We have reasons to be going

Lesson Title: The Power of the Gospel and Love in Action

Lesson Text: Colossians 1:6-8 (NIV)

Colossians 1:6–8 CSB

6 that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace. 7 You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 and he has told us about your love in the Spirit.

Lesson Objective

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Understand how the gospel is meant to transform their lives.

2. Identify how love through the Spirit is a sign of spiritual growth.

3. Explore practical ways to live out the gospel and love others.

Introduction (5 minutes)

Examine the context of the passage: These verses are a part of a larger unit that cover Col 1:3-23. This section is common in ancient letters. Often times, when writing letters, the author would begin with prayers of thanksgiving to the gods. That is what Paul is doing, except. But he puts a Chritian twist on it. He is taking something that would be well known to an unbelieving audience, and he is using it to communicate Christian truth.

We need to understand the importance of this prayer. When Paul is offering his thanksgiving prayers, He is doing it with the Colossian church in mind. This is not a generic prayer that he prays offers up for everyone he writes to. This is the Colossian prayer. He is praying for the issues that the Colossians are facing, and the triumphs that they are experiencing. When we read this section, we are preparing our hearts to address the specific issues that are facing the Colossian church, and from it, we see what issues the church is facing. Flip to Col 2:4-7

Colossians 2:4–7 CSB

4 I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. 5 For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ. 6 So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, 7 being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.

The main thrust here is that Paul wants the Colossians to stay firm in the Gospel that they know. They need to stay true to the true gospel. It seems that there is some risk of them falling away from the truth that they were founded upon.

This specific section of Paul’s introduction is giving reasons for why christians should be going out, sharing the good news.

• Read Colossians 1:6-8: Ask a student to read the passage out loud. Explain that this letter is from the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Colossae, encouraging them to keep growing in their faith.

Part 1: The Gospel Bears Fruit (10 minutes)

What does it mean when Paul says that the Gospel bears fruit. There is a twofold meaning to this.

1.) The gospel is bringing change to community.

2..) The gospel is bringing change to individuals

• What Does ‘Bearing Fruit’ Mean?: Explain that “bearing fruit” means producing good results or outcomes in our lives—like kindness, love, patience, and sharing the gospel with others. The gospel isn’t just words; it’s powerful and leads to transformation.

Here is a throwback:

The New City Catechism: 52 Questions & Answers for Our Hearts & Minds

Question 32: What Do Justification and Sanctification Mean?

What do justification and sanctification mean?

Answer

Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us.

1 Peter 1:1–2

To those who are elect exiles … according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Justification is the seed, and sanctification is the fruit that we bear.

Paul is Praying God here for the gospel seed that is growing in the world. At that time, Christians there were not a lot of Christians. We have evidence outside the Bible of Christians existing, however, they are never mentioned as a major group in the world. There were churches, and they were persecuted, but they did not have any power in society. They were only a seed.

What happens when you plant a seed?

It grows.

The Gospel was a seed, planted by Christ, and cared for by the Spirit through the Church. It grew. Despite resistance and persecution, it grew. It spread throughout the Roman Empire. In only a few hundred years, a nation that was totally pagan. One that persecuted Christians, became a Christian nation. Paul was correct when he said that “ The word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace”

, Col 1:5–6.

What does this tell us about the power of the Gospel?

There is power in the gospel. It really does change communities. We should be wel aquainted with the way that the gosple changes individual lives. However, more than this, it changes nations and cultures.

Colossians and Philemon (Thanksgiving for the Colossians’ Reception of the Gospel (1:3–8))

individual churches” composed of converted Gentiles “were for Paul a sign of the universal scope of God’s saving purposes and hence of still greater things to come

A quote says,

Colossians and Philemon

, “the false gospels are the outgrowths of local circumstances, of special idiosyncrasies; the true Gospel is the same everywhere. The false gospels address themselves to limited circles; the true Gospel proclaims itself boldly throughout the world. Heresies are at best ethnic: the truth is essentially catholic.”

The Gospel is powerful in every context because it is true. It speaks to the universal nature of man, and the nature of God. False gospels speak to specific problems in specific communities, but they do not travel across cultures. They do not change the world like the Gospel of God.

Bridging contexts:

You might be surprised to know this, but there are some pretty big similarities between Paul’s context and our context. During Paul’s time, there was a lot of religious toleration. The idea was that as long as you are not stepping on anybody’s toes, you could practice your religion, in your way. Any number of gods could be worshiped. When Rome would conqurer another territory, they would not force them to convert to the Roman religion. Oftentimes, they would worship the gods of the conqured people alongside their own gods. Religious truth was relative.

