Sermons on Colossians 3:8

Colossians 3:8 Interpretation:

Transforming Anger: Embracing Righteous Responses in Christ (City Church Georgetown) interprets Colossians 3:8 as a call to take radical personal responsibility for anger and the words that flow from it, emphasizing that nothing and no one "makes us mad"—rather, our beliefs and internal narratives are what generate anger. The sermon uses the analogy of "moving the line" of what is considered unacceptable behavior, suggesting that if we can control ourselves from physical violence, we can also move that line back to include yelling, name-calling, and profanity, as Colossians 3:8 commands. The preacher draws on the concept of neuroplasticity, explaining that anger is often a learned, habitual response that can be unlearned and replaced through intentional practice and spiritual discipline. The sermon also introduces the "STOP" technique (Stop, Think, Offer, Pray/Proceed) as a practical tool for living out the command to rid oneself of anger and harmful speech, connecting this to the biblical call to be Christ's ambassadors and ministers of reconciliation in the home.

Mastering Emotions: Aligning Will with God's Truth (Dallas Willard Ministries) offers a distinctive interpretation by focusing on the will’s supremacy over feelings, arguing that Colossians 3:8 is not merely about suppressing anger, malice, or slander, but about becoming a different kind of person whose will and character are transformed so that such emotions no longer dominate. The sermon uniquely highlights the Greek concept of the "belly" as the seat of feelings, referencing Paul's language about those "whose god is their belly," and frames the negative emotions listed in Colossians 3:8 as "bad masters" that must be dethroned by the will aligned with God's truth. The preacher also introduces the idea that contempt is the root of anger and filthy language, and that eliminating contempt from one's life will naturally diminish the other vices Paul lists.

The Transformative Power of Christ's Peace (Desiring God) interprets Colossians 3:8 through the lens of the "Peace of Christ" as an active, ruling force—like an umpire or referee (drawing on the Greek word brabeueto)—that determines what is "in bounds" or "out of bounds" in Christian relationships. The sermon uniquely frames the negative behaviors in Colossians 3:8 (anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk) as actions that are "out of bounds" when the peace of Christ is the arbiter, and emphasizes that this peace is "blood-bought," rooted in the sacrificial work of Christ. The analogy of the umpire/referee is used to show how the peace of Christ actively judges and excludes these behaviors from the Christian community.

Transforming Identity: Putting Off the Old Self (Desiring God) offers a detailed and unique interpretation of Colossians 3:8 by closely examining the Greek text and the structure of Paul's argument. The sermon notes that the original Greek does not include the word "them" in "put them all away," which shifts the understanding from referring only to the previous list of sins (sexual immorality, impurity, etc.) to a broader command to put away all such behaviors, including anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk. The preacher draws a connection between the two lists: the first list (sexual sins) represents cravings and desires, and the second list (anger, wrath, etc.) represents the emotional and behavioral fallout when those cravings are unmet. The sermon uses the metaphor of changing garments, suggesting that these vices are like insignias on the "old self" uniform, which must be stripped off and destroyed. The preacher also highlights the progression within the list—anger intensifies to wrath, which then becomes malice, leading to slander and finally to obscene talk—emphasizing a psychological and spiritual sequence that deepens the understanding of the text.

Overcoming Bitterness Through Trust and Forgiveness (Desiring God) interprets Colossians 3:8 as a direct prescription from the "good physician" (God) to put away anger, likening it to a doctor's order to stop an unhealthy habit. The sermon personalizes the command, emphasizing that it is not merely historical advice but a present, divine directive for believers. The preacher uses the analogy of a medical prescription to stress the importance of trusting and acting on God's counsel, suggesting that obedience to this command is a matter of faith in God's wisdom and goodness. This approach frames the verse as a practical, ongoing battle against bitterness and anger, rooted in belief and trust in God's promises.

Colossians 3:8 Theological Themes:

Transforming Anger: Embracing Righteous Responses in Christ (City Church Georgetown) introduces the theme of learned anger and neuroplasticity, arguing that sinful anger is not an immutable trait but a habit that can be unlearned and replaced through spiritual and practical disciplines. The sermon also presents the idea that Christians are called to be "ambassadors of reconciliation" in their homes, not "ministers of being right," reframing the goal of conflict from self-justification to Christlike restoration.

