The Call to a Holy Life

God’s holiness names a people holy, not by their decision but by his choosing. Paul’s word to the Colossians gathers that identity into a wardrobe: the chosen and beloved “clothe” themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience; they bear with one another; they forgive as the Lord forgave; and above all they “clothe” themselves with love that binds everything together in perfect harmony. As that life is worn, the peace of Christ rules hearts, the word of Christ dwells richly, songs rise with gratitude, and whatever is done is done in Jesus’ name with thanks to the Father.

The call to live a holy life refuses to be talk only; it insists on life. Holiness means authenticity before God, open mind and softened heart, fidelity not merely to who a person is but to whose that person is. Creation itself sets the ground: God breathes life, names his creatures imago Dei, and calls each one in the looking glass a child of God. That calling asks for daily discernment to develop a God-ward way of living, not a self-ward one, with honest confession, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner,” and a cleansing of haughtiness.

Grace then makes possible what effort cannot. The Methodist heartbeat calls this striving “perfection,” not flawlessness, but perfection in love. Love aims to be complete because its source is God’s unmerited favor, and it spills into works of mercy that mirror Jesus’ life. Gifts are pressed into service for God’s good, whether hymns or home remedies, because the goal of religion is not to get a person into heaven but to get heaven into a person, until holiness of heart and life simply emanates.

Obedience learns to heed the nudge. A friend’s doorstep becomes holy ground when grace kicks a reluctant servant into loving presence. Fire becomes the image: when God sets a life ablaze, others come to watch it burn and find warmth and light for their own road. A congregation that lives set aflame will not worry about growth; it will worry about room.

A sober warning fits here: form without power is a constant danger. Power comes as dependence deepens, listening sharpens, and gratitude sings. The church loves leaders not because of who they are, but because of whose they are and because of who the church is in Christ. Consecration finally speaks in a covenant: “Put me to what thou wilt,” until all is yielded to the pleasure and disposal of God.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Holiness begins with God’s naming Holiness does not start at the finish line of effort; it starts at the fountain of grace. God calls a people chosen and beloved, then outfits them to live what he has named. Identity precedes practice, and practice confirms identity as compassion, patience, and forgiveness become the daily garment. When holiness is received as gift, it can be given as life. [43:12]
• 2. Put on love that binds Paul’s image of clothing is practical and corporate. Love is not an accessory; it is the seam that holds the whole wardrobe together and keeps the body in harmony. The peace of Christ then rules, not as a suggestion, but as the governing presence in the community. Forgiveness ceases to be optional when the Lord’s forgiveness becomes the pattern. [46:01]
• 3. Perfection means perfecting love Perfection is not a fussy drive to never err; it is a Spirit-driven hunger to love fully. Grace alone grows that life, and grace alone sustains it. As love is perfected, a person finds increasing readiness to do the things Jesus did, even when it costs. The mark is not polish but charity that perseveres. [62:17]
• 4. Let heaven get into you The point is not escape later but infusion now. When heaven’s life saturates the heart, gratitude, song, and service flow without coercion. Holiness becomes visible, not as show, but as overflow. The world recognizes a different source when love runs downstream from God. [65:57]
• 5. Obey the nudge; burn bright Small obediences often unlock large mercies. The inward tug to show up at a neighbor’s need is the Spirit’s quiet summons to holy usefulness. As love obeys, God lights a life, and that flame gives both warmth and direction to those in the dark. Fire spreads when one heart yields to God’s spark. [67:48]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [42:18] - Greeting and theme of holiness
• [44:17] - Calling an audible on Colossians
• [45:24] - Clothe yourselves, forgive, love
• [47:17] - Prayer: make us holy today
• [48:31] - Holiness and the Methodist movement
• [50:02] - What holiness really means
• [51:35] - Imago Dei and the looking glass
• [54:50] - Susannah Wesley’s devotion and family
• [58:08] - A life resolved for God
• [59:31] - Coal mines and God’s light
• [60:39] - Loving the next pastor
• [62:17] - Perfection in love by grace
• [65:57] - Heaven into you, not just later
• [71:27] - Covenant Prayer of dedication

1. According to Colossians 3:12-14, what specific qualities are believers instructed to “put on,” and how does love relate to these qualities?
2. The sermon emphasized that holiness is not about “flawlessness” but “perfection in love” [01:02:17]. How did this redefine the idea of striving for holiness?
3. What practical example was given in the sermon about responding to a “nudge” from God, and what was the outcome? [01:07:48]
4. How does the passage connect thankfulness (Colossians 3:15-17) with living a holy life?

1. Why do you think Paul uses the metaphor of “clothing ourselves” with virtues like compassion and kindness? How does this imagery help us understand holiness as a daily practice?
2. The sermon stated, “The goal of religion is not to get a person into heaven but to get heaven into a person” [01:05:57]. How does this shift in perspective change the way we approach faith and obedience?
3. Colossians 3:13 commands forgiveness “as the Lord forgave you.” What might happen in a community if forgiveness is treated as optional rather than essential?
4. The phrase “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15) suggests active surrender. How does relying on God’s peace differ from striving to control outcomes through human effort?

1. Which of the qualities listed in Colossians 3:12-14 (compassion, kindness, humility, etc.) feels most challenging to “wear” in your current relationships? What step could you take this week to grow in that area?
2. The sermon described holiness as “small obediences often unlock[ing] large mercies” [01:07:48]. When have you sensed a “nudge” from God to act in love, and how did you respond? What might you do differently next time?
3. Forgiveness is described as non-optional for believers. Is there someone in your life you’ve struggled to forgive? How might reflecting on God’s forgiveness toward you (Colossians 3:13) soften your heart?
4. The sermon urged using unique gifts for God’s purposes, like writing a book of home remedies [01:04:19]. What specific talent or resource do you have that could be pressed into service for others this month?
5. “A congregation set aflame will worry about room, not growth” [01:09:35]. How can you personally contribute to creating a community where others feel drawn to God’s warmth and light?
6. The “Covenant Prayer” mentioned in the sermon includes, “Put me to what thou wilt” [01:11:27]. What area of your life feels hardest to surrender to God’s direction, and what would it look like to release it?