Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 08

Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 08

  Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 11:58 AM    Unknown

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COLOSSIANS 4:2-18 (and review)
Ernie Lew | March 1, 2015

New Life in our speech (4:2-6) 
Paul encourages his readers to consider 4 ways to approach the given instructions and lessons he has taught to this church through his letter to them. In closing, he encourages the church to take all that Christ means to them to others in speech. Here are the four methods:

PRAY v.2 - Speak to God
1. Devoted – always be praying, not just once, constant, persistent, persevere
2. Attitude of thanksgiving

PROCLAIM v.3-4 – Speak out  
1. Open opportunity – take action, find a way to connect, be courageous when doors open
2. Be clear in speech – know what you’re saying, have a clear message (Gospel)

PERFORM v.5 – Speak through actions/example
1. “Conduct yourselves with wisdom to outsiders” – live out what you say, be a good example
2. “Make most of opportunity” – live with urgency and haste that Christ will return soon. Should
change the way you live, act, and share. Eternal perspective.

(HAVE) PURPOSE v.5-6 – Speak to edify (salt)
1. “In grace” – wholesome, sensitive, purposeful, gentle, truthful.
2. “Seasoned with salt” – Whether speaking to or giving an answer, let your speech be filled
with purpose, usefulness. Use your words wisely with one another.


Paul’s Team (4:7-18)

Tychicus – Paul’s aide

• Substitute pastor for Titus (Titus 3:12) and Timothy (2 Tim 4:12)
• Entrusted to carry three letters to the churches

Onesimus

• Most likely the runaway slave written about in Philemon
• Met Paul in Rome and was converted.  Is returning to his master, Philemon, after conversion.

John Mark

• Initial failure when he abandoned Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5).  Paul refused to take him on the second journey causing a split between Paul and Barnabas.  Mark redeems himself and Paul changes his mind about him and sees him as useful, afterall (2 Tim 4:11).  He goes on to write gospel of Mark.

Demas

• In this letter he is seen in a favorable light, but would eventually desert Paul (2 Tim 4:9-10)

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Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 07

Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 07

  Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 10:40 AM    Unknown

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COLOSSIANS 3:18-25 
Darren Lo | February 22, 2015

Take a moment and think about the people in your life who are closest to you. They should include your immediate family, cousins, significant others, friends, and roommates. They can be Christian or non-Christian, close in proximity or far away. Create a list of 10-15 people.


As we continue our study of Colossians, we’re going to look at specific relationships that Paul writes to the church. Read Colossians 3:18-25 first. Then compare this passage to a parallel in Ephesians 5:22-6:9. Take notice of the similarities and differences, there are quite a few.

In each of these listed relationships, there existed a cultural understanding that their society had deemed “acceptable.” Although we may not hold to these social norms today, the church faced this accepted mentality in the midst of Paul’s challenge to gain a new perspective. Here is an outline of the relationship Paul refers to and their culturally accepted backgrounds:

A. Wife to husband – wife must submit to absolute authority to husband. Viewed as the sole property of the husband.

B. Husband to wife – husband regarded household as property and a business relationship. Dictated and lead family for the most profitability.

C. Children to parents – children were father’s property. Considered as slaves with expected obedience to parents.

D. Parents to children – parents could punish harshly—physically and shamefully

E. Slaves to masters – slaves were considered worthless and without morals. Lived without respect from society.

F. Masters to slaves – masters given authority to treat slaves as property and in demeaning relationships. Used slaves solely for profit.


Now using both passages take a moment and answer each of the following questions based on each described relationship:
1. Describe the kind of love Paul describes between the relationships.
2. How did Paul change the socially accepted relationship with this description of love?
3. How did Jesus Christ live out this kind of love? Find an actual situation that He practiced it.

