Colossians: The People of God in the Age of Empire – Practices of Resistance

Colossians: The People of God in the Age of Empire – Practices of Resistance (Colossians 3:1–17) - Rev. Donnell T. Wyche - a2vc.org. Like us on fb.com/vineyardannarboror watch our livestream Sundays @ 10:45am - vimeo.com/annarborvineyard 

Summary:

In this third installment of the Colossians: The People of God in the Age of Empire series, Pastor Donnell Wyche explores Paul’s invitation to live a resurrection-shaped life as resistance to the demands and distortions of empire. After deconstructing the false promises of empire—security, glory, and salvation—Paul turns toward reconstruction, calling the Colossians to embody new life by setting their minds on Christ. Resurrection, Pastor Donnell reminds us, is not metaphorical—it is real, and it invites us into ordinary, grounded practices of love, patience, forgiveness, and peace as signs that Christ is alive and empire is not in control.

 

Pastor Donnell contextualizes Paul’s challenge by naming how empire shapes us with fear, scarcity, and performance-based identity. Drawing from his experience on Ann Arbor’s planning commission, he critiques how exclusion and self-protection still shape our civic life—especially around housing—and how Paul calls us to take off the habits of empire and put on the character of Christ. Resistance, in this sense, isn’t reactive—it’s proactive. It’s not about protest alone, but daily formation: shedding old ways of being and clothing ourselves with compassion, humility, and love. This, he asserts, is what empire cannot imitate.

 

The sermon climaxes with Paul’s powerful reframing of Christian identity: “You are chosen, you are holy, and you are deeply, deeply loved.” Pastor Donnell insists that our actions must flow from this identity—not out of fear, guilt, or striving, but as a response to God’s unshakable love. Resistance looks like parenting with patience, giving freely, refusing cynicism, and holding fast to hope. Every act of mercy, love, and peace is an act of protest against empire’s rule. The invitation is clear: live like resurrection is real—because it is—and let your life be a declaration that Jesus is Lord.