Colossians Lesson 4

1. Colossians 4:1 doesn’t sound too shocking to us. How do you imagine it sounded back in the day?

Finally, there is a brief word to the slave-masters, addressed here by the word Lords (ESV ‘Masters’). The brevity does not lessen the radical nature of the call to those who are ‘lords according to flesh’ (literal rendering of the phrase translated ‘earthly masters’ in the ESV of 3:22).

Such earthly lords are powerful. They must constrain the exercise of their power by justice and fairness: treat your slaves justly and fairly. The words of 3:25 should still be in our minds. Injustice and unfairness are wrongs for which the wrongdoer will be repaid by the Lord Christ.

In other words, earthly lords who are believers themselves must act knowing that you also have a Lord in heaven. Such lords are, in other words, themselves slaves. In the great reordering of all things in the reconciliation of creation, the power of the powerful is put in a new place (see 1:20; and cf. 2:15). Again we must see that the heavenly Lord does not do away with the earthly power. He brings it under his own rule. The powerful are still powerful, but their power must be exercised with justice and fairness. They, too, must know that it is the Lord Christ they are serving.

This revolutionary word to the slaves and masters gathered in Philemon’s home in Colossae is an important call to today’s Christian readers to see all of life’s obligations and relationships (even the difficult and less desirable ones) in the brilliant light of Christ’s reconciliation of all things. The key words are at the end of verse 24: ‘It is the Lord Christ you are serving’ (TNIV).—Woodhouse, J. (2011). Colossians and Philemon: So Walk in Him. Focus on the Bible Commentary (237). Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus.

2. What is the application of this for us?

Employers are to give their servants (employees) ‘what is just and fair’, for they have a heavenly master too! Are the rewards employers give to their workers ‘just and fair’? Employees are not to be underpaid but treated with respect, ‘knowing that you also have a Master in heaven’ (cf. Eph. 6:9). Christian employers need to remember God’s priority order as revealed here in Colossians, and take it to heart when considering employer—employee relations and demands. Are the demands employers make stopping fathers and mothers obeying God’s Word? A good example of this would be the issue of Sunday work. Employers should not ask employees to work on Sundays when God wants them to treat it as a day of rest. They should be free to go with their family to church twice on the Lord’s Day-Sabbath. They need this time with their children to instruct them in the ways of Christ.—McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (80). Leominster: Day One Publications.

3. Colossians 4:2. What benefits come to those who pray?

Want to worry less? Then pray more.

Rather than look forward in fear, look upward in faith. This command surprises no one. Regarding prayer, the Bible never blushes. Jesus taught people that “it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit” (Luke 18:1 MSG). Paul told believers, “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart” (Col. 4:2 NLT). James declared, “Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it” (James 5:13 NLT).

Rather than worry about anything, “pray about everything.” Everything? Diaper changes and dates? Business meetings and broken bathtubs? Procrastinations and prognostications? Pray about everything.—Come Thirsty / Lucado, M. (2006). Grace for the moment® volume ii: More inspirational thoughts for each day of the year. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

4. Be honest now, does prayer sound like a bit of a burden to you? What advice would you have for a friend who said prayer was a bit of a burden to him?

Early Christians were urged to

• “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17 NASB);

• “always be prayerful” (Rom. 12:12 NLT);

• “pray at all times and on every occasion” (Eph. 6:18 NLT).

Sound burdensome? Are you wondering, My business needs attention, my children need dinner, my bills need paying. How can I stay in a place of prayer?

Do this. Change your definition of prayer. Think of prayers less as an activity for God and more as an awareness of God. Seek to live in uninterrupted awareness. Acknowledge his presence everywhere you go. As you stand in line to register your car, think, Thank you, Lord, for being here. In the grocery as you shop, Your presence, my King, I welcome. As you wash the dishes, worship your Maker.—Come Thirsty / Lucado, M. (2006). Grace for the moment® volume ii: More inspirational thoughts for each day of the year. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

5. Do you enjoy prayer?

People who enjoy God enjoy prayer. They enjoy prayer for its own sake. They don’t enjoy prayer so they can get something else from prayer; they enjoy prayer because there is, for them, nothing in life better than communing with God.—Josh Hunt. Obedience.

