It’s Time to Begin! (Intro and Resources for Colossians Week 1)
π Cue the Confetti! π
Itβs time to begin!!!
I am so excited to begin our study of Colossians with you! If you do not have theΒ optionalΒ JournalΒ yet β itβs availableΒ on AmazonΒ but it will take a few days to ship β so if you want it right now β you can buy the printable/digital version at half price Β β> here.}
Overview of Colossians~
The Book of Colossians is both a deeply practical and deeply theological book. Sometimes we can lean too hard one way or the other.Β We are so deep theologically that our faith becomes philosophical or we are looking for practical instruction and we miss the foundation that our day to day life is to be built upon.Β This book is going to challenge us in both areas.
Colossians is an important letter written by Paul to the church in Colossae, located in Asia Minor. Though he had never traveled to this prosperous town; he established his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ right from the start, as he sought to draw the church back to the true gospel.
Paul wrote this letter, along with the letters to Philemon and the church in Ephesus while being held prisoner in Rome and then gave them to Tychicus and Onesimus to deliver them to the appropriate people. Although Paul did not plant the church in Colossae, Epaphras invites Paul to intervene by addressing the heresy infiltrating the church and leading people astray to a gospel of mysticism and legalism.
The Purpose:
Paulβs purpose in writing this letter is to warn the church of the dangers of following false teaching that weakens the foundation of our identity in Jesus Christ and prevents proper spiritual maturity. He encourages them to battle courageously against sin and grow as mature disciples of Jesus Christ.
The Author: The Apostle Paul
Time Period: Between A.D. 58-62
Key Verse: Colossians 2:8
See that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to the human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ.
The Outline:
1. Greeting (1:1-2)
2. Thanksgiving and Prayer (1:3-8)
3. The Sovereignty of Christ (1:9-23)
4. Paulβs Suffering for Christ (1:24-2:5)
5. The Danger of False Teaching (2:6-23)
6. A Call to Spiritual Maturity (3:1-11)
7. Put On the New Man (3:12-17)
8. Living as Mature Christians (3:18-4:6)
9. Conclusion (4:7-18)
For an even more in-depth Introduction to this weekβs reading, watch this video. It is a great explanation of Colossians!
NOW LETβS GET STARTED!
This Weekβs Bible Reading Plan:
(Facebook Leaders: You can use this as your Facebook Header this week. Just right click and βsave asβ or screen shot it.)
This weekβs Reflection & Discussion Questions
(Leaders: Copy and paste these into your groups. If you do not have a group, use these for a personal time of reflection.)
Colossians 1:1-2
Like the books of Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians, Colossians opens with grace and closes with grace. Paul begins the letter to the saints and faithful brothers in Colossae by establishing his authority as an apostle and sending them a blessing. Even though he has never met them, he cares about them. Friends, I feel the same way about you today! Though I have never met you, I feel so blessed to get to study this book of the Bible with you!
So letβs get started. Grace and peace are two essential qualities for our Christian walk that can only come from God our Father. Grace is Godβs unearned favor. We experience his saving grace through salvation and his grace continues to strengthen us as we walk with him, enabling us to do what we would ordinarily be unable to do. Peace is the tranquility we have when we know God our Father is with us and he is in control.
Both are free gifts from the Lord. How have you experienced the grace of God our Father in your life this week? How have you experienced the peace of God our Father in your life this week?
Colossians 1:3-8
Even though Paul had never been to the church in Colossae, he gave thanks to God when he heard of their faith and their love for their fellow believers. We see the familiar connection of faith, hope and love in todayβs reading as Paul rejoices over their salvation.
After weβve walked with God for a while, the salvation of lost souls can grow ordinary, and we lose the excitement we once had when we hear of someoneβs salvation. Jesus said in Luke 15:10 that the angels rejoice over one sinner who repents! Donβt you love that? Paulβs response should be our response as well; that we thank God for each sinner who repents, even if weβve never met them before.
When was the last time you had an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus? Do you pray regularly for opportunities to share the gospel? If not, begin praying today, and every day, that God will give you opportunities to share with one lost person the way to eternal life. He wants to make you a missionary right where you are; in your neighborhood, at your workplace, in your childβs school, at your gym, and every place you go. Who is one person God is bringing to mind right now that you know is unsaved. Write a prayer for them below.
Colossians 1:9-14
Yesterday we read that Paul gave thanks for the new believers in Colossae. Today we see that he did not stop praying for them. He prayed four things for them: That God would give them wisdom and understanding to know his will, that they would walk in a way that pleased the Lord, that they would bear fruit in their lives, and that they would be strengthened in Godβs might so they could endure with joy.
