Sermon Recap

This Sunday, Pastor Jon continued our Formed series with a teaching on mortification, the practice of subduing one’s sinful impulses, desires, and passions to grow closer to God and lead a life of holiness. Mortifying our sin is not self-hatred, but rather an embrace of God’s love that purges impurity through the conscious denial of sin, the deliberate restraint of the flesh, and the nurturing of one’s spirit to align more closely with the will of God.

In order to see true freedom from sin, we must treat it as terminal and not merely trivial. In Colossians, Paul calls believers “to put to death” their earthly desires that lead to sin. Our current culture would have us believe that sin can be treated lightly, as “naughty behavior”, but if we continue to celebrate, or simply tolerate sin, we will only feel more spiritually frustrated and dissatisfied. God is deeply committed to justice, and His wrath is always justified. In order to be truly spiritually mature, we must love what He loves and hate what He hates.

To be free from sin, we also need to be specific, not generic. This requires confession of actual, named sins, and not partial or faux vulnerability. God not only cares about our behavior, but about what’s in our hearts. He wants us to love the right things in the right way. He wants to re-order our very desires, and get to the root of our motivations in order to heal us and give us victory over sin.

Pastor Jon reminded us that the power to be free from sin comes from the Spirit, not self-help. Paul declares that, through the power of the Spirit, we “put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self.” The Gospel tells us that we are not defined by our past, but renewed by God to live in the fullness of who we are meant to become.

Finally, true freedom from sin requires a whole-hearted response. Mortification is a process of cutting sin out and allowing God to fill us with more of Himself. When we turn our backs on the world, we will see that God has turned His face toward us, and the quest for holiness is actually the quest for our true identity in Christ.

If you missed this talk, you can watch it here today.

Discussion Questions

Connect

1. What's been your favorite New York City memory so far this Fall?

Character

Ask someone to read Colossians 3:5-11 aloud. Then, ask the following questions:

1. What words, images, or phrases stand out to you in this passage?

2. What does this passage reveal about how God feels about sin?

Consider

1. As Pastor Jon mentioned in the sermon, God’s wrath can be understood as a form of love, reflecting His commitment to justice and His desire for our good. How does this perspective shape the way you view God’s character? How does it challenge your perspective?

2. Pastor Jon highlighted that we cannot overcome our flesh's sinful nature with our flesh, on our own, but must rely on the Spirit instead. How can recognizing this truth change your approach to dealing with sin in your life? What steps can you take to lean more on the Spirit for strength and guidance?

3. Reflect on the C.S. Lewis quote: “You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” How have you seen God build “a palace” within you? What areas of your life has He transformed, and where might He still be working to make you a suitable dwelling place for His presence?

Cover

Pray over the group about killing sin and living in the Spirit. Ask God to reveal specific areas where sin may be holding you back, and to give you the strength to confess it fully and confront it with His help.