Jesus is Greater Series: Take Off the Grave Clothes (Colossians 3:1-17)

Sermon Guide for April 5, 2026

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How to Use This Guide:

These guides are designed to help you engage more deeply with my weekly sermon. Use this guide to prepare your heart to receive God's Word before worship, or to reflect on God's Word the week following worship.

Parents, use the information in this guide (especially in the "Family Practice" section) to have meaningful conversations with your kids that nurture their faith and help them grow in God’s love.

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Big Idea

The resurrected life requires a new wardrobe.

God hasn’t just forgiven you; he has made you new! Since your identity has changed, your life must change as well. So take off what belongs to your old life and put on what reflects who you now are in Christ.

Main Text

Colossians 3:1–17

Main Points

1. You’ve Been Raised with Christ (vv. 1–4)

• The gospel is not just that Jesus was raised

• You have been raised with him

• Your identity has fundamentally changed

Key Truth: You are not who you used to be. You have been given new life.

2. Take Off the Grave Clothes (vv. 5–11)

• Old life = sinful desires and destructive relationship patterns

• These sins may still linger, but they no longer define you

• Paul says: Put them to death

Key Truth: These are the "clothes" of your old life. They don’t fit you anymore.

3. Put On What Fits Your New Life (vv. 12–17)

• Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love

• A life shaped by Christ in community

Key Truth: The Christian life is not just about what you take off—it’s about what you put on.

How Change Happens

Sanctification: Becoming in practice who God has already made you in Christ.

This is not something you do alone. The Spirit of God is working in you, empowering you to live out your new identity.

Key Image

Like Lazarus in John 11, we’ve been raised to new life…but we can still walk around in grave clothes.

Jesus didn’t raise Lazarus to keep living like a dead man. He said, "Remove those grave clothes from him!"

You’ve been raised… so stop living like you’re spiritually dead.

Personal Reflection

• What “grave clothes” are you still wearing?

• Where are you clinging to patterns from your old life?

• Which new “clothes” is God calling you to put on this week?

Family Practice

Because we have been raised with Christ, we are called to take off our old life and put on the new life he has given us.

1. Talk: The Wardrobe Check

Read Colossians 3:5-14 together.

• The Old Rags: What "old clothes" (anger, lying, greed) did you try to wear this week? Why are they so hard to take off?

• The New Robes: Which "new clothes" (kindness, humility, patience) does our family need most right now?

2. Activity: The Lazarus Walk (Based on John 11:38-44)

• The Binding: Wrap a family member’s arms/legs in streamers or toilet paper.

• The Call: Everyone shout, "[Name], come out!"

• The Struggle: Have them try to walk or hug someone while wrapped.

• The Release: Tear the "grave clothes" off together.

• The Lesson: We have been raised to new life in Christ. Old sins and habits don’t belong to us anymore, but if we hold onto them, they will keep tripping us up. Jesus didn’t raise us to stay bound—He raised us to live free.

3. Practice: Taking Off & Putting On

Identify one "bad habit" to remove this week, and replace it with something good.

• Take off: Complaining → Put on: Gratitude

• Take off: Harsh words → Put on: Gentleness

4. Prayer

"Lord, thank You for the new life we have in Christ. This week, help us notice when we are reaching for our old clothes. Empower us by Your Spirit to dress in your love instead. In Jesus name, amen."