Copyright 2010 Grace Bible Church, College Station, TX Created and edited by the pastors and staff of Grace Bible Church.

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2 Cpyright 2010 Grace Bible Church, Cllege Statin, TX Created and edited by the pastrs and staff f Grace Bible Church. Scripture taken frm the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Cpyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lckman Fundatin, used by permissin. This dcument may be reprduced and distributed freely, but yu may nt charge a fee greater than yur manufacturing csts. N sectin f this dcument may be mdified withut the written cnsent f Grace Bible Church, Cllege Statin, TX.

3 Intrductin Welcme t ur study f Clssians, a bk that stresses the supremacy and sufficiency f Jesus Christ. He is ur surce f the knwledge f Gd, ur access int the presence f Gd, and ur restratin int the image f Gd. Thrughut this bk, we will als discver the essential call f the believer t impact his wrld in a day when empty philsphies and deceptins are prevalent. The 11 lessns in this packet are designed t walk us thrugh this challenging bk f the Bible. During the first lessn (Survey), we will lk at the verall message f the bk f Clssians. The next nine lessns will fcus n studying key passages in detail. Then, in ur last lessn (Synthesis), we will summarize what we have learned fr future reference. In studying each passage in detail, we will be learning and using a number f basic Bible study methds. These methds fit under three fundamental skills that are meant t be practiced in rder each week - bserve, interpret, and apply. These skills are summarized n the next few pages, which are designed as a Quick Reference Guide that yu can flip back thrugh during yur study. There are als advanced Bible study skills in the Appendix fr thse wh want t g deeper in their study. As yu use this packet t study Clssians, please keep in mind a cuple f things. There are mre questins than yu may have time t answer in any given lessn. Fcus n the questins that seem mst significant t understanding the passage s meaning. Als, make sure that yu dn t skip yur wn bservatins f the passage as this is the mst imprtant step f Bible study. Table f Cntents Bible Study Methd Summary 4 Lessn 7 - Clssians 2: Lessn 1 - Clssians Survey 10 Lessn 8 - Clssians 3: Lessn 2 - Clssians 1: Lessn 9 - Clssians 3:12-4:1 72 Lessn 3 - Clssians 1: Lessn 10 - Clssians 4: Lessn 4 - Clssians 1: Lessn 11 - Clssians Synthesis 90 Lessn 5 - Clssians 1:24-2:5 40 Appendix - Mre Study Skills 96 Lessn 6 - Clssians 2:

4 Observe: What d I see? Every time we study the Bible, the first thing t ask is, What d I see? This is the crucial skill f bservatin, which lays the grundwrk fr the rest f ur study. Here are fur tasks invlved in bservatin which shuld be perfrmed in the rder belw: Observatin Task 1: Mark up the passage by visually identifying the fllwing specific elements: Underline all verbs. A verb is a wrd r grup f wrds used t indicate either that an actin takes place ( I rejice ) r that a state r cnditin exists ( I was made a minister ). Verbs are ften the mst significant indicatrs f the authr s flw f thught. BIBLE STUDY METHODS QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE Circle key wrds r phrases. These are wrds r shrt phrases that are imprtant thelgically (like circumcisin in 2:11) r thematically set the theme r main idea fr the passage (like empty deceptin in 2:8). Highlight repeated wrds r phrases. Include wrds and phrases that are clsely related even if nt exact duplicates (such as philsphy and principles f the wrld ). Yu ll want t highlight things repeated in ther places (such as elementary principles in 2:20). Bx cnnecting wrds. These imprtant wrds indicate the lgical cnnectin between wrds, phrases, and clauses. Here are eight types f cmmn cnnecting wrds t lk fr: 1. COMPARISON: either pints ut similarities between tw r mre related ideas r simply jins like ideas. Cmparisn wrds include: and, like, as, just as, als, s als, even s (e.g. jints AND ligaments 2:19). 2. CONTRAST: pints ut dissimilarities between ideas. Cntrast wrds include: but, rather, yet, hwever (e.g. things which are a mere shadw... BUT the substance 2:17). 3. PURPOSE: indicates the intended gal f an idea r actin, whether r nt it was realized. Purpse wrds include: that, s that, in rder that (e.g. filled with the knwledge f His will... SO THAT yu will walk in a manner wrthy 1:9-10). 4. RESULT: very similar t purpse, but indicates the actual cnsequence, whether r nt it was intended. Result wrds include: that, s that, as a result, with the result that (e.g. I have sent him t yu... THAT yu may knw abut ur circumstances 4:8). 5. CAUSE: expresses the basis r cause f an actin. Cause wrds include: because, since, and smetimes fr (e.g. D nt lie t ne anther SINCE yu laid aside the ld self 3:9). 6. EXPLANATION: what fllws further explains the previus idea, giving reasns why it is true, why it ccurred, r simply adding additinal infrmatin. Lk fr the key wrd fr (e.g. FOR yu have died and yur life is hidden with Christ 3:3). 4

5 7. INFERENCE: prvides a lgical cnsequence, cnclusin, r summary t the previus discussin. Inference wrds include: therefre, fr this reasn (e.g. THEREFORE cnsider the members f yur earthly bdy as dead 3:5). 8. CONDITION: presents a cnditin that must ccur befre a certain actin r cnclusin can ccur. The statement may r may nt reflect reality (i.e. it culd be hypthetical). Key wrd is if (e.g. IF he cmes t yu, welcme him 4:10). Observatin Task 2: List 2-3 primary themes yu see in the passage each week. A primary theme is the big idea, the central truth r cmmand that the passage fcuses n, such as firstbrn in 1: After reading the passage, write yur themes as single wrds r shrt phrases. Identifying these themes at the beginning f yur study will help yu develp a gd verall grasp f the passage. Observatin Task 3: Write tw r mre bservatins per verse. Our bservatins might identify peple, places, r events, pint ut repeated wrds r key terms, recrd imprtant cnnectins between wrds and sentences, r even pint ut smething missing that we expected t see. Observatin Task 4: Recrd yur wn interpretive questins. Here are a few examples: WHO is......paul talking abut?...accmplishing the actin?...benefiting frm the actin? WHAT is the......meaning f this wrd?...significance f this phrase?...implicatin f this statement?...relatinship between these phrases? WHY did Paul......chse this wrd?...include this phrase, statement, r cmmand?...cnnect these ideas?...nt say? HOW......was this actin accmplished?...will this situatin ccur? BIBLE STUDY METHODS QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE 5

6 INTerPreT: What des it mean? Our bservatin f a passage shuld stir interesting yet challenging questins, leading us t the secnd stage f ur Bible study, interpretatin. Frtunately, we d nt have t run t a cmmentary r study Bible fr answers (thugh these are helpful tls t check ur cnclusins). Use the fllwing six methds, as needed, t tackle a variety f questins. Als, make sure t familiarize yurself with the three Principles f Interpretatin that appear in the Appendix n page 97. BIBLE STUDY METHODS QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE Interpretatin Methd 1: Use the cntext. Lk fr imprtant clues in the sentences and paragraphs that cme befre and after the verse in questin. Try t fllw Paul s flw f thught thrugh the whle chapter. This may take yu t the previus lessn, s have it handy as a review. Yu may need t read ahead in Clssians fr clues. Interpretatin Methd 2:Cmpare multiple translatins. This packet uses the New American Standard (NASB) translatin. Yu can ften find helpful interpretive clues by cmparing this translatin with ther translatins. The New King James Versin (NKJV), like the NASB, is a fairly wrd-fr-wrd translatin f the Greek text. The New Internatinal Versin (NIV) and the New Revised Standard Versin (NRSV) are excellent phrase-t-phrase translatins f the Greek and are thus ften easier t read. Anther excellent phrase-t-phrase Bible, which includes extensive translatin ntes, is the New English Translatin (NET) available nline fr free at Yu can find and cmpare numerus translatins f any Bible passage at Interpretatin Methd 3: Lk up key wrds. While lking up a key wrd in English is helpful, ding s in Greek is far better and is surprisingly easy, thanks t the internet. Simply lg nt and as an example, type in Clssians 2 in the search fr: bx, set the using: bx t NAS with Strng s Numbers and click Find. All f Clssians 2 will appear n the screen with mst f the wrds highlighted in blue. Clicking n any f these will bring up a new screen that will explain the Greek wrd used here, its pssible definitins, and the ttal number f times it is used in each bk f the New Testament (NT). Click n any f the ther NT bks (under the title NAS Verse Cunt ) and get a display f every verse in that bk that uses this Greek wrd. 6

7 Interpretatin Methd 4: Study crss-references (Xrefs). XRefs are simply ther passages in the Bible that are smehw related t the verses yu are studying. They ften prve incredibly helpful as we seek t understand ur passage. Yu can find a few XRefs in the margins f mst Bibles, but yu can find many mre by lgging nt anther helpful website: net.bible.rg. In the tp left f the screen under Display Bible, chse Clssians, then the chapter yu are interested in, and then click G. A new screen will appear with the NET Bible translatin f the chapter yu requested. Click the XRef tab at the tp f the screen, and this will take yu t an extensive list f XRefs fr every verse in this chapter based n the classic bk The Treasury f Scripture Knwledge. Clicking any f these will bring up the single verse, but yu can then click cntext t see the verse in the midst f its surrunding cntext. Interpretatin Methd 5: Lk up backgrund infrmatin. Yu can find helpful insights by lking up cnfusing names r wrds in a Bible dictinary r by lking up the particular verses yu are studying in a backgrund cmmentary. One f the best dictinaries is The New Bible Dictinary by Wd & Marshall, but yu can als find the lder Int l Standard Bible Dictinary [ISBE] nline fr free (net.bible.rg/dictinary.php). The IVP Bible Backgrund Cmmentary by Craig Keener is an excellent example f a verse-by-verse backgrund cmmentary. Interpretatin Methd 6: Tackle tugh questins step-by-step. When trying t answer the mst challenging questins, fllw this fur-step prcess: (1) LIST ALL THE OPTIONS. Always start by brainstrming every pssible answer t yur questin. (2) LIST PROS AND CONS FOR EACH OPTION. See all the evidence yu can find that either argues fr r against a particular ptin. This evidence cmes frm yur study f key wrds, the grammar f the sentence, the cntext f surrunding verses and the bk as a whle, crss references t ther bks, and cmparisn with yur verall understanding f Christian thelgy. (3) CHOOSE THE MOST LIKELY OPTION. Lk at yur evidence fr each ptin. Typically, evidence frm the immediate cntext is mst imprtant, fllwed clsely by evidence frm the bk as a whle. Evidence frm ther bks f the Bible, r frm Christian thelgy as a whle, des nt carry quite as much weight unless the slutin cntradicts a clear passage elsewhere r a majr tenant f Christian dctrine. In that case, since Scripture never lies and Gd cannt cntradict Himself, yu must eliminate that ptin. (4) DECIDE ON YOUR CERTAINTY LEVEL. Once yu have chsen the best slutin, step back fr a secnd and humbly gauge hw certain yu are f its accuracy (90% = I am very sure this is crrect... 60% = This slutin is just a bit mre likely than the thers!). Finally, talk with thers and check cmmentaries r reference bks t see what slutins they have chsen and why. BIBLE STUDY METHODS QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE 7

8 apply: Hw des it wrk? Our Bible study is nt ver until we apply what we have learned t ur everyday lives. And lest we underestimate the value f this last step, remember that in Gd s eyes it is the persn wh des nt just knw His Wrd, but als beys His Wrd that truly lves Him (See Jhn 14:21). S hw d we apply a passage t ur lives? Applicatin invlves the fllwing tw tasks: BIBLE STUDY METHODS QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE Applicatin Task 1: List ptential principles frm yur passage. A principle is simply a fact r cmmand stated r implied in a particular passage that is practically relevant t ur lives. Legitimate principles are nt specific t a particular persn (e.g. 1 Timthy 5:23 is just fr Timthy) nr a particular time (e.g. d nt leave Jerusalem in Acts 1:4). An example frm Clssians 1 wuld be, We can find hpe in the gsepl f Jesus Christ (Clssians 1:5). It is ften helpful when listing principles t cnsider the fllwing questins: pis p there smething t wrship r thank Gd fr? pis p there a prmise fr me t claim r a truth fr me t believe? pis p there smething I am cnvicted abut that I need t change r begin ding? pis p there smething r smene I need t pray fr specifically this week? pis p there any relatinship I need t wrk n? Applicatin Task 2: Chse ne principle, and create a plan t apply it t yur life this week. Once yu cmplete yur principle list, prayerfully chse the ne principle yu mst need t wrk n (D nt just chse the easiest t apply!). If yu felt deeply cnvicted abut ne in particular, that is prbably the principle Gd is leading yu t apply. Once yu have chsen a specific principle, answer these tw questins: pwhat p exactly will I d differently this week t apply this principle t my life (Be specific)? pwhm, p ther than the Lrd, will I ask t help me fllw thrugh with this applicatin? 8

