It Starts Small

¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:16-17

Let the message of Christ dwell

God’s Word should be bursting forth within us like a lively brook! Too many believers stroll into church on Sunday. They listen to the sermon but walk away unable to recall its essence. How frequently do we skim through the Bible? We let its wisdom slip away from our minds as if it were nothing. We cannot afford to let God’s Word fade into oblivion! Instead, we must immerse ourselves in it, constantly reflecting and meditating on its profound teachings. Are you truly pondering the verses you’ve encountered throughout the day? Do the Scriptures resonate in your heart during the challenges you face? As you lie in bed at night, are your thoughts consumed by God’s Word or drowned in worries? During church and Bible study, are you absorbed in the message, or is your mind wandering elsewhere?

The Word of Christ must dwell richly within us. We must fervently allow it to transform our lives. This transformation starts from the inside out. It must penetrate every facet of our existence! We are called to put into practice the profound truths we learn from the Bible. This divine wisdom should revolutionize how we work in our companies. It should change how we treat our co-workers. It must enhance how we cherish our family members and friends. When God’s Word is alive and vibrant within you, you will be passionately zealous to obey it. This dedication will persist every single day of the week!

teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts

In addition to immersing ourselves in God’s Word through meditation, we must take action. The latter part of the verse passionately emphasizes our calling to share it with those around us. This sharing becomes a beautiful outpouring when we constantly reflect on His truth and intentionally live it out. We can’t help but discuss what ignites our hearts. If we are captivated by the wonders of God, that’s precisely what will be bursting forth from our lips!

The command to teach and admonish pulses with fervor, extending to all believers without exception! Admonish is not a word used regularly in the English language. It means to warn, advise or urge. This command is not confined to pastors, elders, missionaries, or those especially gifted in teaching. It bursts forth from the hearts of every believer, young and old alike. It urges us to proclaim the Word and share its transformative power with everyone around us. This sharing isn’t restricted to the four walls of a church service. It ignites within our everyday lives. It breathes life into every moment! The world itself is our vibrant classroom, teeming with opportunities to impart wisdom and love. These verses resonate deeply, echoing the profound truths we discover in Deuteronomy 6:4-10.

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

¹⁰ When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build,

Deuteronomy 6:4-10

It is this profound kind of sharing—woven into the fabric of our daily lives throughout the week—that holds incredible power. A pastor may not always be aware of the unique challenges. They may also not know the struggles faced by the diverse individuals within the congregation. As a united body, we are called to uplift one another. We do this by sharing the transformative truth of God’s Word. We should not solely depend on the pastor’s guidance.

As a community, it is our divine calling to care for one another fervently! Recall the story in Exodus, where Moses found himself overwhelmed by the multitude of the people’s struggles. He wisely sought counsel from his father-in-law. Moses established a powerful system where individuals would support one another as their first, second, and third recourse. Only significant issues were elevated to his attention (Exodus 18). We ought to share zealously with our fellow believers. By sharing the profound lessons God is imparting to us, we are teaching and uplifting others. Imagine the excitement that would ensue. We would be incredibly motivated if we made it a sacred habit to communicate in this way. Sadly, too often we gather merely to voice our complaints or discuss the trivialities of life.

Colossians passionately reveals that Christ must be the unwavering priority in our lives! These verses challenge us to ensure that He is at the very heart of our communication. So, I ask you—Is Christ truly at the center of your conversations? If someone were to lay bare your daily dialogues, would they be struck by Christ’s presence? Or would they find themselves sifting through endless pages before His name appears? One transformative approach is to intentionally engage in profound, spiritual discussions whenever you gather with friends. Without a purposeful plan to pose thoughtful questions, your precious time with brothers and sisters can easily devolve into trivial chatter. You should also introduce uplifting topics. Embrace the powerful practice of asking deep, soul-stirring questions that ignite meaningful connections!

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus

Christ must reign supreme in every facet of our lives, impacting our communication and behavior profoundly. With each decision we face, we should fervently ask ourselves whether it glorifies Christ. We have a calling to live with a radiant spirit of thankfulness. This is for the incredible transformation He has brought into our lives.

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Cross-References

• Ephesians 5:19-21
• Proverbs 16:24
• Proverbs 4:20-23
• Psalms 119:105
• Jeremiah 23:29

Discussion Questions

• How can we let the word of Christ richly dwell in us? What will this look like when a person does this?
• Who is supposed to teach and admonish others?
• How can you grow in wisdom as you do this?
• What does it mean to admonish others with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs?
• What topics should fill our minds and our conversation?
• Do you intentionally share with other believers like this?
• What should our hearts be focused on when we are singing?
• What guiding principle do we find in verse 17?

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