Walk by Faith: Faith, Freedom, Fullness, and the Holy Spirit (Part II)

Sermon Title: Walk By Faith – Empowered by the Holy Spirit

Good News Statement: Jesus invites his church to change lives

Summary: The Church has been called by Christ to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.

Preached: Sunday, April 26^th, 2026 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSVUE): Colossians 2:6-10 Today’s scripture passage comes from Paul’s epistle to the people of Colossae. In this his letter Paul reminds the people of what it takes to live a Christian life: to have faith in Christ, to have freedom in Christ, and to embody the fullness of Christ. Our scripture reading comes from Colossians, Chapter Two, and Verses Six thru Ten. May the hearing and understanding of this scripture add a blessing to your life.

 

Fullness of Life in Christ

⁶ As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

⁸ Watch out that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental principles^[a^] of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰ and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.

 

Additional Scriptures include: Psalm 16 and John 10:10

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

 

 

Introduction:

On May 1, 2025, The Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church announced the unveiling of a new vision statement for the United Methodist Church. According to the article published on the United Methodist Bishops website, “This vision reflects the Church’s deep commitment to embodying God’s dream for the world.”[1] This vision statement complements the Church’s longstanding mission statement, inspired by Matthew 28:1-20: “The mission of The United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” “This new vision is not simply a statement or a plan, it is a catalyst for transformation,” said Bishop Tracy Smith Malone, President of the Council of Bishops. “It is a vision that will help the Church embrace the opportunities before us, to follow where God is leading us, and to more fully engage in our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”[2]

The new vision statement is as follows: The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections. The vision encourages United Methodists to embody the following principles: We are called to love boldly[3] which invites us to passionately love God and, like Jesus, embrace and include people of every age, nation, race, gender and walk of life; to serve joyfully[4] by serving with a Christ-like heart, journeying alongside the most vulnerable, and offering care and compassion with joy; and to lead courageously[5] by resisting and dismantling all systems of evil, injustice, and oppression, striving for peace, justice and reconciliation. Simply put, the vision of the United Methodist Church is to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.

Did you know that the United Methodist denomination has a vision statement? Many of us are probably aware of the denomination’s mission statement—“to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”—but did you know that we now have a vision statement that outlines goals, desired impacts, and lays forth the inspiration to better and more fully live out, by faith, the message—the Good News—of Jesus Christ? If you weren’t aware, you are not alone. Thousands of people weren’t aware; but as of today, millions are beginning to live these words out in their churches, in their communities, and in their lives. So, today, we are challenged to do the same! We are called to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously as we make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. What does this look like in your life?

 

Body:

Last week, I invited you to think about the products of the church, the process of the church, and what sort of benchmarks—aspirations, dreams, and goals—the church has today for tomorrow. We talked about how the church’s products are those who need to be lead toward Jesus Christ. To help others be lead to Christ, we focused on a process that allows the church and individuals to use the gifts and talents they have been given to meet people where they are. And from the process, the church considered what it hopes to achieve. To achieve the benchmarks of the church, the church needs to realize the faith that they have and how, by the power of the Holy Spirit, their faith can help create a vision that is sustaining, nurturing, and empowering.

Before we get into today’s message, I have a question to ask you: What’s the secret to living the Christian life? We all start off so well. We receive Christ as our Savior, and we are filled with excitement at the prospect of new life in Christ. Our sins have been forgiven, we have been restored to a relationship with God, we have assurance that we will go to heaven when we die, and we know that our whole life just changed. We start off enthusiastic for Christ and ready to take on the whole world. And then some of us seem to keep that spark, while others of us seem to struggle and flounder. Why is that? We want to live the Christian life. But why is it so hard sometimes? What’s the secret to living the Christian life?

In today’ passage Paul tells us three things about living the Christian life. The Christian life is marked by faith in Christ, it is marked by freedom in Christ, and it is marked by the fullness in Christ. We received Jesus Christ by faith—now we should continue to live in him by faith. We found freedom in Christ—now we should see that no one takes us captive through false teaching. We received fullness in Christ—and it will take Paul the rest of the letter to explain all of what that fullness means. What’s the secret to living the Christian life? Let’s find out!

 

Movement One: Faith in Christ…

To begin, let me remind you of what Paul shared in Colossians chapter one. Colossians 1 establishes the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. Paul greets the church, prays for their spiritual growth, and highlights Christ as the image of God, who reconciles all things through His cross. The chapter declares Christ as the head of the church and urges believers to remain steadfast in this faith. And now, in Colossians chapter two, Paul is warning believers to avoid empty human philosophies and legalism, and urging the people to remain rooted in Christ through their faith. This is where we begin today.