6. What advice would you have for a friend who said they did not enjoy prayer?

It should be equally obvious that many Christians don’t enjoy prayer. It is a telltale sign that they don’t really enjoy God. We don’t have to discipline ourselves to eat ice cream or watch sunsets. If we enjoy God we will discipline ourselves to get off our knees and get to the work.

That is the joy that Peter felt on the mount of transfiguration. (Matthew 17:4) Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Peter so enjoyed this experience he wanted to stay, but Jesus disciplined the group to go back into the harvest. People who enjoy God discipline themselves to get off their knees.—Josh Hunt. Enjoying God Makes All The Difference.

7. Colossians 4:2. What benefits come to the grateful?

Write down three things you are grateful for every day and why you are grateful for them. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? In fact, it sounds so simple that there is a good likelihood that you won’t take it seriously and you won’t actually do it. But it is in the doing that all the benefits come. And, in this case the benefits are huge. “In a study of people who completed the first web exercise, ‘Three blessings’, Seligman found that 94% of severely depressed individuals became less depressed, and 92% became happier, with an average symptom relief of a ‘whopping 50% over only 15 days’ (Seligman, 2005).” “The odds are that you will be less depressed, happier, and addicted to this exercise six months from now.”—Josh Hunt. Obedience.

8. Let’s go around the room. What is one thing you are grateful for?

Practicing gratitude can actually make you happier than winning the lottery. It improves your health, relationships, emotions, personality, and career. Winning the lottery would cause you to see a huge spike in your happiness, but the result would not be long lasting. A gratitude journal would not show as dramatic results, but the results would last over time.

http://happierhuman.com/benefits-of-gratitude/

Researcher Robert Emmons says, “Adults who keep gratitude journals on a regular basis exercise more regularly, report fewer illness symptoms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and are more optimistic about the future.” “Our groundbreaking research has shown that grateful people experience higher level of positive emotions such as, joy, enthusiasm, love, happiness and optimism. The practice of gratitude as a discipline protects a person from the destructive impulses of envy, resentment, greed and bitterness.” Let me summarize a whole lot of research for you: all good things come to the grateful. Not so to the ungrateful. And, the relationship is causal, not merely a correlation. (Swimming and ice cream sales have a relationship that is correlational: they both happen at the same time. They are both caused by a third factor: summer heat.) We can document that people who practice gratitude enjoy a wealth of benefits. We can document the fact that the gratitude causes the other benefits. They are not merely correlational.—Josh Hunt. Obedience.

9. Colossians 4:3. What kind of door is Paul thinking of here?

Charles Sullivan tells of a time when he gave the invitation and a man in his seventies came forward to give his life to Christ. His wife came down the aisle behind him with the glow of God on her face. After Sullivan counseled the man and prayed with him, he reached for a membership card to fill out, as we Baptists do, but the wife stopped him. She told Sullivan that he wouldn’t need a card. She reached in her Bible and pulled out an old, yellow, tattered card.

“Forty years ago, I made a commitment to pray for my husband’s salvation daily,” she explained. “As a sign of my commitment, I filled out a membership card with my husband’s name, and checked ‘profession of faith’ and ‘baptism.’ The only thing we need to complete is the date.” God had answered her prayer.—Reid, A. L. (1998). Introduction to evangelism (147). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman.

10. How are prayer and evangelism related? Can you have one without the other?

A bedridden woman in London, England, had been able to cultivate the life of prayer. She had read in the papers about evangelist D. L. Moody’s work in Chicago. She didn’t know Moody or anyone associated with him. Placing that paper under her pillow, she began to pray, “Lord, send this man to our church.” Moody did go to London in 1872 when his church building was in ashes back in Chicago.

While Moody was speaking to the YMCA, a pastor invited him to preach to his congregation. Nothing happened the Sunday morning Moody preached. After the service, the sister of that invalid woman had informed her that a Mr. Moody of Chicago had preached and that he was to speak again that evening. The invalid woman declared, “Oh, if I had known, I would have eaten no breakfast, I would have spent all the time in prayer. Send me no dinner, leave me alone, lock the door. I’m going to spend the whole afternoon and evening in prayer.”