9 My ntes 9

10 See the Big Picture Clssians survey 10 / LESSON 1

11 Pray Begin this time in prayer, cnfessing any sins yu knw f, thanking the Lrd fr the gift f His Wrd, and asking fr His Spirit t guide yur study. survey: What is the big idea? Surveying a bk like Clssians allws yu t grasp the big picture and the verall stryline f the bk befre getting caught up in the details. This survey prvides a helpful rad map t guide yur study during the cming weeks. Begin this crucial first step by taking the next thirty minutes t read straight thrugh Clssians withut stpping. Then, answer the questins belw befre mving n t the next page. SKIll 1. Hw wuld yu describe Paul s audience? Are they believers r unbelievers? Are they spiritually mature r immature? What issues are they facing? 2. What are the majr themes r big ideas in this bk? (Hint: Lk fr repeated wrds and ideas.) 3. Nw that yu have read thrugh the entire bk, what are Paul s purpses in writing it? Be as specific as yu can. 4. Based nly n Clssians, hw des Paul establish the supremacy and sufficiency f Jesus Christ? What are the practical ramificatins f such a view f Christ? 11 / LESSON 1

12 Backgrund Once yu have cmpleted the intrductry questins n the previus page, read this backgrund article n the bk f Clssians (prtins have been cmpiled frm The Bible Knwledge Cmmentary and The Internatinal Standard Bible Encyclpedia). AUTHORSHIP The Pauline authrship f Clssians is supprted by abundant evidence bth in and ut f the bk. Clssians has three persnal references t Paul in the first persn (1:1; 1:23; 4:18) and numerus references t Paul s assciates, such as Tychicus (4:7), Onesimus (4:9), Aristarchus (4:10), Mark (4:10), Justus (4:11), Epaphras (4:12), Luke (4:14), Demas (4:14), and Archippus (4:17). The style and cntent f Clssians is similar t Ephesians, written abut the same time and prbably alluded t as the letter frm Ladicea (4:16). While 34 Greek wrds are unique t Clssians, they are characteristic f the theme f the bk and fit the thughts f Paul. Wrds in this categry include visible (1:16), supremacy (1:18), fill up (1:24), philsphy (2:8), and Deity (2:9). The cnclusin f Ephesians cnfirms that Tychicus was the carrier f bth it and Clssians (Eph. 6:21; cf. Cl. 4:7). This helps cnfirm Paul as the authr f the Clssian epistle. The external evidence fr Paul s authrship is strng, despite the claim f sme that the heresy cmbated in the bk is secnd-century Gnsticism. But there is gd reasn t believe that the heresy addressed in Clssians (at least in its incipient frm) had appeared already in Paul s lifetime. And in view f Paul s ther encunters with heresies, in bks which are unquestinably his, it seems clear that he authred Clssians (cf. 1 Cr. 15; Gal. 1-2; 2 Thes. 2). COLOSSAE Clssae was a city f Phrygia n the Lycus River, ne f the branches f the Maeander, and 3 miles frm Mt. Cadmus, 8,013 ft. high and std at the head f a grge where the tw streams unite and n the great highway traversing the cuntry frm Ephesus t the Euphrates valley, 13 miles frm Hieraplis and 10 frm Ladicea. Its histry is chiefly assciated with that f these tw cities. Early, accrding t bth Herdtus and Xenphn, it was a place f great imprtance. There Xerxes stpped 481 BC (Herdtus vii. 30) and Cyrus the Yunger marched 401 BC (Xen. Anab. i. 2,6). Frm Cl 2:1 it is nt likely that Paul visited the place in persn; but its Christianizatin was due t the effrts f Epaphras and Timthy (Cl 1:1,7), and it was the hme f Philemn and Epaphras. That a church was established there early is evident frm Cl 4:12-13; Rev 1:11; 3:14. As the neighbring cities, Hieraplis and Ladicea, increased in imprtance, Clssae declined. There were many Jews living there, and a chief article f cmmerce, fr which the place was renwned, was the cllssinus, a peculiar wl, prbably f a purple clr. In religin the peple were especially lax, wrshipping angels. Of them, Michael was the chief and the prtecting saint f the city. It is said that nce he appeared t the peple, saving the city in time f a fld. It was this belief in angels that called frth Paul s epistle (Cl 2:18). During the 7th and 8th centuries the place was verrun by the Saracens; in the 12th century the church was destryed by the Turks and the city disappeared. Its site was explred by Mr. Hamiltn. The ruins f the church, the stne fundatin f a large theater, and a necrplis with stnes f a peculiar shape are still t be seen. During the Middle Ages the place bre the name f Chnae; it is nw called Chnas. 12 / LESSON 1

13 DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING Clssians was written frm Rme during Paul s (first) imprisnment there as recrded in Acts 28:30. At the same time, Paul wrte Ephesians and Philemn (ca. A.D ). In Philemn 1:9, Paul referred t himself as a prisner f Christ Jesus. Ephesians als cntains references t Paul s being a prisner (Eph. 3:1; 4:1). And Ephesians refers t Tychicus carrying the epistles frm Paul t their destinatins (Eph. 6:21; cf. Cl. 4:7). Since the recrd f Acts ends arund A.D , Clssians was prbably written during this tw-year imprisnment. And since neither Clssians, Ephesians, nr Philemn mentin the utcme f Paul s trial, anticipated in Philippians 1:19-21, it can be assumed that Clssians was written befre Philippians. PURPOSE The circumstance that prmpted the writing f Clssians seemed t be the special heresy that arse there. This false teaching seemed t be the beginning f what later (in the secnd century) develped int Gnsticism. It cntained several characteristics. (1) It was Jewish, stressing the need fr bserving Old Testament laws and ceremnies. (2) It was philsphical, laying emphasis n sme special r deeper knwledge. (3) It invlved the wrship f angels as mediatrs t Gd (2:18). (4) It was exclusivistic, stressing the special privilege and perfectin f thse select few wh belnged t this philsphical elite. (5) It was als Christlgical. But this seminal Gnsticism denied the deity f Christ, thus calling frth ne f the greatest declaratins f Christ s deity fund anywhere in Scripture (1:15-16; 2:9). Three purpses seem t have been in Paul s mind as he wrte Clssians. First, he sught t shw the deity and supremacy f Christ in the face f the Clssian heresy (1:18; 2:9). Secnd, he wanted t lead believers int spiritual maturity (1:28; 2:6-7). Third, he wanted t infrm them abut his state f affairs and t elicit their prayers n his behalf (4:2-8). 13 / LESSON 1

14 Outline the bk Having read the backgrund article n the bk, nw skim thrugh Clssians ne mre time and create yur wn title fr each f the majr sectins belw (yu can divide these int smaller sectins, each with its wn title, if yu wish). Try nt t use the titles in this packet r in yur Bible. Create yur wn titles that capture yur understanding f the main idea f each sectin. My Clssians Outline... pp 1:1-8 pp 1:9-14 pp 1:15-23 pp 1:24-2:5 pp 2:6-15 pp 2:16-23 pp 3:1-11 pp 3:12-4:1 pp 4:2-18 Pray End yur study by returning t the Lrd in prayer. Thank Him fr what yu have learned this week, ask Him t help yu apply the principle yu have chsen, and lay befre Him the needs f yur fellw small grup members. 14 / LESSON 1

15 My ntes 15 / LESSON 1

16 The Gspel n the Mve c l s si a n s 1 : / LESSON 2

17 Pray Begin this time in prayer, cnfessing any sins yu knw f, thanking the Lrd fr the gift f His Wrd, and asking fr His Spirit t guide yur study. Memrize Clssians 1:5-6 Write it ut t get yur memrizatin started. Why des this matter? A survey perfrmed in the 1980s by Natinal Gegraphic discvered that 1 in 4 Americans culd nt lcate the Sviet Unin r the Pacific Ocean n a map. As a result, Brøderbund sftware prgrammers created a game called Where in the Wrld is Carmen San Dieg? fr the Apple cmputer. It wuld later becme a TV game shw craze fr kids in the 1990s, educating the player n internatinal gegraphy and histry. It truly was ingenius since cuntless numbers f kids purchased the game r viewed it n TV. It might have helped that Carmen San Dieg insulted the pride f kid cntestants as they tried t catch her and end her internatinal crime spree. Kids became s determined t catch her that they willingly endured hwever much educatin might have ccurred t see her behind bars! Tday, we have becme s much mre familiar with internatinal gegraphy and histry. Yet, we are still unaware f hw the gspel f Jesus Christ has reached and transfrmed cultures and cuntries arund this glbal wrld. Hw has the gspel f Jesus Christ impacted yur life? When did yu first hear it and frm whm? Hw wuld yu describe the gspel s mvement thrugh centuries and cultures t tday? 17 / LESSON 2

18 Observe: What d I see? SKIll Every time we study the Bible, the first thing t ask is, What d I see?. This is the crucial skill f bservatin, and it lays the grundwrk fr the rest f ur study. We will learn a new bservatin skill each week t practice alng with the thers we have already learned. This week, simply read the passage belw, and then write ne r tw bservatins fr each verse in the bx that fllws. Our bservatins might identify peple, places, r events, pint ut repeated wrds r key terms, recrd imprtant cnnectins between wrds and sentences, r even pint ut smething missing that we expected t see. The first few have been dne fr yu. Clssians 1:1-8 1 Paul, an apstle f Jesus Christ by the will f Gd, and Timthy ur brther, 2 T the saints and faithful brethren in Christ wh are at Clssae: Grace t yu and peace frm Gd ur Father. 3 We give thanks t Gd, the Father f ur Lrd Jesus Christ, praying always fr yu, 4 since we heard f yur faith in Christ Jesus and the lve which yu have fr all the saints; 5 because f the hpe laid up fr yu in heaven, f which yu previusly heard in the wrd f truth, the gspel 6 which has cme t yu, just as in all the wrld als it is cnstantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been ding in yu als since the day yu heard f it and understd the grace f Gd in truth; 7 just as yu learned it frm Epaphras, ur belved fellw bnd-servant, wh is a faithful servant f Christ n ur behalf, 8 and he als infrmed us f yur lve in the Spirit. 18 / LESSON 2

19 Themes List ut any themes r big ideas yu see in this passage. My bservatins vv Paul intrduces himself as an apstle f Jesus Christ - The faith, lve, and hpe f these Clssian believers causes Paul t give thanks and t pray - The gspel is cnstantly bearing fruit and increasing in ur wrld vv 3-4 vv 5-6 vv / LESSON 2

20 INTerPreT: What des it mean? SKIll Our bservatin f Clssians 1:1-8 shuld have stirred up interesting questins like, What is an apstle?. Hw d we answer such a challenging questin? Frtunately, we d nt have t run t a cmmentary r study Bible fr the answer (thugh these are helpful tls t check ur cnclusins)! Gd desires that all f us becme apprved wrkmen, accurately handling the Wrd f truth (2 Timthy 2:15). T that end, we will learn a new interpretive skill each week t practice alng with the thers we have already learned. This week s skill is the mst imprtant - USE THE CONTEXT. Lk fr imprtant clues in the sentences and paragraphs that cme befre and after the verse in questin. Try t fllw Paul s flw f thught thrugh the whle chapter. This may take yu t the previus lessn, s have it handy as a review. Yu may als need t read ahead in Clssians fr clues. 1.What key themes des Paul intrduce at the beginning f this letter? D any f these themes crrespnd t the themes fr the bk yu discvered during yur survey in the previus lessn? 2.What is the basic meaning f the title apstle (Gal 1:1)? What qualificatins did an apstle need (1 Cr 9:1-2, 12:28-30)? What were the respnsibilities f an apstle (2 Cr 12:12; Eph 2:19-22, 3:1-7)? Shuld we be lking fr apstles like Paul t lead us tday? Why r why nt? 3.What is the relatinship between faith, lve, and hpe in verses 4 and 5? Hw d they fit tgether? Why is each s essential t the spiritual life? If ne is weak, hw are the ther tw affected? (See 1 Cr 13:13 and Eph 1:15-18.) 20 / LESSON 2

21 4.The wrd gspel simply means gd news. What particular gd news are Paul and Timthy speaking f in 1:5? (See Rmans 1:16-17, 1 Crinthians 15:1-6, and 2 Tim 2:8.) Why is this message such gd news? 5.Describe the mvement f the gspel in 1:6. What terms des Paul use t describe its mvement? What places have seen its fruit? 6.What des bnd-servant mean? (See Rm 1:1; 2 Cr 4:5; Gal 1:10; Phil 2:7.) Why was it such a fitting descriptin fr Epaphras and such a favrite self-descriptin f Paul in his letters (See Cl 4:12.)? My summary In ne sentence, use yur wn wrds t describe the main pint that Paul cmmunicates in this passage. 21 / LESSON 2