First of all the Christian life is marked by faith in Christ. Colossians 2:6-7 shares, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” What is Paul saying here? Your Christian life began with faith in Christ, and it must also continue with faith in Christ, that’s what Paul is saying. By faith you received Christ Jesus as Lord.[6] Now Paul says, you need to live in Christ the same way you received him. The Christian life begins with faith in Christ, and the Christian life must continue with faith in Christ.

The Christian life is not simply faith in a set of teachings but faith in a person. It is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The Christian life is lived in Christ. Christ lives in you, and therefore you live your life in him. The Apostle John noted when quoting Jesus, “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4). Part of confessing Jesus as Lord means that everything we do revolves around him. Christ is central, and we must live the Christian life by faith in him. But how? How do we live our life by faith in Christ?

First of all, you are rooted and built up in him. “Rooted” refers to the foundation of your Christian life, the things that ground you. The word “rooted” brings to mind the image of a plant. Christ is more than just the foundation of your faith. He is the root and source of your Christian life: he sustains you, nurtures you, and spiritually feeds you, just like the roots do for plants. As Jesus says in John 15: “I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NKJV). Without roots, plants can’t grow: they can’t receive proper nutrients. Christ is our roots. The Christian life is founded on Christ and Christ alone. It is not founded on your goodness or your works or your merit. The Christian life is founded on faith in Christ and Christ alone the very one who sustains us.

Paul wrote to the people of Ephesus in the early 60s AD while he was imprisoned in Rome, “…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17). Jesus is the root: “my hope is built, rooted in, nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”[7]  As followers of Christ, we cannot live the Christian life apart from Christ. He is our firm foundation, our sold rock, our everlasting arms, our promises upon which we stand. He is the root to our life, the foundation upon which everything is built.

If “rooted” refers to the foundation, then “built up” refers to your continued growth in the Christian life. Just as you began your Christian life with faith in Christ, so you must continue your Christian life with faith in Christ. You can’t start the Christian life without him, and you can’t grow as a Christian without him. You are rooted in him, and you are built up in him. Again, Paul notes to the Ephesians, “…so that the body of Christ—that’s you and me—may be built up…in the faith” (Ephesians 4:12-13). If you think about it, Christ is the cornerstone to our faith, meaning without him anything that we try to build will come tumbling down. This idea is biblically proven: though rejected by the “builders” (the Jewish leadership), God made Jesus the most important part of the structure, as stated in Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:4-7, “This Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.” Without Jesus as the cornerstone in our life, could there be a firm foundation of faith? Could there be unity and unconditional love? Could there be forgiveness and salvation? Could there be grace and a blessed assurance? Could there be a light that conquers the dark? Could we face the challenges and doubts and uncertainties of the day?  We are called to be “built up in Christ” who is the cornerstone to our faith.

Next, Paul tells us that we are “…established in the faith as you were taught” (Colossians 1:7). Not only must you have faith in Christ. You must also be well-grounded in your faith. The “faith” here refers to the teachings of the Christian faith—the gospel of Christ, the teachings of Christ, the truth about Christ as found in the Scriptures. Paul is telling them and us: “Don’t be fooled by false teachers or false teaching. Stick with the gospel. Stay grounded in Christ and the Bible. Don’t go looking for new teachings outside of Christ. Grow in what you already know!” Take time to discover your faith, find ways to deepen your faith, and be encouraged to deploy your faith.

Paul said something similar in Acts 20 when he told his friends: “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). To receive Christ is to believe in him and to believe what God’s word says about him, to be strengthened in the faith as you were taught. So not only are we called to be built up in the faith of Christ, but we are also called to establish our faith and to live out this faith in our life. How do you live out your faith? Living out one’s faith can look like speaking positively, being engaged in active worship, studying scripture, serving others, trusting God, turning worry into prayer, and making and taking leaps of faith. How do you prove to yourself and show to others that you are living in the faith that has been established in your life? Faith is not just words and belief, faith is about putting the words of Christ into action in the present world.