That evening the building was packed to hear Moody. The atmosphere was different, and the power of God fell on that place. Five hundred people gave their lives to Christ. Great revival began, and Moody’s career as an evangelist multiplied because of that sick lady’s prayer.—Reid, A. L. (1998). Introduction to evangelism (147–148). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman.

11. Let’s pause right now and pray for people that we know that are lost.

Evangelistic churches emphasize prayer, especially prayer for the lost. In recent years, church growth experts like Charles Chaney and Peter Wagner have stressed the necessity of prayer in evangelism and church growth. Correct methods are important, but they are no substitute for prayer. The power of the Holy Spirit must animate the principles and methods. Kirk Hadaway writes, “Growing congregations are not only evangelistic and outreach oriented. They also place a greater emphasis on prayer.”

Thom Rainer says that a dynamic church must first become “a house of prayer,” and he devotes a whole chapter in his book, Giant Awakenings, to congregational prayer. Ken Hemphill writes that “the fuel for all growth is powerful prayer.” Hemphill is not speaking of typical church prayers: “We spend more time praying to keep dying saints who are prepared to die out of heaven than we do to keep sinners out of hell. There is little passion to our praying and little confidence that it really does matter.”—Terry, J. M. (1997). Church evangelism: Creating a Culture for Growth in Your Congregation (15). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

12. Colossians 4:5. What would be a specific example of how we might behave wisely before outsiders?

Those who don’t believe in Jesus note what we do. They make decisions about Christ by watching us. When we are kind, they assume Christ is kind. When we are gracious, they assume Christ is gracious. But if we are brash, what will people think about our King? When we are dishonest, what assumption will an observer make about our Master? No wonder Paul says, “Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity. When you talk, you should always be kind and pleasant so you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should” (Col. 4:5–6). Courteous conduct honors Christ.

It also honors his children. When you surrender a parking place to someone, you honor him. When you return a borrowed book, you honor the lender. When you make an effort to greet everyone in the room, especially the ones others may have overlooked, you honor God’s children.—A Love Worth Giving / Lucado, M. (2006). Grace for the moment® volume ii: More inspirational thoughts for each day of the year. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

13. In the old King James we read the phrase, “redeeming the time” in Colossians 4:5. How does your translation have it? What does this verse have to do with time management?

Christians are to make the most of all the opportunities that God gives to them. Thus Paul calls upon them to ‘redeem the time’. Although this is, as Thayer says, ‘an obscure phrase’, it implies that believers should ‘make time your own property’ (NIV) by being diligent in the use of it. Christ is drawing the world and its powers to his judgement seat at his Second Coming (Rom. 8:19), when there will be no more time to evangelize or preach; the days of mercy will then be over and the longed-for ‘not yet’ will become a reality. Paul uses the same phrase, ‘redeeming the time’, in Ephesians, but adds, ‘because the days are evil’ (Eph. 5:15–16). Thus everything is to be done for the glory of God and in the light of eternity, remembering that we live in a fallen universe. Don’t put off until tomorrow what should be done today, because procrastination is the thief of time. ‘Redeeming the time’ is about making the best use of time, making time your own property, but this will prove impossible unless one is ‘filled with the Spirit’ (Eph. 5:18).—McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (85–86). Leominster: Day One Publications.

14. Verse 6. What does it mean to have a conversation seasoned with salt?

On a recent road trip, I stopped at a McDonald’s. After placing my order, I came to the drive-up window to pay. I noticed an attractive, hand-carved cross hanging from the attendant’s neck and said, “I like your cross.”

Her reply showed how simple it is to share one’s testimony. She said, “Thank you. I like the person who died on the cross for my sins. And I love the person who rose from the grave after having died on the cross.”

She could have left it at “Thank you,” but her faithful witness touched me and drew me closer to the Lord that day.—Greg Huffer, Lebanon, Indiana / Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (72). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

15. Colossians 4:12. Who is Epaphras?

Epaphras, an associate of Paul, was instrumental in founding the church at Colosse. His report to Paul on the condition of the Colossian church prompted Paul’s letter to the fledgling believers. At the conclusion of his epistle, Paul used Epaphras’s example to give us a grip on a few of the basics of intercessory prayer.

