April 12, 2026 | Take Off Your Grave Clothes! | Pastor Jim Kilmartin | Sunday Service | Rock City

Devotional

Day 1: The Call to Surrender and New Life in Christ

The invitation to surrender is not a call to try harder, but to stop fighting. It is an acknowledgment that our own strength and goodness are insufficient. True life begins when we yield completely to Jesus, confessing our need for Him and repenting of our own ways. This is the moment we step out of the grave of our old life and into the light of His grace and forgiveness. [39:47]

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, NKJV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are still trying to maintain control, and what would it look like this week to consciously yield that area to Jesus in prayer?

Day 2: Putting Off the Old Self and Its Deeds

After coming to new life in Christ, we are called to actively participate in our transformation. This means putting to death the sinful nature and its practices that once defined us. These are the grave clothes that can still bind us if we do not consciously remove them through the power of the Spirit. It is a decisive act of turning away from what belongs to our old, dead life. [01:26:54]

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5, NKJV)

Reflection: Which specific "member" or sinful pattern listed in Colossians 3:5 do you feel the Spirit prompting you to put to death this week, and what is one practical step you can take to cooperate with Him in that process?

Day 3: Clothing Ourselves with Christlike Character

Having taken off the old self, we are not left naked but are called to put on a new identity. This new clothing is the character of Christ Himself—compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and above all, love. These are not merely behaviors to mimic but the supernatural fruit of a life hidden in Christ, allowing His nature to be displayed through us. [01:34:41]

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another... But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” (Colossians 3:12-14, NKJV)

Reflection: As you interact with others this week, which Christlike attribute from Colossians 3:12-14 will you intentionally "put on," especially in a relationship that feels challenging?

Day 4: Letting Christ's Peace Rule and His Word Dwell

A life free from grave clothes is marked by an inward peace that acts as an umpire, guiding our decisions and calming our anxieties. This peace is nurtured as we allow the truth of God's Word to dwell in us richly, moving beyond a quick daily reading to a deep, abiding meditation. From this place of settled peace and truth, worship and wisdom naturally overflow. [01:52:45]

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom...” (Colossians 3:15-16a, NKJV)

Reflection: When a decision or worry arises this week, how can you pause to let Christ's peace be the umpire of your heart, and what Scripture can you meditate on to help His word dwell in you more richly?

Day 5: Living All of Life in the Name of Jesus

The ultimate purpose of our transformation is to bring glory to God in every facet of our existence. This means that every action, word, and thought is to be done in the name and authority of the Lord Jesus, as an act of worship unto Him rather than for human approval. This reorients our entire life's motivation from self to Savior. [01:57:08]

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17, NKJV)

Reflection: Consider your routine tasks and interactions from yesterday. Which one, if offered to God as an act of service done in Jesus' name, would most change your perspective on it today?

Sermon Summary

Colossians and Galatians shape a clear call to radical conversion: die to the old self, refuse its habits, and live by Christ’s life. The text begins with praise and worship and moves into an urgent invitation to yield—abandon attempts to earn righteousness by ritual or self-effort and instead accept the finished work of Christ. Scripture insists that being “raised with Christ” demands concrete change: discard the grave clothes of anger, lust, deceit, and idolatry, and actively put those members to death so they cannot reclaim the heart.

The passage reorients identity around divine workmanship and mission. Believers stand as God’s craftsmanship, created for good works prepared beforehand; those works compel ongoing discipleship, community care, and evangelistic fruit. Practical holiness flows from an inward transformation: the Spirit, not moral effort alone, crucifies the flesh and empowers obedience, speech, and love. The text requires disciplined mind renewal—set thoughts on heavenly things—so the word of Christ dwells richly and issues into worship, teaching, and mutual admonition.

Ethics follow ontology: once the old self is mortified, the new self must be clothed. Tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and above all love become the family likeness. Peace rules the heart when secret sin dies and the word controls the imagination. Finally, every action—private or public—receives weight when done “in the name of the Lord Jesus”: that phrase reframes ordinary work as sacred stewardship under Christ’s delegated authority. The call ends with a summons to live by faith in the Son who loved and gave himself—an embodied faith that transforms marriage, parenting, labor, and public witness into occasions of worship.

