The Mystery of Jesus

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COLOSSIANSD I S C O V E R

The Mystery of Jesus

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We thank Diane Averill for revising this study, with assistance by Brent Averill. We also thank Jeff Sajdak, dean of students at Calvin Theological Seminary, for contributions made in a theological review of the content. The original lesson material was written in 1989 by Neva Evenhouse and revised in 2000 by Sylvia Boomsma.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Discover Your Bible series. Discover Colossians (Study Guide), © 2016 by Faith Alive Christian Resources, 1700 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508-1407. All rights reserved. With the exception of brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher. For information or questions about use of copyrighted material please contact Permissions, Faith Alive Christian Resources, 1700 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508-1407; phone: 1-800-333-8300; fax: 616-726-1164; e-mail: permissions@faithaliveresources.org.

Printed in the United States of America.

We welcome your comments. Call us at 1-800-333-8300 or e-mail us at editors@faithaliveresources.org.

ISBN 978-1-59255-892-6

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ContentsHow to Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Glossary of Terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Lesson 1

Thanksgiving and Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Lesson 2

Who Is Jesus?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Lesson 3

Committed to the Mystery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Lesson 4

Keep the Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Lesson 5

Putting On New Clothes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Lesson 6

Family Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Lesson 7 (optional)

New Life in Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

An Invitation and Prayer of Commitment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Bibliography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Evaluation Questionnaire

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How to StudyThe questions in this study booklet will help you “do it yourself” and discover together what the Bible says.

Questions are the key to Bible discovery. Through questions you search for the writers’ thoughts and ideas. The questions in this study guide are designed to help you in your quest for answers. You can and should ask your own questions too. The Bible comes alive with meaning for many people as they uncover the exciting truths it contains. Our hope and prayer is that this guide will help the Bible come alive for you.

The questions in this study are designed to be used with the New Inter-national Version of the Bible, but other translations can also be used.

Step 1.

Read through each Bible passage several times. Allow the ideas to sink in. Think about the meaning of the passage.

Step 2.

Answer the questions in the “What does it say?” section of the study guide lesson, drawing your answers from each passage. Write answers in your own words. If you use Bible study aids such as commentaries, Bible handbooks, or Internet sites, do so only after completing your own personal study. Answering the questions before the group meets enables you to remember what you have discovered and to prepare for the group conversation.

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Step 1.

Step 2.

Step 3.

Step 3.

Fill in the “Conversation” boxes with your questions and thoughts. Include questions that you would like to discuss with the group, topics that you would like to learn more about, and ideas from the passage that have made an impact on you. For example, in the “Conversation” boxes, you might include answers to questions like these:

• What is this passage saying to me?

• How does it challenge me? Comfort me?

• Is there a promise I can claim?

• For what can I give thanks?

Step 4.

Have fun talking with others about what you have discovered!

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Glossary of Termsangels—supernatural beings created by God to be messengers, to carry

out God’s will in this world, and to serve and care for all who belong to God (Ps. 91:11-12).

Archippus—probably an evangelist working in Colossae; he may also have served in Laodicea or in nearby Hierapolis (see Col. 4:13, 17).

apostle—“one sent forth”; refers to a messenger sent on a special mis-sion. The New Testament apostles were leaders in the early Christian church; they were specially chosen by Jesus to be his witnesses (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8, 21-26; 9:1-15; 1 Cor. 9:1-2).

Aristarchus—a Jewish follower of Christ and an associate and compan-ion of Paul throughout Greece. He was imprisoned with Paul.

baptism—the act of applying water to a person to indicate a new rela-tionship with God through Jesus Christ. How the water is applied (the mode) varies in different church traditions: it can be through immer-sion (going completely underwater), sprinkling, pouring, or dipping. Many churches baptize infants, and many churches baptize older children and teens who express their faith in Christ. Both kinds of churches also baptize adult converts. Churches that baptize infants consider baptism as a covenant sign replacing circumcision. As they grow up, children baptized as infants must appropriate the promises made for them by their parents at their baptism by expressing faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. The symbolism of baptism is that of the washing away of sin through Christ’s death, and of dying to sin through Christ’s death and rising with Christ to new life (Rom. 6:1-14). The symbol, also called a sacrament, has no saving effect but is a declaration of faith in Christ, a recognition of God’s claim on one’s life, and a sign of being welcomed into God’s family.

Christ (Jesus)—the second person of the Trinity; the name Christ means “Anointed One.” Jesus, the Son of God, came to save God’s people from the oppression of sin and death and to give them new life forever with God. See also Jesus (Christ).

circumcision—removal of the male foreskin. God commanded Abra-ham and his descendants to do this as a sign that they belonged to God and as a symbol of the cutting away of sin from their lives (Gen. 17). In the New Testament circumcision is replaced with bap-tism in Christ. True circumcision is of the heart, not the flesh (Deut. 10:16; 30:6; Jer. 4:4; Col. 2:9-12).

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Colossians 1:15-23

Who Is Jesus?Getting Started

Who is Jesus? Ask a random group of people, and you’ll get lots of different answers:

• “A good man who lived hundreds of years ago.”• “A Christian hero.”• “The founder of a great religion.”• “A spirit from heaven who appeared to be human.”

Misconceptions about Jesus abound.

