Colossians: Better Together
Colossians 4:7-18
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 some character sketches of the people Paul knew…
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:
Discuss: Pastor Scott opened with a story about the reality TV series, “Alone”. Would you be able to endure harsh conditions alone for 6 months in total isolation… for $500,000? Why or why not?
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 4:7-18 together
Scripture says A LOT about the nurture and nature of our relationships. DISCUSS: Using these passages as a resource for discussion, How is it even possible to obey the command to “Love each other as I have loved you”? (Acts 2:42-47, Rom 12:1-5, 1 Cor 12:12-27, 1 John 4:7-12, 19-21
All of the stories in the message from this week demonstrated ways we need each other, and one of the most intense is how we need each other during times of trial and suffering, when we are vulnerable, dependent, uncertain. DISCUSS: Referring to these passages, talk about the ministry of presence; What does it look like to simply be there for each other in the midst of challenges that are not going away? (Ruth 1:16-17, Rom 12:9-16, 2 Cor 1:3-7, Gal 6:1,2),
Sometimes, we just get stuck. For some it is a situation like John Mark’s where failure is a visceral memory. For others, it is a sense of not being equal to the task ahead. Either way, we get stalled in our walk of faith. DISCUSS: Referring to these passages, what are some things that help us get unstuck when faced with past failure or fear of the future? (Josh 1:9, Is 41:10, Ps 23:1-4, Phil 3:12-14 and 4:6-7, 2 Cor 4:1 and 7-9)
Application:
There are people in your sphere of influence who deeply need that word of encouragement, gift of advocacy, ministry of presence… pray that the Lord will open your eyes to those people this week and decide now to step into that moment as God calls you to it.
Prayer:
Spend some time thanking God for His gift of the people He has placed in your life who can speak His truth and minister His grace to you. Pray a prayer of blessing over each other as you close this evening.
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