Separation – Colossians 3:1-17

By David Woods

Recently I preached on the first four verses of Colossians 3.  The title of my sermon was the question, “What does it mean to be a Christian?”  The answer and my thesis for this message was: Christ is the center of the Christian’s life.

     I came to this conclusion after finding the following three truths in verses two through four:

1. The Christian’s ambition is Christ, v. 2.
2. The Christian’s identification is Christ, v. 3.
3. The Christian’s expectation is Christ, v. 4.

Discussion: What does it mean, practically, for your ambition to be Christ?

Discussion: What does it mean, practically, for your identification to be Christ?

Discussion: What does it mean, practically, for your expectation to be Christ?

(Note: Because of the similarity of the previous three questions and the obvious principle that the Christian should desire to please Christ with his/her life, it may be tempting to give these questions only cursory attention.  I would suggest, however, a serious study of these questions might lead to revolutionary concepts of what it means to be a Christian.)

Discussion: What are the things of the world that verses five through eleven from which we are to separate ourselves (or put to death and to put off)?

Discussion: What does it mean to be separated unto God (vv. 12-17)?

Discussion: The writer of the “Doctrinal Discussion” rightly notes that the word “separation” holds negative connotations for many Christians.  After studying what it means, biblically (vv. 5-17) to be separated from the world and separated unto God, why are these negative connotations unnecessary?

Discussion: Why has the desire to follow the Biblical principle of separation resulted in many extra-Biblical laws and/or practices?

Discussion: Are such extra-Biblical laws helpful or hurtful?  Why?

Discussion: Why is it essential that the Christian be separated from the world and unto God? (Consider again verses two through four.)

Application: Are you living a life that is separated from the world and unto God?

• Is your consumption of media different from the average non-Christian?
• Does your consumption of entertainment vary greatly from the average non-Christian?
• Can unbelievers see Christ in your attitudes, actions, and values?