HOW THE WORD SHOULD FILL

THE CHURCH’S GATHERINGS

HOW THE WORD SHOULD
FILL THE CHURCH’S
GATHERINGS
What makes a Christian worship service
different from other kinds of public
gatherings, such as:

• A political rally?
• A rock concert?
• A sports event?
MAIN IDEA

Every element of a church’s weekly

gatherings should be filled with God’s
Word. Through them the Word of Christ
dwells in the church richly, building it up.
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and
patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a
complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord
has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all
these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect
harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to
which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:12–15 ESV

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
teaching and admonishing one another in all
wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do
everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:16–17 ESV

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly, teaching and admonishing one
another in all wisdom, singing psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, with
thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16 ESV

What does it mean for the Word of Christ
to dwell in the church richly (v. 16)?
What does the language of “dwelling richly”
teach us about the Word of Christ itself?
(Hint: Read Hebrews 4:12–13 and Isaiah 55:10–11 for
background.)
“12 For the word of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the
division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of
marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions
of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his
sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of
him to whom we must give account.”

Hebrews 4:12-13 ESV

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from
heaven and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the
sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word
be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return
to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I
purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I
sent it.”
Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV
Dwelling Richly:

- Dwells; lives in; fills up

- Living and active
By means of what specific activities does
Paul instruct the Colossians to let the
Word of Christ dwell in them richly?
By means of what specific activities does Paul
instruct the Colossians to let the Word of Christ
dwell in them richly?

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you

richly, teaching and admonishing one
another in all wisdom, singing psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, with
thankfulness in your hearts to God.
What are different ways that Christians teach
and admonish one another in their corporate
gatherings, as described in this passage and
the rest of the New Testament?
• Read the Bible (1 Tim. 4:13)
• Preach the Bible (2 Tim. 4:2)
• Pray the Bible (1 Tim. 2:8)
• Sing the Bible (Col. 3:16)
• “See” the Bible, in the “visible words” of
baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matt.
28:19; 1 Cor. 11:17–34)
Stirring one another up with spiritually
pointed conversation (Col. 3:16; Heb.
10:24–25)
24 And let us consider how to stir up
one another to love and good works,
25 not neglecting to meet together, as
is the habit of some, but encouraging
one another, and all the more as you
see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV
Prayer is one way that Christians not only lift
up their hearts to God and as a body
together we collectively lift our hearts and
attention to God in prayer during our service.

With that in mind, how can those who lead

the church in praying ensure that the Word of
Christ is building up the church through their
prayers?
How is it that the Word of Christ can
dwell in us richly through singing “psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs”?

What does this require of the songs that

we sing?
As we evaluate the songs and music of a
church, which measure should be the
priority:

A. whether it causes the Word to dwell

richly in the church
B. how well it aligns with our stylistic
preferences?
What are some examples of things that
may occur in a church’s worship service
that, rather than build up the church
through the Word, actually distract the
church from that goal? (briefly)
What are some practical ways you can
strive to let the Word of God dwell in you
richly:

A. When you gather with the church on

Sundays?

B. In your interactions with fellow church

members during the week?