The Cross and the Christian Life

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Introduction As a Christian, you have been saved from your sin by the death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. Your resurrection is guaranteed by the fact the he was born from the dead three days after he was cruci-­‐
fied. The cross—the cruel implement of Roman oppression-­‐is also the glorious instrument of our salvation. The cross is the source of our salvation, but it is also the driving force behind our lives. The cross is to be the banner under which we live that shapes our spiritual life, our conduct with others, our de-­‐
cisions, and even our political engagement. The cross is a way of life. It is the goal of this study and its accompanying sermon series to help you to connect the cross and its meaning to your everyday life. Living the “Cross-­‐centered life” as C. J. Mahaney once calleit requires orienting your life around the cross of Christ rather than modern culture. D. A. Carson puts it this way, We cannot embrace unrestrained secularism; democracy is not God; freedom can be anoth-­‐
er word for rebellion; the lust for power, as universal as it is, must be viewed with more than a little suspicion. This means that Chris-­‐
tian communities honestly seeking to live un-­‐
der the Word of God will inevitably generate cultures that, to say the least, will in some sense counter or confront the values of the dominant culture. But to say the least is not enough. Christians thus shaped by Scripture envision a church that not only counters al-­‐
ternative cultures but also seeks sacrificially to serve the good of others—the city, the na-­‐
tion, common humanity, not least the poor (Carson, Christ and Culture Revisited, pg. 143). The Christian life is the cross-­‐centered life and it is the connected life. The cross distances you from the world, but it connects you to a family of be-­‐
lievers in your local church that enables you to pursue Christ with you whole being. What’s Inside: Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Colossians: Background Information . . . 2 Sermon Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Bible Study Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Week 1 Discussion Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Week 2 Discussion Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Week 3 Discussion Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Week 4 Discussion Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Week 5 Discussion Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Week 6 Discussion Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Week 7 Discussion Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Week 8 Discussion Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Week 9 Discussion Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Week 10 Discussion Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Week 11 Discussion Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Week 12 Discussion Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 2
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Colossians: Background Information The following introductory material for Nehemiah comes verbatim-­‐ from Grace To You. It can be found under the Bible Introductions section at www.gty.org. important products. In addition, the city was situ-­‐
ated at the junction of the main north-­‐south and east-­‐west trade routes. By Paul’s day, however, the main road had been rerouted through nearby Laodicea, thus bypassing Colosse and leading to its decline and the rise of the neighboring cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis. Title Colossians is named for the city of Colosse, where the church it was addressed to was located. It was also to be read in the neighboring church at Laodi-­‐
cea (4:16). Although Colosse’s population was mainly Gentile, there was a large Jewish settlement dating from the days of Antiochus the Great (223–187 B.C.). Colosse’s mixed population of Jews and Gentiles manifested itself both in the composition of the church and in the heresy that plagued it, which contained elements of both Jewish legalism and pagan mysticism. Author and Date Paul is identified as author at the beginning (1:1; cf. v. 23; 4:18), as customarily in his epistles. The testimony of the early church, including such key figures as Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertul-­‐
lian, Origen, and Eusebius, confirms that the open-­‐
ing claim is genuine. Additional evidence for Paul’s authorship comes from the book’s close parallels with Philemon, which is universally accepted as having been written by Paul. Both were written (ca. A.D. 60–62) while Paul was a prisoner in Rome (4:3, 10, 18; Philem. 9, 10, 13, 23); plus the names of the same people (e.g., Timothy, Aristar-­‐