And lasting, living by faith in Christ means overflowing with thankfulness.[8] A life that is lived by faith in Christ is one that is overflowing with thankfulness. Don’t leave thanksgiving out of your prayers. Begin and end each day thanking God for your life and salvation and for the many blessings he has given you in Christ. Don’t be just a little thankful. Be overflowing with thankfulness. You can never thank God enough. When there seemed to be no way, God made a way for you, so be thankful. God forgives you every day, so be thankful. God got through tough times and challenging times, so be thankful. God placed people in your life that are willing to make you smile, so be thankful. God saw you and heard you and walks with you, so be thankful. God turned your life around, so be thankful. God gave you a second chance, so be thankful. God woke you up this morning, so be thankful. There is never not a time when we can’t be thankful for something. Having a life in Christ is not just about being built up in the faith and being established in the faith, it’s also about being thankful for the faith you have been given to live a life in Christ.

 

Movement Two: Freedom in Christ…

Secondly, the Christian life is marked by freedom in Christ. Paul wrote in verse eight, “Watch out that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental principle of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8). I like how the New International Version puts it, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

The word translated by the phrase “see to it” in this verse is a word that means, “Beware! Watch out!” The word translated by the phrase “takes you captive” is a word that was used of someone being kidnapped or carried away as a slave. In other words this is a strong warning to guard your freedom, to stay alert, to be on the lookout for those things that can rob you of your freedom and take you captive.[9]

The deception of the world is constantly looking for people in churches who have a spiritual interest but who are not strong in their faith. You would think once they found out you were a Christian, they would leave you alone. But you are actually their prime target. (The Devil doesn’t seek who he already has but those who Christ has.) Of course the best antidote is what we were just talking about as far as living in Christ. As long as you are rooted and built up in Christ, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness, you are not going to fall prey to the false teachings of the world. First Corinthians 15:58 encourages us to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. James asserts that individuals are blessed who remain steadfast during difficulties, promising a reward for those who endure (James 1:12). We are called to remain, to see to it, that our faith remains strong enough to overcome the deception of the world. To do this, we are to trust and obey in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as we watch out for “hollow and deceptive philosophies.” We are called to “see to it.”

So what things should we watch out for as Christians that can rob us of our freedom in Christ? First off Paul says watch out for hollow and deceptive philosophy.[10] He is talking about philosophy not as an academic discipline but more as a way of thinking about the world, how you view the world around you. And note that there is nothing wrong with philosophy in and of itself. He doesn’t say, “Watch out for philosophy,” but rather “hollow and deceptive philosophy.” The word translated “hollow” is a word that means “empty, that which is void of truth and value.” And it is deceptive. It sounds good at first, but it appeals to our sinful nature rather than exalting Christ.

Paul is really warning against false teaching here. It’s the same warning he issued in Acts 20:29: “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.” And whether using the analogy of kidnappers or wolves, false teaching does real violence to the body of Christ, because false teaching takes you captive and robs you of your freedom in Christ. Another moment, Paul told the Colossians back in 1:13 that “He [God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13). The thought here is, you’ve already been rescued, why let yourselves be captured again? Do you want to keep your freedom in Christ? Watch out for hollow and deceptive philosophy, those things and people that seek to strip away your freedom in Christ by drawing you away from Christ.

To this Paul informs us, do not look to human tradition or the basic principles of this world. Paul says this hollow and deceptive philosophy depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Human tradition refers to man-made teachings rather than the God-given revelation we have in the Bible. Jesus spoke about the problem of choosing human tradition over the word of God. He told the Pharisees in Mark 7: “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men” (Mark 7:8). You can’t get to God if you start with man. You need God’s word to know the truth that sets you free.

Jesus told his disciples, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). We don’t get to God through the world but through Jesus. I grew up singing “The world behind me, the cross before me. The world behind me, the cross before me. The world behind me, the cross before me. No turning back, no turning back.” The life we seek is not in the world behind us but in the salvation, hope, love, and redemption in the cross before us. It’s through the cross, through Jesus, that we are truly set free, that we are no longer held captive. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “We are free at last. We are free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.”[11]

This is why Paul talks about how the freedom we are given is “true freedom” which is found in Christ alone. Too many people think the Christian life is all about rules and regulations when Christ really offers us a life of beautiful freedom. In Christ you are free from condemnation, free from guilt, free from fear, free from sin. But when you look to anyone or anything other than Christ for your freedom, you are going to end up in slavery again. And so Paul issues the warning. Watch out! Be alert! Don’t let anyone take you captive! We read a similar warning in Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Paul says watch out that no one takes you captive through false teaching because it is not God’s goal to keep you captive but to be set free to live in Christ every day of your life.

