in the middle of my pain, was God right there with me, reaching out, and I just didn’t see Him? How many times was He ready to comfort, to restore, to heal—but instead, I kept looking somewhere else?

And honestly, that makes me stop and ask: Where was I turning for satisfaction? Where was I running for comfort? Was it drugs, or my job, or alcohol or even intimacy with my spouse… what was my comfort? Was it to God—or was it to something or someone else? But here’s the truth: None of those things really satisfy. None of them heal the ache. They might distract for a moment.

So what do we do? Well, we learn to rejoice in our sorrow—not because the pain is good, but because Jesus is better. I want to invite our worship team to come up as we come close to closing… but there’s one final point to seeking a deeper faith… And its this… its the test of satisfaction. How do we see this in the story of Peter and Jesus? Well remember that boat?

At first, he’s satisfied with the shallow. He’s satisfied with empty nets, with “good enough,” with a night of failure and no catch. He’s ready to pack up, clean the nets, and call it a day. But then Jesus steps into his boat and calls him out into the deep. And when Peter obeys—when he goes into the deep at Jesus’ word—he experiences a catch so great it breaks the nets and overwhelms the boats.

He’s undone. He’s not just surprised—he’s humbled, convicted, and ultimately, satisfied in a way that fish could never do. But notice what happens next, because this is the point: Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. They left everything. Why? Because after tasting the goodness, the power, the presence and the forgives of Jeuss.

, nothing else could satisfy them anymore—not the boats, not the nets, not even the miracle catch. That’s what Paul is talking about in Colossians 3: When Christ is your all, you can leave anything else behind. You can walk away from your nets—from lesser satisfactions, old ways, disappointments, and even your suffering—because you’ve found Someone better. Deep faith is not found in the abundance of what you have, but in the abundance of Christ in you.

That’s deep faith.. its holiness. Stepping out into the deep.. that test our surrender, and who we look to for sorrow and pain, and what we’re willing to sacrifice… but holiness comes when we find our satisfaction only in Jesus.. and that’s going to take Peter some time learning and hurting, and dying to self and being forgiven on a shore… deep faith leads to satifcatipon. And maybe your listening and you go, pastor I have that desire.

Me too… but its not about desire… as much as its about delight… do you delight in Jesus? You see church, having a desire for Jesus only gets you started, but its delight that takes you deeper. Desire is a wish, a hopeful want, but delight is treasuring, savoring, taking great pleasure in Christ. To delight in Jesus is to seek to please Him above all else—even unto death. It’s what Psalm 73:26 declares: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”My soul leaps to seek and live for Jesus, because there’s nothing else in life that satisfies.

I delight in Him more than forgiveness itself, more than food or rest, more than anything under the sun, moon, or stars. I delight in Jesus with holy abandonment—He is my life, my all in all. Do you know what we call this? Its called Holiness. Not because you just avoid sin, but because you’re captivated by Christ. Holiness is Christ in me—and me delighting in Him. The love, grace, and forgiveness I show the world is Christ in me, pouring out into the lives of others.

As David writes in Psalm 63:5, “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.” Why do people fall into infidelity, or abuse drugs and alcohol, or why do we binge Netflix and endlessly scroll face or Twitter. Why do we get caught up in playing video games and watching movies? We do these things because people have not found happiness.

Life is this endless pursuit of trying to find satisfaction. Trying to find a comfortable life. And At the root of our dissatisfaction is a never-ending thirst that nothing in this world can satisfy. And we’ve been duped into thinking that a better job, more money, cooler friends, another spouse, or a new life is really what we need. And if we can’t obtain any of these things, or when they leave us dissatisfied, we resort to things that become like treasure to us.

Can I just say something… who you are right now is who God wants right now. There is no, let me get better, or let me get my life strait… if left to ourselves we will never get where we want to be. Thats deep faith! Treasuring Christ above all else. Repenting of our sin, hurting like Peter in his sorrow, Depart from me, Jeuss, for I am a sinful man.

And then. hearing the love and kindness of Christ saying saying, don’t be afraid. You see church, Faith is remembering what He’s done and trusting Him enough to step into the deep, knowing He is enough. But let me ask you: Is He enough for you today? If you want to go deeper in your faith—to step out of the shallows, to leave the comfort of the shore—remember this: When the miracle happened, there were two kinds of people.

