10-20-2019
10-20-2019
Dr. E. Dale Locke, Rev. Trevor Johnston, and Pastor Efrain Silva
Sermon Series: Colossians
Week 7: Deep AND Wide
English PDF file for printing: 10-20-2019
Para imprimir el archivo PDF en Español: 20 Oct 2019
Keep practicing our theme verse - Colossians 1:28: “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”
Read Matthew 7:24-27: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Jesus pointed out that, while it’s great to hear Scripture, it doesn’t really do you any good unless you put it into practice. The goal of Bible study isn’t head knowledge, it’s meant to be a foundation to build your life on. What ideas from this Colossians series are you putting into practice in a way that will help you be more prepared for the storms of life?
Read Colossians 3:18-4:1: “Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. 4:1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.”
Give a brief summary of the instructions that Paul gives to each category of people: wives, husbands, children, parents, slaves and masters.
Do you notice any pattern in Paul’s instructions to these three sets of people?
How did Paul’s instructions to each set of people compare with the expectations of the culture back then?
Being a follower of Jesus should impact all of our relationships. Jesus said in John 13:34: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” How does Jesus’ new command relate to what Paul wrote in Colossians 3:18-4:1?
Imagine the situation in the churches of Pauls’ day. Christians met in small congregations in homes. Slaves and masters sat next to one another in church. Women were allowed to study the Scriptures and lead in churches in ways that were outside the norm in that culture. What relational challenges might have arisen as Christians experienced new freedoms in the Church, but also still had to live within their culture’s expectations?
Read Ephesians 5:21-33: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
What does this Ephesians passage add to your understanding of how a Christian marriage should work?
9. What are some ways that parents sometimes embitter or discourage their children?
10. How can a parent provide the boundaries and discipline needed for their children to turn out well, without embittering or discouraging them?
11. There have been times in our nation’s history when Christians have used this Colossians passage to justify slavery. Is Paul condoning slavery in this passage? Explain your answer.
12. Read Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” What is Paul’s point here?
13. What aspects of Paul’s instructions to slaves and masters (in Colossians 3:22-4:1) could also apply to employees and employers?
14. Every relationship has a power dynamic. How have your relationships been impacted because you’re a Christ-follower? Consider your marriage, your parenting, your employment, and other important relationships you’re part of.