chus, Archippus, Mark, Epaphras, Luke, Onesimus, and Demas) appear in both epistles, showing that both were written by the same author at about the same time. For biographical information on Paul see Introduction to Romans: Author and Date. The church at Colosse began during Paul’s 3-­‐year ministry at Ephesus (Acts 19). Its founder was not Paul, who had never been there (2:1); but Epa-­‐
phras (1:5–7), who apparently was saved during a visit to Ephesus, then likely started the church in Colosse when he returned home. Several years af-­‐
ter the Colossian church was founded, a danger-­‐
ous heresy arose to threaten it—one not identified with any particular historical system. It contained elements of what later became known as Gnosti-­‐
cism: that God is good, but matter is evil, that Jesus Christ was merely one of a series of emanations descending from God and being less than God (a belief that led them to deny His true humanity), and that a secret, higher knowledge above Scrip-­‐
ture was necessary for enlightenment and salva-­‐
tion. The Colossian heresy also embraced aspects of Jewish legalism, e.g., the necessity of circumci-­‐
sion for salvation, observance of the ceremonial rituals of the OT law (dietary laws, festivals, Sab-­‐
baths), and rigid asceticism. It also called for the worship of angels and mystical experience. Epa-­‐
phras was so concerned about this heresy that he made the long journey from Colosse to Rome (4:12, 13), where Paul was a prisoner. Background and Setting Colosse was a city in Phrygia, in the Roman prov-­‐
ince of Asia (part of modern Turkey), about 100 mi. E of Ephesus in the region of the 7 churches of Rev. 1–3. The city lay alongside the Lycus River, not far from where it flowed into the Maender River. The Lycus Valley narrowed at Colosse to a width of about two mi., and Mt. Cadmus rose 8,000 feet above the city. Colosse was a thriving city in the fifth century B.C. when the Persian king Xerxes (Ahasuerus, cf. Esth. 1:1) marched through the region. Black wool and dyes (made from the nearby chalk deposits) were This letter was written from prison in Rome (Acts 28:16–31) sometime between A.D. 60–62 and is, 2 4
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Colossians: Background Information therefore, referred to as a Prison Epistle (along with Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon). It may have been composed almost contemporane-­‐
ously with Ephesians and initially sent with that epistle and Philemon by Tychicus (Eph. 6:21, 22; Col. 4:7, 8). See Introduction to Philippians: Au-­‐
thor and Date for a discussion of the city from which Paul wrote. He wrote this letter to warn the Colossians against the heresy they faced, and sent the letter to them with Tychicus, who was accom-­‐
panying the runaway slave Onesimus back to his master, Philemon, a member of the Colossian church (4:7–9; see Introduction to Philemon: Background and Setting). Epaphras remained be-­‐
hind in Rome (cf. Philem. 23), perhaps to receive further instruction from Paul. Outline I. Personal Matters (1:1–14) A. Paul’s Greeting (1:1, 2) B. Paul’s Thankfulness (1:3–8) C. Paul’s Prayer (1:9–14) II. Doctrinal Instruction (1:15–2:23) A. About Christ’s Deity (1:15–23) B. About Paul’s Ministry (1:24–2:7) C. About False Philosophy (2:8–23) III. Practical Exhortations (3:1–4:18) A. Christian Conduct (3:1–17) Historical and Theological Themes B. Christian Households (3:18–4:1) Colossians contains teaching on several key areas of theology, including the deity of Christ (1:15–20; 2:2–10), reconciliation (1:20–23), redemption (1:13, 14; 2:13, 14; 3:9–11), election (3:12), for-­‐
giveness (3:13), and the nature of the church (1:18, 24, 25; 2:19; 3:11, 15). Also, as noted above, refutes the heretical teaching that threatened it the Colossian church (chap. 2). C. Christian Speech (4:2–6) D. Christian Friends (4:7–18) Other helpful information about the Book of Co-­‐
lossians can be found in the introductions of many study Bibles. Especially helpful are the introduc-­‐
tions in the ESV Study Bible and the NIV Study Bi-­‐
ble. Interpretive Challenges Those cults that deny Christ’s deity have seized upon the description of Him as “the firstborn over all creation” (1:15) as proof that He was a created being. Paul’s statement that believers will be “ho-­‐
ly, and blameless, and above reproach” if they “continue in the faith” (1:22, 23) has led some to teach that believers can lose their salvation. Some have argued for the existence of purgatory based on Paul’s statement, “I … fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ” (1:24), while others see support for baptismal regeneration (2:12). The identity of the “epistle from Laodicea” (4:16) has also prompted much discussion. 3 1
