03 15 colossians 2

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS

Brief Intro to Book of Colossians

AUTHOR: Paul, the Apostle.

DATE: between A.D. 60-63 - Paul's imprisonment at Rome (Acts 28:16, 30-31)

TO WHOM: believers @ Colossae (1:2)

BY WHOM: Tychicus & Onesimus (4:7-9)

PURPOSE: To combat wrong teachings in the Colossae church esp regarding the Person & Lorship of Christ - “Colossian Heresy”

Colossae

1. Colossae smallest of 3 cities in the LycusValley – others Hierapolis & Laodicea.

2. About 100 miles from Ephesus

Epaphras – personally travelled 1500 km to consult Paul in Rome (4:12)

Philem 23 “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings....”

Paul had never visited Colossae (2:1) Most Probably founded by ?Epaphras (1:4-7; 4:12-

13) who is from Colossae...possibly meeting in Philemon’s home, who lived in Colossae (4:9 and Philemon 10)

Outline of Colossians

I. Chp 1 : DOCTRINE

Christ's Supremacy & Sufficiency DECLARED

II. Chp 2 : DANGER

Christ's Supremacy & Sufficiency DEFENDED

III. Chps 3-4 : DUTY

Christ's Supremacy & Sufficiency DISPLAYED

Colossians

I. Chp 1 : DOCTRINE


A. 1:1-8 Lessons in Discipleship 1

1st : FAITH in Christ2nd : LOVE for the brethren3rd : HOPE in heaven

Colossians

I. Chp 1 : DOCTRINE


A. 1:1-8 Lessons in Discipleship I

B. 1:9-14 Lessons in Discipleship II

Colossians 1:9-149 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we

have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill

you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual

wisdom and understanding.

10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life

worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way:

bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the

knowledge of God,

11 being strengthened with all power according to his

glorious might so that you may have

great endurance and patience, and joyfully

Colossians 1:9-14

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Lessons In Discipleship II Col 1:9-14

2014 Theme : Wholesome Living –

YEAR of BREAKTHROUGHs Verse Col 1:10

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,”

Lessons In Discipleship II Col 1:9-14

2014 Theme : Wholesome Living –

YEAR of BREAKTHROUGHs Verse Col 1:10-12i. Living WORTHILY As A DISCIPLEii. Living FRUITFULLY As A FAMILYiii. Living POWERFULLY As A CHURCH

Lessons In Discipleship II

4th Lesson in Discipleship :PRAYER• Col 1:9 For this reason, since the day

we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you...

• Col 1:3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ...

Conclusion : Paul PRAYED for the believers in Colossae


4th Lesson in Discipleship :PRAYERCol 4:12

“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, ...”

Epaphras PRAYED for the believers in Colossae

Epaphras wrestled in PRAYER...


4th Lesson in Discipleship :PRAYERPaul PRAYED for the Colossians...Epaphras also PRAYED for the

Colossians ...Conclusion : PRAYING must be important

Q: Can PRAYER be the secret ...

Lessons In Discipleship IIQ: What did Paul pray for the Colossians ?

v9-14 Paul’s prayer points

Paul prayed for the Colossians ...

‘SUBSTRUCTURE’

‘STRUCTURE’

‘SUPERSTRUCTURE’

Q: What’s that ??

Borrowing from Edmund Chan ...

Painting, Window panes, Photos, Decorations, etc

Pillars, Beams, Walls, Doors, Windows etc

Foundation

Lessons In Discipleship IIa. “SUBSTRUCTURE” :

Col 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to ...Fill You With The Knowledge Of His Will Through All Spiritual Wisdom And Understanding....

UNDERSTANDING God’s Will & Purpose... THOUGHTS & INTENTIONS of the heart &

mind ... (ref Heb 4:12 the word of God ...) True Self ... RELATIONSHIP with God...


a. “SUBSTRUCTURE” :• Cannot be seen by man • But God Sees ....

God Knows ....• Very important part of our being ...* Building - Supports the Structure &

Superstructure...** Plant - Gives life & nourishment ...