22 apply: Hw des it wrk? SKIll In Gd s eyes it is the persn wh des nt just knw His Wrd, but als beys His Wrd wh truly lves Him (Jhn 14:21). Our Bible study is nly cmplete nce we apply what we ve learned. T that end, we will learn the first tw steps in the prcess f applicatin this week. First, start each lessn by answering a few reflectin questins designed t demnstrate hw each passage relates t ur wn lives. Secnd, step back and lk at the passage as a whle and list ptential principles. A principle is simply a fact r cmmand stated r implied in a particular passage that is practically relevant t ur lives. Legitimate principles are nt specific t a particular persn (e.g. 1 Timthy 5:23 is just fr Timthy) nr a particular time (e.g. d nt leave Jerusalem in Acts 1:4). A cuple f examples are prvided fr yu n the next page. Reflect n yur life The Clssian believers were characterized by faith, lve, and hpe as the gspel had left such a clear mark upn them. D yu see yur wn identity and purpse in life s tied t the gspel f Jesus as Paul and his cwrker, Epaphras, wh referred t themselves as bnd-servants and apstles fr the gspel f Jesus? Hw d yu hpe the gspel changes yu thrugh this study? Hw d yu hpe thers characterize yu? What will need t change in yur life t build such a reputatin? Wh will hld yu accuntable fr these changes? 22 / LESSON 2

23 List principles List at least five principles frm Clssians 1:1-8. (Remember, a principle is simply a fact r cmmand stated r implied in the passage that is relevant t yur wn life.) 1. We can give thanks and pray fr ne anther in light f each ther s faith, lve, & hpe. 2. We can find hpe in the gspel f Jesus Christ Pray End yur study by returning t the Lrd in prayer. Thank Him fr what yu have learned this week, ask Him t help yu apply the principle yu have chsen, and lay befre Him the needs f yur fellw small grup members. 23 / LESSON 2

24 The Knwledge f His Will C l s si a n s 1 : / LESSON 3

25 Pray Begin this time in prayer, cnfessing any sins yu knw f, thanking the Lrd fr the gift f His Wrd, and asking fr His Spirit t guide yur study. Memrize Clssians 1:9-10 Write it ut t get yur memrizatin started. Annie arrived in the Far East a few days ag, hping t share the gspel with university students. After meeting quite a few arund campus, she cnnected with ne in particular and lked frward t sharing lunch with her tday. They met at the bus stp near the campus entrance and began walking twards her friend s favrite nearby restaurant. Annie was s excited t be able t walk int a restaurant with smene wh culd actually read the menu and rder withut playing charades as she had dne the last few days. And man did her friend rder! There was enugh fd n the table t feed a small army. After an hur f eating and chatting, Annie felt a bit guilty t see hw much fd she had left uneaten. Her guilt was nly cmpunded when she saw her friend take ut mney t pay fr the meal. She knew the bill wuld far exceed what mney the girl culd affrd t spend n a meal. There was n way Annie was ging t allw this new, precius friend t ft the entire bill. S she began t pull mney ut f her purse and persistently push it n her friend. Annie s guilt sn turned t dismay as her friend seemed mre and mre ffended by Annie s attempts t pay. Eventually, she allwed Annie t pay fr her half f the meal, but as they left the restaurant t return t campus, Annie s friend seemed distant and their cnversatin was tense and frced. Annie didn t realize that she had just brken a cultural nrm and had actually shamed her friend. While Americans are accustmed t dividing the cst f meals, Annie was nw living in a culture that cnsidered it a privilege and hnr t pay fr the meal f guests and new friends. Annie s lack f knwledge regarding the desire f her friend had prevented her frm hnring her friend and even being able t deepen their relatinship. In a similar way, ur relatinship with Gd will suffer if we dn t grw in ur understanding f His desires and His will. Why des this matter? Hw can yu cme t knw the will f Gd (what He desires fr yu)? If yu knew the will f Gd, hw wuld it impact yur decisins, mtives, and directin in life? 25 / LESSON 3

26 Observe: What d I see? SKIll Like last week, read the passage belw and write dwn yur bservatins in the bx n the fllwing page. This week, we will begin t write ur wn questins as well. Try t write ut eight questins next t the relevant verses n the fllwing page. This is prbably the simplest skill f all. Just recrd the questins that naturally cme t mind as yu try t understand and apply the passage! If yu need help getting started, yu can use these examples: WHO is......paul talking abut?...accmplishing the actin?...benefiting frm the actin? WHAT is the......meaning f this wrd?...significance f this phrase?...implicatin f this statement?...relatinship between these phrases? WHY did Paul......chse this wrd?...include this phrase, statement, r cmmand?...cnnect these ideas?...nt say? HOW......was this actin accmplished?...will this situatin ccur? Clssians 1: Fr this reasn als, since the day we heard f it, we have nt ceased t pray fr yu and t ask that yu may be filled with the knwledge f His will in all spiritual wisdm and understanding, 10 s that yu will walk in a manner wrthy f the Lrd, t please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every gd wrk and increasing in the knwledge f Gd; 11 strengthened with all pwer, accrding t His glrius might, fr the attaining f all steadfastness and patience; jyusly 12 giving thanks t the Father, wh has qualified us t share in the inheritance f the saints in Light. 13 Fr He rescued us frm the dmain f darkness, and transferred us t the kingdm f His belved Sn, 14 in whm we have redemptin, the frgiveness f sins. 26 / LESSON 3

27 Themes List ut any themes r big ideas yu see in this passage. My bservatins v 9 vv v 12 vv / LESSON 3

28 INTerPreT: What des it mean? SKIll Last week we learned t use the cntext t help us answer ur interpretive questins. This week, we will add ur secnd interpretive skill - STUDY CROSS REFERENCES (XRefs). XRefs are simply ther passages in any bk f the Bible that are smehw related t the verses yu are studying. They ften prve incredibly helpful as yu seek t understand yur passage. A few such XRefs can be fund in the margins f mst English Bibles, but mre can be fund by lgging nt anther helpful website: net.bible.rg. In the tp left f the screen under Display Bible, chse Clssians and then 1 and click G. A new screen will appear with the NET Bible translatin f Clssians 1. Click the XRef tab at the tp f the screen, and this will take yu t an extensive list f XRefs fr every verse in this chapter based n the bk The Treasury f Scripture Knwledge. Clicking any f these will bring up the single verse, but yu can then click cntext t see the verse in the midst f its surrunding cntext. This is a great tl fr answering tugh questins! 1.Create and answer any tw f yur wn interpretive questins frm this passage: a) b) 2.Hw des this passage fit with the previus ne? (Hint: Identify the reasn in 1:9.) 3.What is the relatinship between knwledge, wisdm, and understanding (cf. Prv 1:1-7; 1 Cr 1:21-23; 2:6-16)? Wh prvides them (cf. Cl 2:2-3)? What shuld they prduce (cf. Cl 2:20-23; 3:16; Rm 12:2; James 3:13-17)? 28 / LESSON 3

29 4. In what ways des Paul characterize a walk wrthy f the Lrd in this passage? 5.Why des Paul highlight steadfastness and patience as the 2 specific attributes prduced by the glrius might f His pwer in us? 6.Fr what inheritance are we t be thankful? Hw des it relate t the redemptin prvided t us in 1:14? (See als Cl 3:24; Rmans 8:23; Ephesians 1:13-14.) 7.What has the Father and the Sn each dne s that we can walk as characterized by this passage? (See als Acts 26:18; Rm 8:2-4; Ephesians 1:19-20.) My summary In ne sentence, use yur wn wrds t describe the main pint that Paul cmmunicates in this passage. 29 / LESSON 3

30 apply: Hw des it wrk? SKIll As in the previus lessn, cmplete the reflectin questins, and then list a few principles yu learned frm the passage. This week, we add a third applicatin step - chse ne principle, and create a plan t apply it t yur life this week. Once yu have cmpleted yur principle list, prayerfully chse the ne principle yu mst need t wrk n (d nt just chse the easiest t apply). If yu felt deeply cnvicted abut ne in particular, that is prbably the ne Gd is leading yu t apply! Once yu have chsen a specific principle, fllw the directins n the next page t develp a realistic and specific plan t apply it t yur life. Reflect n yur life If we are t please Gd in all respects, then which areas f yur life wuld nt be pleasing t Him? What needs t change s that thse areas f yur life are realigned t His will and desire? Are yu trying t please Gd and d gd wrks in yur wn strength? Hw can yu depend n His Spirit this week in a new way? 30 / LESSON 3

31 List principles List at least five principles frm Clssians 1:9-14. (Remember, a principle is simply a fact r cmmand stated r implied in the passage that is relevant t yur wn life.) Apply ne this week Circle the ne principle abve yu will seek t apply this week. Nw create a plan t apply this principle by answering these tw questins: What exactly will yu d differently this week t apply this principle t yur life? Be specific. Whm, ther than the Lrd, will yu ask t help yu fllw thrugh with this applicatin? Pray End yur study by returning t the Lrd in prayer. Thank Him fr what yu have learned this week, ask Him t help yu apply the principle yu have chsen, and lay befre Him the needs f yur fellw small grup members. 31 / LESSON 3

32 The Supremacy f Christ Clssians 1: / LESSON 4

33 Pray Begin this time in prayer, cnfessing any sins yu knw f, thanking the Lrd fr the gift f His Wrd, and asking fr His Spirit t guide yur study. Memrize Clssians 1:15-16 Write it ut t get yur memrizatin started. Why des this matter? Gary s plan fr a lazy Sunday afternn n the cuch watching ftball was suddenly interrupted by a lud knck at the dr. He gt up and lked thrugh the peep hle t discver 2 well-dressed individuals carrying Bibles. They intrduced themselves as Charlie and Sam and plitely asked if they culd cme in and talk abut Gd s gd news. After taking a seat n the cuch, they began t talk with Gary abut the persn f Jesus Christ. They described Jesus Christ as Gd s nly begtten Sn and the firstbrn f His creatin. In fact, Jesus was Gd s first act f creatin. Since Gary grew up in church, much f what he was hearing sunded familiar, yet smething seemed ff. Eventually, Gary thanked them fr cming and shwed them ut. As he sat back dwn t watch ftball, he kept wrestling with their cnversatin, trying t determine why it didn t sit right with him Gary didn t realize it, but he d just been visited by a pair f Jehvah Witnesses wh held t a view f the persn and wrk f Jesus Christ that was cmpletely different than what he had been taught grwing up in church. Hw wuld yu respnd t the claim f a Jehvah s Witness that Jesus Christ is a created being? Why is such an argument s damaging t the Christian faith and ur belief abut Jesus persn and wrk? Des it really matter at all? 33 / LESSON 4

34 Observe: What d I see? SKIll Like last week, read the passage belw and write dwn yur bservatins and questins in the bx n the fllwing page. Yu have prbably nticed the Themes sectin that precedes the bx fr yur bservatins each week. This is ur third bservatinal skill - list ut 2-3 primary themes yu see in the passage each week. A primary theme is a central idea, truth, r cmmand that the passage fcuses n, such as firstbrn in 1: Clssians 1: He is the image f the invisible Gd, the firstbrn f all creatin. 16 Fr by Him all things were created, bth in the heavens and n earth, visible and invisible, whether thrnes r dminins r rulers r authrities - all things have been created thrugh Him and fr Him. 17 He is befre all things, and in Him all things hld tgether. 18 He is als head f the bdy, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstbrn frm the dead, s that He Himself will cme t have first place in everything. 19 Fr it was the Father s gd pleasure fr all the fullness t dwell in Him, 20 and thrugh Him t recncile all things t Himself, having made peace thrugh the bld f His crss; thrugh Him, I say, whether things n earth r things in heaven. 21 And althugh yu were frmerly alienated and hstile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has nw recnciled yu in His fleshly bdy thrugh death, in rder t present yu befre Him hly and blameless and beynd reprach - 23 if indeed yu cntinue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and nt mved away frm the hpe f the gspel that yu have heard, which was prclaimed in all creatin under heaven, and f which I, Paul, was made a minister. 34 / LESSON 4

