Renewed - Sparta Evangelical Free Church

Clothed in the Word (Colossians 3:15-16)

December 31, 2023 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Colossians 3:15–16

Renewed / Clothed in the Word December 31, 2023 Colossians 3:16-17 Study Questions 1. What part does music play in your life? How much do you think the music and songs you listen to influence your mind, thoughts, and values? Explain. 2. Read Colossians 3:16-17. How do you allow the Word of God to permeate your daily walk with Christ? Contextually, how do music and songs help you grow in the Word of God? Give examples. 3. What does it mean to ‘teach and admonish one another’ with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs? How does our church make provision for this to happen in our weekly worship services? Why is it important to do this together as the body of Christ and not just individually? 4. Look up the following passages and identify how and why these people worshiped God in song: - Moses crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-21) - David bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14-15) - Mary’s song of praise (Luke 1:46-55) - Paul in prison (Acts 16:24-26) 5. What does this study mean to someone who doesn’t feel they are gifted musically? 6. Reflect on all the characteristics listed in our “Renewed” Study (Colossians 3:12-17). What areas are you growing in and in which areas do you still need to take off the old and put on the new?

Clothed in Peace (Colossians 3:15)

December 24, 2023 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Colossians 3:15

Clothed with Godly Love (Colossians 3:14)

December 17, 2023 • Colossians 3:14

Renewed / Clothed with Godly Love December 17,2023 Colossians 3:14 Study Questions 1. Review Colossians 3:12-14. Discuss the various characteristics and determine the one(s) that you still need to ‘put on’. 2. Read Matthew 7:46 and Romans 5:6-8. How is godly (agape) love different from human (worldly) love? 3. How are followers of Christ called to love in the following relationships? a. one another – 1 John 3:16-18 b. your neighbor – Luke 10:25-29;30-37; 7:36-39. c. your enemy – Matthew 5:43-47; 1 John 4:20; Romans 12:14,18-21 4. When has it been difficult for you to ‘agape’ love someone? Why? 5. What does godly love look like in a dysfunctional relationship (manipulating, enabling, controlling, abusive, etc.)? Discuss the following: a. Accept you can’t change a person b. Forgive them by not seeking revenge c. Don’t abandon them, yet, draw healthy boundaries d. Pray for them 6. How do you love a fellow-believer in Christ who has hurt you? See: Psalm 55:12-14; Matthew 5:23-24. 7. How has Christ Jesus shown His love for you? How has He continued to show His love for you? How does that impact your daily life? Your appreciation? Your gratitude? See also: John 15:13. 8. How is the Lord calling you to love others in His name this week…even if you don’t think they deserve it?

Clothed with Forgiveness (Colossians 3:12-13)

November 19, 2023 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Colossians 3:12–13

Renewed / “Clothed with Forgiveness” November 19, 2023 Colossians 3:12-13 Study Questions 1. Read Colossians 3:12-13. Describe ways that the Lord Jesus has forgiven you. (See Micah 7:18-19; Ephesians 1:7.) 2. Describe a situation where someone has extended forgiveness to you. Was it easy or hard to receive? Why/why not? 3. Read Psalm 32:1-5 and Psalm 51:1-2. Describe the difference between sin, transgressions, and iniquities. What does the Lord forgive us from? How do you extend the same forgiveness toward others? 4. What are the consequences for not forgiving someone? (See also Hebrews 12:15; Mark 11:24-25; Matthew 5:23-24; and 1 John 2:9-11.) 5. What if a person doesn’t ask for your forgiveness–are you still obligated to forgive them? Why/why not? What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation? Is forgiveness something you do once or is it ongoing? Is it a feeling or an action? 6. Name one reason why we as Christ-followers can forgive. (See Ephesians 4:31-32.) 7. What step(s) do you need to take in order to begin forgiving someone who hurt you?

Clothed with Forbearance (Colossians 3:12)

November 12, 2023 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Colossians 3:12

Renewed / Clothed with Forbearance November 12, 2023 Colossians 3:12-13 Study Questions 1. Read Colossians 3:12-13. How is ‘bearing with one another’ uniquely different from the other characteristics listed? 2. According to the following passages, how has the Lord expressed forbearance? (See Romans 3:24-25; 2:4.) 3. Do you naturally gravitate toward those who are struggling; why/why not? Have you ever been a recipient of a Christian friend coming alongside and helping you carry a burden? Explain. 4. Read Galatians 6:1-5. What does bearing one another’s burdens look like? How are we called to carry them? When should we carry them? What does this teach you about the Body of Christ? (See also Romans 15:1-6.) 5. From your own experience, what makes forbearance difficult to practice? In what situation or with which person is it hardest for you personally to forbear? 6. What can you do to help carry someone else’s load right now?

Clothed with Patience (Colossians 3:12)

October 22, 2023 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Colossians 3:12

Renewed / Clothed with Patience October 22, 2023 Colossians 3:12 Study questions 1. Do you consider yourself to be a patient person? Why/why not? 2. Patience is both a command (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/james%205.7) and a fruit of the Spirit (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/gal%205.22-23). How do these two ideas fit together? 3. Read Colossians 3:12. What is the difference between gentleness and patience? 4. How is the Lord’s patience expressed to us? (See 2 Peter 3:8-9; Romans 2:4.) 5. Read James 5:7-11. What are some of the qualities of patience a farmer must have and how can they apply to being patient for a lifetime? 6. What does James say about grumbling? How does impatience lead to grumbling? 7. James 5:11 tells us that Job is an example of someone with endurance. Read Job 1:1-2:10; 42:1-6; and 42:10-17. What did Job learn during the process of his suffering? What message does God have for you in the story of Job? What lesson do we learn from the prophets about patience? (See also: Hebrews 11:36-40.) 8. Where in your life do you need patience? How has this study challenged you and better prepared you to clothe yourself in godliness?

