Bible Study Snacks - Colossians 1:1-28

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome to Bible Study Snacks! Thank you for joining me again as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, and strong in faith!

This week, we will begin a new study on the Book of Colossians. These studies are brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might also add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...

OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...

1) See the relationship between understanding the grace of God and bearing fruit.
2) Examine Paul's prayer for the Colossians for the keys to successful Christian living.
3) Appreciate the preeminence of Christ in creation and our redemption.

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically Colossians 1:1-28:

Paul begins with his customary salutation followed by an expression of thanksgiving and prayer. Hearing of their condition from Epaphras, he is thankful for their faith, love, and hope (Colossians 1:1-8). His prayer is that they be filled with the knowledge of God's will, walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, strengthened by God's glorious power, and ever thankful that the Father has qualified them to be partakers of the saints' inheritance. This, even more so, since they were delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God's precious Son, where there is redemption and forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:9-14).

He then introduces the theme of this epistle, which is the preeminence and all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ our Savior. Paul first proclaims the preeminence of Christ in creation, and then His preeminence in redemption (Colossians 1:15-20). The Colossians' own conversion is offered as a case in point in reference to the latter, and with a warning for them to remain steadfast (Colossians 1:21-23).

The chapter ends with Paul's description of his ministry, in which he gladly suffered on behalf of Christ and His church. He views himself as a steward entrusted with a wonderful "mystery." which is being made known after having been hidden for ages. This "mystery" pertains to the Gentiles, and how Christ would be in them (Colossians 1:24-27). Paul therefore worked diligently to preach Christ, with the goal of presenting every man perfect in Him (Colossians 1:28-29).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) Who joins Paul in the salutation of this epistle? (Colossians 1:1)?
2) What three things had Paul heard about the Colossians, for which he gave thanks? (Colossians 1:3-5)
3) How long had the gospel been bringing forth fruit in their lives? (Colossians 1:6)
4) Who had informed Paul of their condition? (Colossians 1:8)
5) List four things for which Paul prayed concerning the Colossians  (Colossians 1:9-11)
6) Into what have we been translated? (Colossians 1:13)
7) What does one enjoy in Christ? (Colossians 1:14)
8) List five things which illustrate Christ's preeminence in creation (Colossians 1:15-17)
9) List four things which illustrate Christ's preeminence in redemption (Colossians 1:18-20)
10) What was the former condition of the Colossians? How were they changed? (Colossians 1:21-22)
11) Upon what condition would they be presented as holy, blameless and irreproachable? (Colossians 1:22-23)
12) What is said about the "mystery" which has been hidden? (Colossians 1:26)
13) What is the glorious nature of this "mystery?" (Colossians 1:27)
14) What was Paul's goal in preaching Christ? (Colossians 1:28)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri