Crossing Church

Preached on 5.31.09 by Dustin Neeley
Sermon Notes

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians  3:17 ESV

What is God telling us to do?

1. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything…”
   • All-inclusive terminology covering every possible action in life.
2. “…in the name of the Lord Jesus…”
   • “…for the Lord Jesus…” or  “…as a representative of Jesus…”
   • Intended to serve as a kind of ‘code of ethics’ for the Christian life.
   • Both communal and individual implications.
3. “…giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
   • Everything we do should be done with a sense of thankfulness.
   • Jesus is the only “doorway” through which our thanks can come.

Why Don’t We Do This?

1. Busyness:
   • We have so much going on we just don’t think about it.
2. Pride:
   • The Sin: Doing things “in our own name” instead of “in Jesus’ name.”
     • At home, work, school, relationships.
     • Each environment has hazards that aggravate this.
   • Sin Behind the Sin:
     • We are thinking only of ourselves-Phil. 2.
     • We actually think we are better than others-Rom. 12:3.
       1. Typical, self-exalting pride.
       2. Overcompensation for insecurity.

What needs to change to address this situation?

What needs to change to begin to deal with my pride?

How Do We Do This?

1. Recognize why we are on the planet.
   • “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him.” Col. 1:16
   • Turn from sin and trust in Christ.
2. Begin to evaluate our life and its activities through this filter.
   • Can I do this in the name of Jesus with a sense of thankfulness?
   • Am I doing this in the name of Jesus with a sense of thankfulness?
3. Hear the strong caution from the Scriptures concerning pride.
   • Prov. 16:5, 18, Ps. 101:5, Jas. 4:6, 1 Pet. 5:5-7
4. See the powerful example of Jesus’ humility in Phil. 2.
   • God doesn’t expect us to “be like Jesus” on our own.
5. Apply the Gospel to see change and healing:
   • The Gospel brings a rebuke against the proud, healing for the broken, and a balanced self-perception.
   • “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. 2 Corinthians 10:17-18

The Gospel is our only hope for “doing everything in the name of the Lord” with a sense of thankfulness.

Works Consulted: Expositor’s Commentary, NIV Application Commentary, Life Application Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, ESV Study Bible