Empowered by the Spirit: Living a Transformed Life

Summary

Today, we gather on Pentecost Sunday, a day that marks the birth of the Church and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all believers. This is not just a historical event to remember, but a living reality—God’s Spirit is still breathing new life into us, empowering us to live boldly, love deeply, and walk in step with His heart. Our worship, our service, and our community life are all shaped by this ongoing work of the Spirit.

We are reminded that the Christian life is not about simply going through the motions or striving for moral improvement. Instead, it is about a radical transformation—a new life in Christ. Paul’s words in Colossians 3 call us to set our hearts and minds on things above, to put to death our old selves, and to clothe ourselves with the character of Christ. This transformation is not just internal; it must bear visible fruit in our actions, relationships, and the way we serve others.

The temptation is strong, both in the ancient world and today, to settle for mere morality or to normalize sin because it is common or convenient. But the call is higher: to die to our old ways and to be continually renewed in the image of our Creator. This is not a one-time event but a daily surrender, a daily putting off of the old and putting on of the new. We are not called to be “better people” by the world’s standards, but to be new people—alive in Christ, filled with His Spirit, and marked by compassion, humility, and love.

As we send out our mission team and serve our community, we do so not to be noticed, but to make Christ known. Our unity, our love, and our service are all meant to point beyond ourselves to the One who has made us new. The Spirit that descended at Pentecost is the same Spirit who empowers us today, calling us to live for God’s glory and the good of others. Let us not settle for external change or moral polish, but seek the deep, lasting transformation that only Christ can bring.

Key Takeaways

- Transformation Begins with a New Focus
Setting our hearts and minds on things above is not a passive act, but a daily discipline. The world constantly pulls our attention to the temporary and the visible, but Christ calls us to orient our desires and ambitions toward the eternal. When we aim at heaven, we find that God provides what we truly need for life on earth as well. This focus realigns our priorities and shapes our identity in Christ. [32:06]

- Lasting Change Flows from Internal Renewal
External behaviors can be modified for a season, but without an internal change of heart, those changes will not endure. True transformation begins when the Spirit renews us from the inside out, producing fruit that is visible to others. We cannot simply “try harder” to be good; we must allow Christ to reshape our desires, motives, and actions. [30:20]

- The Old Self Must Be Put to Death, Not Polished
The Christian life is not about moral improvement or self-help, but about dying to the old self and its patterns. Sin is subtle and easily normalized, but we are called to be vigilant, recognizing and rejecting what draws us away from God. Our comparison is not with others, but with Christ Himself, and only by His grace can we walk in newness of life. [41:16]

- Clothing Ourselves in Christ’s Character is Essential
It is not enough to rid ourselves of sin; we must actively put on the virtues of Christ—compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and above all, love. Biblical orthodoxy without compassion misses the heart of Jesus. Our lives should reflect His character so that others are drawn not to us, but to Him. [44:06]

- Mission and Service Flow from Identity, Not Performance
Our calling to serve, whether in our local community or across the world, is rooted in who we are in Christ, not in a desire for recognition or self-justification. We go and serve in the power of the Spirit, seeking to make Christ known through our words and actions. The new life in Christ is a Spirit-filled life, lived for God’s glory and the good of others. [50:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:29] - Worship: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
[10:20] - Prayer and Trust in Jesus
[13:00] - Announcements: 4th of July & Community Service
[16:46] - Loving Well: Community Updates and Prayer
[18:27] - Praying for Healing and God’s Presence
[19:21] - Direct Access to God Through Christ
[25:29] - Pentecost and the New Life in Christ
[27:05] - Internal Change and External Fruit
[28:51] - Unity in Christ: No Barriers
[32:06] - Setting Minds on Things Above
[40:25] - The Cost of Discipleship: Dying to Self
[44:06] - Clothed in Christ: Compassion and Love
[47:15] - The Emperor’s New Clothes: More Than Sin Management
[49:26] - The Offer of New Life in Christ
[54:52] - Mission Team Commissioning
[56:16] - Prayer for the Mission Team and Closing Worship

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Pentecost, New Life, and Lasting Transformation