Clothed with Gentleness (Colossians 3:12)

October 15, 2023 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Colossians 3:12

Renewed / Clothed with Gentleness October 15, 2023 Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 3:14-16 Study Questions 1. Read Galatians 5:13-23. Contrast the “acts of the flesh” with the “fruit of the Spirit”. Specifically, how is gentleness a contrast to wrath or rage? How does Paul describe life in the Spirit? What is the difference between the natural self and the spirit-controlled self? 2. A practical definition for gentleness is “turning the reins of your anger and aggravation over to the Holy Spirit”. On a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being “I’m never angry” and 5 being “I’m always angry”, what is your anger rating? What would your spouse or close friend say? 3. How do the following encounters from the life of Jesus illustrate having the “eyes of Jesus”, i.e., gentleness? See: Luke 18:15-17; John 8:1-11. 4. Read Matthew 11:28-30. What is Jesus’ invitation? What comfort do you find in bearing the yoke of following Jesus? Why? 5. What are some things you can do daily to allow the Holy Spirit to overcome anger and rage with godly gentleness? 6. Have you been praying each week during this series that the Holy Spirit would mold you to His likeness in these areas? Has that been helpful in living your life more surrendered to Him? Have you noticed change? Some questions adopted from: https://pathwaychurch.com/discussionguide/the-life-you-always-wanted-discussion-guide/gentleness-discussion-guidehttps://pathwaychurch.com/discussionguide/the-life-you-always-wanted-discussion-guide/gentleness-discussion-guide

Clothe Yourself in Humility (Colossians 3:12, Philippians 2:3-4, John 13:5-17)

October 8, 2023 • Pastor Doug Thuen • John 13:5–17, Colossians 3:12, Philippians 2:3–4

Renewed / Clothed with Humility October 8, 2023 Colossians 3:12; Philippians 2:3-8 Study Questions Colossians 3:12 calls believers in Jesus to be clothed with humility. Do you believe this virtue is admired in today’s society? Why/why not? How do we see humility as a godly characteristic revealed in Jesus Christ the Son of God? (See Philippians 2:5-8; Luke 2:7,16; 9:58; Matthew 13:55; Hebrews 5:7; Matthew 20:28; Isaiah 53:7.) What is the fruit of humility in the life of a Christ-follower? (See Philippians 2:3-4.) What are the rewards of practicing godly humility? (See 1 Peter 5:6; 2 Corinthians 12:9; John 13:12-20.) In what area do you struggle most with humility? Where do you tend to judge other people the most? In what ways are you overly self-focused, either with anxiety, pride, insecurity, self-promotion, or worry? Are you willing to listen to Biblical instruction and correction? Is there any area in your life where you insist on going your own way and are unwilling to walk in humble obedience to the Lord? What in your life is competing with obedience to God or the duties He has given you? According to Philippians 2:3-4, is there someone in your life you need to actively consider more important than yourself? How can you seek to humbly show preference to that person over your own desires or wants? *The last 3 questions were adopted and modified from: Three Questions: Humility: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/melissa-kruger/ruger, The Gospel Coalition, January 19, 2016

Clothed with Kindness (Colossians 3:12)

September 24, 2023 • Colossians 3:12

Renewed / Clothed with Kindness September 24, 2023 Colossians 3:12 Study Questions 1. What are some unhealthy practices in our culture today that we wrongly justify (rather than acknowledge as being a lack of kindness)? 2. In the following verses, how is God’s kindness expressed? Lamentations 3:22-23 Psalm 145:17 Titus 3:4-6 Ephesians 1:9-10 Hosea 11:1-4 Luke 6:35 3. According to Colossians 3:9-10, what is the difference between working hard to be a kinder person and being clothed in the kindness of God? (See also Galatians 5:16; 22-25.) 4. What can/does squelch the outflowing of God’s kindness? 5. What do you struggle with that you need to ‘take off’ in order to allow the Holy Spirit to change your heart with kindness? 6. Why is home often the most difficult place to practice kindness? What does clothing yourself in God’s kindness look like there? How about at work, your school, in your community?

Clothe Yourself With Compassion (Colossians 3:12-17)

September 17, 2023 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Colossians 3:12–17

Renewed / Clothed in Compassion September 17, 2023 Colossians 3:5-12 Study Questions 1. Read Colossians 3:5-12. What needs to happen first in order for a Christ-follower to reflect the characteristics of the life-changing power of the gospel? 2. How is the Church described in Colossians 3:12? What makes her unique? 3. Give an example of when someone showed compassion to you. 4. When is it hard to be compassionate to others? (See also: Jonah 3:10-4:11.) 5. What does compassion in action look like a) in your church? b) in your community? c) as Christ-followers in the world? 6. Discuss the following statements Pastor Doug made in Sunday’s message. Do you agree with them? Why/Why not? - God is the source of compassion, not man. (It is an Image-bearing expression when we display compassion.) - Compassion is born of awareness to the needs of others. (Not an obligation.) - Compassion is measured by action not words. (I John 3:17-18). 7. Look up the following passages and identify who the Lord Jesus felt compassion for and what He did in response: Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 20:29-34; 25:31-46; Mark 1:40-45. 8. Read Luke 10:25-37. What is the main point Jesus was making in this parable? Give an example of a modern day ‘Good Samaritan’ situation. Where is the Holy Spirit calling you to be compassionate and what does that look like? (See also Hebrews 5:2; 1 Peter 3:8.)