35 Themes List ut any themes r big ideas yu see in this passage. My bservatins vv vv vv vv / LESSON 4

36 INTerPreT: What des it mean? SKIll As yu answer the questins belw, cntinue using yur first tw interpretive skills (use the cntext and study crss references), and add this third ne - LOOK UP KEY WORDS (such as image and firstbrn in this passage). While ding s in English is helpful, lking them up in Greek is far better and is surprisingly easy thanks t the internet. Simply lg nt www. biblestudytls.cm, type in Clssians 1 in the Search the Bible bx and click Search. After the page lads, check the Strngs Numbers bx abve the passage t activate links t the Greek wrds. All f Clssians 1 will appear n the screen with mst f the wrds highlighted in blue. Clicking n any f these will bring up a new screen that will tell yu the Greek wrd used here, its pssible definitins, and the ttal number f times it is used in each bk f the NT! Yu can even click n any f the ther NT bks (under the title NAS Verse Cunt ) and get a list f every verse in that bk that uses this Greek wrd! What used t take hurs nw takes secnds. 1.Create and answer any tw f yur wn interpretive questins frm this passage: a) b) 2.What des it mean that Jesus is the image f Gd? (See Gen 1:26-27; Rm 1:22-23; 8:29; 1 Cr 15:49; 2 Cr 3:18; Cl 3:10.) In what ways des He uniquely display the character and activity f the invisible Gd accrding t this passage? (See als Heb 1:1-3, Jhn 1:18.) 3.Answer a few questins abut Paul s descriptin f Christ as the firstbrn in verses 15 and 18 What range f meanings can this wrd have (See Lk 2:7; Heb 11:28; 12:22-23; Ps 89:27; Rm 8:29)? What is the likeliest meaning f the wrd in this passage cnsidering the surrunding cntext? Paul s descriptin f Christ as firstbrn bth in 1:15 and 1:18 marks 2 different sectins in this passage. Hw des Paul s descriptin f Christ change frm 1:15-18a t 1:18b-20? 36 / LESSON 4

37 4.Use verses t answer the fllwing questins abut recnciliatin What is it? Why is it needed? Hw was it made pssible? Wh will enjy it? (See als Rmans 8:20-21.) When will it be finally accmplished? 5.Explain the if statement f verse 23 in yur wn wrds. In particular, what is at stake by ur cntinuance in the faith? Des ur cntinued grwth determine whether we are presented t Christ as saved r hw Christ evaluates us at ur inevitable presentatin t Him? (See als 1 Cr 3:10-15; 1 Jhn 2:27-28; 2 Tim 2:10-13, 15.) 6.In what ways des Paul establish bth the deity and humanity f Jesus in this passage? What happens if yu deny ne r the ther? My summary In ne sentence, use yur wn wrds t describe the main pint that Paul cmmunicates in this passage. 37 / LESSON 4

38 apply: Hw des it wrk? SKIll This week s applicatin sectin invlves the same three steps as last week s, which we will cntinue t use thrughut ur study: reflect n yur wn life, list at least five principles, and chse ne t apply this week. It is ften helpful when wrking thrugh the secnd and third steps t cnsider the fllwing list f questins: Is there smething t wrship r thank Gd fr? Is there a prmise fr me t claim r a truth fr me t believe? Is there smething I am cnvicted abut that I need t change r begin ding? Is there smething r smene I need t pray fr specifically this week? Is there any relatinship I need t wrk n? Reflect n yur life Nw that yu have studied this passage, hw wuld yu respnd t the Jehvah s Witness wh in ur case study claims there was a time that Jesus did nt exist since He was the firstbrn f all creatin? What truths abut Christ d yu want t remember when sharing the gspel? 38 / LESSON 4

39 List principles List at least five principles frm Clssians 1: (Remember, a principle is simply a fact r cmmand stated r implied in the passage that is relevant t yur wn life.) Apply ne this week Circle the ne principle abve yu will seek t apply this week. Nw create a plan t apply this principle by answering these tw questins: What exactly will yu d differently this week t apply this principle t yur life? Be specific. Whm, ther than the Lrd, will yu ask t help yu fllw thrugh with this applicatin? Pray End yur study by returning t the Lrd in prayer. Thank Him fr what yu have learned this week, ask Him t help yu apply the principle yu have chsen, and lay befre Him the needs f yur fellw small grup members. 39 / LESSON 4

40 The Labr f Ministry Clssians 1:24-2:5 40 / LESSON 5

41 Pray Begin this time in prayer, cnfessing any sins yu knw f, thanking the Lrd fr the gift f His Wrd, and asking fr His Spirit t guide yur study. Memrize Clssians 1:28 Write it ut t get yur memrizatin started. Why des this matter? Ace and Prissy are frm a predminately Muslim cuntry in Central Asia. As a newly married 18 year ld, Prissy first heard abut salvatin thrugh faith in Jesus Christ frm a western wman living in her city. Prissy prmptly dismissed the ntin f allwing smene else t take the penalty fr her sin, but as she gt t knw this westerner, she slwly came t respect her and eventually decided t put her wn faith in Jesus Christ. Prissy s husband was furius and had every right t beat her, divrce her, r at least mare her reputatin. Yet after a year f praying fr him, Prissy saw Ace put his faith in Jesus Christ. Since then Ace and Prissy have been frced t leave their hmetwn because n ne wuld allw Ace t wrk fr them. They have identified themselves as fllwers f Christ. Despite the trials, they have mved t the capital f their cuntry and have started an undergrund hme church. As a result, the gvernment has attempted t scare them and their cngregatin many times. They have fllwed members t their meetings and arrested them, beaten them, and even kicked sme f their university students ut f schl. Ace and Prissy s huse has been brken int numerus times, and Prissy has even been sexually assaulted in her wn hme. Central Asian banks can t be trusted, s they keep all f their mney in a safe at hme. Just last year 3 men in masks came in and tied up Prissy wh was 7 mnths pregnant in rder t rb her and Ace. Because the things that were stlen cntained infrmatin that incriminates Ace and Prissy in their ministry, they have been frced t flee their cuntry with their 4 children. Despite all these things, Ace and Prissy stand strng n the slid Rck wh is their Savir. Prissy even says, Persecutin, if Gd allws yu t g thrugh it, is an hnr... Why d yu think Gd allws yu t suffer r endure difficulties? What might He want t accmplish in yu r thrugh yu? What cst are yu paying right nw s that thers can knw Jesus and grw in Him? 41 / LESSON 5

42 Observe: What d I see? SKIll As in previus weeks, read the passage belw and write dwn yur bservatins, questins, and themes n the fllwing page. This week, we will begin t UNDERLINE ALL OF THE VERBS. Quick review: a verb is a wrd r grup f wrds used t indicate either that an actin is taking place ( I rejice ) r that a state r cnditin exists ( I was made a minister ). Because verbs express the actin f the passage, they are ften the mst significant indicatrs f the authr s flw f thught within the passage. Clssians 1:24-2:5 24 Nw I rejice in my sufferings fr yur sake, and in my flesh I d my share n behalf f His bdy, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ s afflictins. 25 Of this church I was made a minister accrding t the stewardship frm Gd bestwed n me fr yur benefit, s that I might fully carry ut the preaching f the wrd f Gd, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden frm the past ages and generatins, but has nw been manifested t His saints, 27 t whm Gd willed t make knwn what is the riches f the glry f this mystery amng the Gentiles, which is Christ in yu, the hpe f glry. 28 We prclaim Him, admnishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdm, s that we may present every man cmplete in Christ. 29 Fr this purpse als I labr, striving accrding t His pwer, which mightily wrks within me. 1 Fr I want yu t knw hw great a struggle I have n yur behalf and fr thse wh are at 2 Ladicea, and fr all thse wh have nt persnally seen my face, that their hearts may be encuraged, having been knit tgether in lve, and attaining t all the wealth that cmes frm the full assurance f understanding, resulting in a true knwledge f Gd s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whm are hidden all the treasures f wisdm and knwledge. 4 I say this s that n ne will delude yu with persuasive argument. 5 Fr even thugh I am absent in bdy, nevertheless I am with yu in spirit, rejicing t see yur gd discipline and the stability f yur faith in Christ. 42 / LESSON 5

43 Themes List ut any themes r big ideas yu see in this passage. My bservatins vv vv vv 1-3 vv / LESSON 5

44 INTerPreT: What des it mean? SKIll Here is a furth interpretive skill - COMPARE MULTIPLE TRANSLATIONS. This packet uses the New American Standard (NASB) translatin. As yu tackle the questins belw, lk up the passage in ther translatins and cmpare t the NASB t lk fr helpful clues r clearer wrding. The New King James Versin (NKJV), like the NASB, is a fairly wrd-fr-wrd translatin f the Greek text, and therefre, quite accurate fr Bible study. The New Internatinal Versin (NIV) and the New Revised Standard Versin (NRSV) are excellent phrase-t-phrase translatins f the Greek and are thus ften easier t read. Anther excellent phrase-t-phrase Bible, which includes extensive translatin ntes, is the New English Translatin (NET) available nline fr free at Yu can find and cmpare numerus English translatins f any Bible passage at 1.Create and answer any tw f yur wn interpretive questins frm this passage: a) b) 2.Hw des 1:24-2:5 relate t 1:15-23? (Hint: Ntice the change f subject frm yu in 1:15-23 t I here.) 3.Answer the fllwing questins abut Paul s rle as a minister frm this passage Why des Paul refer t his rle as a stewardship in 1:25? (See Luke 16:2-4; 1 Cr 9:17; Eph 3:2.) What were the respnsibilities f his rle as a minister? What was the gal r purpse f these respnsibilities? What resurces had Gd prvided t carry ut these respnsibilities? 44 / LESSON 5

45 4.What was lacking in Christ s afflictins that Paul was filling up? (See 2 Cr 1:3-7; 4:7-18; Phil 1:12-14; 2 Tim 2:8-10.) In cntrast, what was NOT lacking in Christ s afflictins? (See Heb 7:27; 9:12, 28; 10:10.) 5. Answer the fllwing questins abut the mystery in 1:25-27 and 2:2 Hw des Paul define any mystery in Eph 3:4-5? What ther mysteries are revealed in the NT (Eph 3:1-12: Eph 5:22-32; 1 Cr 15:50-58)? What specific mystery did Paul refer t in this passage (cf. Rm 8:10; Gal 2:20; Eph 3:17)? What are the similarities and distinctins between all these mysteries? 6. What des it mean t strive accrding t Christ s pwer in verse 29? (See 2 Cr 12:7-10; Eph 1:18-21; Phil 4:11-13.) Hw d we practically depend n the strength f the Lrd? 7. Why is it significant that Paul declares in 2:3 all the treasures f wisdm and knwledge are hidden in Christ? (Hint: Keep reading t the end f sectin.) My summary In ne sentence, use yur wn wrds t describe the main pint that Paul cmmunicates in this passage. 45 / LESSON 5

46 apply: Hw des it wrk? SKIll As always, reflect n yur wn life, list at least five principles, and chse ne t apply this week. Here is that helpful list f applicatin questins t aid yu in the secnd and third steps: Is there smething t wrship r thank Gd fr? Is there a prmise fr me t claim r a truth fr me t believe? Is there smething I am cnvicted abut that I need t change r begin ding? Is there smething r smene I need t pray fr specifically this week? Is there any relatinship I need t wrk n? Reflect n yur life Are yu fully carrying ut the preaching f the wrd f Gd tward a ministry f recnciliatin? In what ways are yu participating in seeing every persn presented cmplete in Christ? What wisdm and knwledge d yu treasure? Hw des the Wrd f Gd relate t ur varius pursuits f knwledge and wisdm? Hw des yur time in the Wrd reveal the extent t which yu treasure it? 46 / LESSON 5

47 List principles List at least five principles frm Clssians 1:24-2:5. (Remember, a principle is simply a fact r cmmand stated r implied in the passage that is relevant t yur wn life.) Apply ne this week Circle the ne principle abve yu will seek t apply this week. Nw create a plan t apply this principle by answering these tw questins: What exactly will yu d differently this week t apply this principle t yur life? Be specific. Whm, ther than the Lrd, will yu ask t help yu fllw thrugh with this applicatin? Pray End yur study by returning t the Lrd in prayer. Thank Him fr what yu have learned this week, ask Him t help yu apply the principle yu have chsen, and lay befre Him the needs f yur fellw small grup members. 47 / LESSON 5

48 The Extreme Life Makever Clssians 2: / LESSON 6

49 Pray Begin this time in prayer, cnfessing any sins yu knw f, thanking the Lrd fr the gift f His Wrd, and asking fr His Spirit t guide yur study. Memrize Clssians 2:6-7 Write it ut t get yur memrizatin started. Why des this matter? Makevers, befre and after phts, stries f radical change... ur culture seems t be fascinated by these, and the media serves up a steady diet f them. One f the mst belved f the televisin makever shws is Extreme Makever: Hme Editin which transfrms the lives f deserving families by radically recnstructing their hmes. Often the ld hmes are cmpletely destryed befre the custm hmes, specially equipped t meet their needs, are built. Recently, Extreme Makever selected a Texas family f six, with nine additinal adpted children, five f them having special needs. In 2008, Hurricane Ike caused irreparable damage t their hme, frcing the family f 15 t live in a 35-ft travel trailer. After the Extreme Makever crew was finished, the family was able t mve int their new 6,340 square-ft hme. Als, because f generus lcal dnatins, cllege schlarships await the dzen children, and the family is mrtgage-free, utility-bill free and newly equipped t prvide fr their next special-needs adptin. Needless t say, the impact n their lives has been extreme. If yu culd extreme makever anything in yur life (a relatinship, event r trait) what wuld it be? In ur wrld, what d yu feel needs t be radically changed the mst? 49 / LESSON 6

