Untitled Sermon (6)

Colossians Book Review

Book Title: Paul’s Instructions to the church at Colossae

~ Christ is supreme therefore live this way

Author of Book: Paul is the author

Theme of Book

The theme of this book is the Lordship of Jesus Christ and His sufficiency in meeting our needs in every area. (https://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Colossians.html)

Paul cover the following topics.

Paul prays for the believes he does not know in the region and request prayer for himself Col1.9, 4.2-3. These are like book ends to letter.

The Preeminence of Christ and the results of his work

The great Mystery Christ in us - and in him are all the treasures of wisdom and Knowledge.

Free from the law and therefore should live with our minds set on Christ.

All our relationships are influenced by Christ .

Reason for writing the book

Paul wrote Colossians to warn the believers of doctrinal error and to encourage them to continued their growth in Christ. The first half of the Book of Colossians is a theological masterpiece that includes one of the best Christology in the New Testament.

The second half is a mini-ethics course, addressing every area of Christian life. Paul progresses from the individual life to the home and family, from work to the way we should treat others.

Chapter titles

1 The importance of Christ

2 Your life in Christ

3 How to live your new life

4 Final Instructions ~Prayers and Greetings

Key Verses

Colossians 1:15-16, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him."

Colossians 1:28 (ESV) Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Colossians 2:8, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

Colossians 3:12-13, "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Colossians 4:5-6, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Principles and Challenges

Paul finds prayer to be very important - he prays for the churches constantly, Hi prayers are about being filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding, that they live a life worthy of of the Lord. That they please him, bear fruit, that they are strong.

Paul lays out who Christ is and explains that he is first in every thing. Therefore we are not to let anyone pass judgment on us based on Sabbaths, questions of food or drink. We are not to fall into asceticism, or worship angels, listen to people about their visions and special knowledge.

We are not to submit to regulations, and self made religions.

We are to seek Christ and focus on things above Col 3.1-3

We are to put to death the things in us that are earthly, things such as sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, covetousness,

8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 3:8–9.

Instead we are put on the new self which God is creating in us

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 3:12–17.

Key Sections for Teaching

Prayer - the kinds of prayer that Paul prays for the churches,

Christology - who is Jesus

Freedom From the Law -

Proper worship

Husbands and Wives

Working with others

My Applications

Pray like Paul

Like a life worthy

love like Jesus

Chapter 1

Be careful to worship Him only

We should strive to love each other and others in the various churches around us.

Work to make sure the men and women God has given me are established in their faith.

Be very careful what and how I teach.

Understand that we are complete in Christ.

There is no need for anything else.

Application

Pray in a way that is aware of what is happening around me with my eyes wide open and share a simple clear presentation of the gospel.

Application: Pray for everyone in our ministry to share the gospel effectively, help them to know how to share it. And support them in prayer that God will give them opportunity and that they will recognized it when it happens.

 Application

Walk in love and forgiveness toward every one. Humbly let the H.S. lead you.

Pray grace and peace for all the people in our ministry.

Church leaders and Christians generally would do well to take a leaf out of the apostle’s handbook of pastoral care. Too often we can adopt an adversarial approach to the way we handle fellow-believers who have embraced unusual (or even deviant) teachings and practices, when instead we should do so in the spirit and with an attitude of those who are brothers.[1]

[1] Alistair I. Wilson, “Colossians,” in Ephesians–Philemon, ed. Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, vol. XI, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018), 206.