A New Kingdom, a New Way of Life

Jul 19

Aynsley Younker joins us for the third night of Summer in the City as we walk through Colossians 3, diving deep into the embodiment of sanctification. When we become new in Christ, we face holy refinement and exemplify what it looks like to be different from the world.

Key Takeaway

When you went from death to life, you entered into a process of sanctification—a holy refinement and transformation of the heart. Instead of desiring the things of this world, you begin to desire the things of God.

We are under the submission of the kingdom—there is no neutrality.
Set your heart on things above. You have a new purpose.
We agree with the Spirit to put a stop to sin. This doesn't mean that we will never struggle again; it means that our identity isn't defined by our sins any longer.
Reconciliation vertically with me and God through Christ always leads to reconciliation horizontally with me and everyone around me. The result of Jesus and the gospel is that enemies become family. It reaches across social and cultural barriers. There is no relationship unaffected.
We forgive the same way Christ forgave us—by forgiving fully, deeply, and without strings.
Let peace be the deciding factor in all decisions. Peace can lead you.
We have a responsibility to live differently.

“

"We are new, but we're also being made new. We are holy, but yet we are being made holy. That's sanctification."

”

Aynsley Younker

Discussion Questions

Do you know your purpose?
What does sanctification look like to you? In what ways have you seen that in your own life?
What sin in your life are you wanting to put to death? If you don't feel comfortable sharing this out loud, go ahead and write it down.
Have you witnessed any relationships in your life radically changing because of the gospel?
Do you have a hard or an easy time forgiving people who wrong you? If you have a hard time, why do you think that is?
Who do you need to forgive in your life?

Scripture References

5.the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel

1.Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2.Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3.For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4.When Christ, who is your3:4 Some manuscripts our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.5.Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6.Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.3:6 Some early manuscripts coming on those who are disobedient 7.You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8.But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9.Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10.and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11.Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.12.Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13.Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14.And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.15.Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16.Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17.And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1.Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2.because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you8:2 The Greek is singular; some manuscripts me free from the law of sin and death. 3.For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,8:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 4-13. God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.8:3 Or flesh, for sin And so he condemned sin in the flesh,

11.Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12.remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13.But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.14.For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15.by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16.and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Aynsley Younker

Aynsley Younker is a Jesus follower, lover of the word, wife to Brett, and mom of three to Anna Jeane, Shiloh, and Johnny. She graduated in 2020 from DTS with a Master's in Biblical Studies and is passionate about studying and teaching the Bible because it contains our truest reality in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and is the way we know God and his love for us. When she’s not nerding out, she loves to think about her next meal or outfit, go on a walk, and hang out with family and friends.