Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, March 14, 2026.
Central Theme: This week we’ll see ways in which living with Christ can make a difference, now and eternally.
Read in Class: Colossians 3:1-6. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.
Study: What condition does Paul indicate is necessary for us to be heavenly-minded? What do you think that means?
Apply: How do we experience what it means to be dead to self and to earthliness and alive to “those things which are above” (Col. 3:1)? See also Romans 6:1-7.
Share: Your friend asks, “How do we follow the words “mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth” (Col. 3:5)?” What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: Colossians 3:6-11. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.
Study: How does Paul continue with this train of thought?
Apply: What does putting off the old man look like for you in everyday life? See also, Romans 6:6 and Ephesians 4:22-24.
Share: Your friend complains that a kid from the church neighborhood, who is trying t find Jesus has joined her son’s youth Sabbath School class. Last week during prayer request time, he was talking about how frustrating his life is and accidently let a very bad word slip out. He apologized, and the teacher forgave him. Your friend thinks he should have been asked to leave the class. This is church after all! What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: Colossians 3:12-14. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.
Study: How are believers described, and how do you think it relates to the qualities they are to “put on”?
Apply: How well are you representing Jesus in the way you treat others, especially those who may be unkind to you?
Share: Your friend says we hear too many sermons about forgiveness and need to hear more sermons about perfecting our character. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: Colossians 3:16-17. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.
Study: What specifically enables Christ to be in control, and what role does music play in all this?
Apply: We are told that whatever we do, “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17). Can you truly say that you do that? If not, how can you change; that is, what must you stop doing if you cannot do it in the name of the Lord?
Share: Your friend asks how the Word of God “dwells” in us. What do you tell your friend?
Mission: Think about the kind of influence your life has on others. And though we tend to think of this in the context of our individual influence, what about our influence as a Sabbath School Class? How does your local Sabbath School class impact your local community?