Mastering Emotions: Aligning Will with God's Truth (Dallas Willard Ministries) presents the novel theological theme that the will, not feelings, should govern the Christian life, and that true transformation involves becoming the kind of person for whom anger, malice, and contempt are no longer attractive or dominant. The sermon adds the unique angle that contempt is the "backside of pride" and the root of the other vices in Colossians 3:8, and that spiritual disciplines (like fasting, silence, and solitude) are essential tools for retraining the will and emotions.

The Transformative Power of Christ's Peace (Desiring God) offers the distinct theological theme that the peace of Christ is not merely a feeling but a powerful, objective reality purchased by Christ's sacrifice, which functions as an active judge in the life of the believer and the church. The sermon adds the facet that the peace of Christ, when allowed to "rule," decisively excludes anger, malice, and slander as incompatible with the new reality established by Christ's cross.

Transforming Identity: Putting Off the Old Self (Desiring God) introduces the theological theme of the "old self" versus the "new self," using the metaphor of changing uniforms to illustrate the radical transformation expected of believers. The sermon uniquely connects the emotional sins of anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk to the frustration of unfulfilled desires, suggesting that the Christian life involves not only resisting sinful cravings but also dealing with the emotional aftermath when those cravings are denied. This theme is further developed by noting the intentional structure of Paul's lists (three groups of five vices/virtues), implying a deliberate contrast between the old and new ways of being.

Overcoming Bitterness Through Trust and Forgiveness (Desiring God) adds a distinct theological angle by framing the battle against anger and bitterness as fundamentally a battle against unbelief. The sermon asserts that cherishing God's forgiveness and trusting in His justice are essential to overcoming anger, making the act of putting away anger an exercise in faith. This approach moves beyond mere moral exhortation, rooting the command in the believer's relationship with God and their trust in His character and promises.

Colossians 3:8 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Mastering Emotions: Aligning Will with God's Truth (Dallas Willard Ministries) provides historical context by explaining that in the ancient world, the "belly" was considered the center of feelings, and that Paul's phrase "their god is their belly" refers to people who let their emotions rule their lives. This insight helps clarify the cultural background of Paul's admonition in Colossians 3:8, showing that the struggle to master emotions was recognized in the Greco-Roman world and that Paul's teaching was a countercultural call to let the will, informed by God's truth, govern the self.

The Transformative Power of Christ's Peace (Desiring God) offers linguistic and cultural context by analyzing the Greek word brabeueto, showing that "rule" in Colossians 3:15 is not the rule of a king but of an umpire or referee, someone who decides who is "in bounds" or "out of bounds" in a contest. This sheds light on how early Christians would have understood the metaphor and its application to community life, especially in the context of conflict and reconciliation.

Transforming Identity: Putting Off the Old Self (Desiring God) provides historical and contextual insight by analyzing the original Greek text, specifically noting the absence of the word "them" in the command to "put all away." This linguistic detail clarifies that Paul is not limiting his instruction to the previous list of sins but is expanding it to include a broader range of behaviors. The sermon also references the cultural practice of changing garments as a metaphor for moral and spiritual transformation, which would have resonated with ancient audiences familiar with the symbolism of clothing in identity and status.

Colossians 3:8 Cross-References in the Bible:

Transforming Anger: Embracing Righteous Responses in Christ (City Church Georgetown) references several biblical passages to expand on Colossians 3:8: Psalm 37:8 ("refrain from anger and turn from wrath") to show the continuity of the biblical witness against anger; Ephesians 4 ("get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, along with every form of malice") to reinforce Paul's consistent teaching; the story of Jesus cleansing the temple to distinguish between righteous and unrighteous anger; the arrest of Jesus and Peter's violent response to illustrate how Jesus rebuked anger even in the face of injustice; and the parable of the prodigal son to model God's gracious, non-angry response to sin. The sermon also references Romans (the ministry of reconciliation and being Christ's ambassadors) to frame the Christian's calling in conflict, and John (Jesus' sheep recognizing his voice) to encourage discernment between the voice of Christ and the voice of the "deceiver" when tempted to anger.

Mastering Emotions: Aligning Will with God's Truth (Dallas Willard Ministries) references Matthew 5 (Jesus' teaching on anger and contempt), Galatians 5 ("those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires"), and 1 Peter 4 ("he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin") to support the call to lay aside anger and contempt and to live according to the will of God rather than human desires. The sermon also alludes to the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5) and the character of love, joy, and peace as not merely feelings but virtues.