Use this chart (printable PDF) to fill out the background, kind of love, the change, and Christ’s example:

CONCLUSION/APPLICATION
Our study of Colossians has brought us close to the end of his letter to the church of Colossae. Here, Paul wants to begin to apply Christ’s supremacy in the actions of the people in the church toward those closest to them. He challenges them to understand a new kind of loving relationship that both includes the cultural norms, but also flips it to the sole authority of Jesus Christ. He doesn't challenge the ending of these relationships, but to have a new presence in them based on Jesus Christ.

Recall the list you wrote down above of the 10-15 people closest to you. Think about each one of those people individually. How you could love them differently based on the types of love described in your chart and what Paul challenges us with. Although Paul distinctly lists specific relationships, we can practice any types of these loves to those that may need it the most.

• Who do you need to show a submissive/humble kind of love to?
• Who needs a self-sacrificial love?
• Who needs to experience an obedient kind of love from you?
• Who needs to be loved by God’s truth and instruction? Perhaps in correction?
• Who needs a sincere, genuine love that is from God? 
• Who needs to be shown love through justice and grace? Maybe to those especially difficult to love?

Lastly, think about people NOT on your list. Maybe someone who used to be close to you and no longer is. Maybe it is someone who is an enemy or an acquaintance. Perhaps its even a stranger that God leads you to that needs to be shown love. How can you show them a love listed above? Take a moment and think about names God is leading you towards.










Answer key.

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Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 06

Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 06

  Friday, February 27, 2015 at 6:37 PM    Unknown

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COLOSSIANS 3:1-4
Kevin Chan, Ph.D. | February 8, 2015

 Here is the article I read in class:

1. Read through the passage and note your observations or questions.  Here are some of mine:
“Therefore” – relates to previous passage and context
“with Christ, “where Christ”, “with Christ”, “when Christ”, “with Him”, “have been raised up”, “have died” -> past tense
contrasts – “things above” vs. “things that on earth”, “hidden” vs. “revealed”
cultural phrase – “seated at the right hand of God”

2. What are believers encouraged to do?
“keep seeking the things above” -  To continually pursue, Matt. 6:33
“set your minds on the things above” – To intentionally think, inner disposition, Phil. 4:8

3. What are the “things above?”  What are the “things that are on earth?”
“things above” – realities of heaven, holy, eternal, Christ-centered, values, aspirations, hope, Gospel, God’s promises, God’s presence -> spiritual values that characterize Christ
“things on earth” – earthly, temporal, worldly, ungodly, worries, self-sufficiency

4. List the reasons why believers can seek the things above and their significance.
SAVED BY GRACE – “WE HAVE A HEAVENLY RESERVATION IN ETERNITY”
  “you have been raised up with Christ” – positional, reality of a resurrected new life, Col 2:12
  “you have died” – put aside the values, desires, principles and system of the world, Col 2:20
  “Christ is seated at the right hand of God” – authority, place of honor, exalted position,
power, supremacy, sufficiency, Ps. 110:1, Luke 22:69, Acts 2:33, Acts 7:56, Eph. 1:20
SECURED FOR GLORY – “WE HAVE A GLORIOUS REALITY TO COME”
  “hidden with Christ in God” – with Christ, glorious reality to be fully revealed 1Jn. 3:2,
secured in Christ, assurance of promise, Rom. 8:31-39

5. How are these a direct response to the different false teachings of the previous passage?
Is Paul advocating escapism or another form of dualism (i.e. body is bad, spirit is good)?
    Not legalism (i.e. religion of human achievement/standards), mysticism (i.e. pursuit of a
    deeper or higher subjective religious experience), asceticism (i.e. life of rigorous self-denial)

    Not self-made, self-earned earthly religion
    Salvation is by grace alone.  We don’t deserve or can earn the salvation.
    Only through the work of Jesus Christ who is our supreme and all-sufficient Savior.

    Not escapism (i.e. habitual diversion of the mind to purely imaginative activity or
    entertainment as an escape from reality or routine) or dualism.  Rather, living in Christ
    addresses real matters believers face in this world.    Through Christ, we can view things,
    people and events of this world with an eternal perspective.  The most realistic faith!