Key Takeaways

1. Identity reshaped by Christ's workmanship The text locates worth and purpose in being God’s workmanship, not in performance or social status. This shifts ambition from self-exaltation to faithful service: gifts and resources become tools for the good works God prepared beforehand. Remembering this stabilizes the heart amid failure and fuels patient obedience toward a long-term calling. [61:53]
2. Crucify the flesh by Spirit Moral striving cannot mortify the flesh; the Spirit effects that death. True holiness results when the law’s condemnation drives the soul to depend on Christ’s life within, not on personal willpower. That dependence produces power to resist recurring sins and to change patterns that intellect alone cannot break. [85:30]
3. Remove the grave clothes now Leaving death behind requires decisive, lived choices—don’t let old habits linger as hidden garments. Unforgiveness, wrath, and secret sin act like burial cloths that still bind; cast them off publicly and repeatedly until they no longer claim authority. This tangible renunciation prepares the way for visible transformation and peace. [75:06]
4. Put on Christlike virtues daily The new identity proves itself by clothing the soul with mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness. These virtues are not optional adornments but the visible form of Christ’s life in community and family. Practicing them daily trains the heart to love as a deliberate commitment, not merely a feeling. [94:41]
5. Live by faith in Christ The believer’s present life answers to Galatians’ summons: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Faith becomes the operating principle for everyday decisions, transforming work, relationships, and suffering into participation in Christ’s mission. This faith both secures identity and motivates holy action in the present. [106:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:49] - Opening Worship and Invocation
[40:06] - Invitation to Surrender and Prayer
[42:22] - Church Announcements & Community Needs
[61:53] - Identity: Created for Good Works (Ephesians 2:10)
[75:06] - Raised with Christ: Take Off Grave Clothes (Colossians 3)
[85:30] - Crucify the Flesh Through the Spirit
[94:41] - Put On Tender Mercies and Love
[106:55] - Live by Faith in the Son (Galatians 2:20)
[122:07] - Practical Living, Closing Charge, and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Colossians 3:1-17 (NKJV)
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Observation questions

According to Colossians 3:5, what specific "members" or parts of our old life are we instructed to "put to death"?
What are the "grave clothes" or old habits listed in Colossians 3:8 that we are told to "put off"?
What are the new virtues listed in Colossians 3:12-14 that we are to actively "put on"?
What does it mean, according to the passage, to "let the peace of God rule in your hearts" (Colossians 3:15) and to "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Colossians 3:16)?

Interpretation questions

The phrase "if then you were raised with Christ" (Colossians 3:1) implies a prior event. What does it mean to be "raised with Christ," and why is this the necessary starting point for everything that follows in the chapter?
Colossians 3:5 says to "put to death your members," yet the sermon emphasized that this cannot be done by human willpower alone [25:30]. How does the role of the Holy Spirit make this command possible, and what is the danger of trying to do it in our own strength?
The command to "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17) is a summary of the chapter. What does it mean to do everyday tasks, like work or parenting, "in the name of the Lord Jesus," and how does this change their purpose?
How does the truth of Galatians 2:20—"it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me"—provide the power and motivation to follow the practical instructions given in Colossians 3?

Application questions

Identity is reshaped by being God's workmanship, not by performance or social status [01:01:53]. What is one area of your life (work, family, social circles) where you are most tempted to find your worth in what you do rather than in who God says you are? How can you actively remember your identity in Christ this week?
Leaving death behind requires decisive choices to not let old habits linger as hidden garments [01:15:06]. Is there a specific "grave cloth" like anger, a critical spirit, or a secret sin that you have been tolerating? What is one practical step you can take this week to "cast it off" and make your transformation visible?
The new identity proves itself by clothing the soul with mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness [01:34:41]. Which of these virtues feels most difficult for you to "put on" in your home or workplace? Choose one to focus on this week. What would it look like to deliberately practice it in a specific relationship?
The life we now live in the flesh is to be lived by faith in the Son of God [01:46:55]. How does faith, rather than just rule-following, become the operating principle for your everyday decisions? Share a recent decision (big or small) where you acted out of faith in Christ's life in you versus your own understanding or effort.
When you have secret sin, you can never live in peace because you always are worried that it will find you out [52:02]. Does this statement resonate with an area of your life? What would it look like to bring that into the light through confession, either to God or a trusted believer, to experience the peace of God ruling in your heart?
Doing everything in word or deed in the name of the Lord Jesus reframes ordinary work as sacred stewardship [01:57:54]. What is one mundane or frustrating task you will face this week? How can you consciously do it "in the name of the Lord Jesus," transforming it into an act of worship?

