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?

Practical Christian Living: The Inner Life

Colossians 3:1-17

1.Consider your life now as compared to when you first trusted in Christ for salvation, then answer the following questions.

a. How do your attitudes and actions reveal the life of Christ is at work in you?

b.In what areas do you long to see maturity?

 3:1-4: Heavenly thinking

2. What does Paul mean when he says believers have been “raised with Christ”  (Col. 2:13, Rom. 6:8, Eph. 2:6)?  By whose power are we to live the Christian life?

3. “Seek the things that are above.”  The word set here means “seek.”  As you look at your schedule, your checkbook, how you are using your gifts, your goals, etc., what do these things reflect about what you are seeking?

4. Believers are to set their minds on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  As you meditate on these words, use the following verses to list the benefits to believers because of Jesus’ position at God’s right hand. 

Acts 2:23

Romans 8:34

Heb. 1:13

Heb. 2:14-15

b. How can you obey the command of verse 2?

5. Read verse 3.  What does it mean to have your life hidden with Christ in God?

6. What is the future promise given in verse 4?  How does this promise give you hope and motivation for godly living?

3:5-11: the old nature

7. What drastic action does Paul command believers to take against their earthly nature?  How is this accomplished?

8. a. Into what categories would you place the sins listed in verses 5, 8, and 9?

b. Which of these sinful practices/attitudes do you especially struggle with?  How can you put that area to death, as Paul commands?  (See end of study for a definition of these words.)

9. How is our new self (new nature) renewed?

10. a. What words in verse 11 describe:

national distinctions:

religious distinctions:

cultural distinctions:

economic/social distinctions:

b. Which of these distinctions are you using to judge others (including yourself) within the body of Christ, and how do you need to change to see other believers through the eyes of Jesus?

3:12-17: The new nature

11. Do you ever feel stuck in your attitudes and thinking as you try to overcome sin and your old nature?  How is “putting on” something new related to the act of first “putting off” the old?

12. Read verses 12-17.  What phrases describe our motivation to put on the attributes of godly character?  What in particular is motivating about each phrase?

13. Consider the list of godly attributes in verses 12-14.  Which of these will you ask God to enable you to put on?  (Be as specific as possible.)  What kind of cooperation will He require from you for this to be possible?  (Again, these words are defined at the end of this study.)

14. What are the characteristics of a person who is being renewed in the image of Christ?  (15-17)

Conclusion

15. How will you apply the lessons from this passage (3:1-17) to grow in your walk with Christ?

Fulness in Christ

Colossians 2:6-23

1.a. How did the Colossians receive Christ Jesus as Lord? (For review see 1:3-6)

b.How does one walk in Christ, just as they have received Him?

c. Can you think of reasons why you or another believer may stop growing in Christ?

Christ the Antidote to Human Philosophy (8-10)

2. a. Contrast the words Paul uses to describe human wisdom (8) with what Christians have been given in Christ (9-10).

b. What are some current examples of human wisdom, and how does it fall short of providing the answers people need today? 

3. How do the following verses aid your understanding of what it means to have been given fullness in Christ? 

John 1:16

Eph. 1:22-23

Eph. 3:17b-19

Eph. 4:11-13

Col. 1:19

Col. 1:25

Christ the Antidote to Jewish Legality (11-17)

4. a.What does circumcision symbolize for the believer?  (See also Rom. 2:29, Phil. 3:3)

b. What is the baptism Paul is referring to in this passage?  (See 1 Cor. 12:13.)  Explain your answer if possible.

c.  What was Paul trying teach the Colossians with this example about baptism and circumcision?

5. In verses 13-15, what verbs describe the actions God initiated on our behalf? 

b. Why were these actions necessary, and what did they accomplish?

6.a. What regulations were false teachers using to judge Colossian believers? (16)

b. By what “legalistic” standards can believers wrongly judge others today?

c. Why are human standards a poor judge of a person’s relationship with Christ?

Christ the Antidote to Oriental Mysticism (18-19)

7.a. In verses 18-19 Paul is countering mysticism taught by false teachers.  What did these false teachers claim?

b. What examples of mysticism do you see in the church today?  (Or in cults sometimes affiliated with the church?)

c. How does Paul describe such people in verses 18-19?

Christ the Antidote to Carnal Asceticism (20-23)

8. a. What other kinds of rules are being promoted, according to verses 20-21?

b. Why are these really not helpful but actually harmful?

c. Can you think of modern-day examples of such rules?

Conclusion

9. How many times can you find the phrases “in Christ” or “with Christ” used in this passage?  What do you learn from this?

10. How does this passage equip you to defend against false teaching?  Please indicate if something has specifically helped you.

*The divisions for this study were taken from H.A. Ironside’s commentary on Colossians.