6. How can you seek the “things above?”  What difference would it make in your life.
  “Keep seeking” – continual action through prayer [Phil. 4:4-7, Matt. 6:33-34]
  “Set your mind” – intentionally thinking, inner disposition about the Gospel [Phil. 4:8-9]
  Ask the right “heavenly-” or “kingdom-oriented” questions [Matt. 6:33-34]

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Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 05

Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 05

  Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 6:36 PM    Unknown

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COLOSSIANS 2:16-23
Spencer Sun | February 1, 2015

Opening Question:
List out 10 qualities of what an "ideal" Christian looks like in college.  What does he/she do on a regular basis?  What does he/she look or dress like?

A word that sticks out in the passage is 'self-abasement'.  Colossians 3:12 helps define it as false humility (NIV) or asceticism (ESV).

Across each piece of the passage, we will seek to answer these three questions:
What teaching was Paul warning against?
What were the original intentions of the teachers?
Why did Paul warn against this teaching?

Colossians 2:16-17 - Legalism
Legalism is defined as the overly strict or rigid adherence to the law, or to a religious or moral code.   Paul was warning against rites, traditions and rituals borrowed from and steeped in Jewish law.  There was also possibility of pagan laws or even a mixture of all things mentioned which placed their own man-made rules on the same level as God's laws.  For instance, Pharisees were judging the disciples because they were picking grain to eat on the Sabbath and because they did not wash their hands before they ate bread (Matthew 12).  There were also questions regarding the importance of circumcision in the Corinthian and Galatian churches.  Although these traditions and rules were originally created with good intentions, the Pharisees took it to an extreme by following them to the tee.

One commentary says that "their false humility, revealed by self-abasement and self-denial, came from observances of rituals and regulations that had no bearing on salvation.  This sort of humility was self-absorbing and self-gratifying, a kind of pretentious piety.

Ask yourself, does FCBC LA practice certain "traditions" without meaning?

However, this does NOT mean you should NOT be doing these things.  Just be sure that you don't develop a sense of piety, a judgmental nature or feel that you are "more spiritual" than others for doing these practices.  We do have the liberty to do the things that are taboo in our church (party, alcohol, etc.), but we should keep in mind that we should restrain ourselves to protect our weaker younger brothers/sisters in Christ.

Colossians 2:18-19 - Mysticism
Mysticism is defined as the belief in direct experience of transcendent reality or God, especially by means of contemplation and asceticism instead of rational thought.  Paul was warning against using intermediaries as a way to get to God.  He also warned against the used of good-luck charms, conjuring angels to ward off evil spirits and fascination of spiritual things other than God (like angels).  People back then would try to do things like fast for several days in order have an out-of-body experience, a vision or a "high" of sorts.  They would hope these extreme acts would give them a special revelation.  They partook in these activities in hopes to grow in God and in their faith.

Although these acts of mysticism aren't in themselves bad things, it was the fact that they forced themselves to do them in hopes for change.  Think of forcing yourself to speak in tongues when you have no idea what you are doing (or saying).

Colossians 2:20-23 - Asceticism
Asceticism is defined as severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.

"Asceticism might make a person appear spiritual, because of its emphasis on humilty and poverty, but it serves only to gratify the flesh.  It is a vain attempt to appear more holy than others." (Matthew 6:16-18)
-John MacArthur

The idea of self-denial included selling everything to be poor, extreme fasting of food, human contact, sex or "worldly living" in order to have visions or feelings of transcendence.  The underlying theme of why the Colossian church was partaking in these things was pride.  They wanted to be "more spiritual".

Good intentions gone wild (If anything, remember these things!):
Standards gone wild is Legalism
Spirituality gone wild is Mysticism
Self-denial gone wild is Asceticism

Refer to the list of qualities of an "ideal" Christian that you made earlier.  Do you consider someone more "spiritual" it they did the things you mentioned?  Do you carry for yourself and others a spiritual checklist?  How do the things listed match up to your stances on worship, the elements in a worship service, how we pray, how we practice the Lord's Supper and baptism, how dress, dating, marriage and fraternities/sororities.

