FBC Benbrook Sermons

Put on a Compassionate Heart

What is the difference between kindness and Christ empowered compassion?
Those who are in Christ are called to put on a compassionate heart, but this is radically different than just being polite. The Parable of the Good Samaritan shows us that Christ empowered compassion is deeply rooted within, is costly and risky, and gets involved in the lives of others. This kind of compassion can only happen through the transforming power of the indwelling Christ.
What do we do if we must confess that we do not have a compassionate heart?
Sermon Text: Colossians 3.12
Sermon Date: May 17, 2026
Preacher: Todd Pylant

Sins of the Tongue

Put to death the sins of the mouth" - Colossians 3:8-10
 
Paul calls believers to put to death the sins of the mouth; slander, obscene talk, and lying.  What do the sins of the mouth mean, how do we check our lives to make sure we are putting them to death, and what happens when it happens to us?  Scripture is full of examples, wisdom, and guidance to help us put to death the sins of the mouth and keep our speech kind, pure, and true.  
 
Date: May 10, 2026
Preacher: Blake Theiss

Put to Death Anger

Is anger a dangerous poison to avoided at all costs or the kick we need to cause us to act in the face of injustice?
The biblical witness demonstrates that anger is universal to all humans but is also very dangerous. This emotion not only has the capacity to lead us into sinful behaviors but also to give the devil an opportunity to corrupt our soul even more. This is why we are commanded to put anger and wrath and malice to death.
Anger is another place where those who are in Christ are called to seek the fullness of the indwelling Christ to transform us into His image. Instead of being quick to get angry, we should be slow to anger like the Father. Instead of giving full vent to our anger, we should be merciful. Instead of staying angry too long, we should be quick to forgive. And the only way this kind of life is possible is through the transforming grace of Jesus.
Discover how anger leads us to the cross.
Sermon Text: Colossians 3.8
Date: May 3, 2026
Preacher: Todd Pylant

Put to Death Covetousness

Are you caught in the "bottomless pit" of endless effort, chasing a satisfaction that always seems just out of reach? The Scriptures teach that we often live in a state of constant dissatisfaction, fueled by a world that stirs up discontentment at every turn. We instinctively think this is someone else’s problem, yet we find our souls struggling to be content with what we have today.
This look into Colossians 3 invites you to confront "evil desire" and covetousness—not merely as a character flaw, but as idolatry. When we place our highest love, hope, trust, and obedience in money or possessions, we are mounting a direct assault against the worthiness of the Most High God. We are essentially telling our Good Shepherd that He is not enough to take care of us.
However, the Word of God offers more than a list of prohibitions; it provides a shockingly transformative key to unlock the prison of discontentment. By practicing spiritual disciplines like tithing, generosity, and thanksgiving, we can loosen the heart's grip on "stuff" and find true liberation.
Join us as we explore how to put to death what is earthly and instead find fulfillment in the new reality of Christ. Discover the good news that you don't have to be held in bondage to the pursuit of "more"—because Christ is enough.
Sermon Text: Colossians 3.5
Date: April 26, 2026
Preacher: Todd Pylant
 

Put to Death Sexual Immorality

Discover why the ancient, radical call to "flee sexual immorality" is not just an old-fashioned rule, but a life-giving invitation to find our true identity and victory in Christ.
Have you ever felt that the Christian sexual ethic is wildly out of step with our modern culture? In this message, we dive deep into Colossians 3 to explore a conversation that is as controversial today as it was in the first century Greco-Roman world.
If the Apostle Paul were presenting his letter to a publisher today, an editor might advise him to start with "easier" topics like love or singing. Instead, Paul addresses the most challenging areas of our lives first: sexual immorality, impurity, and passion. We invite you to join us as we move past the surface-level definitions of our culture and look honestly at the biblical call to "put to death" what is earthly within us.
Through the lens of 1 Corinthians 6, we remind ourselves that our bodies are not our own; they are temples of the Holy Spirit, bought with a price. Whether you are wrestling with the "hookup culture," navigating the lies of the enemy, or simply seeking to walk more closely with God, this is an invitation to be rooted and built up in Christ.
We aren’t just trying to "be good"—we are learning how to starve the flesh and feed the Spirit. Come and discover how resurrection power allows us to no longer be slaves to passion, but to find a design for humanity that is far better than anything the world offers.
Sermon Date: April 19, 2026
Sermon Text: Colossians 3.5
Preacher: Todd Pylant

Made Alive in Him

Discover how God has taken the record of your debt and nailed it to the cross, leading a victory parade over the spiritual forces of darkness so that you can walk in resurrection power.
We are on a journey as a church, trying to comprehend the beauty of this mystery: that we are in Christ. Because we are in Him, the fullness of God is poured into us. We are no longer enslaved to sin; we can be victorious over darkness and become new creations.
In this fifth and final introduction to Colossians 3, we explore two powerful metaphors that help us understand the immeasurable glory of our salvation. First, the Certificate of Debt: discover how God the Father took the handwritten record of your IOU, which stood against you with its legal demands, and canceled it by nailing it to the cross. Your debt has been paid in full.
Second, the Victory Parade: see how God disarmed the rulers and authorities, stripping the spiritual forces of darkness of their power and putting them to open shame. Through the cross, Christ has led a victory parade to publicly humiliate every defeated enemy.
As we prepare to put to death what is earthly—sexual immorality, impurity, and evil desires—set your mind on these truths. If the Son who hung on the cross is advocating for you even now, how can you not be victorious?
Sermon Date: April 12, 2026
Text: Colossians 2.13-15
Preacher: Todd Pylant

