Completely Complete!

Studies in

COLOSSIANS
February/March 2013
Ros CLARKe & PHILIP sowerbutts
Acknowledgements
Artwork is used by permission and remain copyrighted to their artists. All other material is Copyright Castle Church 2013. Castle Church Office Castle Church Hall Newport Road Stafford ST16 1DP 01785 241894 www.castlechurch.org.uk admin@castlechurch.org.uk

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Colossians
What is an epistle? Most of the New Testament is made up of epistles. They are basically letters sent by the leaders of the newly founded Christian Church. As the good news of Jesus spread out from Jerusalem, those leaders went from city to city telling people about Jesus and setting up new churches. They would then leave someone in charge before moving onto the next city. Obviously problems would spring up in those new baby churches, especially as these new Christians tried to work out how to live for Jesus in a culture which maybe wasnt always in line with their new found faith. Also, false teachers were all over the place trying to get people to follow them by teaching a slightly off -beam perverted version of the gospel. The leaders of the church stayed in touch with the new churches by writing letters to them, dealing with specific problems they were having. Most of these letters were written by Paul, but others were written by other leaders such as John, Peter and Jude. We dont actually know who wrote one of them (Hebrews). We are going to spend the next few weeks looking at one of Pauls letters to the church in Colosse.

Page |3 Colosse The ancient site of Colosse is located in modern day Turkey. The site was founded in the ancient Lycus Valley on the side of the Aksu river to the north of the Honaz mountain, and positioned on the historic commercial and military routes connecting southwest of Anatolia to the east. According to Xenophon, a Greek historian from the 4th century BC, Colosse was one of the six big cities of Phrygia. The city lived its heydays during the Persian rule in Asia Minor between 6th and 4th centuries BC, but lost its importance after the foundations of Hierapolis and Laodicea around 2nd century BC. Then the city was developed, together with Laodicea, in wool production and weaving until it was destroyed by a major earthquake in the 1st century AD, not long after Paul wrote his letter to them. Background to the letter Paul wrote from prison in about AD60. Paul never visited Colosssae himself; the Colossian church was started by a man called Epaphras after he became a believer under Pauls ministry in Ephe sus. (Acts 19:10) Paul wrote the letter because Epaphras sent news that false teachers were telling the church in Colosse that their beliefs werent full and complete. These false teachers had mixed together parts of the old Jewish faith, Greek philosophy and Christianity to form a new religion. Some of their teachings were as follows: They included forms of asceticism (extreme physical denial), angel worship and pride in having deep superior wisdom. They taught that there were spirit powers that contro lled the natural world and were to be worshipped as mediators between God and His creation. You could show reverence to these spirit powers by either asceticism or by keeping the Jewish holy days, by keeping the old covenant practice of circumcision and following all the Old Testament food laws.

Page |4 In Colossians, Paul writes to tackle this heresy by using the ideas and language of the false teachers themselves and showing that its only Jesus who can bring the true and lasting fulfilment that theyre looking for. They are, Completely Complete in Him! There is no other mediator between God and man other than Jesus. The ideas of the false teachers are wrong, ineffective and lead people down the wrong path which will never lead to their salvation. Why are we looking at Colossians? Its not easy living the Christian life, especially during our day to day lives away from the security of our church family on a Sunday. Colossians is a really encouraging letter in that it helps us to understand what it means to live for Jesus and grow as His disciples in a culture of conflicting, confusing religious beliefs. Were only going to be with this short book for seven weeks, but hopefully they will be seven weeks that have been worth it! How does this booklet work? Each page gives us the reading for the following Sunday along with a few questions to think about. These questions are the ones that will be used in bible study groups.

Colossians wordle showing the most used words in the book represented by size

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Sunday 3rd February

Colossians 1:1-14

Pauls aim in this opening passage is to drive home that what the Colossians already have is the genuine and complete Gospel as opposed to the additions offered by the false teachers: v.3-4 true Christianity, v.5 true Gospel, v.9 true knowledge, v.11 true power and v.13 true salvation. Remember, Colossians is a letter written by the apostle Paul to a church he has not personally visited, but only heard about. 1. How would you describe Castle Church to another Christian who had never been there? What are our most important characteristics? 2. Look through the passage and see how Paul describes the Colossian church. What does he consider the most important characteristics? 3. How does Paul introduce himself to the Colossians? Why does he mention this? 4. What does Paul do for the Colossians? Why? 5. How did the Colossian church come into being? What is the answer in v. 6? And in v. 7? 6. How does God grow churches? How does he use people to help to grow churches? 7. Why is it important that we continue to keep the gospel at the centre of our church? 8. What does Paul pray for the Colossians? (v. 9) Why? (vv. 10-12) 9. In vv. 13-14, Paul summarises the gospel. How would you explain this in your own words? Spend some time thanking God for Castle Church and praying that the gospel will continue to bear fruit and grow here. Use Paul's prayers as a model for your own.

