Guest Speaker

1. Describe the city of Colossae as it was during the time the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the church there.

2. According to the sermon, what heresy did Paul seem to be addressing in his letter, and what is the primary evidence for this conclusion?

3. How does the speaker claim that most people in our culture express philosophy, even if they don't call it that? Provide one of the specific examples used in the sermon.

4. What central philosophical or theological question was raised by Gordon Lightfoot's song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"?

5. Explain the first-century understanding of the Greek word curios (Lord) and what it implied about the relationship between a person and their lord.

6. What are the two distinct meanings of the Greek word parapetto (follow/walk) as it is used in the New Testament?

7. What is the significance of the word "must" in Paul's command, "you must continue to follow him," according to the speaker's linguistic analysis?

8. Describe the agricultural metaphor Paul uses in Colossians 2:7 and the personal story the speaker uses to illustrate it.

9. Explain the construction metaphor from Colossians 2:7, referencing the story of the speaker's father-in-law and the 1854 farmhouse.

10. According to the speaker's interpretation of Paul, how is deep, genuine thankfulness produced in a believer's life?

1. Analyze the speaker's argument that "most everyone does philosophy." Using the examples of Gordon Lightfoot and Jackson Browne, discuss how music can serve as a vehicle for exploring complex theological and existential questions about suffering, purpose, and fulfillment.

2. The speaker emphasizes that following Christ is an imperative, not a suggestion. Discuss the significance of this distinction, drawing on the analysis of the Greek words curios and parapetto, and the confirmation from Dr. Joseph Danel.

3. Compare and contrast the two central metaphors from Colossians 2:7—the agricultural metaphor of roots in fertile soil and the construction metaphor of a building on a solid foundation. How do these images work together to paint a complete picture of the Christian life?

4. The story from the book The Renovation of the Church serves as a cautionary tale. Explain the shift in that church's philosophy from "expect to be amazed" to making "apprentices for Jesus." How does this story connect to Paul's core message in Colossians 2?

5. Paul's message is that thankfulness is a "byproduct" of a life sold out to Christ. Explore this concept in detail. How does this differ from the common instruction to simply "be intentionally thankful," and what does it suggest about the nature of spiritual transformation?