Sermon Tone Analysis

The Gospel Project® for Adults Leader Guide CSB, Session 5

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Paul Magnifies Christ in Prison

Summary and Goal

Paul wrote the letter to the church at Colossae when he learned through Epaphras that heretical teachings were running through the church.

Paul’s letter pointed the church to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The cross of Christ is not merely a theory for theologians to ponder; it’s a real-life, real-time reality that heals, restores, and reconciles.

Through the cross, Christ reconciled us to the Father, reconciles all things in Himself, and reconciles us to one another.

Main Passage

Session Outline

1. Christ is preeminent in His reconciling all things ().

2. Christ is preeminent in His reconciling us to God ().

3. Christ is preeminent in His reconciling us to one another ().

Theological Theme

Through His work on the cross, Christ is restoring the world and reconciling us to God and to one another.

Christ Connection

In prison, Paul encouraged God’s people by proclaiming the magnificence of Christ—His identity as God’s Son and His work on the cross to reconcile us to God.

Christian growth and maturity does not take place through moving beyond the gospel to other Bible teaching but through continually refocusing our attention on Christ—who is the focus of the Scriptures and the head of the church.

Missional Application

God calls us, as those who have been reconciled to God, to be heralds of reconciliation to the world.

Session Plan

Introduction

Start this session by recalling how 9/11 led to significant and serious questions being asked (leader p.

58; PSG p.

46).

What other hard questions about God have you or others you know asked?

How would you answer some of these questions?

Summarize this session on Paul’s addressing some difficult questions because of heretical teachings in Colossae.

Paul aimed his words in three directions—upward, downward, and outward (leader pp.

58-59; PSG pp.

46-47).

Introduction Option

Ask group members to share where they were when they heard about the events that occurred on 9/11.

Next, ask what questions those events raised in them.

Then proceed with the Introduction

1. Christ is preeminent in His reconciling all things ().

Note the imported heresy in Colossae, which prompted Paul to call on the church to look upward to the one true Christ to reconcile all of creation.

Then read .

Emphasize that the Son of God was not created but is the Creator and Sustainer of all, so He is preeminent over creation (leader pp.

59-60; PSG pp.

47-48).

How should knowing Christ created and sustains the world impact how we live?

Explain the term “firstborn” with reference to Christ in this passage: He is first in rank, supreme over all creation.

And as “firstborn from the dead,” He is preeminent over the new creation (leader pp.

60-61; PSG pp.

48-49).

In what ways have you wrestled with enjoying God’s good gifts in fallen creation?

Why do you think it matters that Christ will reconcile all things?

Pack Item 2: Hearing the Old Testament in the New

Pack Item 3: Handout

Ask group members to pull out their handout and fill in the blank for this session:

• “God: Created the Heavens and the Earth…”

(answer: “The Son of God…”)

2. Christ is preeminent in His reconciling us to God ().

Say that Paul turned the Colossians’ focus to Christ’s work to reconcile people to God, leading them to look downward to remain grounded in faith.

Ask a volunteer to read .

Communicate how Christ has reconciled us to God in our salvation (leader pp.

61-62; PSG pp.

49-50).

How have you been changed from who you were before Christ?

How is Christ continuing to change you?

Highlight the “if” in verse 23, calling attention to the importance of staying grounded in the faith, which gives evidence of our reconciliation through Christ.

Contrast the false teaching in Colossae with the truth they heard through Epaphras (leader pp.

62-63; PSG pp.

50-51).

What can we do to be better rooted in our faith?

Point 2 Option

On a board or large sheet of paper, draw a tree with a root system.

With the final question in this section, ask group members to write their answers on the roots in the picture.

3. Christ is preeminent in His reconciling us to one another ().

Read .

Note Paul’s point in this passage: The same Christ who reconciled us to the Father also reconciles us outwardly to one another.

We must love one another as Jesus has loved us (leader pp.

63-64; PSG pp.

51-52).

Based on your own observable love toward other Christians, how would the world judge your church?

How does reconciliation, either by seeking forgiveness or extending forgiveness, demonstrate Christ’s love to the world?

Explain the difficulties related to being reconciled to one another, but showing Christ’s love is worth the effort (leader pp.

64-65; PSG pp.

52-53).

What do you think Paul would write about the love within your church?

For Further Discussion

How is it possible to have such care for people whom you have never even seen (see )?

Conclusion

Conclude with the truth that all of our questions will one day find their answer in Christ’s return, but until that day, we hold on to Christ’s cross (leader p.

65; PSG p.

53).

Apply the truths of this session with “His Mission, Your Mission” (PSG p.

54).

Pass out cards from Pack Item 7: Faith and Questions to help group members remember the preeminence of Christ in all things, including our circumstances.

Christ Connection: In prison, Paul encouraged God’s people by proclaiming the magnificence of Christ—His identity as God’s Son and His work on the cross to reconcile us to God.

Christian growth and maturity does not take place through moving beyond the gospel to other Bible teaching but through continually refocusing our attention on Christ—who is the focus of the Scriptures and the head of the church.

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Missional Application: God calls us, as those who have been reconciled to God, to be heralds of reconciliation to the world.

Expanded Session Content

Introduction

On September 11, 2001, the world watched in horror as two hijacked Boeing 767s crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, and two Boeing 757s were flown into the Pentagon and a field in southwest Pennsylvania.

It was the deadliest attack on the United States since Pearl Harbor, some sixty years prior.

For those trapped in the towers, impossible decisions had to be made.

Some placed final phone calls to loved ones and waited for the inevitable.

Others tried to descend crowded stairwells through the intense flames.

Still others did the unthinkable and leapt from the building one hundred stories from the ground.

In time, both towers collapsed along with the hearts of people around the world.

No one in lower Manhattan will ever forget those haunting moments—the expanding plume of smoke, the nauseous smell of burning chemicals, the brave firefighters who sacrificed their lives to save others, and paper and ash covering a large portion of the city.

Younger generations will only read about 9/11 in textbooks, but for those who watched it that day, the events of that tragic Tuesday will remain lodged forever in their memories.

On 9/16, the Sunday following the attack, church attendance spiked.

Pews that were usually empty were packed with visitors rushing to religion for answers.

Why did God allow this evil to happen?

Where was Jesus Christ when the towers fell?

What would happen to me if I died?