Colossians 1:  Christ’s Preeminence in Creation and in Redemption

In the first century, the city of Colossae was a small town in
      the Lycus River Valley, about a hundred miles from Ephesus.
Although Paul had not yet visited Colossae when he wrote this letter, he
      received a report from Epaphras concerning the church there,
        and the Holy Spirit prompted Paul to write this letter.
The Christians there were in danger of falling into certain heresies, so Paul
      protects them by setting forth these powerful teachings concerning
          the Person of Jesus Christ.

Walk through these four chapters prayerfully and carefully.
    A few questions require the use of word-study sources and/or Bible dictionaries,
        but for the most part, this study can be completed with a quality NKJV or KJV Bible.

Note: There are a number of questions marked “Personnel File.”
        Answers to these questions are designed for personal reflection.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

1. Who was Paul with when he wrote to the Colossians? (1:1)

2. How does Paul describe himself? (1:1)

3. What words does Paul use, which he also uses in the opening verses of Philippians,
to send greetings to the Colossians? (1:2)

4. From 1:2, what can we learn about the Colossians?
How could he call these people “ brothers ” if he had never met them?

5. According to 1:3, how often did Paul pray for them?

6. Paul is sending this beautiful letter to a small church family. How does the identity
of the sender affect your reaction to the contents of a letter?
Describe how you react to different types of mail you receive.

7. List the characteristics of these people that caused
Paul to thank God for them. (1:3-6)

8. According to 1:6, what did the Gospel bring forth?

9. From Philemon verse 23, Colossians 1:7-8 and 4:12-13, make a “portfolio”
of Epaphras. Describe him.

10. Name a Christian you know who has really encouraged you.

Personnel File:
Think of someone you should love, but don’t. Pray for them right now..

11. According to 1:7, what primary quality is essential in a Christian’s life?

12. How is constant prayer possible for busy people?  (1:9) 

Personnel File:
What stimulates you to pray for someone?  (1:9)

13. What did Paul desire for the Colossians?  (1:9)

14. How can you gain an ever-increasing desire for God in your life?  (1:9)

Personnel File:
Think of a specific instance when you knew for certain that
        God was directing you to do something….and you obeyed.

Personnel File: 
Name a way in which you feel God rewarded you for your obedience
                  to Him in a specific situation.

15. Paul’s loving attitude toward the Colossians probably affected how they responded to his
      instructions. How do you think your attitude toward others affects how they
          respond to you? 

Personnel File:
Give an example of how you have had the love of God expressed
          to you by another Christian.

Personnel File:
List some reasons you have to be thankful to God.

16. From 1:9-10, list some things Paul prays will continue to increase in the lives
        of the Colossians.

17. According to 1:9, how does God impart wisdom to us when we pray for it?

18. What might the obtaining of God’s wisdom cost us?  (1:9)

19. What does Paul expect to be the result of his prayers for them?  (1:9-10)

Personnel File:
Think of a time in your life when you were in special need of longsuffering (patience).

Personnel File:
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your own stability as a Christian?

20. What two realms, spheres or “worlds” are contrasted in 1:13?

21. According to 1:14, what made your redemption possible?

Personnel File:
What challenges or problems have you encountered when
                witnessing about our “ invisible God? ”

22. According to 1:16, what did Christ create?

23. In what ways did Jesus make God “ visible ” to man? (1:15-17 and John 14:9)

24.  Define “ image ”  (1:15)

Personnel File:
Describe an instance when a good friend of yours reflected
          Christ’s image by his/her actions.

25.  Colossians 1:15-20 has been called a “Hymn with two stanzas.”
          These two stanzas are 1:15-16 and 1:17-20.
                Looking at these two passages from this perspective, create a
                    title for each stanza.

26. Read Acts 16:25. What unusual thing did Paul do in that situation?

27.  Define   “ dominions .”  (1:16)

28.  Define   “ consist. ”  (1:17)

29. According to 1:16-18, over what realm is Jesus ruler?

30. From 1:16-17, we see that Jesus was involved in creation.
      What does this tell you about His power and authority?

31. What is Christ the Head of?  (1:18)

Personnel File:
Read 1:17-20. List some things in your life you struggled with…..but
            eventually surrendered to the lordship of Jesus.

32. According to 1:19, what dwells in Christ?

33. Define “ reconciliation. ”

34. What is the only way a person can have true peace?  (1:20)

35. According to 1:21, what alienated us from God?

36. Why does reconciliation have to take place before peace can  
                come into a person’s life?  (1:20-22) 

37. Read I Corinthians 15:12-23 and Colossians 1:18.
    Research and explain the meaning behind Christ as “ the firstborn from the dead. ”

Personnel File: 
1:19-22   Ponder a specific habit(s) that’s been broken since you’ve become a Christian.

38. Read Genesis 6:5.  With this in mind, why is reconciliation so necessary?

Personnel File: 
What does having your sins forgiven mean to you personally?  (1:21)

39. Read John 1:10-18.  List some things we learn about Christ from this passage.

40. According to 1:22, what three things must we do in order to be presented to God? 

41.  Define “ unreprovable. ”

42. What does it mean to be free from accusation or unblameable?  (1:22)

43. Read Colossians 1:22-23, Ephesians 4:13-16, Philippians 3:10-16 and
        Hebrews 5:14 and list some attributes of a growing, maturing Christian.

44. What must we not allow ourselves to be moved away from?  (1:23)

45. According to 1:23, what must I continue in so that I can spend eternity with Jesus?

46. What things can lead a person to become unstable in their Christian life?  (1:23)

47. Read 1:24-29. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate Paul’s level of commitment?

Personnel File:
On the same scale, how would you rate your own commitment?

48. What did Paul want to fulfill?  (1:25)

49. Explain the “mystery” Paul refers to in 1:25-27.

50. How long has this “mystery” been “hidden,” according to 1:26?

51. According to 1:26, to whom is this mystery now revealed?

52.  Define “ mystery. ”

Personnel File:
To you, what is the most mysterious thing about God?  (1:26)

53. According to 1:27, what is the “hope of glory”?

54. According to 1:28, what two things does preaching involve?

55. Paul states in 1:28 that preaching involves warning people of spiritual dangers.
    From I Corinthians 4:14, we learn Paul’s motive was not to do what?

56. In Luke 13:5, what warning does Jesus give?

57. A Christian can determine if a doctrine is true only through what means?

58. From Mark 8:34-38, explain how presenting the Gospel is also a warning.

Personnel File:
Name a way in which you’ve helped someone to mature in Christ.

59. How do most people react to suffering, hardship, insult and persecution?

60. How and why is Paul’s reaction to these things so different from most of us? 

 

Maxim of the Moment

Raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed. - Mia Hamm