I. CHRISTIAN LIFE AND GROWTH ‐ COLOSSIANS 1:9‐10

A. The spiral of Christian life and growth

1. "...filled with the knowledge of God's will..."

2. "…through all spiritual wisdom and understanding..."

3. "...so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord..."

4. "...pleasing Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work..."

5. "...and increasing in the knowledge of God."

II. THE WHO AND THE DO

A. The Who

1. God's will in relation to our identity as a new human

2. The main obstacle to realizing that identity is that we can "do" our way into a "who"!

3. Experiencing the "who"...

B. The Do

1. The "who" is foundational to the "do"!

2. When the love of God permeates the "who"...then, and only then does the "do" flow out of our new identity.

III. WHAT MUST WE DO TO EXPERIENCE THE WHO?

A. Make room/time

B. Pay attention

1. Proverbs 20:27

2. The role of our imagination

C. Walk/do

FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:

 Do you agree with the premise that the Christian's "do" could/should flow from the Christian's "who"? Why or why not?

 Did the discussion on the spiral of Christian life and growth resonate with you? In what ways?

 How might that affect the way you see your own identity?

 What do you think of the Proverbs 20:27 discussion? What part does our imagination/mind play in transforming and healing us?

GOOD READS:

Dallas Willard

N.T. Wright

FURTHER DISCUSSION:

• Based on the teaching, do you agree or disagree with the statement that there is a difference between being a citizen of a particular nation and being a citizen of God's kingdom? Why or why not?

• As a follower of Jesus who lives in a free country, what does it look like in your own life to live your life according to Kingdom of God values even if the country you are living in and its leaders are doing things that fly in the face of your faith?

• From your understanding of the Scripture, what does it look like for Christ in the church to be God's way of working in the world today?

• What does it look like for you to place your hope in Jesus and not an earthly government? What does this look like in your everyday, ordinary life?

I. KNOWING GOD'S WILL ‐ COLOSSIANS 1:9‐12

 In order to live a life that is submitted to God we must know what his will is.

 In order to know God's will we must repent and be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2)

 The word Christian has no meaning other than the meaning that we give to it by following God and submittng to his will.

 By following God's will we are able to live a life that is worthy of, reflective of, his life and kingdom.

III. DYING TO LIVE FOR GOD'S WILL

 In order to fulfill God's will we must die to our will and take on his life.

 This death ultimately leads us to freedom and real life.

 True freedom in Jesus sets us free from finding our life and/or freedom in anything else.

 What is your personal experience with discerning God's will in the past?

 Did you agree or disagree with what was said about this passage in Colossians? Why or why not?

 Did the message change the way you view God's will? How?

 Why is it so tempting to hang onto our own independence and freedom? What is scariest about giving up our own independence and freedom?

 How do you feel/what do you think about the statement: The word Christian has no meaning other than the meaning that we give to it by following him and submiting to his will?

N.T. Wright

I. COLOSSIANS 1:3‐8

II. CHRISTIANITY: A SPECTATOR SPORT?

 Spectators vs. Players

III. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE

 Involved in creation (Genesis 1:1)

 Empowering in the Old Testament (Judges 6:15‐35; Judges 15:14; Isaiah 61)

 Promised by the Father for all humanity (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26; Joel 2:28; Luke 3:15‐16; Luke 4:18; John 7:38; Acts 1:8)

 Sent (The Book of Acts; specifically Acts 2:2‐4)

FURTHER DISCUSSION:

 What comes to mind when you hear about being filled with the Spirit?

 What has been your experience in regards to the Holy Spirit?

 What do you think of the statement, "All Christians have the Holy Spirit but not all are filled with the Holy Spirit"?

 What obstacles stand in your way to believing all this?

 What is your part in receiving and being filled with the Holy Spirit?

GOOD READS:

N.T. Wright

I. A CULTURE OF COMPLAINT

A. The destructive power of ingratitude

1. 1 Corinthians 10:6‐13

2. The Exodus wanderings and complaining

B. An attitude of ingratitude leads to an attitude of entitlement

1. Luke 17:11

A. Escaping the culture of complaint and establishing a culture of thanks

1. Live “IN Christ”

2. Acknowledge God’s good gifts

3. Practice being grateful

 Do you agree with the statement, “Ingratitude breeds a sense of entitlement”? Why or why not? How has a sense of entitlement affected you?

 Do you believe the three suggestions might help you grow in thanksgiving? In what ways could you implement these suggestions in your everyday life?

 What other questions or comments do you have after hearing this week’s talk?

