Imagine waking up every day knowing that your true home isn't here on earth. What would your outlook on life be like, knowing that you're headed to a place beyond this life, filled with eternal joy and peace? This idea of belonging to another realm isn't fantasy. When we give our lives to Jesus and experience his redemption, our eternity is secured in heaven, where he reigns in glory. In the past few messages, we've captured the spiritual outcome of that theological truth. Now it's time to move into the practical day-to-day process of living it out, living as redeemed. Being redeemed by Jesus should radically change how we live our lives in the here and now.
Welcome to Mountain View Church, or welcome back to Mountain View Church. My name's Jeremy. Today, as we continue our Redeemed series and enter into Chapter 3 of Paul's Colossian Letter, we'll learn how to live each day with a heavenly focus. If you're new to Mountain View Church, feel free to connect with our faith community by clicking the Connect link at mountainview.church slash connect, or you can text Connect to the number on the screen. If you have children, we offer an in-house children's program called Base Camp during our 9, 30, and 11 a.m. gatherings, or you can access the video lesson and activities at mountainview.church slash base camp.
On a related note, if you're attending in one of our physical gatherings today, you'll be watching this message on video. Why? Because I'm actually downstairs serving in our children's program. I'm a pastor, but I'm also a dad. So I need to do my part as well, assisting Pastor Herber by volunteering once a month.
If you're a parent, we really need your help. Please open up that phone right now. Visit mountainview.church.serve. That's mountainview.church.serve or text serve to the number on screen. Then bookmark that webpage. After today's gathering, please complete that volunteer application so that Pastor Herber can start the training process to get you involved. Next, if you have teenagers or you're a teenager, we offer a youth program every Sunday evening at 6 p.m. Perhaps you're more interested in serving in our middle school or high school than children. That's amazing. Fill out the same volunteer application so that we can get you connected and get you serving our church. Now let's get back to our message.
Here's this week's scripture reading to start our discovery of this heavenly shift in perspective. God, I'm broken. I've spent my life dishonoring you. Years of turning my back to you. Time and time again, I put myself before you and yet I have the nerve to act like you owe me something. But I'm nothing. Just a speck in the middle of the universe. Just a tiny dot that can be wiped away in the blink of an eye. And yet you see me. You see my heart. You see my pain. You see my need for hope. My need for love.
My need for a Savior. My name is Nicole. I'll be reading Colossians 3, 1-17.
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 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. 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. Aligning our lives with Christ's heavenly priorities transforms our thoughts, our actions, and our relationships. Setting our minds on eternity can guide us to live purposefully in his kingdom, in God's will. In our day-to-day interactions, this mindset can help us live for eternity, not for the moment.
Live for eternity, not for the moment. Now, there was a lot of content in today's scripture read. There was a lot. For today's message, I'm going to focus on the main theme found in the first two verses, which should lay strong foundation for your personal study for the rest of the week as you read through Colossians 3. If you've never watched one of our sermon videos before, they're typically more teaching than preaching. When I'm in-house live, I'm just a lot more lively. And so today might feel a little bit more academic, maybe like a Bible college course. And it's different than our live sermons, but you'll still get a lot out of it. I'm sure you will, and then it'll help you study through the week. Let's dig in. Colossians 3, 1-2, let's read it again. Paul writes, 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. Paul's calling all followers of Jesus to focus on heavenly matters as people who are rooted in our new identity that we receive in Christ. When Paul says, if then you have been raised with Christ, he's emphasizing the transformation and new priorities that come from our spiritual resurrection in Jesus. If you and I claim to be Christians, our old selves with earthly desires and sinful nature have been crucified with Christ. As we talked about last week, nailed to the cross. In receiving that redemption, we now live a resurrected life with him, through him, and for him.
Within these two verses, Paul highlights three specific lived-out changes that take place in us at redemption. Let's walk through them. First, we receive a new identity in Christ because we have been raised with Christ. This signifies our new identity in spiritual resurrection. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, we are raised to a new life in him. Pastor and author John MacArthur explains this transformation. Because of their union with Christ, at the moment of their conversion, believers spiritually go through the same death and resurrection that Christ experienced.