50 Observe: What d I see? SKIll As in previus weeks, read the passage belw and write dwn yur bservatins, questins, and themes n the fllwing page. This week, we will begin t, CIRCLE ALL OF THE KEY WORDS OR PHRASES. These are wrds r shrt phrases that are imprtant thelgically (like circumcisin in 2:11) r thematically set the theme r main idea fr the passage (like empty deceptin in 2:8). Then, als begin t HIGHLIGHT REPEATED WORDS OR PHRASES, such as in Him thrughut this passage. Als, include wrds and phrases that are clsely related, even if nt exact duplicates (such as philsphy and elementary principles f the wrld ). Yu will als want t highlight things that are repeated in ther passages (such as elementary principles fund als n 2:20). Repeated cncepts reveal smething imprtant t the authr s argument r prvide clues t understanding his flw f thught. Clssians 2: Therefre as yu have received Christ Jesus the Lrd, s walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rted and nw being built up in Him and established in yur faith, just as yu were instructed, and verflwing with gratitude. 8 See t it that n ne takes yu captive thrugh philsphy and empty deceptin, accrding t the traditin f men, accrding t the elementary principles f the wrld, rather than accrding t Christ. 9 Fr in Him all the fullness f Deity dwells in bdily frm, 10 and in Him yu have been made cmplete, and He is the head ver all rule and authrity; 11 and in Him yu were als circumcised with a circumcisin made withut hands, in the remval f the bdy f the flesh by the circumcisin f Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which yu were als raised up with Him thrugh faith in the wrking f Gd, wh raised Him 13 frm the dead. When yu were dead in yur transgressins and the uncircumcisin f yur flesh, He made yu alive tgether with Him, having frgiven us all ur transgressins, 14 having canceled ut the certificate f debt cnsisting f decrees against us, which was hstile t us; and He has taken it ut f the way, having nailed it t the crss. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authrities, He made a public display f them, having triumphed ver them thrugh Him. 50 / LESSON 6

51 Themes List ut any themes r big ideas yu see in this passage. My bservatins vv 6-7 vv 8-10 vv vv / LESSON 6

52 INTerPreT: What des it mean? SKIll Here is a fifth interpretive skill - LOOK UP BACKGROUND INFO. Yu can find very helpful insights abut what a passage meant t its riginal readers by lking up cnfusing names r wrds in a Bible dictinary (best is The New Bible Dictinary by Wd & Marshall, but yu can find the lder Int l Standard Bible Dictinary [ISBE] nline fr free at net.bible.rg/dictinary. php) r lking up the particular verses yu are studying in a backgrund cmmentary (e.g. The IVP Bible Backgrund Cmmentary by Craig Keener). Here s an example frm The Epistles t the Clssians and t Philemn by Dunn that shuld help with questin #7. The furth metaphr... is drawn frm the legal wrld... meant literally a dcument written by the persn respnsibile, a hlgraphy, s receipt. But here it has the further sense f a certificate f indebtedness, bnd... the recrd f their transgressins... Since the act f redemptin n the crss under this imagery effects a wiping ut... the erasure f an entry in a bk... the expunging f the recrd... has been erased. 1.Create and answer any tw f yur wn interpretive questins frm this passage: a) b) 2.Hw des 2:6-7 relate bth t 1:24-2:5 and t 2:8-15? 3. Hw d verses 6-7 describe the spiritual frmatin prcess (cf. Clssians 1:28)? (Hint: Ntice the verb tenses.) 52 / LESSON 6

53 4.Hw des Paul s argument cncerning the persn and wrk f Christ in this passage begin t reveal the specific false philsphy r traditin f men the Clssians may have been facing? Fr example, Paul uses the particular cnstructin Christ Jesus the Lrd in 2:6 and nwhere else in his writings. What pints might he be making by arranging these titles in this unique phrase (See Jhn 4:25; Phil 2:5-7; Jude 1:4)? 5.Accrding t this passage, what changes has Jesus accmplished fr thse wh are in Him (Hint: Lk fr the cntrasts.)? Hw des each f these changes prvide a different picture f the significance f Christ s wrk? 6.What was the circumcisin that Paul referred t in 2:11? Hw were we circumcised in Christ? Hw is it similar/different frm physical circumcisin (See Gen 17:1-14; Rm 4:9-12; Phil 3:2-3)? 7.What did Paul mean by the certificate f debt in 2:14? 8.Which rulers and authrities did Christ disarm accrding t 2:15 (See Clssians 1:13, 16; 2:10; Eph 1:20-23; 6:12)? What was the significance f the public display He made f them? 53 / LESSON 6

54 My summary In ne sentence, use yur wn wrds t describe the main pint that Paul cmmunicates in this passage. apply: Hw des it wrk? SKIll As always, reflect n yur wn life, list at least five principles, and chse ne t apply this week. Here is that helpful list f applicatin questins t aid yu in the secnd and third steps: Is there smething t wrship r thank Gd fr? Is there a prmise fr me t claim r a truth fr me t believe? Is there smething I am cnvicted abut that I need t change r begin ding? Is there smething r smene I need t pray fr specifically this week? Is there any relatinship I need t wrk n? Reflect n yur life What philsphies tday diminish Christ s supremacy and sufficiency in ur lives? What specific principles r truths d these philsphies claim t be true? D yu cnsistenlty feel guilt fr yur sin and failures even thugh Christ has already canceled ur debt and frgiven all f ur sin nce and fr all? If s, why? 54 / LESSON 6

55 List principles List at least five principles frm Clssians 2:6-15. (Remember, a principle is simply a fact r cmmand stated r implied in the passage that is relevant t yur wn life.) Apply ne this week Circle the ne principle abve yu will seek t apply this week. Nw create a plan t apply this principle by answering these tw questins: What exactly will yu d differently this week t apply this principle t yur life? Be specific. Whm, ther than the Lrd, will yu ask t help yu fllw thrugh with this applicatin? Pray End yur study by returning t the Lrd in prayer. Thank Him fr what yu have learned this week, ask Him t help yu apply the principle yu have chsen, and lay befre Him the needs f yur fellw small grup members. 55 / LESSON 6

56 Cunterfeits Amng Us Clssians 2: / LESSON 7

57 Pray Begin this time in prayer, cnfessing any sins yu knw f, thanking the Lrd fr the gift f His Wrd, and asking fr His Spirit t guide yur study. Memrize Clssians 2:23 Write it ut t get yur memrizatin started. Why des this matter? During the Civil War, it was estimated that ne-third f all US currency in circulatin was cunterfeit. At that time, there were apprximately 1,600 state banks designing and printing their wn ntes. Each nte carried a different design, making it difficult t distinguish the 4,000 varieties f cunterfeits frm the 7,000 varieties f genuine ntes. Despite the adptin f a natinal currency in 1863, it was sn cunterfeited s extensively it became necessary fr the gvernment t take enfrcement measures. On July 5, 1865, the United States Secret Service was established t identify and suppress cunterfeiting. Instead f fcusing their strategy n identifying the unique characteristics f each variety f cunterfeit currency, the Secret Service training emphasized the distinctive traits f genuine currency. They knew ne f the mst effective methds t identify a cunterfeit was t knw the lk and feel f an authentic bill. What kinds f cunterfeit spirituality d we see in ur culture tday? Hw can understanding where thers have departed frm truth aid ur grwth? 57 / LESSON 7

58 Observe: What d I see? SKIll As in previus weeks, read the passage belw and write dwn yur bservatins, questins, and themes n the fllwing page. Als, circle all key wrds and highlight all repeated wrds r phrases. This week, we will begin t BOX CONNECTING WORDS. We will learn fur types f cnnecting wrds this week: COMPARISON: either pints ut similarities between tw r mre related ideas, r simply jins like ideas. Cmparisn wrds include: and, like, as, just as, als, s als, even s (e.g. jints AND ligaments 2:19). CONTRAST: pints ut dissimilarities between ideas. Cntrast wrds include: but, rather, yet, hwever (e.g. things which are a mere shadw... BUT the substance belngs... 2:17). PURPOSE: indicates the intended gal f an idea r actin, whether r nt it was realized. Purpse wrds include: that, s that, in rder that (e.g. filled with the knwledge f His will... SO THAT yu will walk in a manner wrthy f the Lrd 1:9-10). RESULT: very similar t purpse, but indicates the actual cnsequence, whether r nt it was intended. Result wrds include: that, s that, as a result, with the result that (e.g. I have sent him t yu... THAT yu may knw abut ur circumstances 4:8). Clssians 2: Therefre n ne is t act as yur judge in regard t fd r drink r in respect t a festival r a new mn r a Sabbath day - 17 things which are a mere shadw f what is t cme; but the substance belngs t Christ. 18 Let n ne keep defrauding yu f yur prize by delighting in self-abasement and the wrship f the angels, taking his stand n visins he has seen, inflated withut cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and nt hlding fast t the head, frm whm the entire bdy, being supplied and held tgether by the jints and ligaments, grws with a grwth which is frm Gd. 20 If yu have died with Christ t the elementary principles f the wrld, why, as if yu were living in the wrld, d yu submit yurself t decrees, such as, 21 D nt handle, d nt taste, d nt tuch! 22 (which all refer t things destined t perish with use ) - in accrdance with the cmmandments and teachings f men? 23 These are matters which have, t be sure, the appearance f wisdm in self-made religin and self-abasement and severe treatment f the bdy, but are f n value against fleshly indulgence. 58 / LESSON 7

59 Themes List ut any themes r big ideas yu see in this passage. My bservatins vv vv vv v / LESSON 7

60 INTerPreT: What des it mean? SKIll Hw d we answer difficult interpretive questins when mre than ne ptin seems pssible? This requires tw skills, the first f which is... LIST ALL THE OPTIONS WITH PROS AND CONS. Always start by brainstrming, listing every pssible answer t yur questin. Be penminded and creative, and d nt rush this prcess. Yu will ften find that yur third ptin prves better than yur first. Once yu have created a list f pssible ptins, list bth prs and cns fr each ne. Yu are lking fr all the evidence yu can find that either argues fr r against a particular ptin. This evidence cmes frm yur study f key wrds, the grammar f the sentence, the cntext f surrunding verses and the bk as a whle, crss references t ther bks, and cmparisn with yur verall understanding f Christian thelgy. Once yu have thught abut it fr a while individually, feel free t talk with thers and t check cmmentaries r references t see if yu have missed any ptins (Hwever, d nt just assume that their favrite ptin is necessarily crrect!). The secnd skill needed t answer difficult interpretive questins is... CHOOSE THE MOST LIKELY OPTION AND DECIDE ON CERTAINTY. Lk back at all f yur evidence fr each ptin. Typically, evidence frm the immediate cntext is mst imprtant, fllwed clsely by evidence frm the bk as a whle. Evidence frm ther bks, r frm Christian thelgy as a whle, des nt carry quite as much weight, unless the slutin yu are lking at cntradicts a clear passage elsewhere r a majr tenant f Christian dctrine. In that case, since Scripture never lies and Gd cannt cntradict Himself, yu knw that ptin is invalid. Once yu have chsen the best slutin, step back fr a secnd and humbly gauge hw certain yu are f its accuracy (90% = I am very sure this is crrect... 60% = This slutin is just a bit mre likely than the thers!). Finally, talk with thers and check cmmentaries r reference bks t see what slutins they have chsen and why. 1.Create and answer any three f yur wn interpretive questins frm this passage: a) b) c) 2.Hw des 2:16-23 relate t 2:6-15? (Hint: Ntice the therefre in 2:16.) 60 / LESSON 7

61 3.Hw des this passage identify the false teaching these Clssian believers were facing? Hw des the cntent f the false teaching als reveal the identity f these false teachers? 4.Hw had Christ s death n the crss changed the New Testament believer s relatinship t the Old Testament law? (See Rm 7:6; 10:4.) Why was there a need fr a change? (See Deut 5:29; Gal 3:21; Heb 10:1-4.) Hw shuld the believer tday relate t fds and festivals? (See Mark 7:18-19; Acts 10:9-16; 1 Cr 8:8-9; Gal 4:9-11.) 5.Why were the mystical activities f verse 18 s trubling t Paul? Hw did self-abasement and the wrship f angels and even visins describe the activities f these false teachers? 6.What is the difference between asceticism, r self-denial fr the sake f self-denial, and biblical self-denial? (See Gal 3:1-3; Phil 3:1-8; Rm 6:8-13; Gal 5:13-18.) Why are the decrees f verse 21 f n value against indulgence f the flesh? 7.Frm the entirety f this sectin, what was the prize that these Clssian believers culd lse if they were defrauded by such false philsphies? My summary In ne sentence, use yur wn wrds t describe the main pint that Paul cmmunicates in this passage. 61 / LESSON 7