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### Bible Reading

Colossians 3:1-17
(Sermon’s main text; see [27:05])

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Colossians 3:1-4, what does Paul say should be the focus of our hearts and minds?
2. In verses 5-9, what specific behaviors and attitudes does Paul instruct believers to “put to death” or “rid yourselves of”?
3. What are the “new clothes” Paul tells us to put on in verses 12-14? List the virtues he mentions.
4. The sermon mentioned that the Christian life is not just about internal change but should also result in visible fruit. What are some examples of this visible fruit, according to the passage and the sermon? ([25:29])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul emphasize setting our minds on things above rather than earthly things? What does this shift in focus accomplish in a believer’s life? ([32:06])
2. The sermon warns against simply trying to be “better people” or settling for moral improvement. Why is this not enough, according to both Paul and the sermon? ([41:16])
3. What does it mean to “put to death” the old self, and why is it not enough to just “polish” or improve it? ([41:16])
4. How does clothing ourselves in Christ’s character (compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, love) change the way we interact with others, both inside and outside the church? ([44:06])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon said, “Setting our hearts and minds on things above is not a passive act, but a daily discipline.” What is one practical way you can re-orient your focus toward Christ this week? Is there a specific distraction you need to address? ([32:06])
2. Are there any “old self” habits or attitudes in your life that you have been trying to manage or excuse, rather than truly putting them to death? What would it look like to surrender these to Christ today? ([41:16])
3. The message challenged us not to settle for external change or “moral polish.” Can you think of an area where you have focused on outward behavior but neglected the heart? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to bring real transformation in that area? ([30:20])
4. Paul says to “clothe yourselves” with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Which of these do you find most challenging, and why? What is one step you can take to grow in that virtue this week? ([44:06])
5. The sermon reminded us that our service and mission should flow from our identity in Christ, not from a desire for recognition. When you serve others, what motivates you most? How can you make Christ the focus of your service? ([50:21])
6. The pastor shared that “biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.” Have you ever experienced or witnessed this? How can you make sure your faith is marked by both truth and love? ([44:06])
7. As we send out our mission team, the sermon said, “We go and serve in the power of the Spirit, seeking to make Christ known through our words and actions.” What is one way you can serve your community this month so that others see Christ in you? ([50:21])

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for the Spirit’s ongoing work of transformation in each person, and for opportunities to serve and love others in the power of Christ.

Devotional

Day 1: Set Your Mind on Things Above
Living the new life in Christ begins with a shift in focus—from the temporary and earthly to the eternal and heavenly. When you set your heart and mind on things above, you are invited to let go of the distractions and anxieties of this world and instead pursue the priorities and purposes of God. This is not about ignoring your daily responsibilities, but about allowing your identity and decisions to be shaped by Christ’s presence and promises. As you intentionally look to Jesus, you will find that your desires, attitudes, and actions begin to align with His will, bringing peace and clarity even when the world feels uncertain. [27:59]

Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV)
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Reflection: What is one earthly concern or distraction you can intentionally set aside today in order to focus your heart and mind on Christ and His purposes?


Day 2: Put to Death the Old Self
Following Jesus means more than self-improvement; it is a call to die to your old self and the patterns of sin that once defined you. This is a daily, intentional act—naming and rejecting the attitudes, habits, and desires that pull you away from God’s best. The world may normalize or excuse certain behaviors, but Christ calls you to a higher standard, not out of legalism, but out of love and freedom. As you put to death what belongs to your earthly nature, you make room for the Spirit to bring new life, healing, and transformation. [41:16]

Colossians 3:5-11 (ESV)
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Reflection: What is one specific area of your old self that you sense God calling you to surrender or “put to death” today?


Day 3: Clothe Yourself with Christ’s Character
The new life in Christ is not just about what you leave behind, but also about what you put on—compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and above all, love. These are not just virtues to admire, but qualities to actively pursue and embody as God’s chosen and dearly loved people. As you clothe yourself in Christ’s character, you become a living testimony to His grace, drawing others not to your own goodness, but to the beauty of Jesus. Let love be the thread that binds all your actions together in unity and peace. [44:06]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Reflection: Which of Christ’s qualities—compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, or love—do you most need to “put on” in your interactions today?