It's important to remember that Jesus is the substance and the real thing.  Jesus is the head, as it is reiterated in 2:10.  Jesus is the vine and we are the branches (John 15:5).

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Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 04

Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 04

  Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 3:04 PM    Unknown

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COLOSSIANS 2:6-15
Joshua Yuan | January 25, 2015

Opening Question: What is a myth, weird tradition or false teaching that you have been taught that you once believed to be true for some reason?

Take some time to read over the passage, underlining words or phrases that don't make sense to you.

Let's compare notes. This is what I underlined:



"so walk in Him" & "being built up in Him" & "overflowing with gratitude"
In 2:6-7 the audience is urged to make their conduct reflective of the world in which they now dwell; by continuing to be rooted and built up in Christ.

In these verses Paul tells the Colossians to continue in Christ in the same way as they had always done, and when they first believed. This is faith in Jesus as an all-sufficient Savior, without any dependence on human's effort and works.

He tells them that they must be 'rooted' in such faith. The analogy being that plants that aren't deeply rooted into the ground are easily swayed or knocked over by natural elements. Thus, the same will happen to us if our roots are shallow.

He tells them to build up their Christian life in faith. That's the only way they can be strengthened, and know overflowing thankfulness.

Paul encourages the Colossians to keep discovering the hidden depths of knowing Christ so that their attention isn’t diverted from developing a deeper relationship with him (vs 6,7).


"takes you captive"
The brunt of the negative arguments are in this verse (negative warnings or commands).

In this verse Paul warns the Colossians against the teachers that had come in who were suggesting that their faith in Christ needed to have additions to become perfect.

Their faith was being derived from earthly or human wisdom, rather than godly wisdom.

These teachers were know as Gnostics, or people who combine ideas from different religions, philosophies, traditions..

(not to be confused with Agnostics). An extreme example would be mixing the concept of karma and grace as reasoning behind the fortune or luck we receive. A more understandable example may be assuming that doing well in school will lead to God blessing us. Although we are called to be good stewards, this isn't necessarily the case. For the time of the Colossians, these Gnostics believed that Jesus only appeared to have a human form but He was actually spirit only or that His divine spirit came upon his human body at baptism and departed before the crucifixion (Rather than Jesus being fully man and fully God).

"all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form"
In these verses Paul seeks to show that in Christ and faith in Him there is everything, and it needs no additions. In Christ there is the fullness of God. Christ is the head of the Church and his authority is the only authority. His authority is the Bible.

Circumcision is used by Paul as a reference to the new birth and new life which comes through faith in Christ. This new birth is the death of the 'sinful nature'. This not an outward action but the operation of God in our soul. It is achieved by the believer being united to Christ, so that sinful nature is put to death with Christ on the cross. So a new nature was given to us because we are raised to new life in the resurrection of Jesus. This was achieved not by human effort, but by the power of God.

"circumcision" & "buried with Him in baptism" & "dead in your transgressions" & "the certificate of debt" & "nailed it to the cross"
In 2:11-15 the author uses the imagery of circumcision and the actual rite of baptism to describe our former and current lives. All who were baptized experienced a type of circumcision in that they were established as God’s people and transferred out of the realm where sin enslaves our existence. By depicting this as the circumcision of Christ it highlights that Christ is our new reality and identity.

God eliminated our former sinful nature and made us alive by forgiving us. Thus God expunged the heavenly record of our sinfulness by nailing it to the cross. God also disarmed human and cosmic rulers and powers. In a closing he draws on imagery from a Roman triumph in which the defeated imperial enemies are publicly paraded to demonstrate their defeat and disgrace as well as the power and honor of the Roman military. Ironically this grand, sweeping divine victory over the rulers and powers occurred in Christ’s crucifixion.

