Final Greetings
7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant[a] in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews[c] among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
17 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
~ In what ways have you been challenged by this letter? What have you been called to do differently?
~ How have you been encouraged or inspired through this letter?
5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
~ What might keep us from making the most of every opportunity God gives us to love on non-believers? How can we pray for each other in this?
~ How would you describe your conversations with non-believers? Salt not only flavors but also prevents corruption: Would this be true of your speech? Why and/or why not?
Further Instructions
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
~ What does your prayer life look like these days? Are you devoted to persistent prayer? do you keep alert praying prayers focused on the needs God has revealed to you?
~ Will you pray verses 3 & 4 for yourself?
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
Colossians 4
1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
~ Are you tempted to do a good job only when it it being seen or recognized by someone else? How do these verses challenge your approach to your work?
~ How do you treat those who fall under your authority? Would you say you treat them justly and fairly? Are you submitting your leadership to God's authority?
Instructions for Christian Households
18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers,[c] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
~ Why do you think the command for wives is to submit to the husband? Why do you think husbands are commanded to love their wives? Why might they be given different commands?
~ What is the parental guidance given in vs. 21? Why do you think this is so important?
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
~ Through Christ we are at peace with God: why then do you think it's important that the members of one body be at peace with each other?
~ What are you thankful to God for today? Will you take time to praise Him?
2 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
~ Who might you be with holding forgiveness? Would you be willing today to follow verse 13 and forgive as the Lord forgave you?
~ Is there a difficult person in your life, your family, your church, that you need help loving? Will pray for that person/relationship right now?
9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
~ In what ways is your new self being renewed?
~ In these verses what walls or barriers do we see Christ has removed? What does that mean to/for you?
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
~ How can engaging in the sins listed in verse 5 lead to the worship of self which is idoltry?
~ What does it look like to rid yourself of the things listed in verse 8? What are some ways God has worked to help you remove them?
Colossians 3
Living as Those Made Alive in Christ
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
~ What does it look like to set your mind on things above, not on earthly things?
~ What do these verses tell you about your relationship with Christ? How do these truths affect you?
*So so sorry this is posted so late today! -Tiff
20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
~ Taking a personal inventory, what ways might pride or false humility have crept into your spiritual walk? How might you be putting on a public show?
~ Do you find yourself worshiping the things that make you feel spiritual such as self discipline and/or knowledge of spiritual things? Who is to be the one and only focus of our worship?
Freedom From Human Rules
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
~ These ceremonial aspects of the Old Testament where but shadows pointing to whom? In what ways do you see Christians judging each other and imposing these Old Testament shadows in the Church today? How might you be guilty of this?
~ What characteristics does Paul share with us in this passage that will help us identify false teachers?
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.[e]
~ The list of the crimes of crucified criminals were nailed to the cross with that criminal to declare the violations he was being punished for. What is your response to know that all of your sins were put to Christ's account thus "nailing it to the cross"?
~ Are you living as one today whose enemies have been disarmed and defeated? What fear might be keeping you captive? Will you embrace Christ victory today and surrender your fear to Him?
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ.
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[b] was put off when you were circumcised by[c] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
~ Take inventory in your life: where are you tempted to rely on worldly traditions and/or philosophies rather than Christ? If such things contradict or are not grounded in the truth of Christ what does that make them?
~ What type of circumcision described in these verses happens to those who put their faith in Christ? What are the results of this?
Spiritual Fullness in Christ
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
~ Based on these verses, why is it important to know God through His word? Can one live in Him, be rooted and built up in Him without being in His word? How have you witnessed yourself or others struggle to walk in Him daily due to a lack of time with Him in His word?
~ What would be the cause for one to "overflow with thankfulness"? Would this be true of you today? Why or why not?
4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
~ How are we to protect ourselves and other from false teaching?
~ How was Paul looking out for the Colossians though he was in prison and could not be with them? What things might you be letting get in the way of your leadership?
Colossians 2
1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
~ How hard is God calling you to contend for those He is using you to lead to spiritual maturity? Will you take a moment to pray for those He has placed around you?
~ Do you view your relationship with Christ as personal? What are you doing to get to know Him more?
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
~ What do you think it means to be fully mature in Christ? What evidence do you find in your own life of this maturity?
~ How have you experienced Christ's power working in you? What challenge might you be facing that you need to surrender to His power?
