Meeting# 5| 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 fifth meeting of the Fall Semester. The Men’s “Called” Growth Group’s meets weekly 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm on 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 semester, 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 the Father God through Jesus. And we are connected to Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross and our faith in the resurrection. We should remain connected to Christ in our faith, so that we may have a restored relationship with God the Father and have eternal life.
Paul writing from prison in Rome, warned the Colossians against false teachings infiltrating the Colossian Church. The problem was syncretism – combining ideas from other philosophies and religions; like paganism, Judaism, and Greek philosophies and mythologies with Christian believes. This became known as “Gnosticism” which emphasizes special knowledge or hidden knowledge. Satan in the form of a snake tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden with the promise of special knowledge too. Gnosis in Greek means “to know” or “knowledge.” The Gnostics denied Biblical creation and downplayed Jesus’ humanity; claiming that he was not fully human. The group tended to focus on the wisdom of Jesus and deny the death and resurrection – which removes our core Christian belief that Jesus’ death redeemed us all from sin.
The Gnostic point of view was that knowledge, especially the pursuit of hidden knowledge, leads to salvation. Many Biblical Scholars believe that Christians in the Colossian Church were being tempted to combine their Christian faith with these false cultural beliefs. Paul was reminding those who read his letter to know that Jesus was fully God and fully human and bought our salvation with the payment of His life.
In this past Sunday’s sermon, Candace challenged us to perform communion daily. 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 sending Jesus to us, we are grateful for His sacrifice. Help us to grow our faith and bear good fruit. – Amen
Scripture: Read – Colossians Chapter 1:1 – 29
Observation, Application & Questions: (Identify/Discuss Among the Group)
The beginning of Paul’s letter opens with a greeting, a note of thanksgiving and a prayer for spiritual wisdom and strength. Paul then provides a discussion of the person and work of Christ, with His death on the cross making it possible for us to stand in the presence of God. Paul then challenges the Colossians to reject false-teaching and live in union with Christ.
Throughout the letter Paul combats false teaching of Gnosticism. Paul commended the Colossians for their faith, love and hope as they looked forward to heaven. Biblical scholars believe that Paul deliberately avoided the word “knowledge” in the letter because Gnostics looked to special, hidden knowledge; but it is not what we know that brings us salvation - it is through our faith in Jesus.
Wherever Paul went, he preached the Good News to anyone and everyone; Gentiles, Jewish leaders and even to his Roman guards. Whenever people believed in the message that Paul spoke, they were changed. God’s word is not just for our information, it is for our TRANSFORMATION. Becoming a Christian means that we are no longer seeking to serve our own needs, but bearing good fruit for God.
· Agree/Disagree, discuss among the group.
The false teaching trying to influence the Colossian church was that spiritual perfection was a secret and hidden plan that only a few privileged people could discover. Paul called God’s plan a message kept secret and hidden until Christ came. Through Christ the message was revealed and open to all.
· Agree/Disagree, discuss among the group.
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Why is knowledge, especially hidden knowledge so tempting? Discuss among the group.
What is the difference between learning to know God, and increasing our knowledge about God? – Discuss.
What roles to faith, hope and love plan in building a firm foundation for the Christian life? – Discuss.
What is it important that believers agree about “core” or “fundamental truths”? - Discuss.
What pressures or forces do Christians face that might confuse their understanding? – Discuss.
Are there any fundamental truths that you struggle with or need clarification? – 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. Read: Colossians 2:1-23
Is there anything that stands out when reading these verses? Be ready to discuss it at the next meeting.
REMINDER: This Fall 2024 Semester Men’s group will be meeting every Wednesday, 09/04/2024 through 11/13/2024; 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Please monitor https://fv.church/events for more information.
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)
___ 006, 10/09 Colossians 2:1-23 (23 Verses)
___ 007, 10/16 Colossians 3:1-25 (25 Verses)
___ 008, 10/23 Colossians 4:1-18 (18 Verses)
___ 009, 10/30 Bible Translations (Video and Discussion)
November 2024:
___ 010, 11/06 TBD
___ 011, 11/13 TBD (FINAL MEETING OF THE SEMESTER)