Paul reminds us we have new life in Christ. Through what happened on the cross when Jesus died and then rose, every barrier that keeps us from a meaningful relationship with Christ has been removed.

"triumphed over them through Him"
In these verses Paul describes the whole nature of Christian salvation in Christ.

Before we are saved through faith in Christ we are dead in our sins. We sin because we have a sinful nature, and therefore the life of God is not in us, and we are children of wrath under the wrath of God. When we believed and were saved from this condition it was God working. God made us alive with Christ.

Then Paul shows how God has done this, and made it possible. Our sins are the problem. They have to be cancelled, otherwise he must punish the sinner. We are condemned to everlasting death. Our sins are cancelled by the cross. God nailed the sins to the cross.

This means that all the condemnation was placed on Jesus on the cross. Jesus took all the punishment for sin which we deserve. By this, sin loses all its power. Satan loses his power to hold the sinner. God's wrath is turned away from the sinner. So the cross was a spectacle of triumph. So through faith in Christ we are saved.

To tie back to the Question... Obviously some things that you were taught or learned of are silly and none of them would potentially lead you to fall from faith. And some of those things we grew up hearing don't matter if we did them anyway (eating watermelon seeds, storing batteries in a refrigerator or not finishing all of your food). Those said myths or traditions could be easily believed until we researched or found out for ourselves. Sometimes in life, we hear something it sounds right or okay, and we kind of end of believing it. In some cases, we listen more to the person, rather than the facts they are saying. With that said, be careful. Don't believe everything you hear, take the time to match it to scripture on your own. I'm not saying to assume everything as heresy, but it's a good way to go about learning in general.

Application (If anything, remember these verse summaries!):
1. Don't let anyone deceive you (v.6-8)
2. Don't let anyone take Christ's place (v.9-13)
3. Don't let anyone cause you to deny Him (v.14-15)

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Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 03

Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 03

  Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 3:03 PM    Unknown

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COLOSSIANS 1:24 - 2:5
Danny Orh | January 18, 2015

Opening Question: What does it mean to be a church minister?


Take some time to read over the passage, underlining words or phrases that don't make sense to you.



Let's compare notes.  This is what I underlined:

"rejoice in my sufferings for your sake"
Joy is independent of circumstances, Paul is currently in imprisonment, and the early church considered it a privilege to suffer for the name of Christ.  Acts 5:41 says  the apostles “went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.”  Suffering brings believers closer to Christ – “That I may known Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings” – Phil. 3:10
Suffering in the cause of Christ yields the fruit of better understanding of what Jesus went through in His suffering.  Suffering (for Christ) assures the believer that he belongs to Christ.

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you” – John 15:18
“Indeed all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” – 2 Tim 3:12

"in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions"
What does it mean to fill up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions?  Does it mean that Christ's suffering was not enough?

"I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God"
Paul viewed his ministry as a stewardship from God, meaning that Paul sought no glory for himself. Instead, he wanted to be regarded as a servant of God.  Paul's firm sense of his divine call is demonstrated in 1 Cor. 9:16-17, “If I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.”
This stewardship, contrary to much popular teaching today, is not intended for our own edification, but to help us minister to others, since this stewardship was “bestowed on [Paul] for your benefit.”

"fully carry out the preaching of the word of God"
What does it mean to fully carry out the preaching of the word of God?  Paul saw that to fulfill his ministry, he was to fully carry out the preaching of the word of God.  ESV says “make the word of God fully known”.  Paul dedicated his life to declaring the whole purpose of God, to make the gospel known throughout the world.  As a minister of God, you must preach the Word. When does someone fully carry out God’s preaching? When does someone make the word of God fully known?  You must keep preaching the word of God.

"the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations"
There is something that has been kept from people before that time, namely, the Old Testament era and people.

"has now been manifested to His saints"
The truth that was hidden to people before is now revealed to believers in the New Testament era.