Day 4: Let the Peace and Word of Christ Dwell in You
A life transformed by Christ is marked by peace and gratitude, rooted in the presence of His Word. As you let the peace of Christ rule in your heart and allow His Word to dwell in you richly, you become equipped to encourage, teach, and build up others. Worship, thankfulness, and unity flow from a heart that is centered on Jesus, and your words and actions become a reflection of His love and truth. In every circumstance, let your life be an offering of praise, doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. [45:59]

Colossians 3:15-17 (ESV)
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Reflection: How can you intentionally let Christ’s peace and Word shape your attitude and actions in a specific situation you face today?


Day 5: Live the Spirit-Filled Life for God’s Glory and Others’ Good
The new life in Christ is not about striving to be a better person, but about being made new by the Spirit—living for God’s glory and the good of others. The Spirit who came at Pentecost is the same Spirit who empowers you today, enabling you to serve, love, and witness with boldness and humility. As you go about your day, remember that your life is a testimony to the transforming power of Jesus, and that every act of love and service points others to Him. Let your life be marked by a Spirit-filled joy and purpose that draws others to the hope you have in Christ. [47:59]

Acts 1:8 (ESV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Reflection: In what practical way can you rely on the Holy Spirit’s power to serve or love someone for God’s glory today?

Quotes

If we are following Jesus we need to take off the old clothes and put on the new which we will talk about in a little bit and that's what he's talking about to the people in colossi to us the temptation is to be a little bit better try a little bit harder to be a better person because what has creeped into the church in our context is morality if we're just moral enough if we're just good enough and the argument i have heard way too many times by good well -meaning christians and a lot of young believers is if i'm just good enough god will let me in but the truth is none of us are ever going to be good enough no matter how hard we try we cannot be good enough to get in to heaven or have communion with god here it is one way and one way only it is only through jesus that we get this reward. [00:34:46] (00:01:06 seconds) Edit Clip

Put to death whatever does that whatever draws us away put to death we can't wear christ and cling to our old clothes you sin. Paul adds, in Christ there is no Greek, Jew, or slave, or free. Christ is in all and is with all. We need to realize that this isn't a moral polishing. Just get a little bit better, just like we talked about previously. It's a spiritual death and resurrection. It is, we need to die to ourselves. [00:39:49] (00:00:40 seconds) Edit Clip

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his famous book, The Cost of Discipleship, says this, when Christ calls a man, he bids him to come and die. I know that's not a good, fun thing to say, but we need to understand that we can't keep our old self maybe just a little bit away so we can grab them again. [00:40:30] (00:00:23 seconds) Edit Clip

John Owen, in his famous book, The Mortification of Sin, says this, be killing sin or it will be killing you. And how true that is. Sin is sneaky. Just like the people in Colossae, we tend to normalize things that God calls an abomination. And we do that because it's in our own hearts. [00:40:53] (00:00:28 seconds) Edit Clip

The spirit, it dresses us in Christ's character so the world can see not our glory, but his. That is what we're after. It's for people to go out and serve. And they say, who is this guy you're trying to be like? I want to know him. Not, look at you, look at me and how great we are. Another place in scripture, John says, I must decrease so he may increase. [00:45:29] (00:00:36 seconds) Edit Clip

It's all about not being a better person, it's about being a new person. Have you done that? And then finally, after we put to death our sin, put to death our old selves, have we started to clothe ourselves in Christ? It's not just about getting rid of, it is also about putting on. [00:46:53] (00:00:23 seconds) Edit Clip

God doesn't forgive you when you repent. He already did that through Jesus. When we repent, we are able to shed some of the sin and actually get rid of it rather than just move it around. God is for our good. What Jesus did on the cross was so we will be forgiven. [00:48:46] (00:00:27 seconds) Edit Clip

He is the one that brings peace He is the one that brings internal change That will bring the external change That we all kind of want in people's lives We don't need to be preaching morality We need to be preaching Jesus That's it [01:03:11] (00:00:17 seconds) Edit Clip