Sermon: Sunday, January 11, 2026
Scripture: Colossians 2:16-23
Day 1 – Jesus Is Enough
Scripture:
“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.” — Colossians 2:16
Thought:
Because Christ has fully paid for our sin, no one has the authority to judge our standing with God. Legalistic standards—religious rules, traditions, or expectations—cannot add to what Jesus has already completed. When we allow others (or ourselves) to measure spirituality by external behavior, we diminish the finished work of Christ. Our identity and security are rooted not in performance, but in His grace.
Action:
Identify one way you have measured your spiritual health by what you do rather than by what Christ has done. Intentionally release that burden today.
Prayer:
Father, thank You that my salvation is complete in Jesus. Forgive me for measuring my worth by performance rather than grace. Help me rest fully in Christ’s finished work. Amen.
Questions:
*Where do you feel judged—or judge yourself—based on religious expectations?
*How does trusting Christ’s sufficiency change the way you view obedience?
Day 2 – Shadows Point to the Substance
Scripture:
“These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” — Colossians 2:17
Thought:
The laws, festivals, and rituals of the Old Testament were never meant to save—they were signposts pointing to Jesus. Like an advertisement pointing to a product, the shadows were never the substance. Christ is the fulfillment of every promise, every law, every longing. To cling to the shadows after meeting Christ is to miss the fullness found only in Him.
Action:
Thank Jesus specifically today for how He fulfills what the law could never accomplish—grace, forgiveness, new life.
Prayer:
Jesus, You are the substance my soul longs for. Help me stop clinging to shadows and fully embrace the life I have in You. Amen.
Questions:
*Are there “shadows” you still rely on instead of fully trusting Christ?
*How does seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of the law deepen your faith?
Day 3 – Hold Fast to the Head
Scripture:
“And not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body… grows with a growth that is from God.” — Colossians 2:19
Thought:
False spirituality shifts focus away from Christ—toward visions, experiences, strict discipline, or spiritual elitism. Paul reminds us that true growth only comes from holding fast to Jesus, the Head. When we stay connected to Him, God supplies nourishment, unity, and genuine transformation. Growth is not self-produced; it is God-produced.
Action:
Spend intentional time today fixing your attention on Jesus—through Scripture, worship, or prayer—without an agenda other than communion with Him.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me hold fast to You. Protect me from distractions that pull my focus away from Your sufficiency. Grow me by Your power, not my effort. Amen.
Questions:
*What tends to distract you from focusing on Christ alone?
*How does staying connected to Jesus bring spiritual growth and peace?
Day 4 – Dead to the Old Ways
Scripture:
“If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why… do you submit to regulations?” — Colossians 2:20
Thought:
In Christ, we have died to the world’s systems of earning, striving, and rule-keeping. Returning to legalism is like stepping back into bondage after being set free. These rules may appear wise, but they cannot change the heart. Spiritual life flows from union with Christ, not submission to man-made regulations.
Action:
Notice where you feel pressured to “prove” your faith. Replace that pressure with a declaration of freedom in Christ.
Prayer:
Father, thank You that I am dead to the old ways and alive in Christ. Teach me to live in the freedom You have given, not in bondage to rules. Amen.
Questions:
*What old patterns or mindsets do you need to leave behind?
*How does remembering your death and resurrection with Christ shape daily living?
Day 5 – Transformation, Not Conformity
Scripture:
“But they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” — Colossians 2:23
Thought:
Human effort can modify behavior, but only Christ can transform the heart. Legalism produces pride or despair, never true holiness. God is not after mere conformity—He desires transformation through the new life given by the Holy Spirit. Real change happens when we stop spinning our wheels and allow Christ to pull us out by His grace.
Action:
Surrender one area where you’ve been trying to change through sheer effort. Ask the Spirit to transform you instead.
Prayer:
Lord, I confess that I cannot change myself. I need Your transforming grace. Thank You for rescuing me and making me new. I trust You to continue the work You began. Amen.
Questions:
*Where have you relied on discipline instead of dependence on Christ?
*How does trusting God’s transforming work bring freedom and hope?
Closing Truth:
From beginning to end, salvation, growth, and transformation are found in Christ alone. Leave the shadows behind. Rest in the substance. Jesus is enough.