Colossians 1:1-14
Intro Questions
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Other Resources:
Seven Christian Virtues Colossians 1 https://virtualbiblestudy.com/lessons/colossians/1/
Life-Changing Words
In 1848, Andrew Carnegie’s father brought the penniless family from Dumferline, Scotland, to Allegheny, Pennsylvania, in hope of a new life. Young Andrew quickly found work, but the long hours left no time for a 12-year-old’s education. However, Colonel James Anderson opened his personal library of 400 books to local working boys, allowing them to exchange one book per Saturday. Every week, Andrew Carnegie eagerly walked to 1423 Liverpool Street to borrow and devour another book. By his own claim, it was in the generosity of Colonel Anderson that Carnegie developed a deep appreciation for literature—and learning.
Many years later, when Carnegie had amassed a fortune through his steel businesses, he honored the patron of his youth. He asked sculptor Daniel Chester French and architect Henry Bacon (who also collaborated on the Lincoln Memorial) to create a monument to Anderson, and it was dedicated in 1904. The real heritage of Anderson, though, was found in Carnegie’s devotion to libraries. By 1929, over 3,000 public libraries had been built with Carnegie money. The first opened in his home town of Dumferline, but 1,649 were begun in 46 states—including one at 120 South College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, which opened in 1906. The true legacy of James Anderson is the inspiration to learning, enabled in Carnegie’s public libraries.
“All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit” (Colossians 1:6-8 NIV).
It may have been on Paul’s first missionary journey, in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia, that Epaphras heard and obeyed the gospel. The news of true and full salvation in Christ to all humanity was so explosively joyous that the people in Colossae needed to hear it. Epaphras took the news home and a congregation of God’s people was established in that city along the Lycus River. Jesus to Paul to Epaphras to others—when we have life-changing news, we want to share it so that others may benefit!
Many think that faith in Jesus is a matter of good conduct and nice manners. Since most people are both good and nice, they presume they are in perfect alignment with God and already possessed of eternal life. In truth, the gospel message declares that we are, first and foremost, dead already and eternally doomed because of our sins. There is no hope whatever that we will escape the deserved result of our actions unless God, in His grace, chooses to re-establish life within us. That is precisely what He wants to do if that is our desire. By putting our faith and trust in Jesus Christ we can obey Him fully, beginning with our baptism, and begin new life in God’s will. This great good news is about regaining life, not niceness. The heritage of Jesus Christ is found in the countless souls who have intentionally chosen His life in their obedience. And in their joy, they continue to call others to hear the life-changing words and live.
Colossians 1:1-14
Colossians 1:1-2
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Grace and peace to you from God our Father.b
Past notes are on my blog at https://kevinskomment.blogspot.com/search/label/Colossians
I plan to go live on Facebook at 5:00 p.m.
Prison Epistles
Jesus: Thanksgiving and Prayer
Colossians 1:3-14
WHAT CAN GOD DO THROUGH YOU? -- "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20).
The greatness of salvation cannot be overstated. In Christ, we have been "delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13). Though we were "dead in trespasses and sins." and "alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that was in us," we were "raised up together with Christ and made to sit together with Him kin heavenly places." we have been "reconciled to God through the death of His Son," and are now "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ" (Ephesians 2:1-2; 4:18; 2:6; Romans 8:17). Now washed from our sins, we are "kings and priests unto God" (Revelation 1:5-6), made suitable for Divine habitation and use.
The Divine power that has been devoted to us transcends the loftiest imagination of the natural mind. Even after we are regenerated, the greatness of this power must be revealed to us. Paul prayed with great fervency for believers in this regard. "Therefore I . . . do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him . . . and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come" (Ephesians 1:15-21). Because of the sacrifice of Christ, this transcendent power is devoted to us -- but its continued efficacy depends upon our awareness of its power.
This is a power that characterized by "exceeding greatness," and it accomplishes exceeding great things within us. Hear the analysis of the Spirit on this matter. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20). God can "work in you that which is well pleasing in His sight" through this power (Hebrews 13:20-21). There are no limitations.
What can God do through you? More than you can think or imagine! Whatever you perceive that requires Divine activity, ask that God do it through you! Ask him to open your eyes to the accessibility of the power, and the extent of your opportunities to glorify Him.
Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:
· How is Jesus greater than any heroes we have today?
Thanksgiving and Prayer -- Colossians 1:3-14
3We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant,c who is a faithful minister of Christ on ourd behalf, 8and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,e10so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified youf to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will
1. God is ... What do we learn about God?
2. We are ... What do we learn about people?
3. Paul hasn’t met these believers (2:1), yet he is attracted to them and gives thanks for them. Why? What types of people are you attracted to when you enter a new church group?
4. How does it make you feel when a friend tells you the specific things he or she notices and appreciates about you?
5. What is our hope which is laid up in heaven? Is it more than heaven itself? Why are faith and love the products of hope (v. 5)? Why must hope exist first?
6. When did you first come to know the hope offered through Christ in the Gospel?
7. By the time Paul wrote this letter, how far had the gospel gone outside of the city of Jerusalem? (v. 6) What impresses you about how the gospel spread. (vv. 5-8)?
8. What does it mean to tell the whole truth about God’s grace (v. 6)? Conversely, how does one betray grace? What is the difference between hearing and knowing the grace of God? What truth about grace do you see in verses (12-14)?
9. How does what Paul prays for (9-11) compare with what he thanks God for (12-14)?
10. What is the “Power or dominion of Darkness” (v. 13)
1. How does your prayer for others compare with Paul’s: (a) In intensity? (b) in thankfulness? © in clarity? (d) in faithfulness?
2. How is the fruit of hope, faith, and love growing in your life: Developing well? Suffering from drought? Destroyed by the last storm? Budding? How will you help this “crop” develop?
3. How have others helped you to hear and understand the truth about God’s grace?
4. Who in the church could you affirm this week for demonstrating those Christian qualities?
5. I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
6. You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this?
7. How does this equip us be a better disciple and help empower us to “make disciples”?
— A. W. Tozer
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