62 apply: Hw des it wrk? SKIll As always, reflect n yur wn life, list at least five principles, and chse ne t apply this week. Here is that helpful list f applicatin questins t aid yu in the secnd and third steps: Is there smething t wrship r thank Gd fr? Is there a prmise fr me t claim r a truth fr me t believe? Is there smething I am cnvicted abut that I need t change r begin ding? Is there smething r smene I need t pray fr specifically this week? Is there any relatinship I need t wrk n? Reflect n yur life D the dangers that threatened the Clssians exist tday fr us? If s, hw d we prtect urselves frm them? Hw can we diligently be invlved with spiritual disciplines like fasting, prayer, and Bible meditatin withut falling int the same dangers that threatened the Clssians? 62 / LESSON 7

63 List principles List at least five principles frm Clssians 2: (Remember, a principle is simply a fact r cmmand stated r implied in the passage that is relevant t yur wn life.) Apply ne this week Circle the ne principle abve yu will seek t apply this week. Nw create a plan t apply this principle by answering these tw questins: What exactly will yu d differently this week t apply this principle t yur life? Be specific. Whm, ther than the Lrd, will yu ask t help yu fllw thrugh with this applicatin? Pray End yur study by returning t the Lrd in prayer. Thank Him fr what yu have learned this week, ask Him t help yu apply the principle yu have chsen, and lay befre Him the needs f yur fellw small grup members. 63 / LESSON 7

64 The Heavenly Mindset clssians 3: / LESSON 8

65 Pray Begin this time in prayer, cnfessing any sins yu knw f, thanking the Lrd fr the gift f His Wrd, and asking fr His Spirit t guide yur study. Memrize Clssians 3:1-2 Write it ut t get yur memrizatin started. Why des this matter? Jim walked int the family rm just in time t see his three teenage daughters rll their eyes and attempt t hide their laughter. What has dear ld dad dne nw? he thught. Jim was a great dad wh lved t spend time with his daughters. He enjyed chatting with his girls abut music and the latest episde f Lst. He kept up with the latest technlgy and regularly updated his Facebk page. Jim wned the new iphne and even had a Twitter accunt. But as Jim lked at their giggling faces, he knew what they were thinking. In spite f all his mdern advances, Jim had ne area f his life where he was abslutely prehistric his wardrbe. Dad, yur shirt is s 1986! Please let us take yu t the mall fr an interventin! We are ging t submit yur name t that reality shw What Nt t Wear! These were amng the cmments Jim heard regularly. As much as he tried, Jim culdn t seem t get rid f his ld fashined way f dressing. Are there areas f yur life that seem like utdated traces f yur life befre trusting Christ? Can thers see areas f yur life that have changed since trusting Christ? 65 / LESSON 8

66 Observe: What d I see? SKIll As in previus weeks, read the passage belw and write dwn yur bservatins, questins, and themes n the fllwing page. Als, circle all key wrds and highlight all repeated wrds r phrases and cntinue t BOX CONNECTING WORDS. Here are fur mre types t bx this week: CAUSE: expresses the basis r cause f an actin. Cause wrds include: because, since, and smetimes fr (e.g. D nt lie t ne anther SINCE yu laid aside the ld self 3:9). EXPLANATION: what fllws further explains the previus idea, giving reasns why it is true, r why it ccurred, r simply adding additinal infrmatin. Lk fr the key wrd fr (e.g. FOR yu have died and yur life is hidden with Christ 3:3). INFERENCE: prvides a lgical cnsequence, cnclusin, r summary t the previus discussin. Inference wrds include: therefre, fr this reasn (e.g. THEREFORE cnsider the members f yur earthly bdy as dead 3:5). CONDITION: presents a cnditin that must ccur befre a certain actin r cnclusin can ccur. The statement may r may nt reflect reality (i.e. it culd be hypthetical). Key wrd is if (e.g. IF he cmes t yu, welcme him 4:10). Clssians 3: Therefre if yu have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things abve, where Christ is, seated at the right hand f Gd. 2 Set yur mind n the things abve, nt n the things that are n earth. 3 Fr yu have died and yur life is hidden with Christ in Gd. 4 When Christ, wh is ur life, is revealed, then yu als will be revealed with Him in glry. 5 Therefre cnsider the members f yur earthly bdy as dead t immrality, impurity, passin, evil desire, and greed, which amunts 6 t idlatry. Fr it is because f these things that the wrath f Gd will cme upn the sns f disbedience, 7 and in them yu als nce walked, when yu were living in them. 8 But nw yu als, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech frm yur muth. 9 D nt lie t ne anther, since yu laid aside the ld self with its evil practices, 10 and have put n the new self wh is being renewed t a true knwledge accrding t the image f the One wh created him - 11 a renewal in which there is n distinctin between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. 66 / LESSON 8

67 Themes List ut any themes r big ideas yu see in this passage. My bservatins vv 1-2 vv 3-5 vv 6-8 vv / LESSON 8

68 INTerPreT: What des it mean? SKIll Fr the next few weeks, we will learn three fundamental PRINCIPLES OF Interpretatin that help us t use ur interpretive skills accurately. Principle #1 - Yur gal is t discern the authr s intended meaning t the riginal audience. Unfrtunately, mst peple begin their Bible study by asking, What des this passage mean t me? While there may be multiple pssible applicatins t my life, there is nly ne meaning, the authr s intended meaning; and we must first seek this ut. This invlves three imprtant steps: 1. Always start yur study with prayer, asking the same Gd wh cmpsed Scripture thrugh these ancient authrs t give yu insight t understand His intended meaning. 2. Be very careful t avid reading yur 21st century circumstances and thelgical issues int the text as they will skew yur understanding. 3. Wrk diligently t see the text frm the pint f view f the riginal readers. T d this: (a) dig int the histrical and cultural backgrund using Bible dictinaries and cmmentaries, and (b) spend a few mments thinking abut the riginal audience s religius understanding by asking - What bks f the Bible did they have access t? What did they knw abut Gd? abut Jesus? abut salvatin? etc. 1.Create and answer any three f yur wn interpretive questins frm this passage: a) b) c) 2.Hw des 3:1-4 relate t 2:16-23? Hw des 3:1-4 als relate t 3:5-11 (Hint: Ntice the therefre. )? 3.Hw des Paul describe the mindset we are t have in verses 1-4? Hw d we practically maintain this mindset daily? (See Rmans 8:5-8, 27; 12:2-3, 16; Phil 2:5; 3:15-16, ) 68 / LESSON 8

69 4.Fr each f the fllwing sins, (1) prvide a brief descriptin f the sin, and (2) describe hw it can at times becme idlatrus Immrality & impurity (1 Crinthians 5:1; 6:15-18; 1 Thess 4:3-5) Passin & evil desire (1 Thess 4:5) Greed (Luke 12:15) 5.Why is Paul s cncerned with sins f speech in verse 8? 6.Define the fllwing terms frm this passage and determine whether they refer t an individual persn r t a grup f peple. ld man/self (See Rmans 6:6-7; Ephesians 4:20-24; and Galatians 2:20.) new man/self (See Ephesians 2:15; 4:20-24; and 2 Crinthians 5:17.) 7.Accrding t verses 10-11, hw des Paul describe the transfrmatin prcess f the new man/self? My summary In ne sentence, use yur wn wrds t describe the main pint that Paul cmmunicates in this passage. 69 / LESSON 8

70 apply: Hw des it wrk? SKIll As always, reflect n yur wn life, list at least five principles, and chse ne t apply this week. Here is that helpful list f applicatin questins t aid yu in the secnd and third steps: Is there smething t wrship r thank Gd fr? Is there a prmise fr me t claim r a truth fr me t believe? Is there smething I am cnvicted abut that I need t change r begin ding? Is there smething r smene I need t pray fr specifically this week? Is there any relatinship I need t wrk n? Reflect n yur life What attitudes r actins in yur life need t be put t death s that yu can better maintain a mindset n eternity? Are yu pursuing spiritual change all by yurself r have yu fund sme fellw brthers and sisters with whm yu can be transparent and accuntable? 70 / LESSON 8

71 List principles List at least five principles frm Clssians 3:1-11. (Remember, a principle is simply a fact r cmmand stated r implied in the passage that is relevant t yur wn life.) Apply ne this week Circle the ne principle abve yu will seek t apply this week. Nw create a plan t apply this principle by answering these tw questins: What exactly will yu d differently this week t apply this principle t yur life? Be specific. Whm, ther than the Lrd, will yu ask t help yu fllw thrugh with this applicatin? Pray End yur study by returning t the Lrd in prayer. Thank Him fr what yu have learned this week, ask Him t help yu apply the principle yu have chsen, and lay befre Him the needs f yur fellw small grup members. 71 / LESSON 8

72 Living in Cmmunity Clssians 3:12-4:1 72 / LESSON 9

73 Pray Begin this time in prayer, cnfessing any sins yu knw f, thanking the Lrd fr the gift f His Wrd, and asking fr His Spirit t guide yur study. Memrize Clssians 3:12-13 Write it ut t get yur memrizatin started. Why des this matter? In May f 1987, With r Withut Yu became U2 s first number-ne hit in the United States by tpping the charts fr three weeks in a rw. The familiar lyrics f the sng as detailed belw explain the tensin Bn experienced between his respnsibilities as a musician traveling n tur and his cmmitments as a family man. Yet, the same tensin als resnated fr millins wh recgnized their desperate need fr cmmunity and their incredible difficulty with it See the stne set in yur eyes See the thrn twist in yur side I wait fr yu Sleight f hand and twist f fate On a bed f nails she makes me wait And I wait withut yu With r withut yu With r withut yu Thrugh the strm we reach the shre Yu give it all but I want mre And I m waiting fr yu With r withut yu With r withut yu I can t live With r withut yu And yu give yurself away And yu give yurself away And yu give And yu give And yu give yurself away My hands are tied My bdy bruised, she s gt me with Nthing t win and Nthing left t lse And yu give yurself away And yu give yurself away And yu give And yu give And yu give yurself away With r withut yu With r withut yu I can t live With r withut yu With r withut yu With r withut yu I can t live With r withut yu With r withut yu As yu reflect n the lyrics t the sng, why d yu think it is s difficult t live with thers? Why wuld it be difficult t live withut thers? 73 / LESSON 9

74 Observe: What d I see? As in previus weeks, write dwn yur bservatins, questins, and themes n the fllwing page. Als, circle all key wrds, highlight all repeated wrds r phrases, and cntinue t bx cnnecting wrds. A new bservatinal skill will be intrduced after yu have finished. Clssians 3:12-4:1 12 S, as thse wh have been chsen f Gd, hly and belved, put n a heart f cmpassin, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with ne anther, and frgiving each ther, whever has a cmplaint against anyne; just as the Lrd frgave yu, s als shuld yu. 14 Beynd all these things put n lve, which is the perfect bnd f unity. 15 Let the peace f Christ rule in yur hearts, t which indeed yu were called in ne bdy ; and be thankful. 16 Let the wrd f Christ richly dwell within yu, with all wisdm teaching and admnishing ne anther with psalms and hymns and spiritual sngs, singing with thankfulness in yur hearts t Gd. 17 Whatever yu d in wrd r deed, d all in the name f the Lrd Jesus, giving thanks thrugh Him t Gd the Father. 18 Wives, be subject t yur husbands, as is fitting in the Lrd. 19 Husbands, lve yur wives and d nt be embittered against them. 20 Children, be bedient t yur parents in all things, fr this is well-pleasing t the Lrd. 21 Fathers, d nt exasperate yur children, s that they will nt lse heart. 22 Slaves, in all things bey thse wh are yur masters n earth, nt with external service, as thse wh merely please men, but with sincerity f heart, fearing the Lrd. 23 Whatever yu d, d yur wrk heartily, as fr the Lrd rather than fr men, 24 knwing that frm the Lrd yu will receive the reward f the inheritance. It is the Lrd Christ whm yu serve. 25 Fr he wh des wrng will receive the cnsequences f the wrng which he has dne, and that withut partiality. 1 Masters, grant t yur slaves justice and fairness, knwing that yu t have a Master in heaven. 74 / LESSON 9