They are now alive in him and able to understand spiritual truths, realities, blessings, and the will of God. If you've given your life to Jesus, your identity is now hidden in Christ, in God. You belong to him and your life should reflect this truth. Let's move on to the second one. The second thing is following our spiritual redemption, we receive a heavenly focus so that we can seek the things above.
We're encouraged to focus on heavenly values and priorities, not just earthly ones. This shift in perspective means prioritizing God's will and his kingdom over our own ambitions and desires. It's not easy, but that's the call. Theologian and apologist Dr. Norman L. Giesler notes that believers' lives should be dominated by the pattern of heaven, bringing heavenly direction to their earthly duties. Fixing their attention decisively towards things above involves centering their lives on the ascended, glorified Christ.
Here's how that works. If you can envision Christ's position of authority and power in heaven each day, that vision can help you seek an eternal perspective as you go about your day. It can permeate your work life, your family and relationships, and even your recreational activities. It enriches them with that heavenly focus, that this life isn't the end. We have much more to go. Let's move into our third item here, that after redemption, we receive a renewed mind so that we can set our minds on the things above.
This is a mental continuation of Paul's previous statement. It involves a deliberate and ongoing effort to prioritize spiritual realities over our earthly concerns. Missionary and scholar Peter O'Brien explains that followers of Christ now share in his resurrection life, so their lives are to be different. Their interests are to be focused on Christ. Their minds, aims, ambitions, in fact, their whole outlook, are to be centered on that heavenly realm where he rules and where their lives truly belong.
You see, after experiencing redemption through Jesus, God's Holy Spirit will transform and renew your mind little by little every day. If you've given your life to Jesus, you've felt this, you've seen this, you know this. And this ongoing process will help you think and act according to God's will, and his purposes will be revealed in your life. Now, as you can see, aligning our lives with Christ's heavenly priorities can transform our thoughts, our actions, and our relationships. It guides us to live purposefully for his kingdom, focusing on heavenly values rather than earthly ones. This shift in focus affects every aspect of our daily lives, from personal behavior to interactions with others.
As theologian Matthew Henry highlights, as heaven and earth are contrary to one another, both cannot be followed together, and affection to the one will weaken and abate affection to the other. But maybe you're skeptical. I get it. Maybe you're listening to this whole thing and you're questioning all of it. You've landed on this video and you're exploring Christianity or you're doubting the existence or impact of Jesus. Don't leave yet. Not before we dig into some very specific things on Christ-centered identity and heavenly mindedness in day-to-day life. Actually, you'll find that believing in Jesus and setting your mind on heaven has a very real outcome that's positive for you and for the people around you. First, this practice of Christ identity and heavenly mindedness can impact your work and career by increasing integrity and excellence while witnessing at work.
Let me explain. When our identity is rooted in Christ, we'll see work as a spiritual matter, not just a way to earn an income. Our minds will shift toward honesty and diligence and ethical practices in our professional relationships and projects. As we envision our eternal home, we look to heaven, we'll see opportunities to share our faith through actions and conversations. We'll start to choose kindness and patience. We'll start praying for colleagues. And we might even start praying with them as they share their struggles with us. It has a huge impact.
With Eternity in Focus, you'll become an employee or a business owner who prioritizes faith and relationships over profits and losses. With Eternity in Focus, you'll set an example by intentionally ending work at a set time and consistently resting on one full day every week. With Eternity in Focus, you'll navigate project failures and financial losses with clarity. Let's move on to the second area. We'll talk about Christ-centered identity and heavenly mindedness and how it can impact your family and relationships by increasing your love and patience for them, creating an environment for serving one another. Here's how this works. An identity in Christ helps us demonstrate Christ-like love and patience. As we interact with friends and family members, as we grow in our relationship with Christ, we'll be quicker to forgive and slower to anger, and we'll feel compelled to seek reconciliation following times of conflict, which happen to us all. When our mind is set on heaven, we serve selflessly, putting our needs...
before the needs of others. And in a small way, this reflects Christ's sacrificial love that was given to us at the cross. He served first. That's why we serve. You see, with an eternity in focus, you'll have a desire to pray with and for your family and close friends. With eternity in focus, you'll want to read scripture and discuss spiritual matters with the people closest to you, your loved ones. With eternity in focus, you'll set an example for others as your relationships cause others to seek that source that you have. They'll wonder what's up with you.