This caused a problem with Christians. How many gods do we believe in? How many truths are there? There is only one God, and one truth. Christians could not keep quiet about this. We had to share the good news, and that means we told people that they were wrong to worship many gods. While it was ok to practice any religion, it was not ok to deny the gods completely. This caused a lot of conflict and persecution for Christians. Because we believe in an objective truth we were hated by the culture. Despite that, the gospel spread throughout the Roman Empire because of the insistance of Chirsitians to share their faith.

• Key Verse: “The gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world…” (v.6)

Part 2: Understanding God’s Grace (5 minutes)What do justification and sanctification mean?

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace., 7 You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf

Here, Paul is mentioning the personal growth that teh COlossian Church is experiencing. They are producing fruit because they have experienced God’s grace.

Something to note here is how the Colossian Church is being lumped in with the greater movement of the gospel. Paul wants the church to see that they are not the only converts. Christianity is a growing faith. Missionaries are carrying the word to cities, and churches are starting.

How did the Colossian church hear about God’s grace?

They heard it form Epaphras. Who was Epaphras?

Exalting Jesus in Colossians and Philemon The Truth of God Is a Global Message (1:6–8)

More than likely Epaphras was a Pauline convert who was responsible for starting the Colossian church (ibid., 198–99). A native Colossian (4:12), he had been instrumental in evangelizing the Lycus Valley, including the flourishing churches of Hierapolis and Laodicea (4:13; O’Brien, Colossians, Philemon, 15). He was a close associate of Paul, a “fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus” (Phlm 23); and here in Colossians 1:7, he is described as Paul and Timothy’s “dearly loved fellow servant.” Like the co-senders of the letter, Epaphras was a surrendered bond servant operating under the lordship of Christ. Paul goes on to describe Epaphras as “a faithful minister of Christ.” The term minister is often used to speak of Paul’s associates, specifically in his missionary activity (ibid.). As a devoted follower of Christ, Epaphras was fulfilling his responsibility by sharing the good news and was therefore considered “faithful.”

Epaphrasz was the missionary to the Colossian church. What Paul did for the Philippians, Epaphras did for the Colossians. He was saved, and carried the salvation message to the Colossians. This is one of the fruits that come out of the gospel. When you have the message of eternal life, you must share it. Think about it. You know the secret to eternal life. You know how to experience everlasting joy. Why would you not share it. Do you want other people to go to hell. There are things you can do to help others know God.

Paul says in Romans 10:14-15

Romans 10:14–15 CSB

14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.

Tell others about the gospel. It is importnant that you do this. God gave you a gift. Paul calls it grace.

• What is Grace?:

Explain that grace is God’s undeserved favor toward us. We are saved, not because we deserve it, but because God loves us and gives us His gift of salvation through Jesus.

You have the ability to tell others about this grace. Perhaps, they will be moved by the spirit to accept it, and perhaps not. All you can do is share it with others.

Part 3: Love in the Spirit (10 minutes)

Colossians 1:8 CSB

8 and he has told us about your love in the Spirit.

• What is Love in the Spirit?: This is love that comes from the Holy Spirit working in us. It’s not just about liking someone or being kind when it’s easy. This kind of love comes from God and helps us love even when it’s difficult. Love is the oppsite of selfishness. It means doing good for someone, even when it does not benefit you.

John 13:34–35 CSB

34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

How did Jesus show His love?

He died. He died to give His Church the gospel. So that we could know eternal life. His sacrifice was a missional sacrifice (Does everyone know what missional means?)

Why would Paul mention love here? Love in the Spirit is the culmination of everything that he has been saying to the Colossian Church.

Firstly, It demonstrates their salvation. They are producign fruit. Love is a fruit of the Spirit. The fact that they are demonstrating love shows the authenticity and stregenth of their conversion.

Secondly, love is the fuel for missions. A love of neighbor causes people to go out, and share the gospel. It means that they want others to have the good done to them, and the best thing you can do is bring someone the news of eternal life.

Conclusion and Prayer (5 minutes)

• Recap the Main Points:

• The gospel is powerful and bears fruit in our lives.

• We need to truly understand God’s grace and let it transform us.

• Love in the Spirit is a mark of a growing, mature Christian.

• Closing Challenge: Remember that you know how to get eternal life. You have it yourself. If you love others, then show it by sharing the gospel.

Remind them that the gospel is still bearing fruit today—in their lives. They can be part of spreading the gospel by living out grace and love in their schools, homes, and friendships.

• Closing Prayer: Lead the group in a prayer, asking God to help them understand His grace more deeply and to show love through the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray for specific people they thought of in the love challenge.

Optional Activities (if time allows): Group Discussion or Pair Share: Ask Student to come up with one good reason why we should not share the gospel. Really push them to try to.