75 Themes List ut any themes r big ideas yu see in this passage. My bservatins vv vv vv vv 23-4:1 75 / LESSON 9

76 Observe: What d I see? SKIll This week, we will begin t MAP THE PASSAGE. This skill is a fantastic way t discver the authr s intended meaning and flw f thught. It als will help yu answer many f yur interpretive questins. The first rule f mapping a passage is: There is nt ne right way! Hwever yu create yur map, yur gal shuld be t discver the authr s flw f thught by graphically laying ut the passage. Befre yu cmplete the passage map fr Clssians 3:12-17 n the next page, here are sme rules t fllw with examples frm Ephesians 1: ) First, identify the main subject and verb f the first sentence (These frm the main clause f yur sentence). Write the main clause at the tp left f yur paper. Think f yur map as an utline: This wuld be yur Rman numeral I. 1:3 Blessed be the Gd and Father f ur Lrd Jesus Christ This is the main clause f Eph. 1:3 2) Cntinue writing the first sentence, placing any mdifying phrases r wrds directly under the wrds they mdify. A mdifying phrase describes smething in the main clause hw, why, when, t whm, etc. In an utline, this wuld be yur first subheading. 1:3 Blessed be the Gd and Father f ur Lrd Jesus Christ wh has blessed us with every spiritual blessing wh mdifies, r is talking abut, Gd in this sentence 3) If there are multiple mdifiers (several phrases r wrds all talking abut the same thing), line them up underneath each ther, under the wrd r phrase they are mdifying. 1:3...wh has blessed us... 4 just as He chse us He predestined us... Bth f the phrases in vv4-5 will have mdifiers in yur final map, but the phrases themselves shuld be lined up since they bth mdify Gd s act f blessing. This is like the a., b., c. in yur utline. 4) Cntinue writing ut the phrases in yur sentence, each under whatever wrd(s) they mdify, until yu reach the end f the sentence r idea being discussed. 5) Yur map will cntinue mving t the right f yur paper until the authr begins a new idea. At that pint, yu wuld put the next main clause back t the far left f yur paper and begin at step ne again. Ideally, yu shuld be able t glance dwn the left side f yur paper and see the main ideas f the passage yu are mapping. 6) As yu wrk, bx all cnnecting wrds, and nte hw they are being used. 1:4 just as He chse us... {AS implies cmparisn} 76 / LESSON 9

77 Clssians 3: S, as thse wh have been chsen f Gd, hly and belved, put n a heart f cmpassin, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with ne anther, and frgiving each ther, whever has a cmplaint against anyne; just as the Lrd frgave yu, s als shuld yu. 14 Beynd all these things put n lve, which is the perfect bnd f unity. 15 Let the peace f Christ rule in yur hearts, t which indeed yu were called in ne bdy ; and be thankful. 16 Let the wrd f Christ richly dwell within yu, with all wisdm teaching and admnishing ne anther with psalms and hymns and spiritual sngs, singing with thankfulness in yur hearts t Gd. 17 Whatever yu d in wrd r deed, d all in the name f the Lrd Jesus, giving thanks thrugh Him t Gd the Father. Map the passage 77 / LESSON 9

78 INTerPreT: What des it mean? SKIll This week we will learn ur secnd f three PRINCIPLES OF Interpretatin. Principle #2 - Assume a nrmal use f language. The Bible was given t us because Gd desired t cmmunicate with us, nt t hide Himself frm us. Therefre, we shuld nt be lking fr hidden meanings as we study. Instead, we shuld use the nrmal techniques we wuld use t understand any piece f literature: 1. Study the grammar. Yes, mst f us hated grammar in junir high, but it really is helpful fr understanding Scripture! Pay attentin t nuns, verbs, adjectives, and prepsitins. Think thrugh any figures f speech. Observe hw phrases and clauses are cnnected int sentences and hw sentences are linked tgether int paragraphs. 2. Remember that chapters came later. When Paul wrte Ephesians r Luke wrte the bk f Acts, they wrte single, unified stries withut verse r chapter divisins. These bks were meant t be read just like yu wuld read a letter r a nvel. Always keep the verall stry in mind as yu study each passage. 1.Create and answer any three f yur wn interpretive questins frm this passage: a) b) c) 2.Hw des Paul describe the characteristics and activities f this new cmmunity in verses 12-14? 3.Why des Paul place emphasis n the need fr frgiveness in verse 13? What des it mean t frgive (cf. Eph 4:32)? 78 / LESSON 9

79 4.Cmpare Clssians 3:15-17 t Ephesians 5: What d these 2 passages teach us abut the relatinship between the wrd f Christ and the Spirit? Can yu be pwerfully filled with the Spirit apart frm being grunded in the Wrd f Christ? 5.What des it mean d everything in the name f the Lrd Jesus? (See Matt 21:9; 28:19; Acts 9:28; James 5:14.) 6.Paul utlines varius relatinships in 3:18-4:1. List the respnsibilities and mtivatins fr each in the table belw. Relatinship Respnsibility Mtivatin 7.Hw d yu recncile Paul s distinctin between different grups f peple in 3:18-4:1 with his earlier statement in 3:11 that there is n distinctin between different peples in Christ? My summary In ne sentence, use yur wn wrds t describe the main pint that Paul cmmunicates in this passage. 79 / LESSON 9

80 apply: Hw des it wrk? SKIll As always, reflect n yur wn life, list at least five principles, and chse ne t apply this week. Here is that helpful list f applicatin questins t aid yu in the secnd and third steps: Is there smething t wrship r thank Gd fr? Is there a prmise fr me t claim r a truth fr me t believe? Is there smething I am cnvicted abut that I need t change r begin ding? Is there smething r smene I need t pray fr specifically this week? Is there any relatinship I need t wrk n? Reflect n yur life Lk at the family rle/psitins mentined in 3:18-4:1. Which f these mst apply t yu persnally at this time in yur life? Hw are yu ding in this rle lately? Hw can yu d better this week? Which ne f the cmmands in this passage challenged yu mst this week? Hw d yu plan t bey it mre fully? 80 / LESSON 9

81 List principles List at least five principles frm Clssians 3:12-4:1. (Remember, a principle is simply a fact r cmmand stated r implied in the passage that is relevant t yur wn life.) Apply ne this week Circle the ne principle abve yu will seek t apply this week. Nw create a plan t apply this principle by answering these tw questins: What exactly will yu d differently this week t apply this principle t yur life? Be specific. Whm, ther than the Lrd, will yu ask t help yu fllw thrugh with this applicatin? Pray End yur study by returning t the Lrd in prayer. Thank Him fr what yu have learned this week, ask Him t help yu apply the principle yu have chsen, and lay befre Him the needs f yur fellw small grup members. 81 / LESSON 9

82 The Essentials f Ministry Clssians 4: / LESSON 10

83 Pray Begin this time in prayer, cnfessing any sins yu knw f, thanking the Lrd fr the gift f His Wrd, and asking fr His Spirit t guide yur study. Memrize Clssians 4:2-3 Write it ut t get yur memrizatin started. Why des this matter? Fr years, Blake had wanted t climb t the tp f the Cntinental Divide just utside Lake City. The day f the climb had finally arrived; and s Blake checked his gear: backpack, water, energy bars, light lunch, hat, sun screen, extra scks all were present and accunted fr. The trail up tward the Divide was well-wrn and easy t fllw. Fatigue and difficulty in breathing were easy t struggle thrugh as Blake emerged abve the tree line t discver ne exhilarating view after anther culminating at the peak. After a great meal at the tp with his family fllwed by sme muchneeded rest, it was time t begin the descent. As he descended, Blake sn realized tw miscalculatins he had made. First, descending a steep muntain is n easy task as he was feeling the strain n grups f muscles he did nt even knw he had. Secnd, the exertin n his bdy during the descent caused him t drink water every tw r three minutes. Abut a quarter f the way dwn the muntain Blake s canteen was empty, but he kept ging. Abut halfway dwn he began t feel the effects f dehydratin. Nausea set in quickly and pwerfully. His legs began t cramp, making each dwnward stride excruciatingly painful. He became cnfused and disriented. He had failed t realize his essential need fr water until it ran ut. Other members f his family gave him their water, but it was t late. Blake was dne. He laid dwn n the well-wrn track and culd nt imagine taking anther step. One f his daughters ran fr help; and finally the muntain rescue team came. They revived him with fluids and after an hur r s, slwly escrted him dwn the muntain. The air became easier t breath, and the fluids revitalized his bdy. Blake s mind cleared and the cramps subsided. Finally, he walked int camp fully revived and ready fr dinner. Blake never frgt that day nt because he climbed t the tp f the Cntinental Divide but because he learned the abslute need and value f precius, precius, water! What things are essential t life and ministry? What happens when we verlk these things? 83 / LESSON 10

84 Observe: What d I see? SKIll We have n new bservatin skills this week. As in previus weeks, read the passage, underline the verbs, circle the key wrds, bx any cnnecting wrds, and highlight repeated wrds r phrases. Then, write yur bservatins and questins n the fllwing page. Nw that yu have practiced all the basic skills, feel free t add yur wn techniques. Sme peple prefer t wrk n a cmputer, making mapping a passage much easier. Others like t use clred highlighters r pencils t mark verbs, key wrds, and cnnecting wrds. Many find it helpful t add arrws cnnecting related ideas r symbls t highlight imprtant names. Clssians 4: Devte yurselves t prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude f thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time fr us as well, that Gd will pen up t us a dr fr the wrd, s that we may speak frth the mystery f Christ, fr which I have als been imprisned; 4 that I may make it clear in the way I ught t speak. 5 Cnduct yurselves with wisdm tward utsiders, making the mst f the pprtunity. 6 Let yur speech always be with grace, as thugh seasned with salt, s that yu will knw hw yu shuld respnd t each persn. 7 As t all my affairs, Tychicus, ur belved brther and faithful servant and fellw bnd-servant in the Lrd, will bring yu infrmatin. 8 Fr I have sent him t yu fr this very purpse, that yu may knw abut ur circumstances and that he may encurage yur hearts; 9 and with him Onesimus, ur faithful and belved brther, wh is ne f yur number. They will infrm yu abut the whle situatin here. 10 Aristarchus, my fellw prisner, sends yu his greetings ; and als Barnabas s cusin Mark (abut whm yu received instructins; if he cmes t yu, welcme him); 11 and als Jesus wh is called Justus; these are the nly fellw wrkers fr the kingdm f Gd wh are frm the circumcisin, and they have prved t be an encuragement t me. 12 Epaphras, wh is ne f yur number, a bndslave f Jesus Christ, sends yu his greetings, always labring earnestly fr yu in his prayers, that yu may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will f Gd. 13 Fr I testify fr him that he has a deep cncern fr yu and fr thse wh are in Ladicea and Hieraplis. 14 Luke, the belved physician, sends yu his greetings, and als Demas. 15 Greet the brethren wh are in Ladicea and als Nympha and the church that is in her huse. 16 When this letter is read amng yu, have it als read in the church f the Ladiceans; and yu, fr yur part read my letter that is cming frm Ladicea. 17 Say t Archippus, Take heed t the ministry which yu have received in the Lrd, that yu may fulfill it. 18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my wn hand. Remember my imprisnment. Grace be with yu. 84 / LESSON 10

85 Themes List ut any themes r big ideas yu see in this passage. My bservatins vv 2-5 vv 6-9 vv vv / LESSON 10

86 INTerPreT: What des it mean? SKIll This week we will learn ur last f three PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION. Principle #3 - Let Scripture interpret Scripture. Since Gd is unchangingly truthful and always cnsistent (Jhn 17:17; Hebrews 3:6; James 1:17), we can, and shuld, expect the same f His Wrd. This has tw practical applicatins: 1. Check yur cnclusins. Always cmpare yur cnclusins with the teachings f Scripture as a whle. If yu find that yur interpretatin f a passage cntradicts the clear teaching f Scripture elsewhere, yu prbably need t revise yur cnclusins. 2. Allw clear passages t illuminate ambiguus passages. Whenever yu encunter a passage that is cnfusing r pen t multiple pssible interpretatins, use clearer passages f Scripture t guide yu t the crrect interpretatin. One last cautin - remember that Gd revealed Scripture prgressively, nt all at nce. Therefre, we shuld nt be surprised by differences between hw peple related t and understd Gd at different times in the histry f Scripture. Fr example, while Abraham needed nly believe that Gd was faithful in rder t be justified (Genesis 15:6), in the NT era, we must believe in the death, burial, and resurrectin f Jesus t be saved (1 Crinthians 15:1-7). 1.Create and answer any three f yur wn interpretive questins frm this passage: a) b) c) 2.Why des Paul begin his discussin in verses 2-6 with the subject f prayer? Hw des he characterize the nature and purpse f prayer? 86 / LESSON 10

87 3.What exactly is wise cnduct tward utsiders? (See Matt 5:16; Rm 13:7-8; Eph 5:15; 1 Thess 4:11-12; 1 Peter 2:12.) 4.Why des Paul use the imagery f seasned with salt t describe the kind f speech necessary t respnd t each persn (Matt 5:13)? What characteristics des salt pssess that make it an apprpriate image fr wise speech? 5.What des this passage reveal abut the individual and ministerial needs Paul had as a servant f the Lrd? What characteristics were true f him and his ministry that made him effective? My summary In ne sentence, use yur wn wrds t describe the main pint that Paul cmmunicates in this passage. 87 / LESSON 10