Paul's Proclamation of Christ

I. Paul’s struggle in proclamation (1:24-27)

1.a. How does Paul describe his attitude and manner by which he is bringing the Word of God about Christ to the Colossian church?

b. How do God’s people “share in the afflictions of Christ”?  (See John 15:18-19, Rom. 8:36, and 2 Tim. 3:12 for examples)

c. In your opinion, can the gospel be advanced without some kind of suffering on the part of believers?  Why or why not? 

d. How can we rejoice in this suffering?  (See Acts 5:41 and 1 Peter 4:13-16)

2. a. “Mystery” is a truth that has been kept hidden but is now revealed.  In this passage the mystery Paul refers to was hidden in the OT but revealed by Christ before and especially after His death, resurrection, and ascension.  What is the mystery God has commissioned Paul to proclaim to the church?

b. Why was this a mystery in the OT?  How was it revealed by God in the NT?

3.What difference does it make to know Christ dwells in you?  How does this give you hope?

II. Paul’s method of proclamation (1:28-29)

4. How does Paul describe his method of proclaiming God’s truth about Christ?

b. What is Paul’s goal?  (Perfect in this passage means “complete” or “mature.”)

c. How will he accomplish this goal?

d. What does Paul’s example teach you about sharing Christ with others?

III. Paul’s purpose in proclamation (2:1-5)

5. For what purpose is Paul struggling in verses 2-3?

b. What was the condition of the church of Laodicea over 30 years later?  (See Rev. 3:14-22)  What warning do you receive from this knowledge?

c. Was Paul’s labor and struggle in vain?  (See 1 Cor. 15:58)  Explain.

d. How does this encourage you to press on when you don’t see results, whether in sharing the gospel with unbelievers or encouraging believers to live it?

6. a. Where are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden?  How does this compare to where people are looking for wisdom and knowledge today?

b. How will you point others to the knowledge of Christ?

7. What was Paul hoping to accomplish by presenting the truth of Christ to this church?  (See verse 4)

b. How does firm faith in Christ (5) guard our hearts and minds from deception?

c. As you survey our culture and world today, where do believers have to be especially on guard against deception? 

8. a. Go back over this passage one more time.  What is God’s purpose for believers, and how will He accomplish it?

b. How do your purposes line up with His?  What steps will you take to align yourself with God’s desire for His people?

The Supremacy of Christ

Colossians 1:15-23

1.Read verses 15-23.  What fills Paul’s mind in this passage?

2. How did Paul gain this knowledge of Christ?  (See 1 Cor. 2:10-12, 2 Cor. 12:1,7, Gal. 1:11-12, Col. 3:1-2.)

3. God has allowed the revelation of Jesus to be preserved for us through scripture, including the revelation He gave to Paul.  What practical steps can you take to fill your mind with the knowledge of Christ?

15-20: the person of Christ

4. Using the following scriptures as an aid, summarize the meaning of each truth about Jesus.  (Phrases used are according to the ESV.)

a. He is the image of the invisible God: (John 1:1,14; John 14:9, Heb. 1:3a)

b. the firstborn over all creation:

the significance of the firstborn—Ex. 13:2, 11-16

the right of the firstborn—Deut. 21:17

in relation to Christ—Ps. 89:27

in relation to time and creation—John 1:1-3

c. for by him all things were created… all things were created through him and for him…and in him all things hold together. (John 1:3, Heb. 1:2)

d. He is the head of the body, the church: (Eph. 1:22-23, 5:23-24)

e. He is the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead: (Rom. 1:4, 1 Cor. 15:20, Rev. 1:5)

f. that in everything He might be preeminent: (Ps. 2:6, Phil. 2:9-11, 1 Tim. 6:15, Rev. 19:16)

g. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell: (Col. 2:9)

h. through him to reconcile to himself all things: (2 Cor. 5:18-21, Rom. 5:10)

i. all things, whether on earth or in heaven

compare with Eph. 1:10

contrast with Phil. 2:10

things in heaven—see John 14:2

reconciliation of creation—see Rom. 8:19-22

j. making peace by the blood of his cross

5.a. How do these truths about Christ enlarge your understanding of who He is?

b. How should these truths make a difference in the life of a believer?  In the life of a church?

c. Take a few minutes and pray through these verses, praising Jesus for who He is.  If these verses seem like words on a page, ask Him to make them real and understandable to you, to take them from your head to your heart.

19-23: God’s purpose in Christ

6. According to 19-20, what 2 purposes accomplished in Christ gave God pleasure?

How are they related?

7. a. From verses 21-22, describe a Christian’s past, present, and future with Christ.

b. How does this put every believer on level ground before God and one another?

8. Where does alienation from God originate—in one’s behavior or in one’s mind?

9. What evidence will there be of a believer’s reconciliation to God through Christ (23)?

10. How would the truths about Jesus’ person (15-19) and God’s purpose in Him (19-23)  firmly ground the Colossians against false teaching? 

