Grace Community

Questions:

1. How is verse 6 a great summary of the Christian life? What does it mean to be rooted in our faith, and how is that achieved? What is the relationship between being rooted in our faith and being built up and established in our faith? (2 Peter 1:3-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Colossians 1:9-10).

2. What is Paul trying to remind the Colossians (and us) of when he writes “as you received Christ Jesus [who is] the Lord”(v6) and “just as you were taught”(v7)? How does this help us avoid being captured by teachings that are not “according to Christ”?

3. Philosophy means love of wisdom, but in Paul's day, it could also refer to teachings and religions (or religious sects). How would you summarise what all religions and philosophies are trying to achieve? How is the teaching according to Christ different from all other religions and philosophies? (Consider John 1:14; 1 John 1:1-2; Hebrews 1:1-2.)

4. Why is it dangerous to put human traditions on the same authoritative level as Scripture, especially when it comes to matters of salvation? (Matthew 23:25-26; Mark 7:1-13)

5. John Piper talks about “the guardian of gratitude.” How is "abounding in thanksgiving"(v7) a great guardian to keep us from chasing or being deceived by philosophies and empty deceit that promise much in this life yet are meaningless in the end?

6. How are verses 9 and 10 an encouragement for Christians to hold fast to Jesus in hard times and also when we don’t ‘feel’ anything (i.e., when we feel God is distant or our joy wanes)?

Read together 1 Cor 1:17 – 1 Cor 2:5

1) For those who are comfortable to do so, would you feel comfortable giving your personal testimony to the group?

2) There were two examples in the sermon of Christ patterned, Christ promised and Christ Present. Explore together the two sections if Scripture, below, and see where you can see Christ patterned, Christ promised and Christ Present:

a) Gen 3:7 – 3:15
b) Gen 22:1 – 22:18

3) What does the Word or Logos refer to in John 1:14? Who does the Word or Logos refer to in John 1:14?  Beyond what was mentioned in the previous questions; where else is Christ either prophesied or patterned in the Old Testament? (Consider Isaiah 53).

4) The Greek word for power used in the New Testament is dunamis or in other places dynamis, which sounds a lot like our English word, dynamite. Can you share with the group any stories of someone that you knew or heard of who’s transformation could have been considered significant or explosive? 

Home group questions,

1) Why do you think some people search for hidden codes and mysteries within the Bible?  Even if there were “hidden codes” in the Bible do you think they are important or useful for the mission of the church? (Consider Romans 1:16, 10:17; 1 Cor 2:1-5).  If someone happens to claim to have been given special revelation or has been shown hidden mysteries from or about God, how would you respond? (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1)

2) Why do you think Paul called it a “mystery” (v26, 27) that the Gentiles would be included in God’s plan of salvation even though it was mentioned in the Old Testament? (Luke 10:21-24; Acts 13:44-48, 28:23-28; Romans 11:11-14 & 25). How does the fact that God chose to include us Gentiles in His plan of salvation bring humility, adoration and a desire to be obedient to God? (Consider Titus 3:3-7, Ephesians 2:1-9)  

3) For God to dwell in the tabernacle and the temple within the Israelite nation, the dwelling place and all the parts (alter, mercy seat, utensils, etc) needed to be made holy by the blood of a sacrifice. How does this point to what God has done in order for Jesus to dwell in us? 

4) The expression “Christ in you” (v27) could mean:  
a) Christ in each individual believer (Gal 2:20), 
b) Christ among you (Matthew 18:20) or 
c) Christ represented in you (1 Cor 11:1).  

How is b) and c) dependent on a)? How are b) and c) an expected and hopefully a desired outcome of a)?


5) How does the indwelling Christ give “hope of glory” (v27)? (Ephesians 1:11-14, Romans 8:18-25; To quote Spurgeon, “Comfort yourselves with this word, Christ in you means you in glory, as sure as God lives.”)

Home group questions

1. What do you understand about the difference between the sacrifices of the pagan religions compared to the sacrifices of Israel? (Consider Leviticus 5:10; Psalm 50:5-23; 54:4-7; Deuteronomy 12:29-31) How would the term ‘living sacrifice’ be strange to the Christians who first heard/read it? 

2. What does it mean to present our bodies as living sacrifices? (Consider Mark 8:34-38) What is the relationship between presenting your body as a living sacrifice and not conforming to this world? (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) How is this worshiping God? 