Paul went on to say that God had delivered them from the power of darkness to light through the redemption of Jesus Christ who had forgiven their sins. This is the motivation for for the four things Paul prayed for the believers.
Walking is something we do all throughout the day. It is a lifestyle. We walk from the moment we get out of bed until the moment we go back to bed. Paul is instructing them to live a lifestyle that is worthy of the Lord and that pleases him when weβre with others and when weβre alone where no one can see.
Living a life that pleases God requires divine wisdom and understanding to know his will. When we live this way, we will bear fruit and be strengthened so that we can endure trials with all joy. Think about your life this past week, are you walking consistently in a way that fully pleases God? Are you the same at church and with friends as you are at home behind your four walls? Share some ways you can improve in this area of your life.
Colossians 1:15-23
In this passage, we clearly see the deity of Jesus Christ. All things were created by him, through him, and for him, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. Paul goes on to further confirm Christβs deity by saying that he exists before all things and that in him all things exist and are sustained. In the end, Paul settles any argument that Christ is not God by declaring that in Christ is all divine power because he is God.
It is very easy for us to limit our faith to mere mental agreement that God is almighty and has all power in heaven and earth. What can be difficult is believing that he will work out a solution for our personal struggle. Sometimes we think our problem is too small for him to care. Other times we may not have the trust and faith that he will work it out the way we feel it needs to be resolved.
Do you struggle with matching your trust in God with your faith? God wants us to trust him enough with our lives that we can allow him to work out his solution in his time, in his way, and according to his will. Trust in God has to be built like a muscle β the more we use it the bigger it grows. What problem in your life do you need to hand over to God today? Do you trust him enough to leave it in his hands? Why or why not?
Colossians 1:24-29
Paul was writing this letter to the Colossians during his first imprisonment in Rome. He understood that the suffering he was facing wasnβt personal, but it was suffering for the cause of Christ and for the sake of the church. He endured this suffering because God had called him to reveal to them the mystery that had been hidden from generations past.
In a Biblical sense, a mystery isnβt a puzzle, but a hidden truth that requires revelation to understand. All throughout the Old Testament, the truth of the gospel had been hidden; and while God gave his people prophecy, the truth remained hidden from them. But now it had been revealed to his saints. The mystery is that Godβs plan all along was the redemption of the Gentiles and to make those who were not his people, adopted sons and daughters of God.
The mystery is Christ in you, the hope β our expectation of the glory of eternity. Our life here on earth is short, but it is preparing us for eternity; and our sufferings serve a purpose to help shape and refine us. Just as Paulβs sufferings were not just his sufferings, but Christβs and the churchβs sufferings, so our sufferings serve a greater purpose to help refine us to serve the body of Christ more effectively, and to prepare us for eternity.
Are you going through a time of suffering? How can you view your suffering in a Biblical way? How do you think God is using your suffering for a greater purpose? Can you see how heβs using this suffering to build in you a greater hope for eternity?
To print the 20 Reflection and Discussion Questions for Colossians β> Click Here
This Weekβs Verses of the Day:
(Leaders: You can use these images in your groups by using right click and βsave asβ or screen shoting them.)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Hereβs the Printable Bible Bookmark for Colossians.
Hereβs another explanation of the SOAK Bible Study Method and Bible Coloring Chart if you need more guidance:
Here is the SOAK method I refer to in the video:
And the Bible Coloring Bookmark:
Click HERE to Print the full page Coloring Chart
or Click HERE for the Bookmark Coloring Chart
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Join usΒ EVERY weekday morning ANYTIMEΒ afterΒ 7:00amEST on Facebook
to discuss the dayβs reading assignment.
I commend you for committing to study this book with us! If you want to go deeper in your study, I encourage you to use on-line commentaries and Bible Study tools.
The Book of Colossians is a relatively short letter, but Paul packs a lot into these four chapters. He emphasizes repeatedly the importance of putting on the new man so that we are not living in the manner in which we lived before we came to Christ.
Godβs desire is that we too would recognize that we have a new identity in Christ, and how he can change us so completely that this new identity transforms our relationships with everyone around us, both inside and outside the church.
Now, letβs get started! Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite drink and open your Bible and SOAK it in! Be sure to leave at least 15-20 minutes for your reading each day.
Have a wonderful week in Godβs Word β Iβll see you back here on the blog this Friday as we go deeper into Godβs Word together! Donβt forget to join me every weekday morning out on Facebook!
Keep walking with the King,
COURTNEY
The Colossians Journal is available on Amazon!
If youβd like to purchase a printable-digital copy
(so you have it right away) at half the price
click HERE.