Sermon Clips

You cannot crucify your flesh by the flesh. You can only crucify the flesh by the spirit of God. Y'all are sleeping on me. Therefore, put to death your members. Your members. That's kinda odd. Why what do you mean, Paul? What do you mean by my members? My members which are on the earth. It's not necessarily my physical things. When Jesus said, if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. We have a lot of one eyed people if that's the case. Right? He's speaking to you from a spiritual standpoint. [01:27:31] (43 seconds) #CrucifyFleshBySpirit

When you have secret sin, you will never live in peace because you always are worried that it will find you out. Wow. That's why the altar's gotta be one of your best friends. He already knows it. You might as well let it go. Yeah. And let the peace of Christ I like another version. It says, let the peace of Christ be an umpire. Oh, yeah. An umpire. Let him let him rule. Let him let him judge Let them judge in your hearts to which also you were called in one body and to be thankful. [01:52:27] (33 seconds) #ConfessSecretSin

Do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Why do you pray and at the end of your prayer, in the name of Jesus, amen? Why do you do that? For so many of you, it's just because it's religious for you, to be honest. You just well, that's what we're supposed to do. That's how you end the the prayer. When you baptize somebody in the name of Jesus. When you lay hands on somebody in the name of Jesus. Is that like witchcraft manifestation? For some of you it is. [01:57:16] (38 seconds) #PrayInJesusName

I put off my old grave clothes. I left the grave. I took off some things, but I put some things on because I got a new robe. I got some new clothes. I gotta change. I'm not the same that I once was. It's no longer I that lives. It's not my life any longer. When you've come to know him, it's not about you anymore. It's about him. My worship team, will you guys come up? See, that's where on the preface of all of this, we could go to the next verse. [01:59:28] (50 seconds) #NewClothesNewLife

See, for us to walk and carry the kingdom of God, you gotta take off all of those things. Put those things to death, and then what you do is you put on love. You put on kindness. You put on meekness. You put on gentleness. And every morning, you gotta put the armor of God on because you're a warrior. You're gonna go to battle. But I'm gonna tell you what, you before you ever put your armor on, you better put on love. You better put on kindness. [01:39:15] (28 seconds) #PutOnLoveArmor

Am I gonna allow what somebody did to me in my past to control me? What you're doing is you are allowing somebody to have control over your life. You're allowing somebody to control your destiny. Then you're like, well, I ain't going to that church because that person's there, and they did me wrong. Alright. You're you're gonna say, I'm not going to the altar because those people might say something about me. I was at the altar last week. They're gonna say something's wrong with you. Let me give you an insight. There is something wrong with you. [01:40:47] (29 seconds) #ReleaseThePast

set your eyes. Set your mind. Not just look, but set your mind. Where's your mind at today? What have you put your mind on today? If you are looking at men, looking at women in skimpy clothes and lots of bare skin, that's what you're setting your mind on. So therefore, it will take you somewhere. And I'll just charge you young men, older men too. You will never be able to honor women in your life if you watch things that are unhonorable. [01:22:41] (36 seconds) #GuardYourMind

If you if then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above. Key phrase here, if then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above. This word is not for an unbeliever. This word is not for somebody that is tinkering with Christianity. This word is not for somebody trying Christianity. This word that the apostle Paul says, if then you were raised with Christ. Lazarus, you were dead and you were raised. [01:19:47] (40 seconds) #SeekThingsAbove

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April 12, 2026 | Take Off Your Grave Clothes! | Pastor Jim Kilmartin | Sunday Service | Rock City

Devotional

Day 1: The Call to Surrender and New Life in Christ

Day 2: Putting Off the Old Self and Its Deeds

Day 3: Clothing Ourselves with Christlike Character

Day 4: Letting Christ's Peace Rule and His Word Dwell

Day 5: Living All of Life in the Name of Jesus

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

April 12, 2026 | Take Off Your Grave Clothes! | Pastor Jim Kilmartin | Sunday Service | Rock City

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