Raised With Him

Discover why the "outlandish" story of the Resurrection is not something to be minimized or constrained, but a powerful working of God that transforms your life from the inside out.
Is your faith running in the background like a minimized window on a laptop, or is it the operating system of your life? On this Resurrection Sunday, the Scripture invites us to move beyond "Jesus emoji" faith—that gentle, non-intrusive image of a caring shepherd who stays in the corner until a crisis hits. The true Easter story is far more outlandish; it is the account of the eternal Creator stepping into His own play, bearing the rebellion of His creation, and being raised to sit at the right hand of God.
The Scripture reveals that being "raised with Him" is not a minor adjustment; it is a radical transformation. Through faith in the powerful working of God, we are delivered from the domain of darkness and qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints. This isn't a power you keep in the garage like a backup battery for emergencies. It is a resurrection power that flows within the soul, enabling us to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to bear fruit in every good work, and to put to death what is earthly within us.
If you have felt that the gospel was merely about "doing good," come discover the full biblical portrait of Jesus—the image of the invisible God who holds the universe together.
Sermon Text: Colossians 2.12
Date: April 5, 2026
Preacher: Todd Pylant
 

Buried with Him

Discover why the most victorious thing that can happen to you is to realize you have already died—and how being "buried with Him" is the only key to living a truly free and righteous life.
What does it actually mean to be "in Christ"? On this Palm Sunday, we often reflect on the historical events that happened to Jesus, but Scripture reveals a deeper, more startling mystery: because you are in Christ, those events happened to you. You were not just a bystander; you were crucified with Him and you were buried with Him.
In this message, we explore the profound transition from being dead in sin to being dead to sin. Drawing from Romans 6 and Colossians 2, we dive into the imagery of baptism—not merely as a church ritual, but as a testimony of a fundamental internal shift. If we are to ever "put to death" the earthly things that plague us—immorality, pride, or impurity—we must first realize that the person we used to be has already died.
The Gospel isn't just about a canceled debt; it’s about a new identity where the "body of sin" is brought to nothing so we are no longer enslaved. Whether you are wrestling with the battles of youth or the challenges of later life, the power to change comes from a life hidden with Christ in God. Join us as we uncover the freedom found in being buried with Him, moving past the starting line of faith toward true transformation.
Sermon text: Colossians 2.12
Date: March 29, 2026
Preacher: Todd Pylant

Circumcised in Him

Discover how the "circumcision of Christ" is not an ancient ritual, but a radical, spiritual operation that severs the power of sin from your heart forever.
The Mystery of Being "In Him"
The Scripture says that when you receive Christ, something radical happens to your humanity. While physical circumcision was a private, outward sign given to Abraham’s descendants, the New Testament reveals it was always pointing toward a greater, inward reality: a "circumcision made without hands". This is the mystery of the Gospel—that by grace through faith, your old sin nature is actually cut away and your heart is forever impacted.
The Power of Sin is Broken
Do you feel like you are in a losing battle with anger, anxiety, or greed? The Scripture says the record of debt that stood against you has been canceled and nailed to the cross.
The Condemnation is Gone: The guilt of sin has been severed from you; you no longer bear it before a holy God.
The Power is Severed: You are no longer a slave to your passions. The fullness of God, who has authority over every rule and power, now dwells in you.
Walk in Newness of Life
Though the presence of sin remains a battleground, its dominion is broken. The Scripture says you are a new creation—the person you used to be is gone, and you have been given a new heart to walk in victory. Stop listening to the enemy’s whisper that you’ll never change. Set your mind on things above and learn what it truly means to be Circumcised in Him.
Sermon Text: Colossians 2.11
Date: March 22, 2026
Preacher: Todd Pylant

Filled In Him

Discover how the mystery of the incarnation reveals that the fullness of God is poured into your very humanity, providing the power to "walk in Him".
This morning we are starting a new sermon series. It is going to be a little bit different because it is really going to be focusing on Christian ethics: how it is that we should live. We are looking at Colossians 3, walking through these verses basically word for word.
In this section, Paul tells us to put to death what is earthly in us and then to put on holiness and godliness. But before we get to the to-do list, we really have to drill down into what it looks like to be in Him. This opening paragraph is the key to the entire chapter. It keeps this from being a "try to be good, stop doing bad, try harder" sermon series. The secret is all wrapped up in the fact that we have been raised with Christ and our life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Today, we delve into the phrase: "you have been filled in him".
The Incarnation: The fullness of God is poured into the fullness of our humanity.
The Exaltation: Jesus is the head of all rule and authority.
Do you feel like the fullness of God has been poured into your humanity?. This is what the Scripture says is true of you if you are in Christ.
Sermon Text: Colossians 2.9-10
Date: March 15, 2026
Preacher: Todd Pylant