Lessons In Discipleship IIa. “SUBSTRUCTURE” :Question : How is the substructure of your life ? Or ...As a Disciple of Christ, how is your relationship with God ?

Is it good ? Is it current ‘up-to-date’ ?When was the last-time you had a

‘conversation’ with Him ?What is He telling you lately ?

Lessons In Discipleship IIb. “STRUCTURE” :Col 1:10-12

live a life worthy of the Lord ...please him in every way... being strengthened with all power ...great endurance, patience...joyfully giving thanks...Is Visible ...Is Tangible ...Inter-Dependent ...

Lessons In Discipleship IIb. “STRUCTURE” :

Col 1:10-12Everyday LIFE being lived out ...

LIFE lived in RELATIONSHIPS ... In Family ... In Community ... In Society ...


“DISCIPLESHIP is RELATIONSHIP”

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b. “STRUCTURE” :DISCIPLESHIP is RELATIONSHIP ...RELATIONSHIP is TIME Family, Spouse, Children... Parents / Grandparents ... Extended Family ....

Discipleship Group ... Church Family / Community .... Colleagues – where we work Neighbors – where we stay Friends – Classmates, Sports, Hobbies... Service Providers ...

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QUESTION : As A Disciple ...How is your personal life ?How is your family life ?How is your relationship with ... your spouse ? your children ? your parents / grandparents ? your DG members ? your church family ? your relatives, colleagues, friends ?

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Col 1:10 “bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,...”

Fruitfulness ...

Growth ...The visible ...The spectacular ...The fame ...The applause ...

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Danger of only building the superstructure....

It is nothing without ...• Fruitfulness / Growth that lasts

(Ref John 15:1-8,16)

can only happen IF ...Intact STRUCTURE &Strong SUBSTRUCTURE...

Lessons In Discipleship IIc. “SUPERSTRUCTURE” :John 15:4-8Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can BEAR FRUIT by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you BEAR FRUIT unless you remain in me.....If a man remains in me and I in him, he will BEAR MUCH FRUIT; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father's glory, that you BEAR MUCH FRUIT,...showing yourselves to be my DISCIPLES.

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I c. “SUPERSTRUCTURE” :Paul commended the Colossians for

their Growth & Fruitfulness...Question...Are we Growing ?Are we Bearing Fruit ?If we are not growing ...If we are no longer fruitful ...May need to Re-examine

our Structures ....our Substructures ....

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WHY did Paul PRAY what he prayed..Col 1:12-1412 who has qualified you to share in the

INHERITANCE of the SAINTS in the KINGDOM OF LIGHT.

13 For he has RESCUED us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the KINGDOM OF THE SON he loves,

14 in whom we have REDEMPTION, the FORGIVENESS OF SINS.


APPLICATION :4th Lesson in Discipleship –PRAYER

Epaphras prayed for his ‘disciples’ – the Colossians

Paul prayed for his ‘disciples’ disciples’ ...his ‘disciple’ ....

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FAMILYFAMILYFAMILYFAMILYFAMILYFAMILYFAMILY

Church Staffs& Families

My Family

LT & Family

the outward, visible accomplishments of

our life, work and ministry...

our personal life, time with God,

family, friends and community...

who we really are, what we do when no one sees, our

thoughts, feelings, our relationship with God ...

Col 2:7 rooted and built up in HIM,

Quotes “When we take care of the depth of our lives,

God will take care of the breadth of our work and

ministry”“Discipleship is NOT OPTIONAL

but MUST BE Intentional”

Discipling Is Important

& Necessary

Quotes

Every believer should both be making disciples and being discipled.

‘Addicted to bottle feeds’SEREMBAN:

Farah Sauffiah Rahmat is a 14-year-old ‘healthy’ teenager who is addicted to bottle-feeds. Like a young child she needs to have regular milk feeds – 15 bottles a day to be exact.

A Form Two student in SekMen Tuanku Ampuan Durah, .... Ref : 1 Cor 3: 1-2 ...

Heb 5:12-14

DISCIPLING the NEXT GENERATION

Take Home Points ...