Responsive Call to Worship Reading from Colossians

In our church, we use a call to worship to emphasize the fact that it is God who seeks worshipers and invites us to fellowship with Him in worship.

Whenever I preach on a text from a book of the Bible, I like to include readings from other parts of the book in our liturgy.

This week’s sermon is taken from the book of Colossians. So, I searched the web for a responsive reading that compiled the main verses and themes from the book like this one from 1 Thessalonians.

I was not able to find one.

So, I put together my own based on the structure of the book that describes for us who Jesus is and what He has done for us and our response. The leader reads a statement about the blessings and benefits we have in Christ. The people respond with our duties from Colossians 3 that we are called to in light of what Jesus has done for us.

Leader: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
People: Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Leader: For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
People: So whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Leader: And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
People: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Leader: He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
People: And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Leader: For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
People: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

Leader: Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
People: Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Leader: For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.
People: Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Leader: He is the head over every power and authority.
People: Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Leader: In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
People: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Leader: When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.
People: For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Leader: He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
People: Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And be thankful.