Colossians Study Guide: Week 3

Daily Study Guide To Help You Grow In The Lord

Colossians

Week 3 – 10/31/10

Monday – Read Colossians 2:1-15

Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.

1. What do you think Paul means when he says “...as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him...”? How do you think they received Christ?

2. What two things does Paul say we should be as a result of our relationship with Christ, verse 7?

3. What does Paul say Christians should abound in, verse 7? Why?

4. What do you think Paul means when he says “See to it that no one takes you captive...”, verse 8?

5. What does Paul say about philosophy and empty deceit?

6. What point do you think Paul is making when he says that all the fullness of deity dwells in Christ, verse 9?

7. What does Paul state as Christ’s position, verse 10? What do you think that means?

8. What do you think Paul means when he says “...and you have been filled in Him..., verse 10?

9. Why do you think Paul brings up circumcision, verse 11?

10. Thought Question – Paul speaks of the possibility of Christians being led away from Christ through philosophy and empty deceit, verse 8. What would be some practical examples of philosophy or something deceitful that new Christians might accept to help their life?  

Prayer: Thank God for providing all you need in Christ.

Colossians Study Guide: Week 2

Daily Study Guide To Help You Grow In The Lord

Week 2 – 10/24/10

Colossians

Monday – Read the entire book of Colossians in one setting.

Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.

1. As you read this writing, what jumped out, stuck with you?

2. What questions about this writing and its teaching came to your mind?

Prayer: Thank God for all the men you know who work in teaching and preaching the Word.

Colossians Study Guide: Week 1

Daily Study Guide To Help You Grow In The Lord
Week 1 – 10/17/10

Colossians

Monday – Read the entire book of Colossians in one setting.

Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.

1. As you read this writing, what jumped out, stuck with you?

2. What questions about this writing and its teaching came to your mind?

Prayer: Thank God for Christ and His promise of providing for all your needs in Him.

Colossians: Introduction

The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Christians in the church in the city of Colossae around 60 A.D. This city was located in the southwest corner of Asia Minor in what was then the Roman province of Asia. The city was situated in the Lycus River Valley on the Lycus River. The city was about 12 miles south of the city of Laodicea and east of the city of Ephesus. It was located on the great road from Ephesus to the Euphrates and at one time was important because of the mercantile trade passing through the city. It was a prominent city during the Greek period but by Paul’s time it had lost much of its importance, perhaps because of the growth of the neighboring cities. Extremely detrimental to all the cities in the Lycus River Valley were the earthquakes that occasionally did severe damage. Shortly after Paul wrote this letter the entire Lycus Valley was devastated by an earthquake (about A.D. 61) and seems to have ended the occupation of this city.

It does not appear that Paul ever visited this city (Col.2:1). However, during Paul’s extended stay in Ephesus during his third preaching journey (54-58A.D.), it is likely that those who were the traveling companions of Paul took the gospel to that city as Paul said “...all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10). Paul and his companions worked throughout Asia, using Ephesus as a home base for a period of two years. Colossians 1:7 & 4:12 seen to indicate that it was Epaphras who took the Gospel to Colossae even though he was not listed among Paul’s traveling companion on the third preaching journey. Some suggest that he heard the Gospel from Paul, perhaps in Ephesus, and  returned to Colossae, his home to teach the good news of Jesus. Since Paul’s third preaching journey took place between 54 and 58 A.D., and the date of this writing in around 60 A.D., this church would have been very young in the faith, only a couple of years in existence at the time of this writing. Colossae, or the church in Colossae is not mentioned anywhere else in the New Testament except in the beginning of this letter to the church (Col. 1:2) which seems to support the belief that when the city was devastated by an earthquake about 61 A.D. the church no longer existed.

In this writing Paul calls Epaphras “our beloved fellow servant” (Col.1:7) and “one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus” (Col. 4:12). In Paul’s letter to Philemon he calls Epaphras “my fellow prisoner in Christ” (Philemon 1:23). This suggests that not only was Epaphras one of Paul’s co-workers and a faithful servant of the Lord, but was with Paul in prison when he wrote this letter. Some think he brought Paul information from the church and remained in Rome to serve Paul in prison.

This writing seems to paint a vivid picture of the struggle of new, baby Christians. First, they are new to the faith, therefore their knowledge of the faith is lacking so Paul says he is praying that they may “...be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord...(1:9-10). How to live this new life is a struggle for new Christians, especially when they do not yet have a full understand of all that God through Christ provides. Paul is concerned that they may be influenced, even taken captive by false teachers and attempt to strengthen their walk in Christ by trying to control the indulgences of the flesh by religious rituals and regulations (2:16-23). Paul informs these new Christians that these methods won’t work and it is only Christ who can strengthen them and give them a victorious Christian life (3:1-17). Paul tells them that love, the love of Christ, is the glue that brings and holds everything together in their new life in Christ. He counsels them about relationships, reminding them how to live in their earthly relationships, family, slave-master and the family of God, reminding them that Christ in their hearts is the secret to proper living in these relationships (3:15). He tells them that he has sent them someone to help them in their struggles, Tychicus and Onesimus (4: 7 & 9), and says he has given them instructions about receiving Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, if he comes their way (4:10). He counsels them to seek further instruction by reading the letter he sent to the church in Laodicea and asks them to let the church in Laodicea read his letter to them.

Christ is all sufficient. You don’t need anything else to live a life to the glory of God is the main point of this letter.

Daily Study Guide: Week 92

Psalms
Monday – Read Psalm 142 & 143

Psalm 142 – A Cry For Help In The Time Of Trouble

Psalm 143 – A Prayer For Deliverance And Guidance

Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.

1. What does the psalmist say is his present condition, verse 7? He is in some type of prison.

2. What is the psalmist crying out for? For deliverance from his persecutors, verse 6.

3. Why does the psalmist say he cries to God, verse 5? Because God is his refuge.

4. What is the psalmist confident of, verse 7? That God will deliver him and deal bountifully with him.

5. On what basis does the psalmist cry out to God, 143:2? On the basis that all men are sinners therefore God should not let his sin keep Him from responding.

6. What does the psalmist say encourages him to cry out to God, verse 5? Remembering the days of old and the past actions of God.

7. What is the psalmist asking God to do, verse 7? Deliver him quickly.

8. On what basis does the psalmist ask God to deliver him, verse 11? For God’s name sake.

9. What does this psalm say to you personally; how does it help you; what does it say to you about your relationship with God?

Prayer: Thank God for the confidence you can have in His deliverance because of His history of delivering His children in times of trouble.

Daily Study Guide: Week 91

Psalms                                                                         

Monday – Read Psalms 142 & 143

Psalm 142 – A Cry For Help In The Time Of Trouble

Psalm 143 – A Prayer For Deliverance And Guidance

Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.

1. What does the psalmist say is his present condition, verse 7?

2. What is the psalmist crying out for?

3. Why does the psalmist say he cries to God, verse 5?

4. What is the psalmist confident of, verse 7?

5. On what basis does the psalmist cry out to God, 143:2?

6. What does the psalmist say encourages him to cry out to God, verse 5?

7. What is the psalmist asking God to do, verse 7?

8. On what basis does the psalmist ask God to deliver him, verse 11?

9. What does this psalm say to you personally; how does it help you; what does it say to you about your relationship with God?

Prayer: Thank God for delivering you from sin.