This week in chapel, Pastor Veverly Austin preached on Colossians 3:12-15, which compels us to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience and also to put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Though our original identity of being a sinner is found in Adam, our new identity is found in Jesus as a holy, blameless new creation. Colossians 3:3 states, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” We have died in Him, and now as followers of Christ Jesus, we must kill certain things in our lives so that we are able to take off the old self by changing old behaviors and habits.
In Him we find everything we need, and in Him, we live, move and have our being. When we come to Him, God gives us a dress code. He asks us to put on mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. He asks us to bear with one another, and it is necessary to set aside our own wants in order to help one another. The Father is not going to force us to put on these new clothes; He gives us a choice, and though He gives us a choice, it is still a requirement in Him. Listen to the full sermon below.
About the Speaker
Veverly Austin received her MBA from the University of Illinois in Chicago, and she received a second master’s degree in Urban Ministry Leadership within the Urban Cohort program here at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Veverly is the founder of Girl, Get Your Fight Back Inc., an organization that challenges and equips women and teen girls to regain control of their lives, mind, body and spirit. For several years she has been the liaison for Blue Cross Blue Shield of West Michigan’s “Let’s Talk Health” program in the faith-based community. She is the creator and designer of Confident Wear, a top quality clothing line for women, teen girls and young girls, as well as the president and founder of Confident Living, a program committed to helping men and women get unstuck by providing tools and techniques that empower individuals to take a holistic approach to improve all aspects of their lives.
In addition, she is the founder and creative director of Rock’n the Runway (RTR), a fashion show in support of Breast Cancer Awareness in the urban community. Veverly is the wife of Jathan K. Austin, mother of four, and the Assistant Pastor of a thriving ministry, One Church Empowerment Center (formerly Bethel Abundant Life Center).