"riches of the glory of this mystery" & "Christ in you, the hope of glory"
This mystery is Christ in us. The mystery is that Christ is the Messiah.  The mystery is that Christ, the Messiah, did not reign in a new temple on earth, but is reigning in us. This Old Testament predicted the coming of the Messiah, but had a different idea in mind how that would develop. Christ in us is our hope of gory, and what that means is that His presence is the anchor of the promise of heaven. The hope of eternal glory dwells within us.

"admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom"
Admonition - Encouraging counsel in view of sin and coming punishment
Teaching – imparting truth
Wisdom – admonition and truth exercised with practical discernment

"present every man complete in Christ"
What does being “complete in Christ” mean?  Being “complete in Christ” is to be like Christ, but how Christ-like are we?  Paul’s view of ministry is that we would all be made more and more Christ-like.  Not only that, but it is his ministry, his job, that is to admonish and teach every man with all wisdom, so that we may preset every man complete in Christ.  Now that is a high standard.

"striving according to His power, which mightily works within me."
Paul is saying that he labors and strives because of what he said before.  Paul is working hard and giving his maximum effort.  But this effort is useless apart from God’s power in his life. God gave Paul the strength to work hard at his ministry

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live , but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself for me.” – Gal 2:20

"how great a struggle I have"
Paul loves the church so much that he struggles for the church to meet ministry goals.

"their hearts may be encouraged"
How do you encourage one’s heart? Is it about feeling and emotion?  When the mind is filled with biblical truth, emotions will respond properly.

"knit together in love" & "attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding"
There is some sort of wealth that comes from full assurance, and without this assurance, believers cannot enjoy these blessings. But what are the blessings?

"true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,"
This is the wealth that comes from full assurance of understanding -  Christ Himself!  Christ is the true knowledge of God’s mystery.

"all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge"
In Christ Himself the hidden God was manifested to mankind. In that sense, He is God’s mystery.


From his letter, We see Paul’s heart for ministry and his Job Description for a minister:

- Able to rejoice in suffering
- Understands the ministry is a stewardship from God
- Fully carries out the preaching of the word of God
- Admonishes every man with all wisdom
- Teaches every man with all wisdom
- Presents every man complete in Christ
- Labors and strives to complete God’s work
- Demonstrates love for the church.

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Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 02

Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 02

  Monday, February 2, 2015 at 3:01 PM    Unknown

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COLOSSIANS 1:15 - 23
Carl Sujo | January 11, 2015

Opening Question:
Some of you are applying for full time jobs or summer internships.  What are some things you would put on your resume to make people want to consider hiring you?
Education, Major, GPA, work experience, work related skills, Degrees, Certifications, Publications, Personal Interests?


A. (v 15-17) Christ is the supreme creator God

1. In v.15, what does it mean that Jesus is the...

“image of the invisible God”? 
Many believe that God was spirit and couldn’t be seen so Christ couldn’t be God.  But Christ is the exact visible expression of the invisible God (Eikon image).

“firstborn…”?
In this case it means less of birth order but more related to the rights to the heir of the Father.

2. How does v.16 explain Christ relates to creation?
The verse uses phrases “For by Him”, “through Him”, and “for Him”: this shows that He is the central figure in the matter of creation. He is the source of the idea of creation(visionary), instrument of creation(creator), and entire reason for creation(beneficiary or owner).  The phrases “heavens and on earth”, “visible and invisible”, “thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” explain “all things”.  It covers the spiritual realm and the physical realm.  (Commentaries’ believe those are considered ranks among angelic beings.)  This refutes claims that Christ was just a man or at the level of angels.

3. In v.17 what does it mean that...

“He is before all things”? 
Like firstborn, it is a statement of position, or His precedence over
all things in terms of time and status.

“in Him all things hold together”? 
He is like a divine glue or spiritual gravity that holds creation together.  God did not just simply start things off and then withdrew from His creation(Deism), Christ continues to sustain the whole universe.  The verb “hold together”(synistemi) can imply that they have their existence in Him.  Christ is more than the force that preserves the orderly arrangement of the cosmos; He is its rationale, its rhyme and reason.  He is the basic operating principle controlling existence.  Everything and everyone is dependent on Him.

