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August 23, 2026

Heavenly Living While Still on Earth – Colossians 3:1-4

Heavenly Living While Still on Earth

Colossians 3:1-4

We have probably all heard the saying, “He’s so heavenly minded that he’s no earthly good.” The idea is that someone is so consumed by thoughts of heaven that he neglects the important things of daily living. And although we can certainly imagine someone doing that, I believe that the greater problem in our day is people who are so consumed with temporal earthly things that they neglect important eternal matters.

The apostle Paul encourages us to be heavenly-minded. In Colossians 2, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he commands us to “seek those things which are above” (Col. 3:1) and “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). And he expected that heavenly-mindedness would result in us being earthly good. After commanding the Colossians to have a heavenly mindset, in the rest of Colossians 3 and 4 Paul applies this truth to godly living for Christ in areas like our moral and sexual purity, church and family relationships, work ethics, and our witness to a lost world. Having a heavenly mindset is decidedly practical. C.S. Lewis said it effectively in Mere Christianity,

…a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next… It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this one. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth “thrown in”: aim at earth and you will get neither.[1]

Remember that in Colossians 1-2 Paul has set forth Jesus Christ as the very fullness of God, having preeminence over creation, the church, and empty human philosophies. We have a complete salvation in Jesus Christ. So, Paul warned about being taken captive by human traditions and false teachings that promote legalism, mysticism, or asceticism as ways to spiritual fullness. As He summarized in Colossians 2:23, “These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

Why are these things ineffective at helping us against sin? Why do they all fail to make us righteous and godly? Because sin is not just a matter of outward behavior; it is a problem of the heart and of the mind. And the only one who can change our heart and mind is God Himself. And the only way He has provided for redemption and forgiveness of sins is Jesus Christ. So, the only way to live a righteous and holy life is to live in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. The key to living in godliness is Christ. Notice that in Colossians 3:1-4 Paul refers to Christ five times: We are raised with Christ (Col. 3:1); Christ is sitting at the right hand of God (Col. 3:2); Your life is hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3); Christ is our life (Col. 3:4); and we will appear with Christ in glory (Col. 3:4).

Richard Sipes / Sermons / Colossians, Heaven, Jesus Christ / 0

August 9, 2026

Reject Self-Made Religion – Colossians 2:16-23

Reject Self-Made Religion

Colossians 2:16-23

If I were going to summarize the situation at the church in Colossae when Paul wrote his letter to them, it would be that false teachers came into the church and said something like, “We know you’re Christians, but that’s not enough. There are things that you need to add to your Christianity—things that will make you more spiritual than just believing in Jesus Christ.” The same kind of dangers face us as Christians today—saying that Christ is not sufficient or that Christ is not enough.

Paul warns the church about these things in Colossians 2. Notice first in Colossians 2:8, Paul writes, “Beware lest any man cheat you” or “take you captive.” Next, in Colossians 2:16, he writes, “So let no one judge you.” Then, in Colossians 2:18, “Let no one cheat you (or “defraud you” NASB) of your reward”. I like the word “disqualify” you (ESV). Paul puts his final warning in the form of a question, “why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations?” (Colossians 2:20). In other words, “let no one enslave you.”

So in our text, Paul gives us three warnings. He warns us not to be taken-in, judged, disqualified, or enslaved by three empty philosophies and traditions of men. The first is legalism (Col. 2:16-17). The second is mysticism (Col. 2:18-19). The third is asceticism (Col. 2:20-23). I’ll define each of those as we come to them. The features of all three of these are that they are deceitful (Col. 2:8), worldly (Col. 2:8, 20), fleshly (Col. 2:18), hypocritical (Col. 2:18, 23), man-centered (Col. 2:8, 23), and Christless (Col. 2:8, 17, 19). In Colossians 2:23, Paul refers to “self-imposed religion,” literally, “self-religion”. These three forms of self-religion (legalism, mysticism, and asceticism) are dangers that not only the Colossians faced, but we also face today. Paul urges us to reject self-made religion that can derail us as believers.

Richard Sipes / Sermons / Colossians, False Teaching, Jesus Christ / 0

August 2, 2026

Complete Salvation in Christ – Colossians 2:11-15

Complete Salvation in Christ

Colossians 2:11-15

It’s amazing how many religious people attempt to add to the completed work of Christ. Christians are led to believe that something more is needed in their spiritual lives other than Christ. This was the atmosphere being spread by the antagonists of Colossae. They intimidated the young believers into thinking that they must know secret mysteries, have mystical experiences, or practice ascetic regulations in order to complete their salvation in Christ.

