Daily Lesson for Monday 9th of March 2026

We hear many slogans today: “End war!” “End deforestation!” “End nuclear weapons!” But one we have probably never heard is “End earthliness!” That just doesn’t fit with the sensibilities of our world. Not that any of the other slogans are wrong or what they advocate is wrong. They’re just very shortsighted, considering the nearness of eternity. Our focus needs to be higher, eternally higher.

Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com

Even though spiritually we have died with Christ, our “members”—that is, the temptations that our body and mind present us—need to be put to death.

But we should realize two things in connection with this command.

First, in Colossians 3:1, the Greek form that Paul uses assumes that we have, in fact, been raised with Christ. Second, the command in Colossians 3:5 is a consequence of that fact (“Therefore”). We can put to death earthly things (fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, etc.) only because we have been raised with Christ and have His spiritual life and power to put these things out of our minds and lives.

Interestingly, the only other occurrence in Greek of the exact phrase that appears in Colossians 3:6, “the wrath of God,” is in Romans 1:18. God “gives” people up to their own wicked ways, and so His wrath is also “coming” (see Revelation 6:16-17) “on those who are disobedient” (Colossians 3:6, NRSV). In Romans 1:18, Paul refers to “ungodliness and unrighteousness,” equating “uncleanness” (using the same Greek word found in Colossians 3:5) very specifically with people who indulge “the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies” (Romans 1:24, NKJV).

How do they dishonor their bodies? First, because they refuse to recognize the Creator but also by “vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful” (Romans 1:26-27, NKJV).

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-11-end-earthliness/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-11-end-earthliness

Key Thought: Paul’s mission involved the use of time and resources to reach major centres in Rome, write letters teaching people, establish churches, and train and ordain workers for Christ.
March 14, 2026

1. Have a volunteer read Colossians 4:10,11.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. Besides emissaries bringing news back and forth, what other ways did Paul encourage connectivity?
3. Personal Application: How can you work to lessen the things that cause disunity? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What are some tensions in the local level churches? What can be done about these tensions?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Colossians 4:12,13.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What purpose is described, and how is it to be accomplished?
3. Personal Application: “What does it mean to stand and be perfect and complete? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What are ways that we as individuals and as a church are influenced by the world around us? How can we be protected from the influences of the world?” How would you respond to your relative?

3. Have a volunteer read Colossians 4:14,15; 2 Timothy 4:10,11.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How is Luke described differently than Demas and why?
3. Personal Application: What specific things might Jesus be asking you to repent of in your life? What help are you in need of most to gain the victory? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What does it mean to watch and be ready for Jesus to return? How about our daily activities, work, recreation, eating, sleeping? Are we just to be aware of current events? Look for Jesus’ signs to be fulfilled? Keep an eye out for antichrist and the mark of the beast? Study the Bible daily and live accordingly?” How would you respond to your friend?

4. Have a volunteer read Colossians 2:1-3; Colossians 4:16-18.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What connections do you find between Colossians and Jesus’ message to Laodicea in Revelation?
3. Personal Application: What choices can you make (or do) to stay faithful to God and the truth that He has given us? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. ”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/10-living-with-christ-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=10-living-with-christ-teaching-plan

Daily Lesson for Sunday 8th of March 2026

From a mountaintop, it is possible to survey a vast landscape that is all around you. From time immemorial, mountains have been frequented by those seeking a closer experience with God (see Psalms 121:1-2). Even human-made mountains, called ziggurats, have been constructed by pagans for a similar purpose—to meet with the gods. Interestingly, the city of Ur, which Abram was called to leave, had a very large ziggurat visible from miles around. But changing one’s elevation will never by itself draw anyone closer to heaven in a spiritual sense. Human effort never could.

Image © John Baker at Goodsalt.com

Instead, only through a miracle of grace, whereby we died with Christ and were raised with Him (figuratively pictured by baptism [Colossians 2:12-13]), is it possible to draw nearer to heaven.

Notice that from the beginning of Colossians 3:1-25, the repeated emphasis on what is above, that is, what there is in heaven: “those things which are above,” “where Christ is,” “things above,” “with Christ in God,” “with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4, NKJV).

Admittedly, there is much in the Christian life that defies explanation. How can a person really “die” and “be raised” when, to all ap­pearances, he or she is the same person and has had no such life-and-death experience? There is much that does not make sense to the natural mind, uninfluenced by the Holy Spirit. But to those who are spiritually-minded, because they have received the new heart promised by God, death to sin and being raised with Christ are genuine realities. As the hymn affirms: “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.”

Nevertheless, Paul gives these commands because there is a constant need for this spiritual life to be renewed (see 2 Corinthians 4:16). We can, indeed, fall away and be lost! And we are never safe from temptation in this life.

We must, therefore, choose daily to “seek those things which are above” (Colossians 3:1). Our eternal life is safely “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3, NKJV), but the outward expression of that life will be anything but hidden.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-11-heavenly-mindedness/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-11-heavenly-mindedness