88 apply: Hw des it wrk? SKIll As always, reflect n yur wn life, list at least five principles, and chse ne t apply this week. Here is that helpful list f applicatin questins t aid yu in the secnd and third steps: Is there smething t wrship r thank Gd fr? Is there a prmise fr me t claim r a truth fr me t believe? Is there smething I am cnvicted abut that I need t change r begin ding? Is there smething r smene I need t pray fr specifically this week? Is there any relatinship I need t wrk n? Reflect n yur life Why is it such a struggle t remain devted and alert in prayer? What practical steps can we take t grw in prayer? In 4:17, Archippus was instructed t take heed t the ministry that [he] may fulfill it. What ministry d yu sense the Lrd asking yu t fulfill? 88 / LESSON 10

89 List principles List at least five principles frm Clssians 4:2-18. (Remember, a principle is simply a fact r cmmand stated r implied in the passage that is relevant t yur wn life.) Apply ne this week Circle the ne principle abve yu will seek t apply this week. Nw create a plan t apply this principle by answering these tw questins: What exactly will yu d differently this week t apply this principle t yur life? Be specific. Whm, ther than the Lrd, will yu ask t help yu fllw thrugh with this applicatin? Pray End yur study by returning t the Lrd in prayer. Thank Him fr what yu have learned this week, ask Him t help yu apply the principle yu have chsen, and lay befre Him the needs f yur fellw small grup members. 89 / LESSON 10

90 Put it Back Tgether Clssians SyNTHesis 90 / LESSON 11

91 Pray Begin this time in prayer, cnfessing any sins yu knw f, thanking the Lrd fr the gift f His Wrd, and asking fr His Spirit t guide yur study. Review yur memry verses fr each f the previus lessns. Memrize 1:5-6 1:28 3:1-2 1:9-10 2:6-7 3: : :23 4:2-3 Why des this matter? In the case study f lessn fur (page 33), we met Gary whse lazy Sunday afternn n the curch watching ftball was interrupted by a pair f Jehvah s Witnesses. They explained t Gary that Jesus, Gd s firstbrn, was the first created being. They presented t Gary a different view f the persn and wrk f Jesus Christ that essentially diminished His supremacy and sufficiency. Having studied the bk f Clssians in detail, answer the fllwing questins keeping Gary in mind... Summarize what Clssians teaches us abut the supremacy f Jesus Christ. List ut all f the reasns and resulting implicatins f Christ s supremacy fund in Clssians belw. Summarize what Clssians teaches abut the sufficiency f Jesus Christ. List ut all f the reasns and resulting implicatins f Christ s sufficiency fund in Clssians belw. 91 / LESSON 11

92 synthesis: Hw des it all fi t tgether? skill During the past ten lessns, we have bserved, interpreted, and applied the entire bk f Clssians. That is n small task! Nw it is time t draw ur detailed study t a useful cnclusin, a prcess knwn as synthesis. Our gal is t create an verall summary f the bk f Clssians that we can quickly review any time in the future t remind us f the flw and cntent f the bk. But first, please realize hw much we have develped as students f the Wrd during this study! Thugh yu have fcused n Clssians, yu have actually learned and practiced a methd f Bible study that will help yu understand and apply t yur life any passage f Scripture! Observe, interpret, and apply. These are the three fundamental steps f all Bible study, and they will serve yu well fr a lifetime. As we draw Clssians t a clse, please cntinue t practice and refine these skills s that yu will be, a wrkman wh des nt need t be ashamed, accurately handling the Wrd f truth (2 Timthy 2:15). bserve interpret apply Outline the bk The first step f this synthesis is t CREATE YOUR OWN OUTLINE OF THE BOOK. Review the wrk yu cmpleted each week, especially the summary sentences yu have written fr each passage in the My Summary sectin. Then, create yur wn brief utline n the next page. Feel free t use any utlining style, but here is an example f hw yu might start. 1. Intrductin (1:1-14) a. Greeting(1:1-2) b. Thanksgiving (1:3-8) c. Prayer (1:9-14) 2. Explanatin f Christ (1:15-29) 92 / lesson 11

93 My Clssians Outline 93 / LESSON 11

94 synthesis: Hw des it all fit tgether? SKIll The secnd step f this synthesis is t ReCORD WHAT YOU LEARNED OR WERE REMINDED OF. This is mre persnal than yur utline. Create a list f the thelgical truths and life lessns yu have either learned fr the first time r been reminded f frm yur study f Clssians. As an example f a thelgical truth, yu might write: I was taught that all treasures f wisdm and knwledge are fund in Jesus. An example f a life lessn wuld be: This bk reminded me that the church s gal is t present every man cmplete in Christ thrugh a prcess that cmes with great cst & struggle. List at least ten thelgical truths and ten life lessns n this page that yu learned frm yur study f Clssians, and recrd the verses where each is addressed. Thelgical truths I ve learned Life lessns I ve learned 94 / LESSON 11

95 synthesis: Hw des it all fit tgether? The final step f this synthesis is t PRAYERFULLY CHOOSE TWO APPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE. These can be applicatins that yu develped and began t practice during previus lessns, r yu can create entirely new applicatins. Whatever yur chice, tw things must be true abut them: 1. Bth applicatins shuld tuch n areas f yur life where yu are currently in need f grwth. D nt chse be kind t thers if this is already smething yu d very well. 2. Bth shuld be specific with a clear plan fr grwth and the name f smene wh will hld yu accuntable. Study the Wrd mre is nt sufficiently detailed. Instead, develp a specific plan such as I will read thrugh Rmans this next mnth and write dwn my bservatins, interpretive questins, and applicatins in a jurnal. Steve will hld me accuntable weekly. SKIll Applicatin #1 Principle frm Clssians: Verses where it is discussed: Plan f Actin: I will... Applicatin #2 Principle frm Clssians: Verses where it is discussed: Plan f Actin: I will... Pray End yur study by returning t the Lrd in prayer. Thank Him fr what yu have learned this week, ask Him t help yu apply the principle yu have chsen, and lay befre Him the needs f yur fellw small grup members. 95 / LESSON 11

96 Appendix 1. Principles f Interpretatin - p97 2. Creating Lists - p98 3. Discipleship Resurces - p99 96

97 1) Principles f Interpretatin Principle #1 - Yur gal is t discern the authr s intended meaning t the riginal audience. Unfrtunately, mst peple begin their Bible study by asking, What des this passage mean t me? While there may be multiple pssible applicatins t my life, there is nly ne meaning, the authr s intended meaning; and we must first seek this ut. This invlves three imprtant steps. 1. Always start yur study with prayer, asking the same Gd wh cmpsed Scripture thrugh these ancient authrs t give yu insight t understand His intended meaning. 2. Be very careful t avid reading yur 21st century circumstances and thelgical issues int the text as they will skew yur understanding. 3. Wrk diligently t see the text frm the pint f view f the riginal readers. T d this: [a] dig int the histrical and cultural backgrund using Bible dictinaries and cmmentaries, and [b] spend a few mments thinking abut the riginal audience s religius understanding by asking - What bks f the Bible did they have access t? What did they knw abut Gd? abut Jesus? abut salvatin? etc. Principle #2 - Assume a nrmal use f language. The Bible was given t us because Gd desired t cmmunicate with us, nt t hide Himself frm us. Therefre, we shuld nt be lking fr hidden meanings as we study. Instead, we shuld use the nrmal techniques we wuld use t understand any piece f literature: 1. Study the grammar. Yes, mst f us hated grammar in junir high, but it really is helpful fr understanding Scripture! Pay attentin t nuns, verbs, adjectives, and prepsitins. Think thrugh any figures f speech. Observe hw phrases and clauses are cnnected int sentences and hw sentences are linked tgether int paragraphs. APPENDIX 2. Remember that chapters came later. When Paul wrte Crinthians r Luke wrte the bk f Acts, they wrte single, unified stries withut verse r chapter divisins. These bks were meant t be read just like yu wuld read a letter r a nvel. Always keep the verall stry in mind as yu study each passage. Principle #3 - Let Scripture interpret Scripture. Since Gd is unchangingly truthful and always cnsistent (Jhn 17:17; Hebrews 3:6; James 1:17), we can, and shuld, expect the same f His Wrd. This has tw practical applicatins: 1. Check yur cnclusins. Always cmpare yur cnclusins with the teachings f Scripture as a whle. If yu find that yur interpretatin f a passage cntradicts the clear teaching f Scripture elsewhere, yu prbably need t revise yur cnclusins. 2. Allw clear passages t illuminate ambiguus passages. Whenever yu encunter a passage that is cnfusing r pen t multiple pssible interpretatins, use clearer passages f Scripture t guide yu t the crrect interpretatin. One last cautin - remember that Gd revealed Scripture prgressively, nt all at nce. Therefre, we shuld nt be surprised by differences between hw peple related t and understd Gd at different times in the histry f Scripture. Fr example, while Abraham needed nly believe that Gd was faithful in rder t be justified (Genesis 15:6), in the NT era, we must believe in Jesus death, burial, and resurrectin t be saved (1 Crinthians 15:1-7). 97

98 2) Bnus Skill: Creating Lists This skill invlves identifying a key wrd, subject, persn, place, r event in the passage and then listing every fact given abut that wrd. Fr example, if yu made a list n Gd frm 2 Timthy 1, it might lk like this: Gd made Paul an apstle by His will (v1). 2. gives grace, mercy and peace (v2). 3. is the Father (v2). 4. is thanked and served (v3). 5. gives gifts (v6). 6. desn t give spirit f timidity (v7). 7. gives spirit f pwer, lve, and sund mind (v7). 8. gives pwer fr suffering (v9). 9. saved us (v9). 10. called us (v9). APPENDIX As yu read this list, what jumps ut at yu? Perhaps yu see that Gd gives is mentined five times in this list. What a gracius and lving Gd we serve! Yu have discvered ne f the characteristics f Gd: His generus grace tward men. By creating these lists, yu will begin t see patterns f truth that yu will want t study further. Fr example, this list abut Gd may lead yu t d a wrd study n give r find all the ther references in Paul s epistles t Gd s giving nature. Furthermre, this list can nw be used fr meditatin, t praise and wrship Gd, t encurage thers, and t prclaim the character f Gd t the lst. One wrd f cautin abut lists, hwever. Just because yu are able t create a list centered n a key wrd, such as Gd in 2 Timthy 1, des nt mean that Paul s main pint in the passage is t talk abut that key wrd. Paul s emphasis in 2 Timthy 1, in fact, is nt t discuss attributes abut Gd; it is t encurage Timthy t press n in the ministry f the gspel. Make sure that befre yu create any lists, yu cmplete the initial prcesses f bservatin: list themes, mark up the text, and recrd yur mst significant bservatins. Hwever, after these initial tasks, creating lists is a great way t deepen yur study f a passage! 98

99 3) Discipleship Resurces One f the predminant themes thrughut the bk f Clssians is Paul s desire t present every man cmplete in Christ. It is imprtant that we knw the truth f the Bible and that ur lives wuld mre and mre begin t reflect Jesus Christ. Spiritual grwth clearly invlves study f Gd s wrd, but it als invlves transfrmatin f ur character and life. This prcess is ften called discipleship and refers t an intentinal relatinship between a mature believer and a yunger believer where the frmer trains the latter twards the gal f spiritual maturity. Paul s discipleship f Timthy (and Titus as well) is ne the greatest examples we have f this prcess in all f Scripture. And like Paul, we t can make a lasting impact fr Gd s kingdm by spiritually reprducing urselves in the lives f thers. Ging thrugh this Bible study was ne f the best steps yu culd take t prepare yu t disciple smene else because nw yu knw hw t explain and defend key biblical truths like the gspel, spiritual leadership, grace, and salvatin. Just as imprtant, yu have nw learned and practiced the basic methd f Bible study - survey, bserve, interpret, apply, synthesize. These are key steps twards spiritual maturity that yu can nw pass n t thers! But where can yu g frm here t learn mre abut spiritual multiplicatin? Here are a few helpful resurces: pp The Master Plan f Evangelism by Rbert Cleman This is a highly mtivatinal analysis f Jesus wn principles f evangelism and discipleship. APPENDIX pp The Lst Art f Disciple Making by Lery Eims This very practical resurce will give yu a detailed structure t fllw and great cntent t cver as yu begin t disciple a new believer. pp A Survey f Bible Dctrine by Charles Ryrie This is nt a bk abut discipleship. It is, instead, an easy-t-read, relatively shrt systematic thelgy primer that yu can walk a new believer thrugh t grund them in the faith. pp Essentials f the Faith by Grace Bible Church, CS TX This small grup Bible study packet walks a new believer thrugh the fundamental truths and practices f the Christian faith in ten self-paced lessns. 99

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