Joy in Worship (vv. 1-3)

The Thrones of God (vv. 4-5)

Guarding Worship (vv. 6-9)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Do you feel like everything in your life is in perfect balance—the way God wants it to be? What would that look like?

Tuesday—Is worship as a high a priority to you as it should be? Are there times when going to worship doesn’t cause you to rejoice? Why do you think that is?

Wednesday—How was Jerusalem (a well-built city) meant to reflect how our lives are supposed to be? How does worship help our lives become better ordered?

Thursday—In what way do we come before the throne of thrones in worship? Is that comforting or scary? Or both? Why?

Friday—How can worship become like the world? How can you pray that it would be protected from worldly corruption? Do you pray for that?

Identifying the Problem (v. 1)

The Hilliest Hill (vv. 1-7)

The One Who Came (vv. 1-2)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Have you ever struggled to make sense out of hard times? What kinds of questions did you ask? What doubts did you have?

Tuesday—How does what you think your greatest need is affect where you look for help? What is your greatest need?

Wednesday—How did the ancient cultures have different deities for different needs? What are modern day equivalents?

Thursday—Which was the greatest hill in Israel and who was on it? How does the true God differ from false gods? Why does this matter?

Friday—What does it mean that God came from his hill to help you? Why can you be confident that he will not lose his hold on you?

Psalms of Ascents

Deliverance from Deceivers (vv. 1-4)

The First Step (vv. 5-7)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Why does the Bible always present a movement toward God as an ascent or “going up”? Why is “ascents” in the plural?

Tuesday—Why do you think the image of pilgrimage (people leaving one place for another) is so common in scripture? Where are we all supposed to be headed?

Wednesday—What are some of the lies the world tells? Why is worldly wisdom necessarily built on lies? What truth is the world trying to avoid at all costs? Why?

Thursday—What is the first step that is necessary if we are going to journey to the Lord? What is repentance? What does it entail?

Friday—How does gathering for worship each week teach us about the goal of ascending into God’s presence? What makes that ascent possible

“Share this Letter (and Read Others)” (vv. 5, 16; cf. 1:24-29)

Jesus’ Cross (and Ours) (vv. 3-4, 7-8, 10-12, 17-18; cf. 1:15; 3:10)

The Cross in Everyday Life (vv. 5-6, 9-11, 18)

Discussion Starters

Monday—If you could write a conclusion for the book of Colossians, what would it sound like? What themes would you want to hit? How would you go about that?

Tuesday—What does it mean that Jesus is the image of the invisible Creator? (1:15) How does he reveal to us who God is?

Wednesday—What does it mean to be renewed in Christ’s image? (3:10) How does all that Jesus endured in this life shape your understanding of your time on earth?

Thursday—How are the themes of humility and peace important and integral to Colossians? Why is humility so hard? Why can peace be hard to even want, let alone accomplish?

Friday—What does it mean to remember Paul’s chains? How does this shape your understanding of life in this world? How does it comfort you?

The Cursing of Vocation (Genesis 3:17-19; 11:1-9)

Jesus’ Vocation (Matthew 20:28; John 4:34; 10:17-18; 17:4-5)

Masters and Servants at the Foot of the Cross (3:22 - 4:1)

Discussion Starters

Monday—What are some cliches or advice that you have heard about work and jobs? Do these come from the Bible? Where do they come from?

Tuesday—What was Adam’s job in the Garden? What would his reward have been? Was he successful? What was the consequence of sin on his work? (Genesis 3:17-19)

Wednesday—What as Jesus’ job? Was he successful? What was his reward? (Matthew 20:28;

John 4:34; 10:17-18; 17:4-5)

Thursday—What does it mean to “take up your cross” as an employee? Why does God call you

to do that? What is your comfort as you do?

Friday—What does it mean to “take up your cross” as an employer? Why does God call you to do that? What is your comfort as you do?

God’s Design for Families

Children and the Cross (v. 20)

Parents and the Cross (v. 21)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Is being a parent easy or hard? Are there formulas parents can follow to guarantee a certain outcome? Why not?

Tuesday—Why did God design families the way he did? What are children meant to live while they are growing up, before they head out on their own?

Wednesday—What are some of the lies that children believe? How does God’s truth confront these lies? Why are lies dangerous?

Thursday—What does it mean to parent out of fear? Why is this dangerous? What does God want parents to show their children?

Friday—Why is forgiveness important for both children and parents? Why is important to remember that, while parents and children have unique roles and callings, that we are all equal before God as people and as sinners?

The Blessing of Marriage

Putting off an Earthly View of Marriage (vv. 18-19)

Putting on Christ in Marriage (vv. 18-19)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Is marriage a good thing? Does God expect all people to get married? What is the danger of finding your identity in marriage?

Tuesday—What are some unique temptations women face? How are these examples of what it means to walk in Adam?

Wednesday—What are some unique temptations men face? How are these examples of what it means to walk in Adam?

Thursday—What does it look like for women to put on Christ in their marriage? In what way is submission a gift? To whom?

Friday—What does it look like for men to put on Christ in their marriage? Does “being in charge” mean getting what you want? What does Jesus expect from his leaders?

Putting off Adam (vv. 5-9)

Putting on Christ (vv. 10-14)

Walking in Peace (vv. 15-17)

Discussion Starters

Monday—What does Paul mean by “earthly” in verse 5? Is he condemning creation as bad?

Tuesday—Who is the “old man”? (v. 9) Is Paul picking on Adam or is he addressing tendencies we all have? What are ways you see those tendencies in yourself?

Wednesday—How is coveting idolatry? How is wrath an attempt to take God’s rightful place? Why is it so easy to covet? Why is it so easy to punish those who displease us?

Thursday—Why does putting on Christ start with the mind (what you believe)? Can you live well if you don’t believe well? What are some lies that God is calling you to let go of?

Friday—What does it mean to do something in someone else’s name? What does it mean to do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus? (v. 17) Why is surrender essential to living a life that honors the Lord?

The First Adam and the Offer of a Kingdom (vv. 20-22)

The Second Adam and the Resurrected Kingdom (vv. 22-28; Matthew 28:18-20; Psalm 110)

Life in this World (vv. 29-34)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Why do you think some will one day say that life after death is a ridiculous superstition and then the next day say they hope that they are good enough? What’s going in people’s hearts and minds?

Tuesday—What is the kingdom of God? What was Adam called to do when he was created? (Gen 1:28) Would Adam have had to leave the Garden to subdue and fill the earth?

Wednesday—Why is Jesus called the second or last Adam? How does Jesus resurrect the kingdom hope that Adam lost? How does Jesus build his kingdom?

Thursday—Why does Jesus need to rule in the midst of his enemies until the end? How will you know when Jesus is done building his kingdom?

Friday—Do we need to live in fear of the Last Day? Do we need to return evil on those who seek harm for us? Why not?