There were those standing safely on the shore, watching it all from a distance… and there were those in the boat, those who got their hands wet, those who risked and obeyed and saw the power of Jesus up close. Which one are you this morning? Are you content to watch what God does in others’ lives from a distance? Or are you ready to step into the deep, to trust Him, to get your hands wet—because you know Jesus is enough?

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Jesus as Life Part 2

I want to invite you to open your Bibles with me to Colossians chapter 3. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been walking slowly through one of the most powerful statements Jesus ever made in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We haven’t rushed past those words—we’ve let them sink in. Let them reshape how we see Jesus… and how we walk with Him. When Jesus says, “I am the way,” we’re reminded of what the prophet Jeremiah once told a wandering people—people not all that different from us: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls’” (Jeremiah 6:16). We’ve been leaning into that as a church. And what we’ve discovered is this: “Ancient” doesn’t mean outdated—it means timeless. This path we’re talking about? It’s not a religion. It’s not a checklist. It’s not a ticket to punch or a map to follow. The ancient path is a person. And His name is Jesus. Jesus is the way. Jesus is the truth. And today—we’re leaning all the way into that last word: life. So here’s the question I want us to wrestle with together: What does it actually mean to say, “I don’t just believe in Jesus… I don’t just go to church for Jesus… but Jesus is my life”? To answer that, we’re going to walk through Colossians chapter 3. Now—I’m not going to put the passage on the screen, because it’s a lot to take in. So I’m asking you to follow along with me in your Bibles as I read Colossians 3, starting in verse 1 and continuing through verse 18. (Read Colossians 3:1–18)

Now, here’s the picture—and we actually catch a glimpse of it back in Colossians 1:27: “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” That’s the beginning. That’s the mystery revealed—not just Christ for us, but Christ in us. Gentiles like you and me, welcomed into the glory of God through union with Christ. Let me say it this way: Christ in us is the hope of glory. But if we’re going to live a spiritually transformed, Christ-shaped life, we need to understand the wholeness we already have in Him. That’s what Paul is pointing to in Colossians 3:1–4. My Bible titles this section: Put on the New Self. Chapter 2 focused on being made alive in Christ, but now Paul turns to what that life actually looks like—both in our relationship with Christ and in how we relate to others. Look at verse 3: “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” You died. I died. What does that mean? It means the old you—the one defined by shame, guilt, and sin—was crucified with Christ. Your past life is buried. It’s not who you are anymore. And when Christ died, He accomplished two things: He paid the penalty for your sin. He broke the power of sin over your life. So if you’ve placed your faith in Christ—if you’ve died with Him—you no longer live under sin’s penalty, and sin no longer has power to dominate you. At the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished.” What was finished? The POWER system of sin, shame, and self. It was defeated. And now, in Christ, you’ve been given the power to live differently. Think about it… That moment you were short and snippy with someone—you now have power in Christ to respond with patience, to really listen, and to love like Jesus. Or when someone was harsh with you—you now have power, through Christ, to forgive. To choose relationship over resentment. To walk in love instead of staying wounded. So not only have you died with Him—your life is now hidden with Christ in God. That’s verse 3. This is the beauty of following Jesus. We are in Christ, and Christ is in us. He’s not just part of your life—He is your life. And that starts right now. Not later. Not someday in heaven. Not after you’ve got it all figured out. Right now, you are in Christ. Right now, you are experiencing eternal life. But the question I keep asking myself is this: What am I doing with the eternal life I already have? Am I living for the next thing? The next week? The next breakthrough? Or am I living each moment fully aware that Christ is in me—right now—desiring fellowship? Paul said it in Philippians: “For me, to live is Christ.” That’s not just poetic language for Paul—it was reality. Before Christ, his life was marked by death and darkness. But when the gospel opened his eyes, he saw a glimmer of light—and he couldn’t look away. That’s how it started for me, too. I began noticing things I’d never noticed. The things of Christ became beautiful. But here’s the tension—maybe you feel it too: Even after we’ve been raised with Christ, there’s still a temptation to go digging up the old life. Why is that? Why do we sometimes feel drawn to things Jesus already rescued us from? What captivates us in the past that Christ isn’t offering us in the present—or in eternity? The truth is—before Christ, we were trapped. Trapped by our own greed. Our own immorality. Our own distorted passions. And yet… we try to resurrect what Christ came to crucify. Paul knew this.