 

Movement Three: The Fullness in Christ…

The Christian life is marked by fullness in Christ. Look at verses 9-10: “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.” This is a remarkable statement. First Paul says that all the fullness of God lives in Christ. All the fullness of God—not just God’s attributes but his very essence; not just part but all—all that marks God as God dwells in Christ. Philippians 2:6 notes, “Who, being in the very nature [of] God…” This verse echoes Colossians 1:19 which says, “God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.” But Colossians 2:9 comes out even stronger when it says all God’s fullness dwells in Christ “in bodily form.” What a response to the false teachers! Remember the false teachers taught that the physical world was evil, that only spiritual things were good. But Paul says all God’s fullness dwells in Christ bodily.[12]

Not only is the fullness of God in Christ, but Christ is also the head over every power and authority: he is the head of the church. Now this certainly includes earthly powers and authorities. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:16). But Paul is probably thinking about spiritual beings once again, as we see in Colossians 1:16 where he spoke about spiritual beings as thrones, powers, rulers, and authorities. All these powers and authorities were created by Christ, and all these powers and authorities are subject to Christ again who lives within us. The one who has the “whole world in his hands” is the one who lives within us as the fullness of God.[13]

The best part of this remarkable statement is, we have been given fullness in Christ! Christ lives in you; all the fullness of God lives in Christ; and therefore you have been given the fullness in Christ. We see this theme of fullness over and over again in the book of Colossians. Colossians 1:9: “… asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will.” Colossians 1:19: “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.” Colossians 1:24: “I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions.” Colossians 1:25: “…to present to you the word of God in its fullness.” Colossians 2:2: “…may have the full riches of complete understanding.” Colossians 2:9-10: “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ.”

There are other Scriptures that talk about the fullness we have in Christ. We read in John 1:16: “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.” Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Paul prayed for the Ephesians “that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19).

Paul’s point in Colossians is this. Why give in to the hollow and empty philosophy of the false teachers when you have been given fullness in Christ? Why give into the world when you have life in Christ? You have Christ! What more are you looking for? As Max Anders writes: “Don’t go looking for treasure you already have!” Everything you need from God you have in Christ. You have life in Christ. You have faith in Christ. You have the fullness of Christ down in your heart. What more could we ask for, church? What we seek, we have found in Christ. What we need, we have been given through Christ. What we ask for, has been answered by Christ. The secret to living a Christian life is knowing that Christ lives within you today and always. But how do we continue, aside from seeking forgiveness and praying to be saved, to live a Christian life? Well, I believe we need to embrace the power of the Holy Spirit to make that happen.

 

Movement Four: Being Empowered by the Holy Spirit…

What is the “Holy Spirit?” In general, the Holy Spirit is God’s indwelling presence in our lives.[i] It’s God’s power working within us, motivating us, encouraging us, and nudging us to do His work. More specifically, though, the Holy Spirit is a reference to God’s breath—the receiving of life. Genesis 2:7 asserts, “Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” In Hebrew, spirit is translated as ruach which means breath, wind, air, and spirit. Joel, when discussing the Spirit of God shares, “Then afterward I will pour out me spirit [–my breath, my presence–] on all flesh” (Joel 2:28). God’s Spirit represents His indwelling presence in our lives in which He has breathed into us so that we become alive.

In the New Testament, we receive a similar picture of the Holy Spirit; but it takes on another dimension. The Greek word in the New Testament for spirit is pneuma (pneuma) which is often translated to mean “breath, wind, air, and spirit” similar to the word ruach. However, the spirit in the New Testament is also associated with power. This power, in Greek, is called dunamis meaning “power, strength, force, virtue, and might.” Jesus promises us the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:8, the author asserts, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” We have received the power of the Holy Spirit, but are we allowing that power—that force, strength, and virtue—to help us do the work of Christ, to be witnesses for him on earth.

The power of the Holy Spirit, which indwells within us, is so important to Paul that he mentions it 300 times throughout his epistles. Romans 8:11, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.” God raised Jesus back to life through the power of the spirit. Just think what God can do in your life when you allow the power of the spirit to live within you. With the spirit, God can raise you up, bring you out of your valley, help you overcome the battles and struggles in your life, guide you away from sin and temptation, and give you the hope and strength to face tomorrow.[14]

Paul continues in Romans 8:13-14: “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you and lead you; allow it to strengthen you; allow it to abide in you; allow it to work in your life. Paul wrote, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words.”[15]

