November 30, 2025

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” — Colossians 3:16

A central part of our life together as Christians—especially in the local congregation—is letting the Word of Christ dwell richly among us (plural). Paul highlights at least two fruits that flow from this shared life in the Word.

First, in verse 15, the peace of Christ is meant to rule in our hearts. The word “rule” carries the sense of “arbitrate” or “act as judge.” In other words, Christ’s peace is to govern our life together as one body. When the Word dwells in us, it creates and strengthens the bond of peace among believers.

Second, a Word-filled community becomes a thankful community. Three times in verses 15–17, Paul either commands thanksgiving or describes it as a natural expression of our shared life in Christ.

But how does this happen? Paul gives the answer in verse 16.

We are commanded—not merely invited—to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly. And the means He gives us are clear: we teach, admonish, and sing to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. As we do this, the peace of Christ rules among us, and thanksgiving rises within us.

It’s important to remember that verse 17 is one sentence. The Word dwelling in us, our teaching and admonishing, our singing, and psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs all belong together as one unified thought.

Where do we find the “words of Christ”? Certainly in the Gospels. But Jesus Himself tells us in Luke’s Gospel that the Psalms speak of Him (Luke 24:25–27, 44–47).

In the Psalms, we not only learn about Christ—we hear the voice of Christ. He is the true singer of the Psalms. By the Spirit’s invitation, we listen in on the intimate prayers and praises of the Son to His Father. When we sing the Psalms, we join our voices with His.

So when we teach, admonish, and sing to one another with the Psalms, we do so with the very words of Christ. As we make our home in the Psalms, they shape our hearts, our thoughts, and our speech. In this way, the Word of Christ comes to dwell richly in us and among us, bearing the beautiful fruit of peace and thanksgiving in the people of God—both individually and collectively.

The Psalms show us not only how Christ prayed and worshiped during His earthly life, but also how we are to speak to one another with His wisdom and grace.

Finding our home in the Psalms is how the word of Christ finds its home in us and among us.