3. How do Christians sometimes too narrowly define the term worship? How does compartmentalising worshiping God to specific times, places and activities give a false idea of what worship really is? 

4. Jesus said, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” (John 4:23) According to Romans 12:1, how do we worship God in spirit?

5. What do you think it means to be holy and acceptable to God? How does verse 2 help us understand how to be holy and acceptable? 

6. What does it mean to be conformed to this world? (v2) In what ways do some Christians and some churches conform to the world? Why is it important not to conform to the world? (1 Corinthians 1:20-21; Ephesians 2:1-3; 4:17-19) 

7. What do you think Paul means by “be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (v2) and for what purpose should we do so? What does it say about our responsibility in our path toward sanctification? (Consider also Romans 8:5-8)

Home group questions:

To clarify the doctrine of Jesus as both God and Man The Chalcedonian Creed (451) says this:
Following the holy fathers we confess one and the same our Lord Jesus Christ, and all teach as one that the same is perfect in Godhead, the same perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man; the same of a reasonable soul and body; consubstantial with the Father in Godhead and the same consubstantial with us in manhood; like us in all things except sin; begotten before the ages of the Father in Godhead; the same one in these last days, and for our salvation, born of Mary the Virgin Theotokos [Godbearer] in the manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, unique; recognized in two natures, unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the difference of natures being by no means taken away because of the union, but rather the distinctive character of each nature being preserved, combining in one person and hypostasis; not divided or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only Begotten God, Word, Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets of old, and the Lord Jesus Christ himself, have taught us in his regard, and as the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.

Does this help you in your understanding of how Jesus is both God and man? Why or why not? There are some doctrines that are hard to understand, like hypostasis or the Trinity or God’s sovereignty vs man responsibility or how our sins are transferred to Jesus but do you have to have 100% understanding to have faith? So what is our faith based on? See Romans 4:19-25; Hebrews 11:1-3

What do you think it means to be “hostile in mind” and how does that present itself in different people? (Consider the Parable of the Prodigal Son - both mistreat the Father) How are evil deeds both the result of a hostile mind and also the cause of a hostile mind? Consider Romans 1:18-25 & 28-32.

Paul says Jesus will present us holy (set apart for God), blameless (without sin) and above reproach (un-accusable) before God. This is speaking of the day when we are presented before God but these must also be a part of our present reality. How and why should we aim to be these even now? Consider 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Ephesians 4:25-30, Philippians 2:12-15, Romans 6:12-16

Paul says that Jesus has reconciled us to present us before God… “if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.” What is the best indication that a person has a true faith in the true gospel? Consider Luke 8:6&13; 1 John 2:18-19, 24-25; John 6:60-71. How is the teaching that you can simply say a prayer and be saved a dangerous message? What do you think it means to not shift from the hope of the gospel?

In verse 23 the word ‘you’ is plural, addressing the whole church. What is Paul telling the Colossian church and how does it apply to the church today?

Home group questions:

1) What does Paul mean when he says that Jesus is the ‘image of the invisible God’?(v15) Hint: see John 1:18, Hebrews 1:3. Some of the Colossians may have been teaching that through visions and the worship of angels they can get a better understanding of God. If we need new or different revelation about God, what does that say about Jesus?

2) How do you think Paul would expect us to increase in the knowledge of God (as he prays in verse 10)? Does that mean that we should spend most of our time reading the gospels which speak specifically of Jesus’ time on earth? Hint: Luke 24:27&44-45, John 5:39, Acts 1:1, Revelation 1:1. 

3) Jesus is described as ‘the firstborn’ in v15a. Jehovah Witnesses think this means that Jesus was created, whilst Mormons believe that Jesus was actually the result of a union between a divine father and a divine mother. Firstborn can obviously mean born first but it is also tied with rank and status. Look at what the Bible can also mean by the word ‘firstborn’ by looking up Psalm 89:24-28, Exodus 4:22, Hebrews 1:1-3. How do we know Jesus wasn’t created and therefore the firstborn in that sense? John 1:1-2 & 8:58. (Also consider that he is called the ‘firstborn from the dead’). 

4) How does the knowledge of Jesus’ supremacy over all “thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” bring comfort and reassurance? How do you feel about the influence of the powers of evil over Christians and your life? Consider 1 Peter 5:6-11. 

5) What does it mean that Jesus is the “head of the body, the church”(v18) and how should this influence the way we ‘do’ church? 
 The word preeminent means “to have first place”. What is the scope of Jesus’ preeminence and how should that effect our Christian life?

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.