Single lesson
Colossians 3: Put On the New Self
Colossians 3:1–17; Colossians 3:18–21; Colossians 3:22–25
This lesson helps children follow Colossians 3 from new life with Christ to everyday speech, family life, and work. They will see that the passage joins belief, character, thankfulness, and ordinary responsibilities.
Before you teach
Colossians 3 first tells believers to seek the things above because they have been raised with Christ and their life is hidden with him. It then names old behaviours to reject, new qualities to put on, instructions for households, and a call to work for the Lord.
Students will name two things to put off, two qualities to put on, and one way Colossians 3 links daily actions with serving the Lord Jesus.
Welcome: Put off and put on
4 minAsk children what clothes fit a job or team. Explain that this chapter uses “put off” and “put on” to talk about character. Read those phrases aloud and tell the group they will listen for old ways to remove and new ways to wear.
Colossians 3:9, Colossians 3:10
Read and explain: Think about Christ first
8 minRead Colossians 3:1-11. Show the reason for the commands: believers are to seek the things above because they were raised with Christ and their life is hidden with him. Then list some old sins to reject, including angry speech, lying, and greed. Briefly note that the passage also says people from different backgrounds are joined because Christ is all, and in all.
Colossians 3:1, Colossians 3:2, Colossians 3:3, Colossians 3:5, Colossians 3:8, Colossians 3:9, Colossians 3:10, Colossians 3:11
Discuss: What does the new self look like?
6 minRead Colossians 3:12-17. Invite children to find the qualities named here: compassion, kindness, humility, perseverance, forgiveness, love, peace, and thankfulness. Point out that love is called the bond of perfection, peace is to rule in their hearts, and everything is to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Colossians 3:12, Colossians 3:13, Colossians 3:14, Colossians 3:15, Colossians 3:16, Colossians 3:17
Make and respond: Home and daily work
8 minRead Colossians 3:18-25 simply and carefully. Note the household instructions, including children obeying parents and fathers not provoking children. Then explain that the text speaks directly to servants and tells them to work heartily as for the Lord. Apply that principle to child-sized tasks such as chores, helping, and schoolwork.
Colossians 3:18, Colossians 3:19, Colossians 3:20, Colossians 3:21, Colossians 3:22, Colossians 3:23, Colossians 3:24, Colossians 3:25
Closing: One chapter, one whole-life message
4 minReview the flow of the passage in three steps: seek Christ, put off old ways, put on new ways. Let each child share one word or verse from the chapter to remember. Finish by repeating that whatever we do, in word or deed, is to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus with thanks.
Colossians 3:2, Colossians 3:9, Colossians 3:12, Colossians 3:17
Questions to explore
What reasons does the passage give for seeking the things above?
Look for the statements about being raised with Christ, dying, and having life hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1, Colossians 3:3, Colossians 3:4
Which sins in this chapter especially harm people through words and attitudes?
Look at the list that includes anger, malice, slander, shameful speaking, and lying to one another.
Colossians 3:8, Colossians 3:9
How does Colossians 3 connect ordinary responsibilities with serving Jesus?
Notice the instructions for children and fathers, then the call to work heartily as for the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:20, Colossians 3:21, Colossians 3:23, Colossians 3:24
Make, think or respond
Put Off, Put On Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or pens
- colours or markers
- Bible
Try it together
- Fold a piece of paper in half and label the sides “Put off” and “Put on”.
- From Colossians 3, write or draw two old actions to remove and two new qualities to wear.
- Copy a short phrase from one verse you want to remember.
- On the back, write one place this week where you can practise it.
The card helps children sort the commands in Colossians 3 and connect them with one real choice in daily life.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer simple word choices from the chapter such as anger, lying, kindness, love, peace, and thanks, and let them draw instead of writing much.
- For confident readers, ask them to explain how Colossians 3:1-4 supports the commands in Colossians 3:12-17 before making the card.
An optional closing prayer
You might pray: “Lord Jesus, help us set our minds on you, put away sinful words and actions, and put on love, peace, and thankfulness in all we do. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Colossians 3
1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
6 For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7 You also once walked in those, when you lived in them,
8 but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
9 Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
11 where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
14 Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
23 And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.