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Sunday 10th February

Colossians 1:15-23

The false teachers in Colosse, like the false teachers of our own day, didnt want to deny the importance of Jesus. They just played down His importance, giving Him prominence but not pre-eminence. In their philosophy, Jesus Christ was one of many good things which came from God and through which men could reach God. It was this claim that Paul refuted in this section. Remember, in last week's passage Paul described how the gospel grows Christians. In this passage he explains in more detail what that gospel message is. 1. Who is Paul talking about in v. 15? (Look back at vv. 13-14) 2. What does it mean that he is 'the image of the invisible God'? Look at Genesis 1:27 and Hebrews 1:3 to help you answer this. 3. What does it mean that he is 'the firstborn over all creation'? Look at vv. 16-17 to help you answer this. 4. What does it mean that he is 'the head of the body, the church'? Look at Ephesians 5:23-27 to help you answer this. 5. What does it mean that he is 'the firstborn from among the dead'? Look at 1 Corinthians 15: 20-13 to help you answer this. 6. How does this passage help us to understand the relationship between God the Son and God the Father? 7. What did God achieve through Christ's death on the cross for us and for all creation? How does Christ's blood make peace? 8. Reconciliation with God is at the heart of the gospel message. How can we know that we are reconciled to God? (v. 23) Thank God for the reconciliation he has made possible for us, and pray that we will continue to hold onto this gospel.

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Sunday 17th February

Colossians 1:24-2:5

At the end of the last passage, Paul described himself as a servant of the gospel. In this section of the letter, Paul strengthens his appeal to the Colossian believers to stick with the gospel that originally came to them. He wants them to stay loyal to it and not go off after other false teachers. He throws the full weight of his Apostolic authority behind what they heard from Epaphras, who first took the gospel to them. 1. Paul rejoices 'in what was suffered for you'. What suffering is he referring to? 2. What is 'still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions' that servants of the gospel can fulfil? Think about what Epaphras did (1:7) as a servant, and what Paul does in his role as a servant. 3. Why does Paul describe the gospel as a mystery that used to be kept hidden? 4. Who has the mystery been revealed to? Why is it significant that the mystery is made known to the Gentiles? 5. What are the characteristics of Paul's servant ministry? (vv. 28-29) What is its goal? 6. How is Christ involved in Paul's ministry? (v. 29) 7. What does Paul want for the Colossian Christians and for all Christians he hasn't met? (2:1-3) 8. Why is it so important that they know and understand the gospel thoroughly? (2:4) 9. Who are the servants of the gospel at Castle Church? Are you a servant of the gospel?

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Give thanks for the servants of the gospel who proclaimed it to us, and who continue to proclaim it at our church and in our community. Pray that we will have a deeper understanding of the gospel so that we will never be deceived. Who was Epaphras? Epaphras means lovely. He was a Christian preacher from whom Paul learned about the situation of the church in Colosse. He was a native of Colosse and his ministry covered the churches in Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. Later he was a companion of Paul during his imprisonment. Though Epaphras is only mentioned in the Colossians and Philemon, Paul seemed to hold him in very high regard.

Paul encouraged the Colossians to look carefully at the so-called truth the false teachers were preaching.

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Sunday 24th February

Colossians 2:6-23

There are many voices in this world trying to be heard. Their desired outcome is not to bring you benefit but actually, to cause you eternal harm by diverting your attention from Jesus. Paul gives a strong warning against them in Colossians 2:6-23. He wants believers to be completely in tune with the authentic voice of Jesus. This will equip them to recognise that any voice other than His is wrong. This allows Christians to live freely in Christ and to avoid the false teachings of this world. 1. Colossians 2:6-7 is a wonderful description of the Christian life. What are the characteristics of a Christian that Paul mentions? 2. How can we make sure we are rooted and built up in Christ? How is our faith strengthened? Where does thankfulness come from for the Christian?

3. What is the danger Paul mentions in v. 8? In Colosse, it seems likely that there was a group of believers claiming to have a 'super-Christian' experience. For those on the inside they claimed special knowledge and access to Christ, which made them superior to other Christians.

P a g e | 10 4. What contemporary ideas can you think of that Christians are sometimes captivated or deceived by? 5. Paul's answer to the other philosophies is Christ. If we are in Christ, there are four things/experiences we share with him. What are they? (vv. 9-12) 6. Before we were in Christ, we were dead, but God made us alive in Christ. (v. 13) How did he do this? Why did we need the written code to be cancelled and the 'powers and authorities' to be disarmed?

