Practical Christian Living: The Outer Life

1. How should knowing Christ and living for Him change the way you relate to others?

How living for Christ transforms relationships:

I. In the home (3:18-21)

2. Complete the following table with information from verses 18-21:

Family role addressed             Command given          How/why command is carried out             

                                               

3. Based on these verses, what advice would you give a struggling family who is willing

to go to God’s Word for help?

4. How would your family relationships be changed by obeying these commands?

How living for Christ transforms relationships:

II. In the workplace (3:22-4:1)        

5. a. With what attitude were slaves to obey their masters?  Why?

b. With what attitude are we to serve in our place of employment or service?

c. What are some practical ways to implement verse 23 into your work day?

6. What hope do we have when we are treated unfairly in our work?          

7. How are Christians to treat those who work for them?  How does this behavior reflect

their heavenly Master?

How living for Christ transforms relationships:

III. In our witness (4:2-6)

8.According to verses 2-6, what are three or four key ingredients in living as an     

effective witness for Christ?

9. a. How does Paul ask the Colossians to pray for him specifically?  Does his request seem unusual?  Explain.

b. Have you ever made a similar prayer request for yourself or others?  Explain.

10. How can you live a life that attracts others to Christ, according to verses 5-6? 

How living for Christ transforms relationships:

IV. As we minister for Christ

11. This list of names takes on new life when you see the story behind each person listed!  Please take the time to fill out the following table and get to know Paul’s ministry team!

Who:   Paul’s description of person,  Background (see verses),  Lesson from person's life

7-Tychicus

(Acts 20:4,

Titus 3:12,

2 Tim. 4:12)

9-Onesimus

Philemon 10-20

10-Aristarchus

Acts 19:28-41, 20:4,

27:2 and following

events

10-John Mark

Acts 12:12,

13:13 (referred to

here as John), 15:36-39

2 Tim. 4:11

11-Jesus Justus

12-Epaphras

Col. 1:7,

Philemon 23

14-Luke

Acts 16:10, 20:5, 27:1

(The “we” in Acts includes

Luke, the author of the book)

2 Tim. 4:11

14-Demas

Philemon 24,

2 Tim. 4:10

12. a. Based on the example of Paul’s ongoing relationships within his ministry team, how does living for Christ affect our ministry relationships or relationships with other believers?

b. How do you think these relationships were affected by living out the commands Paul had given in 3:1-17?  Similarly, how is our outer life related to our inner life in Christ?