Dressed for the Occasion

March 3, 2024

We are excited to welcome home Mark and Kim Wilbanks. Mark pastored Southside Baptist Church from 1985 to 2002. During the Dr. Wilbanks’s 17 years of leadership, Aspire experienced significant growth, a prolonged season of health and vitality, and a massive expansion and renovation of our facilities and property. After leaving Aspire, Mark pastored in Tallahassee and Atlanta before retiring to Birmingham, Alabama. He has just released his first book, Along the Journey, a collection of essays, stories, and devotionals.

Listen to Podcast

Passage

Colossians 3:12-17 & Ephesians 6:10-18

Notes:

Paul warned the believers in Ephesus that they were facing a ##spiritual## ##war##, a war that continues to this day. Having spent considerable time there confronting the pagan culture, Paul knew how difficult it was to bear witness for Christ.

One of the prison epistles, the letter encouraged the church to utilize the power of ##prayer## and the ##Holy## ##Spirit## to live in challenging days.
The Outer Wear is for both ##defense## and ##offense## in the spiritual battle.

Paul’s letter to the Colossian church contrasted the life ##before## a relationship with Christ and the life ##in## Christ.

Every “you” in the passage is plural, meaning he is addressing ##all## of them as well as ##each## of them.
He urged the believers to hold the ##harmony## and ##unity## of the body as essential to the health and effectiveness they should desire.
The most important article in the wardrobe of Christ is ##love##.

Small Group Questions

Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couples or family devotion, or with a small group.

HANGOUT

What was your experience with church growing up? How would you describe the overall health of the Church in America today? How would you describe the health of Aspire Church San Marco today?

HEAR

Read Colossians 3:12-17

Based on the list of things we are to “put on,” what are you currently wearing? What is still in your closet? What don’t you even own?
Evaluate our church based on this list. What do we do well, and what needs work?
What will you do this week to “put on” what this passage describes?

Read Ephesians 6:10-18

Based on Paul’s description of the armor of God, what are you currently wearing? What is in your armory? What don’t you even own?
Evaluate our church based on this list. What do we do well, and what needs work?
What will you do this week to “put on” what this passage describes?
Re-read verses 10-12. Based on these verses, what do we know about spiritual warfare?
Have you ever experienced spiritual warfare? Did the armor of God help you in that struggle?
Is it possible for a church to experience spiritual warfare? What does it look like? How should a church respond to spiritual warfare?

HUDDLE

Spend time praying for each other, your group, and our church.

Daily Reading

This week’s reading plan will guide you through Colossians and Ephesians. As you read, invite the Holy Spirit to apply what you are reading to our church.

Day 1: Colossians 1
Day 2: Colossians 2
Day 3: Colossians 3 & 4
Day 4: Ephesians 1 & 2
Day 5: Ephesians 3 & 4
Day 6: Ephesians 5
Day 7: Ephesians 6

Think Deeper

What percentage of what you say and do in a day is done in the name of Jesus?
Is it possible to do everything in the name of the Lord? Why or why not?
What will you do to let the word of Christ dwell in you this week?