I. THE LAYOUT AND LOGIC OF COLOSSIANS 1:3‐8

A. The layout

1. Faith (pistis) v.4

2. Love (agape) v.4

3. Hope (elpis) v.5

4. Gospel (euangelion) v.5

B. The logic

1. His gospel brings hope

2. Love and faith spring from hope

A. “What air is to the lungs, such is hope to the meaning of life.” Emil Brunner

B. The ultimate source of hope is the gospel.

1. Paul’s subversive use of the word, gospel

C. Hope that is invincible

1. Stored in heavenly realm where God’s rule is uncontested

2. Dispensed on earth where God’s rule is still contested

 By the domain of darkness and our own domains

3. Hope is not dependent on earth

D. Breathing hope

1. Romans 8:32‐39

2. God is all powerful, his love is unfailing, which makes hope from his good news invincible!

FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:

 Describe a time in your life in which you lost hope. How did it affect you?

 What things are you puttng hope in? What things are you having trouble hoping for?

 How can you manifest the invincible hope of the gospel in your life today?

 What does the phrase, “more than conquerors” mean? (Romans 8:37)

N.T. Wright

I. BACKGROUND FOR THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS

 Author

 Recipients

 Purpose

 Context

II. A NEW ADDRESS (COLOSSIANS 1:1‐2)

A. “…to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colossae…”

1. Saints and brothers

2. In Christ

3. In Colossae

B. The Reality and the Experience

1. Reality

2. Experience

FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:

 In what ways do the culture and empire of 55 A.D. compare to the culture and empires of 2012?

 What do you think about the subversive nature of Christianity? How was it evident in the first century?

 In what ways are your experiences holding you back from the reality of being “in Christ”?

 What would help you the most in moving toward residing “in Christ”?

GOOD READS:

The Book of Colossians

I. INTRODUCTION

II. COMMUNION’S ESSENCE IS CAPTURED IN THE WORD “REMEMBER”.

A. Luke 22:14-20

1. A past reality

2. A present reality

3. A future reality

III. COMMUNION’S POWER IS CAPTURED AND RELEASED IN ITS PRACTICE.

A. 1 Corinthians 11:26

1. Announcing

2. Experiencing

3. Sending

FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:

 What was your understanding and experience of communion when growing up?

 What, if anything, has been challenging for you in participating in communion in recent years?

 What do you make of this statement by N.T. Wright: “Past and future come rushing together into the present pouring an ocean of meaning into the little bottle of now.”

 Do you see the need to participate in communion as a Christ follower? Why or why not?

 Describe a time when communion’s essence and power were evident.

GOOD READS:

N.T. Wright

I. THE KING

A. Risen, Ascended, Enthroned and Ruling

1. Philippians 2:9‐11; Mark 16:19‐20; John 19:20‐21

II. HIS KINGDOM

A. Established, Present and Active on Earth

1. Already and Not Yet

2. The Book of Acts through Revelation

III. HIS PEOPLE

A. The Church

1. Established, Present, and Active on the Earth

2. Acts 1:4‐53. Acts through Revelation

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

 How does the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18‐20) relate to the command given to Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:26‐28)?

 What is the significance of the coming of the Spirit in Acts 2, 4, and 8?

 If the New Testament is the foundation charter of Act V, how do we relate to the Old Testament?

 Has there been any change of act in God’s story between the time of the Book of Acts and the time in which we live?

 How has understanding scripture and your relation to it as an overarching story affected your everyday life?

GOOD READS:

Bill Jackson

N.T. Wright

N.T. Wright

THE KING

 Four hundred years after Malachi and apparent silence from God, Jesus ‐ God in the flesh ‐ comes to the planet and dwells among humanity. ‐ John 1

 The fullness of the presence of God returned to the temple and yet many of those who eagerly awaited his return, missed it. ‐ John 2:19‐22

 The King has returned to initiate the plan of crushing the enemies head. Gen 3:17/ 1 Peter 3:18‐22 / 1 John 3:8b

HIS KINGDOM

 Jesus came preaching a message that focused on one thing: God's Kingdom. Matthew 4:17

 The kingdom that God rules over is completely contrary to any and every version of the kingdoms of the world. ‐ Matthew 5‐7

 Jesus shows all of humanity what it looks like to live a life in which God is ruling as King

HIS PEOPLE

 Jesus comes to redeem all of humanity and all of the world, inviting a people to experience the presence of the Spirit and be reconciled to God. ‐ John 3:16‐17

 Jesus recommissions humanity to reflect his beauty and his glory and to show the whole world what it looks like when God is King. ‐ Matthew 28:18‐19

FURTHER DISCUSSION:

 Why is the life of Jesus just as important as his death and resurrection?

 Compare Genesis 3:1‐10 to Matthew 4:1‐11. What does Jesus do that Adam and Eve do not? What does this mean for humanity and for God's Kingdom?

 Discuss Colossians 1:15‐23. Understanding the story of Act 1, 2 & 3, how do you see the overarching mission of Jesus differently today? How does this impact your understanding of salvation, the Kingdom and the purpose of your life today?

GOOD READS:

Bill Jackson

N.T. Wright