A few verses later, Paul informs the Romans and us that God works all things together through the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” God works all things together through the Holy Spirit: even in bad times, the Holy Spirit is working in your life; even in moments of pain and suffering, the Holy Spirit is working in your life; when you are tired and weary and overwhelmed , the Holy Spirit is working in your life; when you are experiencing mountaintop moments, the Holy Spirit is still working in your life; and when you don’t know what to say, what to do, or where to go, the Holy Spirit is working in your life. The Holy Spirit is working in your life because God is in your life.[16] It’s through the Holy Spirit that we begin to fully live out the fullness of Christ in our life through our faith. Let me explain…

Since many in this community are and have been in the fields these past few weeks, one way to view the Holy Spirit in your life is to think of it as implements or attachments for a tractor.[17] Implements are attachments that are attached to the tractor: hay wagon, brush hog, rototiller, disks, broadcast spreader, sprayers, corn heads, attachments for grain harvesting, planters, chisel plows, field cultivators, mulch finishers, heavy harrows, applicators, etc. (Don’t ask me any specifics!) Each of these attachments give more power to the tractor by allowing the tractor to do more work. The tractor, like us, has self-given power, but when implements are added, such as the Holy Spirit is added in our life, more work can be done; therefore being able to more fully live out the fullness of Christ; and therefore, gaining a clearer perspective for living out the Christian life.

But there is a downside to these implements, especially the parts of the tractor. When we don’t allow the power of the spirit to dwell within us or in our church, we begin to fall short of the word of God. Think about it this way: every time we try to do things on our own, without the indwelling of God’s presence and Spirit in our life and don’t trust in Jesus, we become more acceptable to sin; and every time we sin, something on our tractor doesn’t work: we sin, the tractor doesn’t start; we sin, a tire goes flat; we sin, the steering wheel locks up; we sin, the bearings go bad; we sin, the implements for the tractor no longer fit to the tractor. We go to harvest with the combine but don’t attach the corn head. If we keep allowing sin in our life or keep trying to do things on our own instead of leaning on the everlasting arms and standing on the promises of God, then sooner or later there will be no tractor and we will return to pushing the plow on our own.

We must remember God’s Holy Spirit is our implement by which makes us stronger; and within that implement or attachment God activates our gifts for service and work. There is power in the Holy Spirit: the power of the Holy Spirit helps us do what we can’t do on our own. Last year, I received a phone call from someone in the community asking for my pastoral assistance. They said they had a gentleman in their store that was going through a rough patch, and they just needed prayer and someone to listen to them. I was working outside when I got the phone call—I had my paint stained work pants on, a shirt covered in dirt, and shoes held together with duct-tape on my feet. I got in my car and drove to meet this person. When I got there, I could tell they were a little confused and skeptical of me based on my appearance; but they still trusted in me. We walked the town. I listened to his story—the pains and concerns on his heart. And before we departed ways, he asked if I would pray for him and with him. This man had the power and will to pray on his own, but he needed another implement—me, a pastor, a believer in Christ—to feel that power within him. My point is: on our own we have the power to do things, but with the addition of the Holy Spirit, God’s indwelling presence in our life, we have the power to do more. There is power in the Holy Spirit: the power of the Holy Spirit helps us do what we can’t do on our own.

We have Christ in our life, which is great; but what’s greater is having the fullness of Christ in our life. We need the Holy Spirit to be able to fully live out the Christian life. We need the Holy Spirit—the breath of God and the power of God, the implements of God—to give us life and hope and endurance. We need the Holy Spirit to nudge us away from sin. We need the Holy Spirit to be able to work in the field. We need the Holy Spirit to live by faith. We need the Holy Spirit to leave the world behind us and to see the cross before us. We need the Holy Spirit, the attachments of God, to live into the fullness of Christ to be able to do the work of Christ.

Church, what sort of implements do we have access to as a church to bring life to the church? How are we using the power of the Holy Spirit to show that we are people living into the fullness of Christ? What are we doing to make sure that Christ is living within us and within these walls? I’m not a farmer, nor will I ever be able to understand everything it takes to be a farmer, but every time I see the fields being worked I am reminded that tractors alone can get the work started but with the addition of attachments, the tractor can get the work done. God has given us the tools to do some work, but with the attachment of the Holy Spirit, we are capable of getting the work done so that we can live a Christian life in the fullness of Christ. Our vision is to find ways to live a life in the fullness of Christ so that we can complete the work of Christ here on this earth.

 

Conclusion:

So I ask you again, what is the secret to living the Christian life? Christianity is not simply living out a creed, but it is living in a person. You are united with Christ by faith, and you receive the strength to live the Christian life every day through your relationship with him. Your Christian life began with Christ, and it must continue with Christ. Does your life feel hollow, empty, unfulfilled? If so, it’s because you are being deceived by an empty philosophy that depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world. You are living your life according to something other than Christ.