The Transformative Power of Christ's Peace (Desiring God) cross-references Ephesians 2:13-17 to unpack the meaning of the "peace of Christ" as "blood-bought peace," emphasizing the costliness of reconciliation through Christ's blood, flesh, and cross. The sermon also references Colossians 2:18 to explain the Greek verb for "rule" and Philippians 3:14 to show the connection between the "prize" and the umpire metaphor. Colossians 3:8 is directly linked as the list of behaviors that are "out of bounds" when the peace of Christ rules.

Transforming Identity: Putting Off the Old Self (Desiring God) references Ephesians 4 and 5 to draw parallels between Paul's instructions in Colossians and his teachings elsewhere. Ephesians 4:22-24 is cited to support the metaphor of putting off the old self and putting on the new self, while Ephesians 5:4 is used to highlight the alternative of thankfulness to filthy language. The sermon also references Romans 2:8 and Revelation 16:19, 18:3, and 19:15 to distinguish between the Greek terms for anger (org?) and wrath (thumos), showing how the intensification of anger is described elsewhere in Scripture and how these terms can also refer to intense passion or fury, even in the context of sexual immorality.

Overcoming Bitterness Through Trust and Forgiveness (Desiring God) draws on several biblical passages to expand on Colossians 3:8. Ephesians 4:32 is used to emphasize the link between being forgiven by God and forgiving others, while Romans 12:19 is cited to underscore the importance of leaving vengeance to God, trusting in His justice. 1 Peter 2:23 is referenced to illustrate how Jesus responded to being wronged by entrusting Himself to God, and 1 Peter 1:6 is used to explain how trials (which often provoke anger) are intended by God to refine faith. These cross-references collectively reinforce the sermon's argument that overcoming anger and bitterness is rooted in faith, forgiveness, and trust in God's justice and purposes.

Colossians 3:8 Christian References outside the Bible:

Mastering Emotions: Aligning Will with God's Truth (Dallas Willard Ministries) explicitly references the story of St. Benedict, a Christian monastic figure, as an example of redirecting one's mind and body to overcome temptation, illustrating the principle of changing thoughts and feelings through decisive action. The sermon also references the teachings and notes of "Bill," presumably Bill Gaultiere, a known Christian psychologist and collaborator with Dallas Willard, in the context of spiritual disciplines and scripture memorization.

Overcoming Bitterness Through Trust and Forgiveness (Desiring God) explicitly references Leroy Eims, a minister with The Navigators, sharing his personal testimony about struggling with anger and applying Colossians 3:8. Eims describes how memorizing the verse, praying for help, and involving his wife in accountability led to gradual victory over his temper. This real-life example is used to illustrate the practical application of the biblical command and to encourage listeners to take God's prescription seriously.

Colossians 3:8 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Transforming Anger: Embracing Righteous Responses in Christ (City Church Georgetown) uses several secular illustrations to make Colossians 3:8 vivid: the movie "Inside Out 2" is referenced as a smart and insightful depiction of emotions, implicitly connecting the film's exploration of anger to the sermon's theme; the preacher's childhood story about learning and using a curse word ("S-O-B") humorously illustrates the power and consequences of "filthy language from your lips"; the concept of neuroplasticity and automatic thoughts is drawn from contemporary neuroscience to explain how anger becomes a habitual, learned response; and the ABC model from Rational Emotive Therapy (Ellis) is used to show that beliefs, not events, cause emotional reactions, reinforcing the sermon's call to personal responsibility for anger. The sermon also references the role of adrenaline and serotonin in conflict, drawing on basic physiological psychology to explain why people say and do regrettable things in anger, and uses the analogy of police and judges not needing to yell to illustrate that true authority does not require raised voices. The "STOP" technique is presented as a practical, almost therapeutic tool for managing anger, blending secular conflict resolution strategies with biblical principles.

Mastering Emotions: Aligning Will with God's Truth (Dallas Willard Ministries) references contemporary political talk radio (Rush Limbaugh, Dennis Prager) as examples of a "politics of contempt," illustrating how contempt saturates public discourse and shapes attitudes, thus connecting the biblical warning against malice and slander to modern cultural phenomena. The sermon also references the song "Falling in Love with Love" and the broader cultural portrayal of love in music and poetry to contrast the biblical understanding of love as character rather than mere feeling.