4. Why could this be important for the Colossians to hear? 
Perhaps some didn’t see Christ’s deity or thought He was at the level of an angel or a created being.  This is the heresy of “Depreciation of Christ”.

B. (v 18-20) Christ is the supreme savior

5. In v.18 what does it mean that “He is the head…”? 
This figure of speech is primarily “source: in Greek (like the head of a river).  Just as the head of a body supplies life and manages the body, so Christ is the source and origin of the church’s life.  Because “head” means “source,” it implies honor and authority.  The terms “beginning”, “firstborn”, “first place” all point to His preeminence in the church and all spiritual matters.

6. In v.19 how does Paul use “fullness”?  
God’s completeness or totality live permanently in Christ.  Paul wanted to explain that Christ is God’s dwelling place; therefore, Christ is divine, sovereign, and preeminent.  By this statement, Paul was refuting the Greek idea that Jesus could not be human and divine at the same time.  Christ is fully human; He is also fully divine.  Nor is there more than one God; one God, in all His fullness, resides in Christ.

7. In v.20 what does it mean that He “reconcile all things to Himself”?  
Reconciliation mean reestablishing a relationship, or causing the relationship to be friendly or peaceable.  The terms “through Him”X2 and “through the blood of His cross” all point to Him being the initiator, instigator, and the one did all that was necessary, by shedding His blood and dying on the cross, to reconcile all created things(earthy and heavenly) to Him.

8. Why could this be important for the Colossians to hear?  
Perhaps there was confusion of how Christ and God were related.  And perhaps confusion of what Christ actually did on the cross other than just die.  Christ = God.  Christ reconciled everything on the cross.

C. (v 21-23) Christ is my complete salvation

9. Diagram v 21-22

10. In v 23, is Paul stating that v 21 -22 are conditional?  Is it possible to lose your salvation?
There is a conditional tone to the verse about whether or not you continue in the faith.  Theologians have argued about whether or not you can lose your salvation.  One side argues that a person, once justified who falls away in sin is no longer forgiven and loses their salvation.  The other side argues that that person was never truly saved to begin with.  In either way you believe, the person is doomed and not saved.  The key is that we continue living in the faith established and steadfast, and continue in the hope of the gospel.

11. Why could this be important for the Colossians to hear?  
Perhaps some were falling away from the faith.  Maybe some facing persecution and losing hope in the gospel.

D. Application
The Colossians may not have held Christ in status He truly is and put other gods before Him.  What do we, as a society, church, or personally, put at the same level of importance or greater importance than Christ?  Getting a good education.  Exercise and eat right to have good health.  Do things that makes you happy.  Family first.  Love others and love yourself.  Be true to yourself.  Good reputation. Money can buy anything.  Our view on things should change from “Christ is a part of our lives”(self centered) to “we are a part of Christ’s plans”(Christ centered).  It should lead us to true worship and love of Christ.  If we appear at heaven’s gate before Peter and he asks for our resume to enter, our resume should be all about who Jesus is and what He did on the cross for our sins.  Do you think you are at risk of losing your faith in Christ?  Is what you are experiencing in school, job, family, in the world causing you to have doubts about Christ?  Don’t give up hope.  Don’t just walk away.  Reach out to a counsellor or your pastor.  Pray to Him to renew your faith and give you hope.

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Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 01

Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 01

  Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 6:29 PM    Unknown

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INTRODUCTION TO COLOSSIANS
Kevin Chan, Ph.D. | January 4, 2015

Key Theme: Since Christ is our Supreme and All-Sufficient Savior, Everything we need is in Him.