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Sermon Calendar Study Date Sermon Date Mar-­‐20 Mar-­‐13 Mar-­‐27 Mar-­‐20 Apr-­‐3 Mar-­‐27 Title The Cross & A New Family The Cross & Your Address The Cross & Your Heart Scripture Colossians 1:1-­‐7 Colossians 1:8-­‐14 Colossians 1:15-­‐23 Big Question and Synopsis Because of the cross of Jesus, you have a new family, a family united in Christ. The fruit of the gospel makes you a son, a sibling, and a saint. Big Question: Is the gospel bearing fruit in your life? In Christ, you have been transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of the beloved Son of God. Big Question: Where are you living? The cross of Christ changes your standing with Christ. You are no longer alienated from Christ; you have been brought near through his shed blood on the cross. Big Question: Have you been brought near? Apr-­‐10 Apr-­‐3 The Cross & the Mystery of God Colossians 1:24-­‐2:5 False teachers to the Colossians were claiming to know the secret mysteries of God. Paul assures the Co-­‐
lossians that the mystery of God is revealed in Christ. In Christ they have the full knowledge of God’s love and plan for them. Big Question: Are you being misled? Apr-­‐17 Apr-­‐10 The Cross & Victory Colossians 2:6-­‐15 Christ has disarmed the rulers and authorities. As a Christian you are not only promised eternity in heav-­‐
en, you are invited to walk with Christ and experience his victory in this life. Big Question: Are you living in Christ’s victory? Apr-­‐24 Apr-­‐17 The Cross & Freedom Colossians 2:16-­‐20 In Christ you have been set free from obligations re-­‐
garding festivals, drink, and food. In Christ, you have been set free from sin and the elemental spirits of the world. Big Question: What does Christ’s freedom mean to you? 4 1
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Sermon Calendar Study Date May-­‐1 Sermon Date Apr-­‐24 Title The Cross & Peace Scripture Colossians 3:1-­‐17 Big Question and Synopsis In Christ, you have been given peace, but not peace to continue in your sin., You have peace to live for Christ and to enjoy God’s w ord. The cross has given you peace w ith God and man and the ability to live like Christ. Set your mind on the things of God through the peace that has been granted to you. Big Question: Where is your mind? May-­‐8 May-­‐15 May-­‐1 May-­‐8 The Cross & Purpose The Cross & Mission Colossians 3:18-­‐4:1 Colossians 4:2-­‐6 The cross affects every aspect of our lives, not least our relationships with others. The cross affects and informs the w ay that w e interact with others as hus-­‐
bands and wife, as parents, bosses, and employees. Big Question: How does the cross inform the way you interact with others? All Christians have been given the mission of making disciples, but they have also been given unique gifts and callings for God’s glory and the building up of the church. Make the best use of the time you have been given to fulfill the mission that God has given to you. Big Question: What is your mission from Jesus? May-­‐22 May-­‐15 May-­‐29 May-­‐22 Youth Sunday The Cross & Perseverance 1 Timothy 4:12 Colossians 4:7-­‐18 Paul instructed Timothy to set an example to other believers for how they should follow Christ. All Chris-­‐
tians bear the same responsibility as Timothy to be a godly example to others. Big Question: Are you setting an example for others to follow? Paul is writing this letter from prison, and yet he has found a way to be joyful. Other believers have com-­‐
forted him, but ultimately, it is the grace of God that sustains him. The cross is enough to keep God’s chil-­‐
dren safe in his hand. Big Question: How does the cross enable you to per-­‐
severe as a Christian? June-­‐5 May-­‐29 The Cross & Politics 2 Chronicles 7:7-­‐22 2 Chronicles 7 is not about the United States of Amer-­‐
ica. God’s kingdom is made up of a people of every nation, tribe, and tongue. Our political engagement is important, but w e must never seek to engage in the political process as a way to introduce God’s king-­‐
dom. God’s kingdom arrived in Christ. Big Question: How does the cross affect the w ay that you engage in the political process? 5 1
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Bible Study Map 6 1
The Cross & A New Family (Colossians 1:1-­‐7) Week 1 – March 20, 2016 Sermon Notes from Sunday, March 13 Use this space to write down notes from the sermon or your personal study. 7 2
Discussion Guide for Sunday, March 20 BIG THOUGHT The gospel and the church are inseparable. INTRODUCTION Discussion Starter: Name a time that you have been tempted to believe that the church is optional for Christians. Many people believe the church to be optional primarily because they do not see a great need for it. Sure-­‐
ly some of this is born out of poor theology, but often people living in cultures influenced by the Bible with strong families simply find their identity within their family. People who have been separated from their family by their faith, however, often develop a much more biblical understanding of the church be-­‐
