GOING EASTER SHOPPING Read Colossians 3:5-14

Tradition has it that in the early days of the Christian church, baptism was celebrated at Easter and all persons who were to be baptized wore spotless white robes as a sign of their new life in Christ. How has dressing for Easter Sunday changed since you were a child?

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul compares the Christian experience to a change of clothing. Paul says you have to take off the old clothes which consist of things like AngerWrath SlanderMalice LyingAbusive language Have you gotten rid of all those things?

Paul then says to put on new clothes which consist of things like: CompassionKindness HumilityMeekness Patience Have you completely changed clothes?

Have you ever had an old pair of shoes that were really worn, but comfortable? Or some other clothes that were pretty ragged, but you didn’t want to get rid of them? That can be the way it is with life, we can become so comfortable with the way we are living, that we don’t even recognize it is wrong. We don’t see a need for change.

What has been the hardest thing for you to change in becoming a Christian? So now we are going shopping at the Resurrection Shop. Let’s see what new garments they have for sale.

When we are trying on our new clothes, we have to look in a 3 way mirror. It shows all sides of us.

Do you ever think that if everyone else were like you, the world would be a better place? When you compare yourself to others, how do you stack up? Say in terms of anger or in terms of patience?

The mirror in the Resurrection Shop reveals insights into my person that I can ignore when compared to others. But I cannot ignore them when I compare myself, not with other people, but with Jesus Christ. Everything in the Resurrection Shop is within your ability to buy, if you are willing to pay the price.

Let’s look at our first garment, compassion. In the first century, people seemed oblivious to human suffering. While people shoved them to the side, Jesus responded with compassion. What have you done lately to show compassion for someone else? Can you look a beggar in the eyes and then pass them by?

Next we look at a garment called kindness. The Greek word is crestotes which means the virtue of a person whose neighbor’s good is as dear to him as his or her own. What is a way to show kindness to someone you do not know?

Next Paul says why not try on humility. Maybe we have an image problem and we are trying to build up our on self esteem and we don’t need anyone bringing us down a notch. Our culture says if you got it flaunt it!

Do you find it hard to be humble? A person with humility knows what he or she has but also knows others may gifts too.

Here’s a new article to try on, it’s called gentleness or meekness. The Greeks called it praotes the middle of too much anger and too little anger. What kind of things make you angry? Is it OK to get angry at times? How do you control your anger?

Here’s a nice article on sale. It’s called patience. Is there anyone you know who needs to put on patience? Unfortunately, you can’t buy garments for someone else, only you.

If everyone around me were more patient, the world would be a better place. To be patient, you have to be thinking about the other person. You might even have to admit that they are right.

Now we will round out our wardrobe with love. Love completes the resurrection wardrobe. How complete is your wardrobe? Have you left any of the items on the shelf?

Do you wear the same clothes you wore when you were a teenager? A person’s spiritual wardrobe needs updating from time to time. Things wear out and need to be replaced. Maybe you have outgrown them. Take time to comment on someone’s spiritual clothes.