Increasingly quite a lot of new ideas are being taught “in the name of Jesus”. How do we know which ones are biblical and which are not? If pressed could you discern the actual gospel of Jesus Christ from a counterfeit? Especially if the skewed message came from within mainstream evangelicalism?
The Colossian church had the same problem. A heresy was infecting their congregation. Paul wrote them a letter to teach them how to tell the real gospel from a false gospel so that they might “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10). Join us as we learn from Paul’s letter to the Colossians how to get the gospel right.
Resources: Study Questions, Maps, Outlines & Background
01 Introduction to Colossians 1:1-2
Teacher: Krisan Marotta on February 03, 2016. The first two verses of Colossians follow the typical greeting for a New Testament letter: the author(s), the recipient(s), greetings. Paul identifies what his readers should understand about him. Then he explains who he considers his readers to be, particularly in relationship to God.
02 Colossians 1:3-12 Life Changing Hope
Teacher: Krisan Marotta on February 10, 2016. Paul is thankful for what God has done in the Colossian church to bring about their faith and salvation through Jesus Christ which has resulted in their faith and love of their fellow believers. What has transformed their thinking and who they identify as their people is the hope which results from understanding and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
03 Colossians 1:13-23 You can not seek God and avoid Christ
Teacher: Krisan Marotta on February 17, 2016. In perhaps the most explicit teaching on the Christ in the New Testament, Paul says: 1) all that we can know of God is seen in Jesus because the visible man Jesus reveals the invisible God to us, and 2) Jesus has priority in every way as the Father has given authority over all creation to Jesus. Written to a community in danger of leaving the gospel, Paul emphasizes that Christ and the cross are essential to getting the gospel right.
04 Colossians 1:24-2:3 Riches of Assurance
Teacher: Krisan Marotta on February 24, 2016. Paul is laboring to nurture a strong mature faith among his readers. He struggles to make the truth of the gospel crystal clear so that our understanding reaches settled conviction and full assurance such we have the courage to follow Jesus no matter what.
05 Colossians 2:4-15 The Work of our Hands
Teacher: Krisan Marotta on March 02, 2016. Performing external rituals does not change my sinful heart. There is only one way to be made clean.
06 Colossians 2:16-23 Passing Judgment
Teacher: Krisan Marotta on March 16, 2016. Paul contrasts faith in Christ with keeping a set of religious disciplines. He claims limiting what you eat or practicing specific rituals as an effort to prove yourself a spiritual person or show yourself worthy to God is foolishness. It misses what Christ came to do for you.
07 Colossians 3:1-7 Set your mind on the things above
Teacher: Krisan Marotta on March 23, 2016. The point of Christianity is NOT how do I make this world a better place. The point is where am I going to spend eternity and how do I know?
o8 Colossians 3:8-17 Real Gospel Change
Teacher: Krisan Marotta on March 30, 2016. Paul has been warning the Colossians that they are in danger of becoming like the Pharisee in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18). Essentially, he warns: Don’t trust in your law-keeping; trust in the blood of Christ and the hope of the gospel. Then you’ll see real gospel change.
09 Colossians 3:18-4:1 Do All in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
Teacher: Krisan Marotta on April 13, 2016. In this series of exhortations, Paul explains how belief in the gospel changes how you act in three pairs of relationships: wives/husbands, children/parents and slaves/masters. The overarching theme in this section is to live all our relationships as bond servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing ultimately we serve him. The challenge is to resist the tendency to “win.” Instead we are to recognize God has a higher prior claim on our lives and seek to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ — in whatever situation we find ourselves.
10 Colossians 4:2-18 Continue in Prayer
Teacher: Krisan Marotta on April 20, 2016. How are we to understand these various Scripture verses that encourage us to persevere in prayer, continue to pray, pray without ceasing, and pray at all times. Can we fulfill them by setting an app on our smart phones to remind us to pray 15 minutes of every hour? If not number of minutes, what are the authors asking us to do?
More talks on Colossians:
Colossians 3:8-17 Living Under the Rule of Christ
Teacher: Libby Taggart on March 30, 2016
Colossians 3:18-4:1 The Gospel in Daily Life
Teacher: Libby Taggart on April 13, 2016
Colossians 4:2-18 Biblical Evangelism
Teacher: Susan Hamil on April 20, 2016
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How to use these studies:
- Over the course of a week, work through the study questions for the lesson.
- After doing your own study, listen to the audio teaching for that lesson — either on your own or with a small group.
- Discuss what you have learned with a small group or friend.
