This week in chapel, Dr. Gombis continued his teaching on Colossians 3:12-17. We were reminded that the Old and New Testament both emphasize the character trait of caring well for one another and the need for community. In Colossians 3:12-17, Paul recalls the identity of the people as chosen, holy and dearly loved.

  • Chosen: To be chosen means to be the people who have been on God’s heart and God’s mind since eternity past. He is a God who has drawn us into His love so that we extend this same love to others. In his message, Dr. Gombis emphasizes that “chosenness” is God’s love language to His people.
  • Holy: We are also a community of holiness, and our ranges of behaviors and thoughts are to be completely different than what constitutes the conduct and the identities in this world. God has called us to be a different people, a separate people that exists to take on alternative practices by serving the marginalized and caring for the poor within the community.
  • Dearly Loved: Lastly, Paul calls the community dearly loved. When we know who we are and that God calls us dearly loved, we then no longer need to establish ourselves or claim any value. Rather we can live our days as people who are dearly loved, and we can see that God has given us to one another as gifts.

In this way, Paul calls us to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. We are to demonstrate that others are to be honored and recognize ways we can bear the weight with others.

Listen to the full sermon below.