Look at what Paul says in verse 5: “Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Put it to death. Kill it. Whatever belongs to your old nature—get rid of it. This week, I kept thinking about that phrase: put to death. And the truth is—we already live by this principle in everyday life. After prepping raw chicken, what do we do? We scrub the knives, bleach the countertops—we kill the germs because we know they’re dangerous. We pull weeds from our gardens because we know they’ll choke out the good things growing. So here’s the question: if we understand this in the kitchen and the garden, why don’t we apply it to our souls? Paul is saying, “Don’t manage your sin. Don’t excuse it. Don’t negotiate with it. Kill it.” Because sin doesn’t just trip you up—it takes you out. And here’s what strikes me: even though I’m in Christ… even though I’m saved by grace through faith… there’s still a battle going on. What’s the battle? My flesh. Paul lists it clearly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed—which he calls idolatry. These are the enemies that live closest to home. Let’s talk about that first one—sexual immorality. It’s physical. It’s fleshly. So here’s the question we all need to ask: Is my body consecrated to God? Now, I get it—consecrated is an old word. But it matters. Here’s what it means: wholehearted devotion. Being “all in” with Jesus. It’s drawing a line in the sand and saying,“From this moment forward, I’m living on purpose—for Christ. Not for myself. Not for my desires. For Him.” Paul always starts with sexual sin because what we do with our bodies reveals who we really belong to. And if Christ is truly in us, then our bodies should be all in—set apart for His purposes. That’s our part in sanctification. Sanctification is both God’s work and ours. His Spirit empowers us, but we’re still called to repent and to exercise faith. Consecration is our choice to surrender. And when consecration and faith come together, they form one powerful word: surrender. That’s the essence of the Christian life—giving all to Jesus, and receiving all from Jesus. There was a time when we weren’t surrendered. We were our own masters, chasing our own will, robbing God not only of what He gave us—but of our very souls. But then something happened. Someone spoke the name of Jesus. The gospel was preached. Our hearts were stirred. There was that moment—of belief, of surrender—and we were born again. Do you remember that day? My heart was on fire. I couldn’t explain it, except maybe through the old hymn: “I once was dead, but now I am alive.” That was my first surrender. But surrender isn’t just a moment—it’s a daily posture. Every day, every moment, I’ve had to learn to come back to repentance. To ask, “Lord… did that offend You?” And it’s in that relationship—real, alive, sacred—that my heart still leaps for joy. I want to live at His disposal. Not just with my body. But with my mind too. So I’ll ask again: Are you consecrated? Is your body available to Him? Is your mind surrendered to Him? Because what you do with both will shape the kind of life you live—and who your life belongs to. Right after calling us to put sexual immorality to death, Paul mentions the next battleground: impurity. So let me ask you: Is your mind clean before God? Because what you think about… what you dwell on… what you allow to live rent-free in your head—it shapes you. Paul isn’t just addressing outward behavior. He’s getting to the internal battlefield. This is where it gets real. Because an impure mind—one filled with selfishness, anger, lust, or cynicism—reveals a heart that hasn’t been fully consecrated. That’s a life still ruled by the flesh instead of surrendered to Christ. Let me ask you something personal: Have you noticed that there’s a version of you that no one sees but you and God? That person—the one inside your thoughts, your daydreams, your unspoken moments—that’s the real you. That’s your soul. And here’s the real question: Is that person becoming more like Christ? Or is that person still being shaped by the world? Paul is pressing this home: Is your mind fully surrendered? Is your body fully available? Are you truly set apart for God? Because purity isn’t just about what you say no to. It’s about what you say yes to. It’s not just about avoiding sin. It’s about pursuing holiness. Being remade in the image of Christ—not just in action, but in the patterns of your mind. This is the deep work. This is the real work. And this is the kind of transformation that happens when Christ is not just your belief—but your life.

