Colossians 1:9-14 – A Prayer for Knowing God’s Will

Preacher: Adam Johnston

It is easy to think we are doing the right thing but actually be making a mess because we don’t know someone’s will. Do we care about knowing God’s will?

1. Prayer to know God’s will (vv. 9-10a)

The Bible distinguishes between God’s secret will – how things will work out – and his revealed will – how to live for him. Do we ever pray that we would know how to live for him?

2. Prayer to please God (v. 10b)

The reason we pray to know God’s will is that we might please him.

3. How to please God (vv. 10c – 12a)

We please God by:

a) Bearing fruit in good works

b) Growing in our knowledge of God

c) Being strengthened with endurance and patience

d) Giving joyful thank to God

4. Why please God? (vv. 12b – 14)

We please God out of thankfulness for all he has done for us.

Questions for us? Have you ever been in a situation where you have got things wrong because you didn’t know someone’s will? In what kind of ways might we not know God’s will? What is the difference between the secret and revealed will of God? What are we asking for when we pray to know God’s will? Why would we pray a prayer like that? Do we care about pleasing God? What evidence might there be in our lives that this is true? What does it look like to bear fruit as a Christian? How might we grow in knowledge of God? What might endurance and patience look like for you? How ought we to grow in thankfulness? Why must we live worthily to please God?

Colossians 1:1-8 – True Gospel, True Messenger, True Christians

Preacher: Adam Johnston

1. The Colossians are true Christians (vv. 3-5)

2. The Colossians believe the true gospel (v. 6)

3. The Colossians trust a true messenger (vv. 7-8)

Questions for us? Read Colossians 2:6-7 – is this a verse you could memorise over this term? What have the Colossians done in 2:6? Do you ever doubt if you have really received Christ Jesus as Lord? What things cause you to doubt your status as believers? What does the Christian life look like when we rely solely on Jesus to keep us safe (our harness)? Or when we try and add other things in too? What might you cling to, outside of Jesus, to keep you safe? What marked out the Colossian believers as true Christians in vv. 3-5? How would you define faith, love and hope? How are they defined here? How might these characteristics encourage us that we have truly received Jesus? Have you ever worried you are trapped in a Christian bubble? How does the global spread of Christianity encourage you that Jesus is dependable (v. 6)? Why does it matter who told you about Jesus (vv. 7-8)? Does the life of the person who told you about Jesus commend the gospel to you? Does it cause you to worry instead that you’ve not been given the truth? What does this say to those of us with leadership roles in church?

Matthew 28:16-20 - Prepare for Launch - The Great Commission

Preacher: Lee McMunn