Meeting# 9| 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 ninth meeting of the Fall Semester. The Men’s “Called” Growth Group will continue meeting 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 we are finishing up on our 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 set aside time to pray, sign up for the Intercessors team, get involved – do something and to make a plan to pray more. Did anyone take up these challenges? - How did you do? Discuss among the group.
This Week’s Prayer: Dear Father God, we thank you for allowing us to come together and study your word tonight. We thank you for giving us Jesus, who is our example of how to live unselfishly, guided by love. Help us to be more like Jesus in all our relationships. Lord thank you for making a way to have a personal relationship with you. Help us to have courage and be bold to share you with others. – Amen
Scripture: Read – Colossians Chapter 4:1 – 18
Observation, Application & Questions: (Identify/Discuss Among the Group)
In Chapter 4, Paul explains that as Christians we are to devote ourselves to prayer with an alert mind and thankful heart. What do we think this means?
Discuss among the group.
Have you ever grown tired of praying for something or someone? What did you do to overcome, or did you give up?
Discuss among the group.
Have you ever thought that persistent prayer is an expression of faith?
Discuss among the group.
In 4:4 Paul asked for prayer that he could proclaim the Good News about Christ clearly. We can request prayer to do that same.
Agree/Disagree, discuss among the group. Give examples if you are willing to share.
Paul instructs us to be wise when talking to non-believers making the most of opportunities to share the Gospel, and to let our conversation be gracious and attractive (in the Greek “seasoned with salt”).
What do we think this means? Why is this important? Discuss among the group.
When we tell others about Christ, it is important to ALWAYS be gracious in what we say. No matter how much sense our message makes, or how truthful we are; if we do not communicate in a manner that is well received, we lose our effectiveness. However, sometimes tough-love is necessary.
Has anyone shared the gospel (or 3-circles) lately?
How did it go? Did you have any obstacles to overcome? What did you do?
Give examples if you are willing to share.
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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?)
Tychicus was a native of Asia Minor who became a Christian and a member of Paul’s ministry team (Acts 20:4). Biblical scholars believe that Tychicus carried this letter (Paul’s letter to the Colossians), as well as Ephesians and Philemon. (See also Ephesians 6:21, 22).
Onesimus was Philemon’s converted Bondservant. Philemon was a wealth Christian who lived in the city of Colossae (about 100 miles inland from Ephesus. Biblical scholars believe Philemon heard the gospel during Paul’s three-year ministry in Ephesus and was saved. Philemon began serving the cause in the Colossian community, opening his home for a group of Christians to meet there regularly. At some point, Onesimus fled to Rome, possibly having stolen money or property from Philemon and became a fugitive. Onesimus was living in the most populated city of the Roman Empire, hoping to escape detection. In a rather remarkable set of circumstances – Onesimus somehow came into contact with Paul and became Christian. As he grew in Christ, he spent much time and effort helping Paul, who was constrained by his imprisonment. Paul knew of Onesimus’ fugitive status, wrongdoing and severed relationship against Philemon and recognized this issue needed to be addressed. Paul wrote the letter to Philemon as an appeal to appreciate the transformation that occurred in Onesimus’ life and to receive him back, but not as a bondservant, but as a fellow “beloved brother” (Philemon 1:16).
Aristarchus was a Thessalonian who accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey. He was with Paul in the riot at Ephesus (Acts 19:29). He and Tychicus were with Paul in Greece (Acts 20:4). Aristarchus went to Rome with Paul (Acts 27:2).
Mark is the cousin of Barnabas. This is believed to be the same person as “John Mark”, who accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey and suddenly departed (Acts 13:13) and whom Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement (Acts 15:39). Paul’s perspective on Mark has changed and they became reconciled (Philemon 1:24).
Jesus called Justus, there is not much known.
Epaphras is a believer who’s love and prayer for the Colossians, and nearby cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Luke, the same Luke who authored the Gospel of Luke and Acts, accompanied Paul on some of his journeys and was believed to be with Paul throughout his two-year imprisonment in Caesarea and then in his two-year imprisonment in Rome.
Demas later followed worldly pursuits and deserted Paul (2 Timothy 4:10).
Nympha and the church in her house, because of political status of Christianity, there were no buildings dedicated to church services. The early Christians met in private homes. Philemon opened his home in Colossae, and someone named Nympha hosted the church in Laodicea.
Archippus may have been the son of Philemon and Apphia, who may have been Philemon’s wife.
Archippus is believed to have possibly had a significant ministry in Colossae (Colossians 4:17).
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: Discussion about Jesus the ultimate sacrifice – Be ready to discuss sacrifice, (Levitical Law also known as Mosaic Law), significance of blood and water, what Jesus did on the cross, His resurrection and how Jesus was, is and forever shall be the ultimate sacrifice.
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)
_x_ 008, 10/23 **UPDATED** Back to Basics: Discussion about tithing and salvation.
_x_ 009, 10/30 Colossians 4:1-18 (18 Verses)
November 2024:
___ 010, 11/06 **UPDATED** Back to Basics: Discussion about Jesus the ultimate sacrifice.
___ 011, 11/13 **UPDATED** Bible Translations (Video/Discussion) - Final meeting of the semester.