Meeting# 7| This Week’s Leader: David Goodno
Colossians has four main points:
Christ is God – Jesus is God in human form.
Christ is the Head of the Church – Jesus is the highest authority and first in our lives.
Union with Christ – We are reconciled with God through Jesus.
Warning against false teaching – Jesus is our hope and source of wisdom.
Introduction: This is the seventh meeting of the Fall Semester. The Men’s “Called” Growth Group’s meets weekly 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm every Wednesdays through November 13, 2024 (11/13/2024).
Everyone is welcome to join; you do not have to have been at a previous meeting to attend.
This part of the semester, The Called Men’s Group is conducting a Bible study of the Book of Colossians.
The Book of Colossians is a book of connections, we are connected to God the Father through Jesus. And we are connected to Jesus through His sacrifice and our faith in His resurrection. We are called to be connected to Christ in order to have a restored relationship with God the Father and have eternal life.
Paul was writing from Rome while in prison and was writing the letter to warn the Colossian Church against false teachings infiltrating the Church. The problem was ideas from other philosophies and religions; like paganism, Judaism, and Greek philosophies and mythologies being combined with Christian beliefs. “Gnosticism” emphasized secret hidden knowledge. The Gnostics believed that salvation was achieved with knowledge, especially the pursuit of hidden esoteric knowledge. Many Biblical Scholars believe that Christians in the Colossian Church were being tempted to combine their Christian faith with these false cultural beliefs. Special hidden knowledge that pulls us away from God has been tempting us throughout all of time. Paul was reminding those who read his letter, to know that Jesus was both fully God and fully man (human), who purchased our salvation with the payment of His life.
In this past Sunday’s sermon, Candace challenged us to continue the 16-day worship challenge. Did anyone take up the challenge? - How did you do? Discuss among the group.
This Week’s Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you for allowing us to come together and study your word tonight. Lord, we thank you for giving us a new life with your only son, Jesus. We are grateful for His sacrifice, help us acknowledge your forgiveness, to grow our faith, and bear good fruit. – Amen
Reminder: If any of us says “God can forgive me, but I cannot forgive myself” – that is an incorrect belief, and places you in a position above God. When you are forgiven; you are forgiven. Agree / Disagree, discuss among the group.
Scripture: Read Colossians Chapter 3:1 – 25
Observation, Application & Questions: (Identify/Discuss Among the Group)
In Chapter 3, Paul explains true Christian behavior – putting on the new nature that comes with acceptance of Christ, and how we should change our moral and ethical behavior by letting Christ live within us. Jesus shapes us into what we should be.
Agree/Disagree, discuss among the group.
“For you died to this life” means that we should lose our desire for worldly pleasures. Christ lives within us, and provides a different perspective to our lives here on earth. “Think about the things of heaven” means to look at life from God’s perspective and to seek what he desires. Following Christ means loving and serving in this world, regarding the world around us as God does; then we will live in harmony with Him.
Agree/Disagree, discuss among the group.
Lying disrupts unity and destroys trust. Lying can tear down relationships and leads to serious conflict in both our personal relationships, and within the church.
Discuss among the group.
To put on our new nature, means that our conduct should match our faith. To be Christina means more than just having good intentions; it means taking the right actions. The more we know Christ, the more we are being changed to be like him. We must never stop learning and obeying.
Discuss among the group.
The relationship between husbands, wives, parents and children are ordained by God from creation. Which is why Paul’s instructions on marriage represent the perfect will of God. Servitude practiced in Paul’s time were often not in keeping with God’s will, which is why Paul gives speaks directly to slaves/bondservants and masters, which would have been common for Colossae and other cities in ancient times. We can apply Paul’s message today, as employee - employer relationships.
Agree/Disagree, discuss among the group.
The words “submission” and “obedience” are powerful; they can cause harm when we misuse them to control others. Jesus is the perfect model of both leader and submission – though both equal with God, Jesus gave His life for us. Anyone in a position of leadership, or someone who has a circle of influence, we must imitate Him by lovingly providing for those under our care. And just as Jesus humbled Himself and obeyed God, we must too, submit to those in positions of authority, unless they instruct us to do something wrong or harmful.
Agree/Disagree, discuss among the group.
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What does it mean to “forget the past” – what does it mean to “look forward to what lies ahead”? – Discuss.
In what ways do we need to get more serious about Christian life? Are there any areas needing disciplined? if you are willing, share with the group.
Why do we sometimes forget all the progress we have made and fall away from Christian beliefs? - Discuss
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What was the context? What was going on at the time this was written?
What and where is this happening?
What makes what was happening meaningful?
Is there anything special about the location (or locations)?
Who is involved?
How do they respond to God?
What character traits do you notice about them?
What is the significance of their involvement?
What do you think is the key message?
Did anything stand out, or something that surprised you? What was it?
Were there any repetitive words or themes that stood out to you? What were they?
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Is there anything that stood out to you? Share with the group and discuss.
Is there anything that left you with more questions? What were they? Share with group, discuss and research.
Biggest takeaway?
Prepare for next week’s meeting. Back to basics: Think about past giving, would you consider yourself a giving person? Or are you more reluctant to give? What does tithing, first fruits, and giving mean to you? How do we know that we are saved? – Be ready to discuss tithing and salvation at next week’s meeting.
References/Acknowledgements:
Elements of today’s Bible study were copied from:
1. NLT Courage for Life Men’s Bible, New Living Translation (NLT); copyright 2023 Tyndale House Ministries Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation https://www.tyndale.com/sites/courageforlifebible/
2. ESV Study Bible, copyright 2008. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV); copyright 2001 by Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois.
3. NLT, Life Application Bible Studies, Philippians and Colossians; copyright 1998, 2009, Tyndale House Publishers Inc, Carol Stream, Illinois.
Schedule:
Month, Meeting Number, Date, Book/Chapters/Verse/ (Total Verses)
September 2024:
_x_ 001, 09/04 Philippians 1:1-30. (30 Verses)
_x_ 002, 09/11 Philippians 2:1-30. (30 Verses)
_x_ 003, 09/18 Philippians 3:1-21. (21 Verses)
_x_ 004, 09/25 Philippians 4:1-23. (23 Verses)
October 2024:
_x_ 005, 10/02 Colossians 1:1-29 (29 Verses)
_x_ 006, 10/09 Colossians 2:1-23 (23 Verses)
_x_ 007, 10/16 Colossians 3:1-25 (25 Verses)
___ 008, 10/23 **UPDATED** Back to Basics: Discussion about tithing and salvation.
___ 009, 10/30 Colossians 4:1-18 (18 Verses)
November 2024:
___ 010, 11/06 Bible Translations (Video and Discussion)
___ 011, 11/13 TBD (FINAL MEETING OF THE SEMESTER)