Colossians: Praying God’s Will

Written By Mark Avery

Colossians 1:9-14

Connect:

  • Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.

Prayer:

Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.

Review:

In a world constantly telling us we need more—more success, more knowledge, more spirituality, more control—the book of Colossians points us back to one unshakable truth: Jesus is enough. Paul writes to followers of Jesus who were being tempted to add other things to Jesus, but he reminds them that everything they truly need is already found in him. From our identity and transformation to our relationships, purpose, and mission, Jesus is not merely part of life—he is the center of it all. This series will explore how a bigger vision of Jesus changes everything. This week we looked at aligning our prayer life with the power and purpose of the God to Whom we pray…

The Grand Tour of the message: Thinking back on what you heard this Sunday…

o What did you learn about God?

o What did you learn about people?

o What did you learn about yourself?

o What do you want to commit to putting into practice?

Reflection:

Personal Experience & Discussion:

  • Some of us are quick to ask for directions, others are not.

    • Get a show of hands and split the group into 2: Those who are more likely to ask <> those less likely to ask.

    • Give each group 2-3 mins to discuss WHY they tend that way (have each group choose a spokesperson)

    • Have each group report back a summary: Why does this make sense to us?

  • Reflective Discussion (Remember to look at the context of the verses as you are reading! Look for key terms and help the group unpack and define them):

    • Read Col 1:9-14 together

    • We think of prayer as essentially “Talking to God”, but is there more to it than just a one way monologue from us to Him? DISCUSS: How do the following passages deepen our understanding of what prayer is and how it works? (Jer 33:3, Ps 62:8, Matt 7:7-11, 1 Thes 5:16-18, Phil 4:6-7, Heb 4:16

    • A very large part of “praying God’s will” is being able to hear, understand and have the courage and potential to live out that will. DISCUSS: How do the following passages help us to travel the journey from hearing to obeying? (Ps 37:4, Ez 36:26-27, John 15:5, Rom 8:5-6, Gal 2:20, Phil 2:13, 2 Pet 1:3)

    • We often think of God’s power to save— we celebrate and worship Him for this tremendous grace we experience! At the same time, there are chapters in life where we are called to endure something for a larger purpose (which we may be comletely unaware of!).. DISCUSS: How do the following passages help us to navigate and sustain the supernatural ability to endure with “joyful thanksgiving (for His grace in the trial)? (Col 1:11, Jam 1:2-4, Rom 5:3-5, Heb 12:1-3, 2 Cor 4:16-18, 1 Pet 5:10)

Application:

Most of us have something happening in the background which we are called to endure (or we soon will be!). Keeping that specific thing in mind, commit to seeking God for His power and presence to help you not only endure, but to “kiss the wave that throws you on the Rock of Ages” (Charles Spurgeon).

Prayer:

Spend some time closing in prayer together thanking God for HIs great and precious promises which allow us not only to endure, but to worship in His presence.

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Get more resources to go deeper through Commentaries and Bible Study helps HERE

Mark Avery
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Colossians: People Are Talking