Study:  The Colossians Epistle

Personally speaking, I find Colossians 1:5 to be very timely for our church body right now due to the trial(s) we are facing. Verse 5 seems to put it all in perspective for us who have a hope (i.e., an earnest expectation) anchored in Jesus Christ.

1. What observations do you have of the evangelical church today? Specifically, the gospel message being peddled by most?

2. Are you more focused on "quick fix pick-me-ups?" Or long-term edification?

3. Does verse 5 teach that our faith is caused by our hope? Why or why not?

4. Does your hope (i.e., your earnest expectation of a future glory), strengthen: 1) your faith in Christ and 2) your love for your brothers and sisters in Christ? Or is it better described as a stagnant hope of wishful thinking?

5. Is your hope based solely on God's unilateral "reservation" on your behalf (through the word of the truth of the gospel)? Or, is it in any way based on human work/merit?

6. Do you think, and live, with a temporal mindset; or an eternal mindset (see 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 and Romans 8:18)?

7. Are you consumed with the hope (i.e., earnest expectation) of a future/eternal worship, and glory, of our Sovereign King and Priest, Jesus Christ? If not, why not?

8. What do you do to advance the gospel geographically? Has your heart (internally) and life (externally) been so transformed that your very fruitfulness serves to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ? Or have you merely adopted a new set of intellectual beliefs?

9. Do you comprehend "the grace of God in truth" such that you have an inner drive (i.e., a spiritual and passionate energy) to honor/glorify/please/exalt God and His Holy Lamb, Jesus Christ?

10. Has God blessed you with humble bondservants in Jesus Christ? Faithful ministers in Jesus Christ? Assuming so, do you thank God for them? Pray fervently for them? Are you fiercely loyal to them? Do you faithfully support them? Do you encourage them? Or instead, do you just take them for granted? Or even worse, show contempt for them?

Teacher: Darin Lawson