But Paul doesn’t stop with the body and the mind. He goes deeper—into our desires. He lists impurity… passion… lust. These aren’t just behaviors. They’re cravings. They’re hungers. So here’s the real question: Are your passions consecrated—or are they out of control? That emotional fantasy—has it become a substitute for God? Are your desires ruled by Christ… or do they still rule you? Do I control my lust, or does my lust control me? Do I pursue God… or just chase the next hit of pleasure, attention, or escape?

And then Paul names one more: greed, which he calls idolatry. Why? Because greed isn’t just about money—it’s about discontent. It’s the belief that what you have isn't enough… and that God isn’t enough either. So the question becomes: Is my heart content in God? Because this is where the battle gets really intense. The question isn’t just: “What am I feeling?” The real question is: “Who is in control?” Is Christ ruling your desires? Or are your desires ruling you? Is your hunger for that thing, that person, that experience—greater than your hunger for holiness?

Listen—Paul isn’t trying to shame us. He’s trying to free us. You don’t have to be a slave to passion anymore. Christ didn’t just die to forgive your sin—He died to break its power. So… what part of your desire needs to be brought under Christ today? Because here’s the truth: You can’t crucify sin without activating faith. You won’t put these desires to death by willpower alone. You need something greater—someone greater—at the center of your life. That’s why Paul doesn’t just tell us to let go of the old… He invites us to grab hold of something new. And that’s where faith comes in. Faith isn’t passive. It’s not just a list of beliefs you nod along to. Faith is alive. And faith is rewarded by surrender. You want stronger faith? Don’t just ask for it—surrender more. Give God more of your thoughts. More of your habits. More of your heart. Let’s be honest—we’ve all said it at some point: “I wish my faith was stronger.” “I wish my faith was like theirs.” Even John Wesley—yes, the great preacher and founder of the Methodist movement—struggled with that very thing. He was once on a ship during a violent storm. Waves crashed over the deck. The sails strained under the wind. And Wesley was terrified. Not just nervous—terrified. But then he looked across the ship and saw a group of Moravians—men, women, and children—singing hymns. Calm. At peace. As if they were floating on a still lake at sunrise. Same storm. Same danger. Completely different spirit. Wesley later wrote: “It was then I knew…I had religion in my head, but not in my heart.” That moment changed him. Because faith that’s alive doesn’t deny the storm— it just knows who’s in the boat. Church, let me say this clearly: Faith without action is faith without oxygen. It’s not enough to say you believe in Jesus. You were made to live in Him. The writer of Hebrews puts it like this: “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) So don’t just believe. Seek. Don’t just admire. Surrender. Don’t just hear the Word—live the life.

So how do we put this faith—this consecration—into action? Paul shows us. Look with me at Colossians 3:1: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Here’s what that means: What you seek will shape what you see. If you seek comfort, you’ll see everything as an inconvenience. If you seek control, you’ll see people as problems. But if you seek Christ… you’ll start seeing like Christ. And Paul’s clear—this isn’t passive. To seek means to aim. To search. To pursue. To hunger. So let me ask you: What are you really seeking? Because whatever captures your attention will eventually steer your direction. If God scrolled your phone right now—checked your screen time, your search history, your top apps—what would it say about what you're seeking? If He followed you around for a week—listened to your conversations, your worries, your passions—what would He see you pursuing? Here’s what I’ve learned about myself: I can say I’m seeking Christ… but my life can tell a different story. Augustine once said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” That restlessness you feel? It’s not random. David understood this in Psalm 63:1: “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” That’s not casual seeking. That’s desperation. That’s hunger. That’s what it looks like when you know your life depends on finding Him. Can anybody relate to that?