cause they have an acute need for Christian fellowship. Consider the story of Caleb Kaltenbach as told by Tim Challies below: When he was a teenager, Caleb Kaltenbach came out to his parents. With fear and trembling, he told first his father and then his mother about a growing realization within, about his acceptance of a whole new identity. His parents responded coldly, they responded with disappointment, they re-­‐
sponded with anger, they responded by telling Caleb that he had betrayed them and all they stood for. His is like many other coming out stories you have heard except for this: Caleb was coming out as a Christian to his gay parents The church is important and is inseparable from the gospel. For those who come to Christ from non-­‐
Christian homes, the church can be the only place of comfort, solace, and spiritual guidance. Never under-­‐
estimate the value of Christian fellowship in God’s church. (Source: http://www.challies.com/book-­‐reviews/messy-­‐grace) EXAMINE 1. Who wrote the book of Colossians and to whom was it written? 2. What is the timeless truth of Colossians 1:1-­‐7? ENGAGE 3. According to Verse verses 3-­‐7, what were some reasons that Paul was thankful for the church at Colossae? 8 3
4. How did Paul learn about the Colossians’ faith? Who started the church at Colossae (v.7)? 5. Why did Paul link the Colossians’ faith in Christ with their love for the saints? What are the implications of this passage for your own life? EXECUTE 6. According to Colossians 1:6, what was the gospel doing “in the whole world?” Based on this verse, what should we expect of the gospel in the world and in our own lives? 7. There is a move in some places to separate the gospel from the church. How would your re-­‐
spond to this movement based on Colossians 1:1-­‐7? What are some other passages that speak of the value of the church in the Kingdom of God? Prayer Requests 9 1
The Cross & Your Address (Colossians 1:8-­‐14) Week 2 – March 27, 2016 Sermon Notes from Sunday, March 20 Use this space to write down notes from the sermon or your personal study. 10 2
Discussion Guide for Sunday, March 27 BIG THOUGHT You have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of Christ. INTRODUCTION Discussion Starter: Talk about a time in your life when it would have been beneficial to remember that you have been delivered from the domain of darkness. In Christ, you have been saved and changed. Your address has been changed. Rosaria Butterfield address-­‐
es this as she ponders on her conversion to Christ and move from the godless world of homosexual activ-­‐
ism to the alien world of Christ’s church. Although I am a new creature in Christ, my past, although covered by Christ’s blood, abides in a big way for some people. Identity in Christ, for me, always involves a healthy dose of war. War against the ghosts of who I once was, and war against the covetous machine of my own false entitlements. In my church community, I want to do life together, sharing the joys and the ho-­‐hums, and serving as general good company for the suffering. In order to have real community, we need to tell each other the stories of our lives. And we need to listen, even when someone else’s story makes us uncomforta-­‐
ble. For this reason, in part, I wrote Secret Thoughts: I want you to know from what country I emi-­‐
grated, and in which country my citizenship permanently and eternally resides. I’m not a native speaker of this country. No real convert is. I will always speak in broken godliness, as new paradigms reread old feelings. Though your story may not be exactly like Mrs. Butterfield, every Christian has been rescued. You have left your country of origin and been delivered by Christ into a new, foreign country with a king who loves you beyond your greatest hope. (Source: Openness Unhindered, Rosaria Champaign Butterfield) EXAMINE 1. What is the timeless truth of Colossians 1:8-­‐14? 2. Why would the prayers of Paul have been important to the Christians in Colossae? 11 3
ENGAGE 3. What does it mean to be filled with “all spiritual wisdom and understanding?” How can you accomplish this goal? 4. How can you “bear fruit” in every good work? Why is it important to bear fruit in evange-­‐
lism? Why is it important to bear fruit in areas other than evangelism? 5. From where have you been delivered and to where have you been transferred? How did this exchange take place? EXECUTE 6. How are you walking in a manner worthy of the Lord? In what ways does the Holy Spirit en-­‐
able you to do this? How might Ephesians 4:30 be important in understanding your “walk with the Lord?” 7. How can you pray for others in the way that Paul prayed for the Colossians? For whom should you be praying this prayer? 8. Ultimately, Paul’s prayer was for the Colossians to know God’s will and to live it out. What is God’s will for your life? How are you living it out? 12 1