Epaphras was “one of [their] number” (Col. 4:12 NASB). When we are involved in the lives of others through friendship, service, or other means of contact, intercession is much more natural. We can pray for others because we are aware of their concerns.

Epaphras was a “bondslave of Jesus Christ” (Col. 4:12 NASB). God’s agenda needs to be ours. When we seek His will first, intercession for the needs of others will be woven into our lives. When our focus drifts from Christ, it is hard to pray for ourselves, much less another.

Epaphras was “always laboring earnestly for [the Colossians] in his prayers” (Col. 4:12 NASB). Intercession is hard work. Intercession is spiritual warfare. It doesn’t come easily because Satan does not want you to pray for others.

The end result of fervent intercession is that others may be “fully assured in all the will of God” (Col. 4:12 NASB). That goal fits every need.—Stanley, C. F. (2002). Seeking His face (140). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

16. Who is Aristarchus?

Aristarchus came from Thessalonica (Acts 27:2) and he was with Paul during the riots at Ephesus (Acts 19:29). From Acts 20:4 we see that he also waited for Paul with Tychicus at Troas as Paul made his way back to Jerusalem. It is thought by some that he travelled with Paul as his slave or, alternatively, that he was taking a lift back home; whatever the truth is, he is also a prisoner in Rome at this time (Paul calls him ‘my fellow prisoner’). He was a volunteer willing to suffer for the kingdom of Christ.—McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (91). Leominster: Day One Publications.

17. What about Mark, what do you recall about him?

Aristarchus came from Thessalonica (Acts 27:2) and he was with Paul during the riots at Ephesus (Acts 19:29). From Acts 20:4 we see that he also waited for Paul with Tychicus at Troas as Paul made his way back to Jerusalem. It is thought by some that he travelled with Paul as his slave or, alternatively, that he was taking a lift back home; whatever the truth is, he is also a prisoner in Rome at this time (Paul calls him ‘my fellow prisoner’). He was a volunteer willing to suffer for the kingdom of Christ.—McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (91). Leominster: Day One Publications.

18. What do we know about Justus?

Justus, also called Jesus. His was a common name among the Jews. A man called by that name was nominated as a replacement apostle for Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:23), while another of the same name lived in Corinth and was a supporter of Paul (Acts 18:7). If the Justus of Colossians 4:11 is neither of these two (and that is what most commentators think) then he is mentioned only here in the New Testament and represents the ‘unknowns’ in the Lord’s service: those myriads of believers—ordinary people—with nothing particularly special to note about them, who yet have been chosen and given grace to be ‘fellow workers for the kingdom of God’. No matter how ‘unknown’ believers may feel in their own little place, they contribute to the growth of the kingdom when they use their gifts and walk in obedience to Christ.—McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (91–92). Leominster: Day One Publications.

19. One more. What do we know about Luke?

Luke is the author of the third Gospel and the book of Acts. He was a companion of Paul during his missionary journeys and accompanied him to Jerusalem and during his dangerous journey to Rome (Acts 16:10–17; 20:6–16, 21, 27–28; 27:1–8—note the ‘we’ references). Luke, a Gentile Christian, probably hailed from Antioch. He was a medical doctor and as such was a very valuable travelling companion to Paul and his team. Luke is called the ‘beloved physician’ and when we remember what Paul said in 2 Corinthians about his health problems, which he called ‘a thorn in the flesh’ (2 Cor. 12:7), there can be no doubt that Luke was of great help to him personally. Besides this, Luke has proved to be a historian of highest quality. His account of the historical Jesus is on a par with the other Gospel writers, and his history of the beginnings of Christianity in the book of Acts is unsurpassed. What he has written has proved, over two millennia, to be very reliable indeed.—McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (93–94). Leominster: Day One Publications.

