Lesson 36 Colossians 4 Walk the Walk As I walked into my first-period class followed be several of my athletes. I noticed the class was particularly quiet since the bell had yet to ring for the start of school. What caught my eye was an open can of Almond Roca on a student s desk at the front of the room. Knowing my chocolate addiction, she graciously offered to share. As I unwrapped the foil, you could hear a pin drop in the classroom and I should have known that mischief was on the menu. But overwhelmed by my love of chocolate I took a bite, whereupon the entire class erupted in uncontrolled laughter. Now all the warning lights went on but it was too late as I looked at the uneaten half of the candy only to see a chocolate covered grasshopper. The church in America is in trouble according to the latest survey by Pew Research. In the seven-year period ending in 2014 the percent of Americans identifying themselves as Christians fell from 78.4% to only 70.6% of the overall population. 1 Why is this exodus happening? Another study by Pew Research gives us the top two reasons given by those who left the faith. Under society s assault on Christianity, 71% of those leaving the church say they just drifted away from the church. The number-one reason given by 76% of those leaving the church (78% amongst former evangelicals) is the hypocrisy within the body of Christ. 2 In other words, too many believers are like my faux Almond Roca; they look great on the outside but inside they re rotten, producing the same aversion as eating a chocolate-covered grasshopper. For just such behaviour, Jesus called the Pharisees whitewashed tombs in Matthew 23:27. Barna Research conducted a 20-question survey in 2013 to determine if Christians were more like Jesus or Pharisees in 1 http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/ 2 http://www.pewforum.org/2009/04/27/interactive-reasons-for-joining-reasons-for-leaving/ ~ 1 ~
attitude and action. Based upon their research, 51% of self-described Christians in America exhibit neither the attitudes nor actions consistent with Jesus teaching and only 14% align with Jesus in both deed and principle. 3 It was as if Paul wrote the epistle to the Colossians anticipating today s crisis. Paul carefully anchors believers in sound doctrine opposed to the false teaching of the teachers of Colossae. It is for this reason the Hebrew writer warns us, Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away (Hebrews 2:1 NKJV). Besides being sound in doctrine, we are to live a life that glorifies Christ. In each of the chapters Paul asks us to examine our walk (Greek peripateo, The whole of activities of an individual life 4 ) and walk in a manner worthy of Christ. If followed closely, Paul s advice will align both our attitude (doctrine) and actions (walk) with Jesus. What are we to do when those statistics become a reality for us personally and a friend, child, or even a spouse becomes an apostate or rejects God s gracious offer of salvation altogether? A substitute leader for our Bible study recently shared with me that the most common prayer requests are for unsaved or apostate children and marriages. Our first response must be to go before the Lord in intercessory prayer for them. But our walk must be consistent with our message. In a quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, we are told to preach the gospel and if necessary use words. Peter advices wives that their godly conduct may win their unsaved husbands to the Lord without a single word (1 Peter 3:1-2). Furthermore, Peter says even the unsaved who would speak against our faith are convicted by our godly behaviour and will glorify God (1 Peter 2:12). Can the Holy Spirit convict and redirect the wayward path of the unsaved and apostate? No one was more hostile than the super-apostle Paul was before his conversion. And Mark (Colossians 4:10) went from mission field dropout (Acts 13:13) to becoming Peter s son in the faith (1 Peter 5:13) and author of the gospel bearing his name. You might say God is capable of the ultimate makeover. Listen to some of His promises following reconciliation and be encouraged to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3 NKJV), and I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten (Joel 2:25 NKJV). 3 https://www.barna.org/faith-spirituality/619-are-christians-more-like-jesus-or-like-the-pharisees#.vru8q870jgw 4 Vine, W.E. An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Word with Their Precise Meaning for English Reader. Old Tappan, NJ: Revell, 1966. Print 195. ~ 2 ~
Prayer Start by praying over the passage and asking the Holy Spirit to give you fresh insights and wisdom in understanding it. Then read through the entire passage two or three times. The depth of theology is so great that I would strongly advise using the New Living Translation for one of your Scripture readings. Scripture Meditation/Memorization One of the most fundamental and rewarding Christian disciplines that pays back in full spiritual dividends is Bible meditation/memorization. It is an absolutely fundamental in the formation of your spiritual development, spiritual walk and faith growth. In Psalm 1:1-2 (NLT), the Psalmist warrior, King David said, Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. Memory Verse Let Your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6 (NKJV) Study Format We have all had weeks in which the time available for preparation of our Bible study evaporates under an unexpected event or a pressing project at work. To enable everyone to complete the study, even when time is at a premium, questions are being divided into two categories: essential and expanded. The Essential Questions are those necessary to understand key points of the passage. The Expanded Questions or growth questions help expand knowledge and gain deeper insight into the Scripture. If you are concerned about having enough time to complete the whole study, it is suggested that you start by first answering the Essential Questions for each day and answer the Expanded Questions as time permits. ~ 3 ~
Colossians 4:1-6 Walking the Walk Paul gives practical advice to the Colossians in his closing remarks through a series of four imperatives (commands to follow) before he gives his closing farewells and greeting. Essential Questions: 1. Paul addresses masters, which is the first-century equivalent of employers or bosses. What advice does he give to them in the following verses? a. Colossians 4:1 b. Ephesians 6:9 2. While prayer should be our first resource, unfortunately for many of us we only resort to prayer when our own efforts fall short. a. What so we learn about prayer in Colossians 4:2? (The literal translation is to be wakeful in prayer you can look in other translations for expanded meaning). b. Paul wrote from a prison cell and you would think he would ask for intercessory prayer for his release, but what was his prayer request in Colossians 4:3-4? ~ 4 ~