And in the heart of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossian church, he warns to them not to be captivated by any other philosophy, human tradition, or legalistic rules that would take them away from the truth of Christ. Colossians 2:8 says, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” And this warning is just as relevant for us today as it was for them. Temptations to drift from the supremacy and centrality of Jesus Christ are all around us.

In Colossians 2:9-10, Paul gave us three reasons why we must not be taken captive by anything that is not according to Christ. First, because Jesus Christ is the fullness of God (Col. 2:9). Second, because we are complete in Christ (Col. 2:10a). And third, because Christ has all authority (Col. 2:10b). Today, as we look at Colossians 2:11-15, Paul gives a fourth reason why we ought not to be captivated by philosophy and empty deceit rather than the truth in Christ. The reason is because God has provided for us complete salvation in Jesus Christ.

When God saves you by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ, a whole spectrum of things happen to you, for you, and in you. One of the reasons why some Christians are easily led astray is that they do not understand what God actually did for them and in them when they were saved. Often Christians will think about how they heard the gospel, repented and believed in Christ, and received forgiveness and eternal life. But our salvation is not complete because of what we do. We are complete in Christ because of who He is and what He has done. This is what Paul outlines for us in Colossians 2:11-15.

Richard Sipes / Sermons / Baptism, Colossians, Forgiveness, Jesus Christ, Salvation / 0

July 26, 2026

Fullness in Christ – Colossians 2:8-10

Fullness in Christ

Colossians 2:8-10

The Apostle Paul has been giving his heart to the Colossian believers, struggling in prayer for them and encouraging them to walk in the Lord Jesus Christ just as they had received Him. Paul is concerned that the false teachers that had begun to trouble the church would turn them away from their faith in the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ. In our passage today (Colossians 2:8-10) Paul warns the believers about the false ideas that had invaded the church and combats these false teachings with the truth of Jesus Christ.

Richard Sipes / Sermons / Colossians, Jesus Christ / 0

June 7, 2026

The Supreme Savior – Colossians 1:19-20

The Supreme Savior

Colossians 1:19-20

In this opening chapter of Colossians, Paul gave thanks to God for the faith and love of the Colossian believers because of their hope in the gospel (Col1:3-8). Then, by his prayers for them to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and to walk worthy of the Lord, the apostle encouraged them to joyfully give thanks for what the Father has done for them in Christ (Col. 1:9-14). This included being delivered from Satan’s rule of darkness, being transferred into the kingdom of the Son of His love, and having redemption, “the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14).

But this saving work of God rests on two things: the Person of Christ and the Work of Christ. Our redemption and forgiveness of sins depend on the qualifications of the Savior whose work accomplished redemption and forgiveness. So the apostle devoted Colossians 15-20 to describing who this “Son of God’s love” is and what He has done. As we saw last time, in Colossians 1:15-18 Paul gave a powerful description of the person of Christ. In relation to the Father, Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15a). In relation to the creation, Jesus is the creator and sustainer of all things (Col. 1:15b-17). And in relation to the new creation, Christ Jesus is the head of the church and firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:18). All of this proves the preeminence of Jesus Christ over all things.

Now in Colossians 1:19-20, he moves to a powerful description of the work of Christ.

Richard Sipes / Sermons / Colossians, Jesus Christ, Reconciliation / 0

May 24, 2026

The Genuine Jesus Christ – Colossians 1:15-18

The Genuine Jesus Christ

Colossians 1:15-18

It’s been said that the best way to spot a counterfeit is to truly know the genuine thing. The best way to recognize counterfeit money or a counterfeit painting is to thoroughly and accurately know the original. It’s the same way with any false teaching about Jesus Christ. The Colossian church was in danger from false teaching about Jesus Christ and the salvation that He gives. Most false teaching, then and now, distorts either the person or the work of Christ, or both. And so, Paul’s solution to the false teaching in Colosse was to remind them of the truth about who Christ is and what He has done. That’s what we find in Colossians 1:15-20.

Richard Sipes / Sermons / Colossians, Jesus Christ / 0

April 19, 2026

The Great Commission – Matthew 28:16-20

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:16-20

Today marks the 165^th sermon in our exposition of the Gospel of Matthew. We began our journey through this marvelous Gospel on Mother’s Day 2022. And what a journey it has been! From the beginning, Matthew has set out to declare that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the long promised and prophesied Messiah-King. Matthew is truly the gospel of the kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God.