The Cross & Your Heart (Colossians 1:15-­‐23) Week 3 – April 3, 2016 Sermon Notes from Sunday, March 27 Use this space to write down notes from the sermon or your personal study. 13 2
Discussion Guide for Sunday, April 3 BIG THOUGHT You have been brought near to Christ by his death on the cross. INTRODUCTION Discussion Starter: Share a short version of your testimony. How were you brought near to Christ by trusting in the power of his crucifixion? John Lasseter, Pixar Animation Studios’ genius and director of the hit film Cars, was talking to Michele Norris on National Public Radio. She commented on the amazing photo-­‐realism of the film which was en-­‐
tirely created by computers. “The cars glisten,” she said. “It looks like we’re seeing photography.” But she had a question for the moviemaker. “With everything you can do with computer-­‐generated ani-­‐
mation, are there still limitations?” Norris asked. “Absolutely,” Lasseter replied. “The more organic something is in the way it looks or the way it moves, the harder it is to create it with a computer.” This was after he mentioned that every frame of the feature-­‐
length film required an average of seventeen hours to create. According to the Los Angeles Times, produc-­‐
tion costs for Pixar films average about $140 million. However, no costs were mentioned in a Wall Street Journal review that appeared two weeks later de-­‐
scribing a summer exhibit at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The medium here was photography, not comput-­‐
er-­‐generated anything, and the subject was totally organic. Here is a brief description from the review: “One canvas in magenta red has curling squares of what looked like skin or material; another has furry brown hairs sprouting on green and orange stripes; and on a third, lip-­‐like shapes float on a gray-­‐white background.” The subject of these abstract photos? Magnified close-­‐ups of tree bark. “The closer one gets to something man has made, the more its imperfections are obvious,” said Dr. Lewis Foster many years ago. “the more we magnify something God has created the more we see its perfection.” (Source: Mark A. Taylor ,“From the Editor,” Christian Standard (August 2006)) Under careful examination, Christ proves himself to be the fullness of God and the hope of all mankind. EXAMINE 1. How might Colossian believers who struggled in Spiritual warfare have been encouraged by Colossians 1:15-­‐23? 14 3
2. What is the timeless truth of Colossians 1:15-­‐23? ENGAGE 3. According to Colossians 1:16, who is both the agent and goal of creation? Is there anything that Christ did not create? 4. How do the verses listed above describe the relationship between God the Father and God the Son? 5. According to verses 21-­‐23, how were we reconciled to God? Why were we reconciled to God? What hope do we have of continuing in the faith as spelled out in verse 23? EXECUTE 6. How does your previous life apart from Christ cause you to live to honor Christ in your life united with him? 7. How might you use Colossians 1:21-­‐22 to share the gospel with non-­‐believers? Prayer Requests 15 1
The Cross & the Mystery of God (Colossians 1:24-­‐2:5) Week 4 – April 10, 2016 Sermon Notes from Sunday, April 3 Use this space to write down notes from the sermon or your personal study. 16 2
Discussion Guide for Sunday, April 10 BIG THOUGHT God’s mysteries are revealed in Christ. INTRODUCTION Discussion Starter: What are some reasons a person may search for “secrets” or “mysteries” about God or the Bible? False teachers often claim to know secret mysteries of God. They never come in wearing a shirt that says, “False Teacher,” instead they slowly poison their followers with clever lies and subtle mistruths. Most people do not know they are being misled. Consider the following theory about Beethoven, Beethoven may have poisoned himself. That’s what William Walsh, a scientist from Illinois, suggested after studying strands of hair from the body of famous classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Walsh discovered that Beethoven’s body had one hundred times the normal amount of lead. He con-­‐
cluded that Beethoven’s untimely death at the age of fifty-­‐seven was due to lead poisoning. Beethoven’s lead poisoning may have been due to the mineral spa he went to for relaxation. The very thing he thought was bringing him relief was slowly poisoning him to death. Spiritual poison is like that. As people engage in practices and embrace ideas that are spiritually poi-­‐
sonous, they think they’re becoming more spiritual. But in reality, they’re gradually being poisoned to eternal death. (Source: Tim Peck as quoted in 1001 Illustrations that Connect, pg. 467.) Are you growing in godliness or slowly decaying as a result of false teachings that you have embraced? EXAMINE 1. What did Paul intend for the Colossians to gain from the knowledge of his suffering? 2. What is the timeless truth of Colossians 1:24-­‐2:5? ENGAGE 3. How was the mystery of God hidden in previous generations? How is the mystery of God 17 3