11. What will you do this week to demonstrate Jesus’ supremacy over your life?

A Passion for Christ and Love for the Saints

Colossians 1:1-14

A passion for Christ and love for the saints

1:1-2   Greeting

1.a. How does Paul identify himself to the Colossians in verse 1?

b. Recall Paul’s conversion experience from Acts 9:1-19, and recounted by him in Acts 22:3-16 and 26:12-19.  How did this encounter with Christ, along with Paul’s background and God-given gifts,  help shape and impassion his life and service after his conversion?

c.  Can you describe how your encounter with God’s grace has shaped the passion and purpose of your life?  How has He molded and prepared you to serve Him?

3. a. How does Paul describe the brothers in Colossae? 

b. How are these words both a description of their standing before God and their witness before men?

4. From Paul’s greeting, what had been given to this church by God?  How are these two things related?

1:3-8   Thanksgiving

5.a. How often did Paul seem to pray for the Colossian church?  (3,9)  What was his attitude in prayer?

b. For whom do you pray regularly?  What is your attitude toward God and others as you pray?

6. a. For what specific things about the Colossian church does Paul thank God?

b. From verse 5 and the references that follow, describe faith, hope, and love.  (See also Heb. 11:6, Rom. 5:5, 1 Cor. 13:13, 1 Thess. 1:3, 1 Peter 1:3,5,22)

c. How does your hope in the gospel cultivate your faith in Christ and love toward others?

7. Which words in this section describe the universality of the gospel?

b. Which words describe its practical results?

c. How does this give Christians confidence to share the gospel with others today?

8. What lessons about discipleship do you learn from Epaphras’ example?

1:9-14 Paul’s prayer

9. a. What is Paul’s specific prayer for the Colossians?  (9)

b. How does a person become filled with the knowledge of God’s will?

c. What practical steps will you take to know and apply God’s will to your life?

10. What are the results of the kind of prayer Paul prayed?  (10)

11. a. What characterizes a believer whose life is worthy of and pleasing to the Lord?  (10-12)

b.Which of these characteristics have you seen God develop in your life?  Which do you need to prayerfully ask God to grow in you?

c. How do you see these characteristics exhibited in the ministry of our church?  Where can we be praying for growth and maturation?

12. a. For whom will you commit to pray in this way? 

b. How have you seen God answer a similar prayer in your life or the life of someone you have prayed for?

13. What four things has God done for us through his Son (13-14)?  Briefly describe each in your own words.

14. How does Paul’s attitude and example in this passage (1-14) challenge or encourage you?

Overview of Colossians

Paul’s letter to the Colossians

Study One: An Overview of Colossians

Read through the letter of Colossians as many times as you have time and interest.  If you have more than one translation (ESV, NKJ, NASB, NIV, etc.) you can read it in more than one.  Check out http://www.biblegateway.com/ for online access to several translations.

Challenge yourself to read Colossians at least once each day for the next week if at all possible.  Before each reading, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you and listen for the things He is showing you.  Jot thoughts down.  Take your time…maybe do a question or two each day.  Initially, please answer questions from your study of scripture rather than from commentaries or study notes, but feel free to use additional sources when your own study is complete.  Since this first study is an overview, cite chapter and verse to support your answers as necessary.

1.a.Where was Paul when he wrote the letter of Colossians?  Had he ever been to Colossae?

b.  From whom did this church learn the gospel?  What information can you find about this individual throughout the book?

2. a. What seems to be the tone of this letter?  Is Paul encouraging the church?  Teaching? Warning?  Rebuking?  Etc.?  (He may be doing more than one of these…write chapter and verse where you see them.)

b. How would you describe the false teaching that had infiltrated the Colossian church?

c. What false teaching threatens the church today?  Are there any similarities?

3. a. What themes do you see repeated throughout the letter (look for similar phrases, words, ideas, etc.)?

b.After finding the themes, what would you say is the main message of the book?

c. How does this main message continue to impact the church today?

4.  If you could divide this letter into two sections, one doctrinal (teaching) and one practical (living out the truths taught), where would you put the divisions?  Can you summarize each division with a sentence?

5. Try to picture yourself as a member of the church in Colosse.  What thoughts or feelings might you have had in hearing this letter read for the first time?

6. Read this letter as a message from God to the believer. 

a. What do you learn about God’s character?

b. What is God’s purpose for His people?

c. How is He speaking to you specifically?  (What verses/ideas are jumping out at you?)

7. What are your goals for studying this book?  Jot them down and then consider the questions that follow.

How would internalizing the truth of Colossians:

1. Help you to grow in your relationship with God?  with others?

2. Help you to develop spiritual maturity?  Can you name at least one specific area?

3. Help you to become a more effective Christian?