Let's move into our last item, how Christ-centered identity and heavenly mindedness can impact your church and community by increasing your desire to volunteer and serve actively and intentionally showing Christ's love. Here's how this works. With our identity in Christ, we're motivated to serve our congregation and the town or city we live in. We experience an increased desire to show Christ's love by being generous with our time, with our gifts and abilities, and even our money and possessions. A mind that's focused on heaven lives out that vision in everyday interactions by showing kindness and respecting others.
We make choices to help our neighbors, coworkers, strangers, and get this, even our enemies, because we're living an eternal life. We have an eternal perspective. We're not just here on earth. Our minds are elsewhere. You see, with Eternity in Focus, you'll see the benefit of joining a ministry team or community group or serving a local charity like our food bank or women's shelter. With Eternity in Focus, you'll see the long-term impact of mentoring a student or serving in our youth program. With Eternity in Focus, you'll see community as a priority by hosting, facilitating, or even just joining a group. Relationships matter so much more.
Professor of Bible and theology, Dr. Gerald Peterman, sums this up, this eternal perspective of our application. He says Christians' focus should be on honorable, right, and excellent things, and supremely on Christ, who is exalted at God's right hand, above all others. Their life is not drawn from nor controlled by forces from below. It's hidden and therefore secure with Christ in God. And here's the best part. He, being Jesus, is life.
With all this in mind, it's time to reflect. Let's pause. And maybe you even need to pause the video for a moment. And we need to ask ourselves some tough questions. Am I seeking and prioritizing heavenly matters in my daily life? Am I doing that? Am I renewing my mind through prayer and scripture on a regular basis? Is that important to me? Am I striving to transform my relationships with Christ-like love and patience? That's a hard one. Am I committing myself to my local church and to my community where I live?
Do I matter to my friends, neighbors, congregation, community? Reflecting Christ's kingdom on earth makes us a testimony for his love and power, leading to a deeper, more fulfilling spiritual life, marked by peace and purpose. Furthermore, it attracts others. It's attractive. It creates opportunities to share the gospel. And people, Lord willing, will respond. This is the most heavenly impact.
I can't stress this enough. As a soul moves from the domain of darkness, which we talked about in the first message in the series, to Christ's eternal kingdom. That's really the big why. That's why we're doing this whole thing. That's the mission, the great mission that Jesus gave us. We live out Christ. We live a heavenly focus so that people may notice and see there's got to be something more. There's something in your life that you have. As we close out today's message, we need to understand that perfection isn't attainable on earth. We're still going to struggle even though we have this heavenly focus. Not until we reach heaven will we truly experience the fullness of what it means to be redeemed.
And yet, while we live this earthly life, there's going to be challenges and struggles as we strive to live out our Christian calling. Even for me, you can feel free to ask my wife or my sons, and they'll tell you that I am definitely still a work in progress. And yet, looking back on my life, I can see tangible evidence that little by little, I'm being shaped and molded by God's Spirit as I strive day in and day out, not always making it, trying to keep that heavenly focus in mind and looking for opportunities to share the gospel and to live out Christ. This week, focus on one thing. Just one. Anyone can do that, right?
Choose one area of your life, just one, and place it into an eternal focus. For that one area, and you maybe need to pray and figure out what it is, or maybe right now you're like, oh no, I know the area that I need to focus on. And for that one area in your life, let your identity in Christ guide that area and the subsequent actions around it throughout this week. Make note of the changes in a journal or in your notes app. And as Jesus meets you in your commitment, You know, take note of that. Take note of what's going on. Because you're bringing an area of your life, you're bringing a piece of your life to heaven. Or maybe perhaps the other way to look at it is bringing a piece of the kingdom, bringing a piece of heaven, of God's glory down to earth and living it out. You're living out your resurrected life here and now. Remember, earth is temporary for all of us. We are just passing through. Our home is in heaven and it's secured by Christ. If you've never given your life to Jesus, now's the time. Do it. Have your place secured. Let's live for eternity, not for the moment.
Let's pray. Dear Father, I thank you for Paul's letter to the Colossians again. I thank you that we've been able to walk through this as a church. It's kind of hard to fully comprehend what it looks like to live out heaven on earth, to really have Christ's identity in our mind's eye or to set our minds fully on the things above because we're still living in this fallen body, in this fallen world, and we're struggling between the flesh of our old nature and the spirit that you've given us. Father, we ask that you would just continue to convict us, that little by little we would become more like your son Jesus.