20. What do all these people listed have in common?

Myra Brooks Welch tells the story of a battered, scarred violin held up for bid by an auctioneer who hardly thought it worth his time. And it apparently wasn’t, for the final bid was a grudging three dollars. But as he was calling, “Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,” a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow, wiped the dust from the old instrument, tightened the strings, and played the most beautiful melody—“as sweet as an angel sings.” When the music ceased, the auctioneer, holding it up with the bow, said in a different tone, “What am I bid for the old violin?” Instead of three dollars, it went for three thousand!

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand—

What changed its worth?” The man replied,

And many a man with a life out of tune,

And battered and torn with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd.

Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,

A game and he travels on.

He’s going once and going twice,

He’s going—and almost gone.

But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul, and the change that’s wrought

By the TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND.

Such change is incomprehensible for those outside. But all who have experienced that touch perfectly understand.

Some who have experienced the Master’s touch are mentioned by name in the closing paragraphs of Paul’s letter. The study of these ancient lives can bring a transforming touch to our modern lives and thus fullness in everyday service.—Hughes, R. K. (1989). Colossians and Philemon: The supremacy of Christ. Preaching the Word (140–142). Westchester, IL: Crossway Books.

21. Colossians 4:15. How common were house churches back in the day?

House churches were common in the New Testament. In addition to the church which met in Nympha’s house, we know that a church also met in the house of Philemon (Phlm. 2). In Acts we find that believers met in the house of Lydia at Philippi for encouragement (Acts 16:15, 40). Priscilla and Aquilla seem to have had a church meet in their house in the different cities in which they lived: Rome (Rom. 16:5) and Ephesus (1 Cor. 16:19). In Corinth, Paul used the house of the converted synagogue leader Titius Justus as a church for some period of time (Acts 18:7).

History tell us that churches did not own property for the purpose of meeting to worship until after A. D. 200. Before that time the church met outdoors (Acts 16:13) or in the synagogue for short periods of time (Acts 17:2, 10).—Anders, M. (1999). Vol. 8: Galatians-Colossians. Holman New Testament Commentary (351). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

22. How big does a group have to be for it to be a church?

In the New Testament we read where the church met in temple courts and from house to house (Acts 5:42). We tend to focus on the geography—where they met—but I want us to focus on the type of group. These were small groups and large groups and the church needs both.

Notice it was the church that met house to house. I read in my quiet time this morning about “Nympha and the church in her house.” Col. 4:15 [NIV] Again, don’t focus on where they met. Note that this was the church. This was not a group of people from the church. It was not an organization of the church. It was the church.

We commonly see a different perspective from this today as we hear people say, “Are you going to Sunday School today, or just church?” Do you hear what the question is implying? The worship service is church. Sunday School, well, that is optional. This is not the New Testament perspective.—Josh Hunt. Good Questions Have Groups Talking.

23. How would you feel about being a part of a house church?

From what I have read many people who participate in house churches during the week go to “regular churches” (I struggle to find a term) on Sunday morning. This doesn’t have to be a fight. It doesn’t have to be “which one?” It can be both.

24. Do you know anyone who participates in a house church? How common is this?

Significant interest in the house church exists among postmodern church leaders, even though there are only a few successes to report. House churches have been an intriguing, though limited, experiment among Christians in the West. House churches are known best in China, where somewhere between fifty and eighty million Christians meet regularly in house churches. China has unique characteristics that make the house church work in that context. They have not worked everywhere.

The House Church phenomenon has caught the attention of even the New York Times:

A growing number of Christians across the country are choosing a do-it-yourself worship experience in what they call a “house church.” Although numbers for such an intentionally decentralized religious phenomenon are hard to pin down, as many as 1,600 groups in all 50 states are listed on house church Web sites.

Assuming two thousand such house churches at twenty people in each, at least forty thousand Christians are involved in these congregations. Though two thousand churches may seem small, the number is growing—and new churches are being planted in homes across North America.—Stetzer, E. (2003). Planting new churches in a postmodern age (165). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman.

25. Is this group a church?

I would argue that most of what it means to really be the church—most of the one another stuff happens in, through and around small groups. Most of the loving one another, serving one another, bearing with one another and so forth happens in the micro-church, not at the congregational level.—Josh Hunt. Good Questions Have Groups Talking.[1]

[1] Hunt, J. (2013). Colossians (pp. 63–81). Josh Hunt.