Sermons

At the end of chapter 3, Paul and Timothy turn their attention to the Christian household, giving instructions for husbands, wives, and children in light of what Jesus has done for us. In fact, the family exists—in the ultimate sense—to live out a demonstration of the gospel.

Discussion Questions

1. What are the strengths of the nuclear family? What are the weaknesses? Why is it so important that our individual families be connected in an extended community?

2. Regardless of your gender, family status, etc., where does God want you to grow: love, submission, obedience, graciousness? What practical steps can you take in obedience?

3. How does the family and its various roles all serve to point to Jesus? How is the gospel our foundation for a healthy, loving family life?

4. How does the gospel motivate you to want to go and invite others into the family of God?

Prayer Points

1. Pray that you would grow in Christlikeness, more fully reflecting his character in all aspects of your life.

2. Pray that your family and your life as an individual would serve as a witness to the gospel, inviting people from all walks of life into the family of God.

For Further Reading

• David Brooks’ article in The Atlantic, The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake

After spending two chapters teaching on the supremacy of Christ and refuting false teaching, Paul and Timothy turn their attention to the lives of the Colossian Christians. In this long list of commands and prohibitions, we see that the gospel fundamentally changes how we relate to rules, law, and commandments.

Discussion Questions

1. When it comes to your relationship to rules and instructions, which direction do you lean: naturally submissive or naturally resistant?

2. Which areas of the “negative” list are you wrestling with? Relatedly, which elements of the “positive” list do you struggle with and need to grow in? Share with your group.

3. Read Ephesians 4:25-32 and compare to this list in Colossians? Why is it important to remember that lists like these are not exhaustive but representative?

4. How is Jesus the perfect fulfillment of all the commandments of God? How can we help one another to grow

Prayer Points

1. Take time in your group for silent, reflective prayer on these commands and prohibitions. Then collectively, give God praise that our relationship with him is based on Christ’s perfect life, not our own moral efforts.

2. Pray that we would share the gospel of Jesus, not a list of behaviors that people ought to do. Pray that our lives would look more like Jesus so that we would be effective witnesses.

For Further Reading

1. Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters by Carmen Joy Imes

Sermon Description

1. In Colossians 2, Paul and Timothy directly address the false teaching that threatens to derail the Colossian church. This false teaching has elements of traditionalism, mysticism, and legalism—but all of these fall short of the gospel. At the end of the day, Jesus is truly all that we want and all that we need.

   Discussion Questions

1. As you read through this passage, what are the good parts of each of these beliefs and practices? How do they become spiritually harmful when untethered from Jesus?

2. Do you tend more toward the traditionalist, the mystic, or the disciplined? Ask those in your group for their perspective. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each?

3. How does each element—Sabbath, festivals, angels, visions, and even rules—point us to Jesus? What harm comes when we elevate one of these things over Jesus?

4. What—if any—of these elements do the non-Christians in your life focus on? How does this clarity help you to share the gospel with them?

   Prayer Points

1. Pray that no matter your natural disposition or what things tend to grab your attention, you would approach those things with Jesus as central in your life.

2. Pray that the Spirit would help you to grow in your ability to share the gospel with people in your life who are focused/fixated on various things in life.

Sermon Description

In Colossians 2, Paul and Timothy come to the heart of why they wrote this letter: addressing certain false teaching that threatens the spiritual well-being of this church. By forgetting how truly amazing Jesus is, these Colossian Christians were prone to seek out truth and security in other sources. This only can happen when we forget that Christ can’t be overestimated or overstated.

Discussion Questions

1. Ask those in your group who know you what is “big” in your life? What do you often talk about? What do you most often share on social media? Relatedly, what keeps you up at night? Where do you seek security? What feels like “true” knowledge?

2. What does it mean that “the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ”? What are the implications of the truth that Christ still exists in a (resurrected, perfected) body?

3. Jesus’ work at the cross operates at three levels: individual regeneration, corporate debt forgiveness, spiritual victory over the forces of evil. Which one do you tend to think of most often? How are all three levels connected?

4. As you think of the non-Christians in your life, what things tend to be “big” in their hearts and minds? How can you help them to see that Christ is more loving, more secure, more true?

Prayer Points

1. Spend some time in personal silent prayer this week (Psalm 131) and see where your mind starts to wonder? Ask Jesus to help your heart focus less on those things and more on him.

2. As a group, pray that our church would keep our focus on Jesus over and above any other thing.

3. Pray that God would help you share with the non-Christians in your life how Jesus is the absolute greatest.

For Further Study

• Selection (ch. 37) from “The Unseen Realm” from Dr. Michael Heiser