Paul wanted to communicate the truth about Jesus in this section of his letter to the Colossians. Many scholars think this part of the letter was drawn from an early hymn of the church because the words here are so beautifully crafted. Paul wanted the believers in Colossae to under-stand clearly who Jesus is, and we are beneficiaries of this fascinating explanation.

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What Does It Say?

1. Colossians 1:15-17

a. Discuss the two descriptions Paul uses for the Son (Jesus Christ) in verse 15 and what they mean.

b. What is Christ’s relationship to creation? (Notice key phrases that describe this relationship.)

For discussion . . .

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My thoughts about . . .c. What are the implications of Christ’s

supremacy over creation?

Note: Some false teachers in Colossae en-couraged the worship of angels and other powers; they elevated these powers to a sta-tus equal to or higher than Christ’s.

2. Colossians 1:18

a. What is Christ’s relationship to the church?

b. How did this relationship come about? For what purpose?

3. Colossians 1:19-20

a. What does this passage tell us about Christ and God (the Father)?

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b. Describe what God accomplished through his Son.

4. Colossians 1:21-23

a. Compare the Colossians’ former relationship with God to their new relationship with God through Christ.

b. What brought about the change, and what are the results?

c. What did Paul want for the Colossians?

Taking It Home

a. How does this lesson answer the question “Who is Jesus?”

Let’s talk about . . .

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b. What difference should that answer have made to the Colossian Christians?

c. What difference should it make to us?

For Further Study

John 12:44-45; 14:9

John 1:1-18; Hebrews 1

Hebrews 11:3

John 14:19

Ephesians 2:1-10

Matthew 3:17; 17:5

Ephesians 1:7-10

Ephesians 4:17-19

Philippians 1:6

Matthew 28:18-20

Acts 9:1-19

1 Corinthians 15:9-11

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An InvitationListen now to what God is saying to you.

You may be aware of things in your life that keep you from coming near to God. You may have thought of God as someone who is unsympathetic, angry, and punishing. You may feel as if you don’t know how to pray or how to come near to God.

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Eph. 2:4-5). Jesus, God’s Son, died on the cross to save us from our sins. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you’ve done in the past, or what your heritage is. God has been watching over you and caring for you, drawing you closer. “You also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Eph. 1:13).

Do you want to receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord? It’s as simple as A-B-C:

• Admit that you have sinned and that you need God’s forgiveness.

• Believe that God loves you and that Jesus has already paid the price for your sins.

• Commit your life to God in prayer, asking the Lord to forgive your sins, nurture you as his child, and fill you with the Holy Spirit.

Prayer of CommitmentHere is a prayer of commitment recognizing Jesus Christ as Savior. If you long to be in a loving relationship with Jesus, pray this prayer. If you have already committed your life to Jesus, use this prayer for renewal and praise.

Dear God, I come to you simply and honestly to confess that I have sinned, that sin is a part of who I am. And yet I know that you listen to sinners who are truthful before you. So I come with empty hands and heart, asking for forgiveness.

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I confess that only through faith in Jesus Christ can I come to you. I confess my need for a Savior, and I thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross to pay the price for my sins. Father, I ask that you forgive my sins and count me as righteous for Jesus’ sake. Remove the guilt that accompanies my sin, and bring me into your presence.

Holy Spirit of God, help me to pray, and teach me to live by your Word. Faithful God, help me to serve you faithfully. Make me more like Jesus each day, and help me to share with others the good news of your great salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BibliographyAllender, Dan. “Feeding Your Enemy,” Discipleship Journal, 1992.

Barker, Kenneth L., and John R. Kohlenberger III. Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1994.

Carson, Herbert M. Epistles of Paul to the Colossians and Philemon. R.V.G. Tasker, ed. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1976.

Colossians, Philemon: The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1998.

Elwell, Walter A., ed. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 1988.

Keller, Tim. The Prodigal God. New York: Penguin, 2008.

NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2011.

Patzia, Arthur G. Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon. Understanding the Bible Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2011.

Peterson, Eugene. The Message. Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress, 2002.

Reformation Study Bible. R. C. Sproul, ed. Orlando, Fla.: Ligonier Ministries, 2003.

Sonship disciple course. Jenkintown, Pa.: World Harvest Mission, 2002.

Wright, Christopher J. H. The Mission of God’s People: A Biblical Theology of the Church’s Mission. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2010.

Wright, N. T. Colossians and Philemon. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1986.

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D I S C O V E R Y O U R B I B L E S E R I E SBible Studies for Small Groups

COLOSSIANS

S T U D Y G U I D E

In the book of Colossians, a letter written by the apostle Paul in the first century A.D., we discover the wonders of a “mystery that [was] hidden for ages” (1:26). That mystery is Jesus Christ, now revealed for all people to see as the Savior who transforms us and makes us new. In this study we explore with Paul and the Colossians the amazing depths of God’s love for us in Christ, in whom “all things hold together” (1:17), so that we can also live by that love in all our relationships.

The Discover Your Bible series inspires readers to discover together what the Bible says and means. Participants dive into the text using questions that spark meaningful conversation and personalized application. Every lesson is designed to be a framework that guides groups on a unique and transformative journey. Discover more at DiscoverYourBible.org.

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