7. What are the false Christians concerned about? (vv. 16-23) Why don't these things matter? 8. What sort of things do we sometimes get concerned about that don't really matter? What is the solution to this? Thank God that we are in Christ. Pray that we will continue to grow in him and that we won't be deceived by false ideas.

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Sunday 3rd March

Colossians 3:1-17

Protocol means a way of behaving or a prescribed code of conduct attached to a certain environment or situation . Government officials learn the proper protocol for each foreign government th ey deal with, in order to communicate within the boundaries of that cultures acceptable behaviour and communication. Christians have a protocol too, but its not one that encourages becom ing like others, but like Jesus. Were supposed to be living and beh aving with our eyes focused on the heavenly; in this way others will begin to see heaven through us. In the last passage, Paul was concerned that we shouldn't be deceived by false ideas about what it means to live as a Christian. In this passage he talks about what it does mean to live as a Christian. 1. In what sense have we been raised with Christ? How does our position with Christ give us a new perspective on our lives here and now? 2. How should we deal with the rest of our 'earthly nature'? Why? 3. What kinds of behaviour characterise the 'earthly nature'? Look at the things that are spoken, thought, and done. Why must we get rid of such things? 4. What sort of people are now Christians? (v. 11) What different kinds of people can you see at Castle Church? What sort of problems can happen when different groups of people are brought together? 5. Why don't these divisions matter any more? 6. How should Christians behave towards each other? Why is Christian unity so important?

P a g e | 12 7. What should Christians do to encourage each other? Do you think it is enough to do this for an hour or two on a Sunday? How else could we do this? 8. What do you spend most of your time doing during the week? What difference will it make to do this 'in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him'? Pray that we will put to death our earthly nature and live as Christians, loving each other, encouraging each other and doing everything in Christ's name.

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Sunday 10th March

Colossians 3:18-4:1

As a demonstration of Jesus as our "all-sufficient" Saviour, we now find Paul giving guidelines by which we can successfully conduct our family and business matters! This passage illustrates that the "pre-eminence" of Jesus should reach even into to the secular concerns of our lives. So, in this passage Paul explains to the Colossians how to live as Christians, focussing on particular areas of life in the family and at work. 1. Look back at 3:17. How should Christians do everything they do? What does it mean to do something 'in the name of the Lord Jesus'? 2. In vv. 18-21, Paul addresses different family members according to their role. What is the motivation for the different kinds of behaviour? 3. How should wives relate to their husbands? What does it mean for them to 'submit'? Look at Ephesians 5: 21-24 to help you answer this. 4. How are husbands to relate to their wives? Look at Ephesians 5:25 to help you answer this. 5. Does Paul think that husbands and wives are not equal partners in a marriage? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of a relationship that works as in 3:18-19? 6. How should children behave to their parents? And how should parents behave towards their children? 7. Compare the sort of family life Paul commends with a 'typical' 21 st century family. Is this an area where Christians are in danger of being deceived by the world's ideas? 8. What instructions does Paul give to slaves? Being a slave was not quite the same as being an employee. Are there any principles we can draw from vv. 22-25 that are relevant in the modern workplace?

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9. What instructions does Paul give to masters, and why? Are there any principles we can draw from this that are relevant in the modern workplace? Spend some time praying for your own family and for other families in our church, that they would be pleasing to God. Pray for those in the workplace to do everything in the name of Christ.

Ten minutes late, the kids are fighting, the parents are fuming... its the time honoured drive to church

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Sunday 17th March

Colossians 4:2-18

1. Look back over the whole book of Colossians. How would you summarise what Paul has taught them so far? In this last section, Paul makes some specific requests of the Colossian church and talks about some individuals known to them. 2. What is the first thing that Paul asks the Colossians to do? What specific prayers does he ask for? 3. Look at 3:18. What are Paul's circumstances when he writes this? What might you have expected him to be praying for? What is more important to Paul? 4. What does he ask for in vv. 5-6? What are his priorities for the Colossians? Is this a priority in your prayers? 5. Are you ready to make the most of every opportunity God gives you? Do you know how to answer everyone? How can we be better equipped for this? 6. Look at vv. 7-15. What impression do you get of this group of Christians? How do they feel about each other? 7. Why is it important to know what's happening to other Christians? Do you know what's happening in the lives of other people at Castle Church? What about Christians in other places? 8. Paul says that Epaphras is 'working hard for you'. What is Epaphras actually doing? Is prayer an easy thing to do? Pray for ourselves and others to have opportunities to proclaim the gospel. Pray for others in our church family who are struggling and pray for the wider church.

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Is Christ sufficient and supreme? Has He done all that is needed for our life and eternity? Do we need to add any tradition or observance to what He has done? Are we going to be satisfied with that or are we going to be constantly looking for something additional? A deeper experience? More enlightenment? A superior understanding? . Or are we keeping our hearts and minds set on Him?