In Matthew 1, we saw Jesus’ royal pedigree as “the Son of David, the Son of Abraham” (Matt. 1:1). He was born to be the King, descended from David, yet the very Son of God, Immanuel, through His virgin birth. In Matthew 2-4, we saw His royal preparation. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), Jesus taught His royal precepts. In Matthew 8-12, we saw Jesus’ royal power and authority in His miracles and conflicts with the Jewish authorities. In Matthew 13, Jesus taught us the parables of the kingdom. In Matthew 14-20, we saw more miracles of Jesus, and confessed with Peter that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who will build His church (Matt. 16). We saw Him transfigured in glory on the mountain (Matt. 17). And He continued His kingdom ministry, teaching and healing, even as He made His way to Jerusalem to be crucified.

In Matthew 21-25 we saw Jesus ride into Jerusalem while the people proclaimed Him King and Messiah. We saw Him cleanse the temple and teach the people during that last week, refuting all challenges to His authority. We saw as the Jewish authorities rejected as King, and plotted to kill Him. In Matthew 26-27 we saw Jesus arrested, tried, beaten, mocked, and crucified as the King of the Jews. Then, finally we witnessed the Lord Jesus Christ risen from the dead on the third day just as He promised (Matt. 28).

Now, in the last five verses of Matthew, we see King Jesus giving His final command to His kingdom citizens.

Richard Sipes / Sermons / Great Commission, Jesus Christ, Matthew, Mission / 0

April 5, 2026

Rejoice! Christ Is Risen! – Matthew 28:1-10

Rejoice! Christ Is Risen!

Matthew 28:1-10

Happy Resurrection Sunday! Although we set aside this Sunday of the year to especially remember Christ’s resurrection, truly every Sunday as we gather for worship on the first day of the week, we do so because we are celebrating the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

If you have been with us in our verse-by-verse exposition of the Gospel of Matthew, you have seen that Jesus’ death on the cross is the climax of the Gospel narrative. From the very beginning and all the way through, Matthew has been pointing to the cross. Jesus resolutely and willingly went to the cross where He suffered and died. There, Jesus Christ gave His life a ransom for many. There, Jesus Christ was forsaken as He bore the wrath of God against the sins of mankind. There, Jesus was the Messiah-King who saves His people from their sins.

If the cross is the climax of the Gospel, the resurrection is the vindication, triumph, and final authentication of the Gospel.

Richard Sipes / Sermons / Jesus Christ, Joy, Matthew, Resurrection / 0

April 3, 2026

Christ’s Death and Burial – John 19:31-37

Christ’s Death and Burial

John 19:31-37

³¹ Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. ³² Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. ³⁵ And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. ³⁶ For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

The point of this text (John 19:31-37) is very simple. It is that Jesus of Nazareth died as the lamb of God for the forgiveness of our sins. Our response must be to repent and believe in Him. Jesus really died. He breathed His last breath. His side was pierced through. All for us.

This fact is essential because Jesus’ death and burial are at the very heart of the gospel message by which we are saved.

Richard Sipes / Good Friday, Sermons / Cross, Good Friday, Jesus Christ, John, Lord's Supper, Salvation / 0

March 22, 2026

The Significance of Jesus’ Burial – Matthew 27:55-66

The Significance of Jesus’ Burial

Matthew 27:55-66

Last Sunday we sang that profound African American spiritual, “Were You There?” Its haunting questions invite us to witness the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. One of my favorite renditions of that hymn is by Jubilant Sykes, who often sang at Grace Community Church in California. Sadly, his life was taken earlier this year, but he is literally now jubilant in the presence of the Lord in heaven. Jubilant Sykes always started this hymn singing in a soft, intimate whisper leading the church to lean-in emotionally and spiritually to reflect on Christ’s suffering and death. His powerful baritone voice made you feel the passion as he rumbled the refrain, “Tremble, tremble, tremble”. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? As the song progresses and the orchestra comes in, Jubilant’s voice rises to a thunder as he reaches the final verse, “Were you there when He rose up from the grave?” and instead of trembling, he shouts, “sometimes I feel like shouting Glory, GLORY! GLORY!”

Were you there? In two weeks, we will celebrate again the glory of Christ’s resurrection as we come to Matthew 28. But before we get there, we have one more place to stop, reflect, and ask, “Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?”

Matthew 27 has taken us on the journey through the last hours of Christ’s life

Richard Sipes / Sermons / Burial, Cross, Jesus Christ, Matthew, Providence / 0