Colossians 2:20-23

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?

Colossians 2:16-19

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?

Colossians 2:13-15

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?

Colossians 2:8-12

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?

Colossians 2:6-7

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?