Now look at verse 2: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Paul switches gears here—from seeking to setting. “Seek” is about pursuit. “Set” is about focus. Paul knows something we often forget: Where we set our minds, our hearts will follow. He’s not saying stop being human—we’re all wired to pursue something. The question is: Are we living with kingdom vision or earthly tunnel vision? Paul uses the same language in Romans 8: “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5–6) This is deeper than positive thinking. It’s not just about changing thoughts—it’s about rebuilding the entire mental framework. Your mind is like the foundation of a house. Whatever it’s built on will shape everything you build on top of it. Set your mind on worry? Life starts to feel like a threat. Set it on scarcity? Everyone becomes competition. Set it on performance? Every relationship becomes transactional. “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” That’s not love. That’s not the way of Christ. That’s religion without relationship. That’s bartering with God. But when you set your mind on Christ— on His love, His provision, His faithfulness—everything begins to shift. Now fear isn’t the loudest voice. Now you can give freely, love sacrificially, and live with confidence. Why? Because your foundation isn’t shaking. It’s secure in Christ. You stop seeing life as something to survive… and start seeing it as something to give away. You stop chasing affirmation… and start walking in identity. You stop keeping score… and start washing feet. Because what you set your mind on will shape what you give your life to. And if your mind is set on Christ—your life will begin to reflect Christ. It’s not just about what happens inside of you— It’s about what starts to flow through you. That’s why Paul doesn’t stop at “set your minds on things above.”

Look at where Paul goes next—Colossians 3:12–13: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another…”

Here’s the shift: When your mind is set on Christ, your life steps into service. And that brings us to the third word: Serve. If seek is about pursuit, and set is about perspective, then serve is about practice. Because Paul is showing us: The Christian life isn’t just something you believe. It’s something you live. We don’t just think differently—we treat people differently. We don’t just memorize Scripture—we embody it. Paul says, “Clothe yourselves…” That image matters. You don’t accidentally put on clothes. You don’t wake up and hope they magically appear. You choose them. You put them on intentionally. Same with compassion. Same with kindness. Same with humility, patience, and forgiveness. You don’t wait to feel like it. You choose it. You serve like Jesus—even when it costs you. even when your tired.. and weary. Let’s be real—community is messy. People will test your patience. They’ll say something sideways. They’ll forget to text back. They won’t always show up like you hoped they would. And yes—sometimes… they let you borrow their tractor… and you break it within 10 minutes. 😅 But serving isn’t about what they do. It’s about what Christ has done in you. “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13) That’s the filter. That’s the model. That’s the kind of community the world is starving for. So today, the question isn’t: “What kind of church do you want to attend?” Because that still makes church about you. The better question is: “What kind of person are you becoming?” Is Jesus your life? Have you made that commitment yet? Or are you still wrestling with the heart of surrender?

So let me ask you… What would it look like—not just to say Jesus is your life—but to actually live like it? To surrender. To stop wrestling. To say, “I’m done trying to be in control… I want Christ to be my life.” Because that’s what this moment is about. Communion is more than a symbol. It’s not a ritual we go through— It’s a response. It’s not just about remembering what Jesus did— It’s about embracing what He’s still doing: In you. Through you. Among us. As a local body and community. So as we come to this table today, I want to invite you to let this be your answer. Not just a tradition. But a declaration: Jesus is my life. Because the real question isn’t, “What kind of church do you want to attend?” That still makes church about you. The better question is: “What kind of person are you becoming?” Have you made that commitment yet? Are you still wrestling with the heart of surrender? Or is today the day you say, “Christ is my life”?

As Peter comes up, let me walk us into communion. We’ve talked today about seeking Christ. Setting our minds on Christ. And serving like Christ. Now we respond—together. Just like Jesus moved toward us, we’re going to move toward one another. Here’s how we’ll do it: One side of the room will stand and move to the left. The other, to the right. And I want you to meet someone in the middle. Just like last time. But this time, when we meet, I’ll speak these words over you: “This is Christ’s body, broken for you.” “This is Christ’s blood, poured out for you.” And then I want you to exchange the elements with each other, and speak this blessing: “May His life be your life.” Not as a phrase. As a prayer. As a blessing. As a declaration of surrender and unity.\ And then—take the bread and the cup together. Not alone. But as one body. As one family. As a community marked by Christ… Not just in belief—but in life. Jesus is our life…. Jesus, Thank You for meeting us in this moment. Thank You for Your body broken, Your blood poured out, And the life You’ve invited us to live in You. Help us leave this place not just with full hearts— but with surrendered lives. Teach us to seek You first. To set our minds on what’s above. To serve like You served. And may the declaration we made at this table— “Jesus is my life”— become the anthem of our week. Go with us now, Lord. Empower us by Your Spirit. Shape us by Your Word. And use us for Your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray— Amen. *