Today’s passage:  Colossians 2:1-5

Helpful thoughts:

• Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) was only nine miles away from Colossae.
• If you really want to know the deep mysteries of God, look no further than Jesus Christ!
  •   The false teachers of the day would offer people deeper understanding and knowledge than what they were receiving through the Scriptures and the teaching of the Apostles.  But in truth, in Jesus “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
• The church may have wanted Paul to be present with them, but they had something even better than the knowledge of Paul, they had the Word of God!
  • Even 2,000 years later, we might think those who were alive in the first century had it better, but we have such amazing access to the whole of the Scriptures!  They were hearing and seeing things in real time…we have the Spirit-inspired historical account and God’s description and explanations.  We are truly blessed to have the whole counsel of God’s Word.

Questions to consider:

1. What does the mention of the church in Laodicea and what we know about them from Revelation 3 bring to your mind?  What must churches do to remain healthy?  What was Paul telling the church in Colossae to focus on to remain grounded and healthy?
2. In what ways are the writings of the Scriptures even better than being a eye-witness to the events of the life of Christ?  What limitations would people have had if they were in the crowd at one of Jesus’ teachings or miracles?
3. How should the vast access we have to the Scriptures today affect our knowledge of the Word of God?  Or, simply put, why should you read and study the Scriptures faithfully?

Today’s passage: Colossians 1:24-29

Helpful thoughts:

• Christ’s suffering was not incomplete and we do not need to finish suffering in order to finish the work of our salvation.  However, Jesus promised us that the afflictions He endured would come upon those who followed Him as well (John 15:18-20).  This is what Paul means by “Christ’s afflictions.”
  • Paul rejoiced in the persecution he endured because it was an indicator to him that he was following Jesus!  The message he preached resulted in at least two things:  (1) The birth/growth of churches and (2) persecution.  This meant he was being faithful!
• The people of the Old Covenant (Old Testament) did not know all that was to come in Jesus Christ.  The whole of the works of the Messiah had been a mystery.  The people of the New Covenant have seen the mystery revealed in Jesus.
• The goal of Paul’s ministry was not just to get conversions, but to present the people “mature in Christ.”

Questions to consider:

1. How much effort did Paul put into his work to proclaim and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ (Verse 29)?  What does it mean to toil and struggle with all the energy God put in him? (Note:  Verse 29 is not a command, but a testimony of Paul’s.  Though it can be an encouragement for us to work hard for Christ.)
2. Why was Paul able to rejoice in his suffering?  What kind of rejoicing do you think it was?  Was Paul giddy in his persecution or do you think he endured sadness and grief mixed with hope and peace?  Why?
3. How long did Paul’s suffering last (1 Peter 1:6)?  How long will he be thankful he did what he did to bring on that suffering (Knowing that God was glorified and souls were saved)?

Today’s passage: Colossians 1:21-23

Helpful thoughts:

• The truth of our natural condition: “you, who were once alienate and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds.”  It is by the grace of God we are saved!
• Salvation is given to us freely, but its cost was astounding.  Jesus paid it all on the cross.
• We do not change to become a Christian (Again, Jesus paid it all!), but Christians do change.
  • James 2:18
  • Ephesians 2:10
  • 1 John 1:6

Questions to consider:

1. As a Christian, why is it right to strive for righteousness?  What motivates us?  When is it right to say, “If you continue in sin, how can you be confident you are truly a Christian?”
2. In contrast to our natural state (Verse 21), how will we be presented to God (Verse 22)?  Who ultimately ensures this change will take place (Romans 8:28-30, Philippians 1:6)?  How does this promise fuel and inform our efforts to change and grow in the grace of God?
3. What was Paul’s mission (Primary objective) as a minister of the gospel?  How do we carry on that work today?

Today’s passage: Colossians 1:15-20

Helpful thoughts:

• Man was created in the image of God.  We were meant to represent Him and exercise dominion under His authority in this world (Genesis 1:26-27).  Man fell into sin and has not perfectly represented (“imaged”) God.  But the man Jesus, the Christ, is the perfect image of God.
• “Firstborn” means Christ is the one who will inherit possession of all things.  Jesus was born physically when he took on flesh.  But the Son of God is eternal and therefore never began to exist.
• Christ truly condescended (was brought low) to save and redeem us from our sin.  And in His condescension, His glory only became more glorious!

Questions to consider:

1. After reading this passage, who is Jesus?  What do we learn about Him in these verses?
2. If this is who Jesus is, how then should we live?
3. How does this passage reorient our thinking and give us the right perspective?

Today’s passage: Colossians 1:9-14

Helpful thoughts:

• Overall, this passage defines a wonderfully lived Christian life!
• Right thinking (in all spiritual wisdom and understanding) leads to right living (walking in a manner worthy).
• With all the great qualities this kind of life would hold, our qualification to enter the eternal kingdom is not something we have earned.  It was given to us!
  • God qualified us.
  • God delivered us.
  • God transferred us.
  • God redeemed us.
  • God forgave us.

Questions to consider:

1. What were we delivered from and what have we been delivered to?  Why did we need deliverance?  How did God bring our deliverance about?
2. What aspects of this passage seem to bring the believer joy?  What things produce thanksgiving?
3. Why does it make so much sense that a sinner saved by grace would want to “walk in a manner” that is worthy and pleasing to the Lord?  Why will every true Christian be compelled to grow and follow Christ?

Today’s passage: Colossians 1:3-8

Helpful thoughts:

• Epaphras was the one who took the gospel to Colossae.  Paul didn’t have to be the one to preach the gospel to plant this church.  The gospel is the same and just as powerful no matter who God uses to proclaim it!
• For Paul, the knowledge of the birth and growth of this church in a place he had not traveled resulted in thanksgiving.
• Paul often included in his letters the importance of faith, hope and love in the life of a Christian.  These critical qualities are found again here in Colossians 1:4-5.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the goal of our service and gospel ministry?  Why can it be tempting at times to want to be the person who “got the results?”
2. In what ways could this church have been blessed because the Apostle Paul wasn’t the one who came and planted the church?
3. For which ministries, fellow Christians, or people you hope to be saved could you pray today?  In what ways could you faithfully serve them?  How could you encourage others by appreciating their efforts to serve the Lord?

Today’s passage: Colossians 1:1-2

Helpful thoughts:

• The church at Colossae was started during or shortly after Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (Over 100 miles east of Colossae).  It is believed that Epaphras (4:12) put his faith in Christ under Paul’s ministry in Ephesus and then went home with the Gospel message.
• It appears there was troubling false teaching that was damaging the church.  Paul writes this letter to teach truth to the church and correct any false doctrines.
  • Paul appeals to his role as an Apostle to write and teach with the authority and commissioning he possessed in the early church.
  • An Apostle was a “sent one.”  Sent by Christ Himself to take the Gospel message at the beginning stage of the birth and growth of the church.
• The word for “grace” in the Greek sounded much like the typical greeting in society, so Christians were known to greet each other with the word for “grace” instead.  “Peace” was the typical Jewish greeting.  Paul here is simply (Yet meaningfully) greeting all the men and women in the church with both cultural greetings, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”

Questions to consider:

1. “Saint” simply means to be set apart.  All those who have put their faith in Christ have been set apart.  That means “the saints” and the “faithful brothers (and sisters)” who received this letter was the same group of people?  To whom then was this letter originally written?  How do these words help us to better identify who we are still today?
2. Why was Paul an Apostle?  Was it because he wanted it (Acts 8:1-3)?  Or because he was a great speaker (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)?  Who made Paul an Apostle?
3. How has God shown you grace and given you peace?  How has Christ given you grace and peace with the Father?