Key Verses: Colossians 2:9-10a, Colossians 3:11



The Purpose of the Letter (Colossians 1:1-4:18) - CHRIST IS ALL, AND IN ALL

1. How are the writer and recipient described?  What is their relationship to each other?
Paul is described as an apostle of Jesus Christ by will of God and a house prisoner n Rome.  The church of Colossae (the recipient) is described as saints and faithful brethren in Christ.  Colossae was the smallest of 3 cities in an area of Asia minor - Laodicea and Heiraopolis.

2. What is the tone and style of the letter?  How does the letter read to you?
The letter starts upbeat with thanksgivings being said. The tone is one that would come from a big brother or counselor figure.  That is, it is not rebuking, but instructive and encouraging.  The letter continues to read in a logical progression, issuing warnings where needed while being theological, doctrinal and direct.

3. What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing the church?
Strengths: Fruit bearing, increasing in faith, love in the Spirit, Unity, small, growing
Weaknesses: Not founded by Paul, young, not yet strongly persecuted, joyless, uncertain, confused, feeling inferior or inadequate, low confidence
Opportunities: Bearing fruit and spiritual maturity, impact on relationships and community
Threats: False teachings and philosophies, mysticism, legalism, asceticism, syncretism


4. Identify keywords, subthemes, sections and main theme.  What is the letter's purpose?
in Christ (5x), in Him (7x), by Him (1x), through Him (5x), with Him (4x), Christ (25x), Jesus (6x), faithful (9x), love (5x), God (21x), wisdom, knowledge (10x)

Subthemes: What to know, How to live, Supremacy, Sufficiency, Superiority, and Centrality of Christ

Purpose: To encourage and correct Colossians on the Centrality of Christ.

The Prayer of the Letter (Colossians 1:3-14) - DO WE PRAY FOR THESE THINGS?

1. Thanksgiving, v.3-8

Why does Paul give thanks to God?  What reason(s) does he give?
Because the Colossians received the gospel and showed evidence of their faith, love, fruit bearing, maturity and unity.

How should Paul's thanksgiving affect his readers and why?
His thanksgivings should encourage them.  They have a good and proper foundation as they are firmly rooted and being built up.  Their faith is not in error nor is it insufficient.

2. Request, v.9-14 [cf. Ephesians 1:17]

What is Paul's specific prayer request for?  What does this mean?  How is it attained?
That they may be filled (completely, or completely controlled) with the true knowledge of God's will (His desires, intentions, commands) in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (through God's word and the Holy Spirit).

List the outcomes of Paul's request.  Are these in your life? 
Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, Bearing fruit, Increasing in the knowledge of God, Strengthened with power, Attain joyous steadfastness and patience.


CHALLENGE - PRAY PAUL'S PRAYER ONCE A WEEK, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE LEADER

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Passage: A Study of Colossians

Passage: A Study of Colossians

  Friday, December 26, 2014 at 9:52 PM    Darren Lo

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DON'T FORGET! There is NO Passage Sunday, 12/28 due to Flight Retreat. See you all 1/4 for our NEW curriculum:

This coming Winter Quarter, we will be introducing a NEW curriculum in Passage: A Study of Colossians. Here's a brief:

In a time when it is growing increasingly difficult to be devoted to Christ, the book of Colossians remains relevant by addressing the superiority of Christ over all human philosophies and traditions, including the ones we hear about today. This book exalts Jesus Christ as the Preeminent One and proclaims His supremacy over all things. As Paul writes these truths, he reminds believers, who have been raised with Christ, the right way of living so that we would be ready to defend sound doctrine and be able to identify false teachers. We are reminded to "walk in Christ", so that we would not be taken captive by philosophies and empty deceit. As believers, it is easy to live our lives short-sightedly and be caught up in early matters, but Paul reminds us  to "put to death therefore what is earthly in you" if indeed we have been raised with Christ. Let us make Christ the center of our lives and allow Him to guide us with His word on how we are to live in this world today.

Come join us on Sundays at 8:45am (refreshments served first) and we'll begin the lesson promptly at 9:00am. Also, follow along on the blog for weekly synopses.

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