3. In verse 5, Paul instructs us to walk in wisdom (Greek Sophia from which we get our word sophisticated), as opposed to mere knowledge (Greek gnosis). This word implies application of what we ve learned to all situations. a. What do you feel should be the characteristics of a wise walk? b. Based on a close reading of this verse, why do you feel that a wise walk is important (hint: also see 1 Peter 2:12)? c. How can we go about redeeming the time (verse 5)? Expanded Question: 4. Paul tells us our speech should be with grace as seasoned with salt. Unfortunately, many Christians have a pretty salty vocabulary as remnant from their days before knowing Jesus. a. What should verse 6 look like in our daily walk? ~ 5 ~
b. What additional insights can you get on this topic from Ephesians 5:3-7? 5. Paul prayer request is evidence that he out service before self. Based on Jesus model prayer in Luke 11:2-4, some have developed the acronym A.C.T.S. as a simple pattern to follow in prayer (Adoration-Confession-Thanksgiving- Supplication). Why do you feel the T is so important as mentioned by Paul in his prayer request? Colossians 4:7-10 Final Greetings, part 1 Apparently, Epaphras, the founding pastor who had brought Paul the news of the heresy starting in Colossians, was now under arrest. The letter was delivered by another member of the church of Colossae named Tychicus (means fortunate). Essential Questions: 1. What else do we know about Tychicus based on the following scriptures? a. Acts 19:29 and Acts 20:4 b. Ephesians 6:21 and Philemon 9 ~ 6 ~
c. 2 Timothy 4:12 d. Titus 3:12 2. Base on verse 9 and Philemon 8-16, what do we know about Onesimus? How can his life be a source of encouragement to us? 3. In verse 10 we read about Mark, who was the cousin of Barnabas, and is a story of true redemption. It is likely that his mother s house was the site of the Last Super and a meeting place for the early church. What do we learn about him in each of the following passages? a. Acts 13:13 and Acts 15:36-40 b. 2 Timothy 4:11 c. 1 Peter 5:13 ~ 7 ~
d. How can his story be a source of encouragement to us? Expanded Question: 4. Paul has surrounded himself with like-minded fellow servants. What do we learn about the value of unity in the body from the following scriptures? a. Proverbs 18:24 b. Ephesians 4:2-6, 12-14 c. Psalm 133:1-3 Colossians 4:11-18 Final Greetings, Part 2 In the previous section, we met several saints that finished well, while in this section we will meet one that didn t finish well, along with a church that didn t heed the message given by Paul. ~ 8 ~
Essential Questions: 1. What do we know about Demas from Philemon 24 and 2 Timothy 4:10? (2 Timothy was the last letter Paul wrote before his death). 2. Luke was a physician and dear friend of Paul. He was also the author of the gospel bearing his name and the Book of Acts. What can you learn about his character from his introduction in Luke 1:1-4? 3. Laodicea was a sister city of Colossae located about 12 miles away. The epistle mentioned in verse 16 has never been found although a counterfeit version of a purported Epistle to Laodicea surfaced in the fifth century. Read Jesus words to the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-21. a. What were His charges against the church? b. What do you feel could have caused the downfall of the Church of Laodicea? c. How could we prevent a similar falling away in our own life? ~ 9 ~
Expanded Question: 4. Paul never saw himself as a victim of the Roman Empire but as a prisoner for Christ. The church is currently undergoing persecution on greater scale than at any time in history. Estimates of the number of Christians under persecution today range from 100-200 million. a. What does Matthew 24:9 teach about this? b. What does Hebrews 13:3 tell us to do for those undergoing persecution? c. While Paul saw God s purpose for his imprisonment, he was also realistic in his assessment of his circumstances. What do you learn from Philippians 1:16 and 1:18? The Big Picture Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians comprise the three letters Paul wrote to churches during his first imprisonment in Rome from AD 60 to 62. He was incarcerated in house he rented and chained to a member of the elite Praetorian Guard. Most scholars believe Paul was released, and after another missionary journey was once again arrested and imprisoned in Rome. During his second imprisonment in AD 66-67, he was treated harshly in the infamous Mamertine Dungeon. It was from this dungeon that Paul wrote his final letter, 2 Timothy, before his martyrdom. 1. Looking back on each of the three letters Paul wrote from prison: ~ 10 ~
a. What do you feel was the major theme of each letter? b. What was your biggest takeaway from each of these letters? c. What was your favourite verse from each of these letters? Explain why this verse has a special meaning to you? Lesson 36 Summary/Take Away If one of your friends at work or a neighbor were to ask you what you did on Tuesday, you would tell them you went to a Bible study. The next question would likely be, What did you learn? We often summarize an entire athletic contest or a movie in a few brief sentences and easily convey the essence of the event. Now apply these same skills to give a summary of the passage in a sentence or two. Then, in an additional sentence or two, describe what impact this passage will have on how you live. ~ 11 ~
Memory Verse Let Your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6 (NKJV) Key Words/Phrases Write out the definition of these key words. You can use a regular dictionary or go to one of the Greek sources listed in the Tool Box at the end of the study. You may also use a concordance to see where else and how the word is used in the Bible. Redeeming the Time (Colossians 4:2) Laboring Fervently for You in Prayers (Colossians 4:12) ~ 12 ~
MESSAGE NOTES Teacher: 2015 Mark Newton. All rights reserved. Express permission granted for use and reproduction by Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA. *Added questions by Warehouse Christian Ministries, Sacramento, CA ~ 13 ~