The Book of Colossians

NYTS 2005 in Philly – W. Yeh

I.       Introduction

A.     What are the Colossian church’s problems?

1.        False philosophy and astrology

2.        Legalism

3.        Heresy

B.     The impact of the heretical teaching (Rev 3:14ff)

C.     Paul’s teaching about how to resist the heretical teaching (Col 4:2)

D.     Who are they?

·         Epaphras

·         Tychicus

·         Onesimus

·         Aristarchus

·         Barnabas

·         Mark

·         Justus

E.     Two major things we should know

1.        What Christ has done for us (1,2)

2.        What Christians should do for Christ (3, 4)

II.    Outline

A.     Christ is our hope (1) – The deeper life

1.        From the experience of believers (1:1-8)

 a.      Greetings (1:1-2)

 b.      Paul gave thanks to God (1:3)

 c.      Through prayer (3)

 d.      The reason of being thankful to God (4-5, 12-14)

 e.      The power of gospel (6-8)

2.        From the progress of one’s spirituality (1:9-23)

 a.      For what Paul prayed (9-11)

·         Fully understand God’s will

·         Please God in every way

·         Bear fruit in every good work

·         Increasingly know God

·         Have endurance and patience

 b.      Know God through knowing Christ (15-19)

 c.      Christ is the mediator between God and man (20-22)

 d.      Paul’s encouragement (23)

3.        From the witnesses of Paul (1:24-29)

 a.      Paul suffered for Christ (24)

 b.      Paul’s mission and commitment (25-29)

B.     Christ is our bounty (2) – The higher life

1.        All wisdom lies in Christ (2:1-7)

 a.      For what Paul was struggling (1)

 b.      Be encouraged in heart (2)

 c.      Be united in love (2)

 d.      Know the mystery of God (2)

 e.      Not be deceived (4)

 f.       Have faith in Christ (5)

 g.      Live in Christ (6)

 h.      Root and build up in Christ (7)

 i.        Strengthen in the faith (7)

2.        All fullness and godliness is in Christ (2:8-10)

 a.      Hollow vs. fullness

 b.      Deceptive philosophy vs. deity life

3.        All power lies in Christ (2:11-23)

 a.      Circumcision and baptism (11-13)

 b.      Nail the regulations to the cross (14-19)

 c.      The basic principles of this world (20-23)

C.     Christ is our life (3) – The inner life

1.        Truly be resurrected with Christ (3:1-4)

 a.      Set our minds on things above (1-2)

 b.      Christ is our life (3-4)

2.        Changing from the old ways and learn to be like the Lord (3:5-17)

 a.      Take off old self (5-9)

 b.      Put on new self (10-17)

·         Cloth with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (12)

·         Bear with each other (13)

·         Be united as one body (15)

·         Be thankful (15)

·         Remember the word of Christ (16)

·         Do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus (17)

3.        Manifestation of a renewed life (3:18-4:1)

 a.      Encourage wives (18)

 b.      Encourage husbands (19)

 c.      Encourage children (20)

 d.      Encourage parents (21)

 e.      Encourage slaves (22-24)

 f.       Encourage masters (4:1)

D.     Christ is our master (4) – The outward life

1.        To magnify the Lord (4:1)

2.        To proclaim Christ (4:2-6)

 a.      Devote to prayer (2-3)

 b.      Be wise (5-6)

3.       To serve God loyally (4:7-18)

III. Reflection and Discussion

Chapter 1

1.       What does ‘saints’ mean? (1:2)

2.       How do we show our appreciation to God? (1:3, 9)

3.       What are the right ways to make church growing? (1:4-6)

4.       What does it that understanding the God’s grace has to do with church growth?

5.       What can you learn from Epaphras? (Phil 2:25, 4:18, Col 1:17, 4:12, Phile 23)

6.       How do we pray for brothers and sisters? (1:9-11)

7.       What is the most worth to thank God? (1:12-13)

8.       Elijah and Elisha even raised the dead children, why is it that Jesus is the firstborn of the dead? (1:17)

9.       Why it is that Jesus is the prince of peace? (1:20-21)

10.   Jesus is the head of the body. (1:18, 24)

11.   How do we preach the perfect salvation? (1:25, 28, 29)

12.   How Paul suffered for Christ in term of mental and physical? (1:24)

Chapter 2

1.       What does it mean that the mystery of God is found in Christ? (2:2, 2:9)

2.       How do people deceive us with persuasive words? (2:8)

3.       If a person was baptized in TJC, but he/she would not believe Jesus is the Son of God, did the baptism become effective? (2:12)

4.       Paul associated circumcision with baptism in 2:11-12; can you dip into Paul’s original meaning?

5.       What does “the handwriting of requirements (decrees)” mean? (2:14)

Chapter 3

1.       Why do we have to seek the things above? (3:1, 2:9, John 1:17)

2.       How do we seek or think about the things above?

3.       (3:5-10)

4.       How do we let the peace of God rule in our hearts? (3:12-14, 17)

5.       How can the life of Jesus be manifested in our body? (2 Cor 4:10, Col 3:18-4:1)

Chapter 4

1.       What is the mystery of Christ? (4:3)

2.       How can our conversation be gracious and attractive? (4:5-6)

3.       How can we clearly proclaim God’s message? (4:4)

4.       How do we pray for brothers and sisters? (4:12)

5.       How do we pray for ministers? (4:3)