The Christian life is marked by faith in Christ, freedom in Christ, and fullness in Christ. And to experience each of these things requires the presence and aid of the Holy Spirit. Anything less is not authentic Christianity. What’s the secret to living the Christian life? It’s simple. The secret to living the Christian life is living in Christ with power of the Holy Spirit. That’s the heart of Christianity, and that’s the heart of Paul’s letter to the Colossians. May we all live into the power of the Holy Spirit as we live into the fullness of Christ in our life.  Let It Be So…

 

Closing Prayer:

Let us Pray… Dear Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to live by faith, experience freedom, and embody the fullness of Christ. May we, through you, live the Christian life according to your will as we seek to complete the work ahead of us as we continue to lead others to Christ. In your presence we pray. Amen.

 

Benediction:

Church, you are encouraged today to live by faith, to experience freedom in Christ, and to know that the fullness of Christ is within you and within this church. May the Holy Spirit empower you to live a Christian life. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go forth knowing that God needs you to do some work. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1] Ministries, The United Methodist Church Unveils New Guiding Vision Statement, Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church, May 1, 2025: https://www.unitedmethodistbishops.org/newsdetail/umc-unveils-new-vision-statement-19057587  Accessed April 12, 2026.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Inspired by Matthew 22:37-39 and John 13:34-35.

[4] Inspired by Psalm 100:1, Nehemiah 8:10, John 13:14-15 and 1 Peter 4:10

[5] Inspired by Joshua 1:9 and Ephesians 6:10

[6] This is the earliest Christian confession: “Jesus is Lord.” We confess our faith in Jesus as Lord at every baptism in the church. We confess our faith in Jesus as Lord every time we receive new members into the church. By faith you received Christ Jesus as Lord in your life.

[7] William B. Bradbury and Edward Mote, “The Solid Rock,” The New Church Hymnal, “Lexicon Music, Inc, 1976, pg. #54.

[8] This is a recurring theme in the book of Colossians. This is the third time Paul has brought up thankfulness in the letter, and he will bring it up four more times as well.

[9] In regards to unknown timing of his return, Jesus commands his believers to “stay awake” and to be on guard (Mark 13:33).

[10] Paul is not talking about philosophy as an academic study such as we have in our colleges and universities. This is a much broader term than the way we use it today.

[11] And then this phrase “the basic principles of this world” is a difficult one to interpret. Some people think it refers back to the spiritual powers and authorities that Paul mentioned back in Colossians 1:18. However, I think in this context it just refers to the basic ways of human thinking apart from God. Paul uses the same phrase in the context of freedom and slavery in the book of Galatians. We read in Galatians 4:3: “When we were children, [that is, before we came to Christ], we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world” (Galatians 4:3). [Cf. also Galatians 4:8-9]

[12] Jesus was already fully God, but through the incarnation Jesus became fully God and fully man. And he remains fully God and fully man forever. All God’s fullness dwells within Christ even now. The incarnation was not a temporary thing for Christ but permanent. All the fullness of God lives in Christ, who we are called to invite into our life.

[13] Earlier in Colossians Christ is identified as the head of the body, the church (Colossians 1:18). Now we see he is the head over all spiritual beings as well. When you live in Christ, you do not need to fear anything because all the fullness of God lives in Christ, and Christ is the head over every power and authority.

[14] As Paul stated, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” We can do all things when we live out the power of Holy Spirit in our life. Living out the power of the Holy Spirit means taking time to pray, giving praise to God, worshipping God, finding ways to fulfill your God-given purposes, listening to God, communicating with God, being his hands and feet on earth, sharing the good news, witnessing for others, loving the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, body, and soul, and loving your neighbor as you love yourself. We live out the power of the Holy Spirit because we have the God’s strength within us.

[15] The spirit will help you pray, it will help you share the good news of Christ, and it will be the words of your faith. Just like a tractor, we need the power, the spirit to fulfill the works of God’s spirit.

[16] …because Jesus sacrificed his life so that you would be able to experience unconditional love and salvation all the days of your life. As the famous hymn written by Lewis E. Jones reminds us, “There is power, power, wonder working power in the blood of the Lamb.” You have the power of the Holy Spirit in your life; but are you living your life as such?

[17] Paul notes, “Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of services but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).

[i] Paraphrased from Adam Hamilton’s sermon, “God and Tractors”, preached July 18^th, 2022.