In Colossians 3:5-11, the Apostle Paul instructs Christians on how to live out their faith by “putting to death” and “put away” the sins in his or her life. Paul specifically instructs the believer to put to death sins of immorality and put away sins of the tongue because they have died in Christ and are now hidden in Christ. We are to put on the new self, which is being renewed in the knowledge of God who is our creator.

Having extolled the Gospel and provided some necessary warnings to the Colossian believers in chapters 1-2, Paul now is ready to instruct this local church on the Christ-like behavior that ought to characterize their ordinary Christian living in chapters 3-4. Doctrine must always lead to stirred affections and holy obedience. In these opening verses, the call is to look up to the things above – Seek them and Set your minds on them. You died to the earthly, ‘below things’ and you belong to the ‘above things.’

What do we want people to say about our local church? Our prayer is that above all they recognize a group of people who are committed to holding high the beauty of our Lord Jesus Christ. We want others to see that our main preoccupation is not to make a name for ourselves, but to make the name of Jesus famous. These are other ways of simply saying – We want to be all about the glory of God!

Discipleship isn’t a spiritual mystery. It is simply the progress and joy of our Christian faith. It is never done alone; it is always deeper than information; and it ends not only in the growth of one person, but the growth of many. If we are growing and multiplying disciples, then we are a healthy church.

The New Testament calls every believer to several identities which we will seek to live out at Redeemer. We are trusting God that every member would be a minister—using their spiritual gifts to edify the body. A missionary—seeking to live and speak the gospel to people they are naturally in relationship with. A disciple-maker—seeking to be part of winning people to Christ, building them in their faith, and sending them to win others!

Where there is authority, there is submission; and where there is ultimate authority, there is ultimate submission. Let’s just be clear right from the start – Ultimate authority only rest in the hands of the Creator of all things. God alone has ultimate authority. For the Christian, submission isn’t a dirty word, but one to be embraced with joy and delight.

Everyone who has trusted Christ is connected to God’s Kingdom. Everyone who is connected to the Kingdom has a commitment to their local embassy of the Kingdom – the local church. Therefore, church membership is not something you join like a social club, rather it is something you embrace as true and submit to as a loyal subject.

When Christ saves an individual, He unites them to every other Christ-follower as brothers and sisters. These brothers and sisters, now connected at a level deeper than blood, recognize they need each other to sustain and deepen spiritual life. A healthy church is one that takes seriously the New Testament calls to life and mission centered on King Jesus.