I’m going to be kicking off a new evening series based on Paul’s letter to the Colossians tomorrow – and I’m really excited about the chance to dig in to one of my favourite books of the NT. It was written around 63 AD but it’s bang up to date for us

 

Read Col 1:1-8

Discuss: Here Paul lists the characteristics of an authentic, Christ-honouring church. Can you list them? 

 

Discuss: Paul writes about fruit that is the evidence of true salvation (compare Mt 13:23). If someone is not bearing this fruit – are they still a Christian? 

 

I’ve called our series ‘Inside Out’ because Paul is writing from prison to a church he didn’t found, but was a church plant started by one of his ‘spiritual sons,; Epaphras. Epaphras apparently had heard the Gospel of Christ from Paul at Ephesus and had taken this life-changing message back to Colosse (v. 7)

 

Colosse was in what today would be known as Turkey, in Paul’s day it was known as Asia Minor. Actually these days it doesn’t exist, by 400 A.D the city was gone, nobody’s even sure where its ruins are.

 

Anyway, one day Epaphras arrives from Colosse to visit Paul to tell him how it’s going there – and out of that comes this letter. And it’s a good report – as you see. Some great stuff, there – all because the WORD of TRUTH of the gospel had come.

 

 

Read Col 1:9-14

 

PRAY: Agree with this prayer and claim it for yourself, for your GG and for Ivy Manchester!

 

Then – as Paul did, pray for other churches known to you. You could even write to the Leader of that church and let them know you’ve been doing so and ask for prayer requests?

 

Discuss: Are you growing in knowledge of God? What does that entail for you? What’s the best way to grow like that?

 

Share: Is there an area you need more of God’s strength and power right now? How can the others in the group help?