Father, if there's anyone who's listening today and they've never given their life to you, they've listened to this whole thing and they have no idea what it must be like to think like Christ, to desire things of heaven. And that's such a big mystery to them. Father, I pray that today they might repent of their old ways and their sin and that they might open themselves up to the possibility that you have a bigger plan for them and that they would give their lives to your plan for salvation through your son, that they would believe that Jesus died on the cross for their sin, that you raised him on the third day and that he's ascended to prepare a place for them. that they would call out to you for forgiveness and redemption, and that you might meet them and illuminate them through the power of your spirit, that they might start living out these things that Paul called the church to. We ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Before you go, we have a couple of important updates on church life here at Mountain View Church. Then I'll be back with today's discussion and prayer focus. All right, let's start with our upcoming youth conference. There are 10 spots. That's right, there's 10 spots for the Fusion Alaska Youth Conference. Parents and teens, please get your $200 deposits in this week to secure your spot. And then we're going to strive as hard as we can to cover the remaining $300 per student of a total cost of $500 through sponsorships and fundraising events.
If you in our church or out there listening, if you would like to sponsor one of our students, there are a few options listed at mountainview.church slash give or simply text give to the number on the screen. And there's a bunch of ways you can do that. For more information about the Fusion Alaska Youth Conference, you can visit mountainview.church slash conferences. That's mountainview.church slash conferences. Basically, we're traveling from Whitehorse all the way to Anchorage, Alaska, where the conference is being hosted. And then we're traveling back. It's an amazing time. We've done it before. We'll do it again. And we're looking forward to seeing our crew and to joining hundreds of students learning about Jesus, singing about Jesus, and having loads of fun.
Next, still in the realm of conferences, we're still looking for a few women to join our women's conference hosting team, the You Belong Women's Conference. I realize that this might seem way in advance since the conference is in September, but summers are busy and they go by very fast here in the Yukon. You know that, I know that. So it's important that we solidify a team of women before summer races away on us. So if you'd like to, please reach out and we'll get you set up on that team so we can be ready for the conference.
Also, for ladies who are planning on attending this conference, tickets are available for purchase at any time throughout the summer. If you know that you're going to be attending, you might as well get your ticket or buy a ticket for a friend as well. And you can go to mountainview.church slash conferences. That's mountainview.church slash conferences. Click the You Belong Women's Conference and you can buy your tickets right there.
Now we've come to the end of our discussion and prayer focus. This is a time where at Mountain View we put what we've learned into action. It's not enough just to take in content. We need to talk about it because then it really sinks in and we make commitments with each other. We get vulnerable with each other. So wherever you're at, whoever you're with, turn to them and ask the person beside you which area of your life are you placing into an eternal focus this week and why.
Which area of your life are you placing into an eternal focus this week and why? That was the call. Just choose one area of your life and say, hey, this area, I'm going to look to heaven. I'm going to try to have heavenly mindedness, Christ centeredness on this one thing. Just this one thing this week. Talk about that. What's it going to be like? Maybe you can even get some accountability. And if you're watching online, feel free to send us a DM and let us know or drop a comment in the feed below. And one of our staff will connect with you and hopefully hold you accountable and discuss it with you. All right. Now let's move on to our prayer focus.
Take some time to pray together for a renewed focus on heavenly priorities to transform our thoughts, actions, and relationships to better reflect Christ. Again, pray together for a renewed focus on heavenly priorities to transform our thoughts, our actions, and our relationships so that we would better reflect Christ. Thank you so much for watching, or listening, or maybe you're attending in-house.
In my heart and my soul, Lord, I give you control. Consume me from the ins outlaw. Let justice and grace become my use to love you myself. Your light will shine when all else fades, never ending. Lord, I give you let justice and grace become my use to love you.
to receive Jesus today or would like to connect with our church community, visit mountainview.church and click the connect link. If this podcast and radio ministry has been a blessing to you, please consider partnering with us or making a tax-deductible donation at mountainview.church. Thanks for listening to Mountain View Church Audio. Join us next week for more Christ-centered teaching from the wilderness city of Whitehorse UConn.