now revealed? 4. What are the aspects of presenting Christ in verse 28? According to that verse, what is the purpose of proclaiming Christ? 5. Based on Colossians 2:4, what are some of the challenges that you believe the church at Co-­‐
lossae was facing? How did Paul encourage them to overcome this particular error? EXECUTE 6. When have you been tempted to be deluded by “plausible arguments?” How have you found your way back to the truth or resisted the temptation to stray from the truth? 7. What would it look like in your own life to “struggle” for the faithfulness of others that you do not even know? 8. How hard would it be for you to suffer for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of others? Prayer Requests 18 1
The Cross & Victory (Colossians 2:6-­‐15) Week 5 – April 17, 2016 Sermon Notes from Sunday, April 10 Use this space to write down notes from the sermon or your personal study. 19 2
Discussion Guide for Sunday, April 17 BIG THOUGHT Live into Christ’s victory. DISCUSSION STARTER Discussion Starter: What is the difference between living into Christ’s victory and living to earn Christ’s love? INTRODUCTION One reason that people are susceptible to false teaching is that they do not recognize they are in spiritual danger until they have been deceived by false teaching. Consider the following story: Some at-­‐risk people would rather stay put than be led to safety. That’s what helicopter pilot Iain McConnell and the rest of his air station crew discovered in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. McConnell and his crew were told to keep five H-­‐60 helicopters airborne on missions around the clock to airlift stranded people from their rooftops and deliver them to the Superdome in New Or-­‐
leans. But they were only able to help relatively few survivors. “On our first three missions, we saved the lives of eighty-­‐nine people, three dogs, and a cat,” McConnell said. “On the fourth mis-­‐
sion, to our great frustration, we saved no one—but not for lack of trying. The dozens we attempt-­‐
ed to recue refused pickup! “Some people told us simply to bring them food and water. ‘You are living in unhealthy conditions, and the water will stay high for a long time,’ we warned them. Still they refused.” In truth, they did no know how desperate their situation was. (Source: Jocelyn C. Green, “A Rescuer’s Journal,” Today’s Christian (January-­‐February 2006) Cling to Christ and live in his victory. Beware of those who would seek to take you captive by deceit and human tradition. Without vigilance you may not see the danger until it has overtaken you. EXAMINE 1. Why might Paul have felt the need to remind the Colossians to live in Christ in the same way that they had received him? 2. What is the timeless truth of Colossians 2:6-­‐15? ENGAGE 20 3
3. How Does Colossians 2:6-­‐15 affect the way that you view your conduct as a Christian? 4. What are ways that a false teacher could take someone captive with bad teaching? How can we all be susceptible to becoming deceitful in our own church (Read Matthew 16:23 for ref-­‐
erence)? 5. As you read Colossians 2:11-­‐12, how would you describe the importance of baptism for the Christian? EXECUTE 6. What changes do you need to make in your life in light of Christ’s work detailed in verse 15? 7. What are steps you can take to make sure that you are not taken captive by philosophy and empty deceit? What role does the Bible play in this? What role does the church play? Prayer Requests 21 1
The Cross & Freedom (Colossians 2:16-­‐20) Week 6 – April 24, 2016 Sermon Notes from Sunday, April 17 Use this space to write down notes from the sermon or your personal study. 22 2
Discussion Guide for Sunday, April 24 BIG THOUGHT Christ has set you free. INTRODUCTION Discussion starter: Can you name a time when you felt threatened or intimidated by a legalistic person? Have you ever been that person? Legalism is a danger to the Christian life. The legalist imposes extra rules in an attempt to be more godly. The great challenge to legalism, however, is that it must change with each generation. Consider the fol-­‐
lowing story from Chuck Swindoll. By the definition offered below, can you think of other things used in our church today that might be considered “sinful?” One of my favorite stories comes from a man who used to be in our church. He and his wife were close friends of our family, but they have now moved to another part of the country. We really miss their joyful presence. When he was a youth worker many years ago in an ethnic community, he attended a church that had Scandinavian roots. Being a rather forward-­‐looking and creative young man, he de-­‐
cided he would show the youth group a missionary film. We're talking simple, safe, black-­‐and-­‐white religious-­‐ oriented movie. That film projector hadn't been off an hour before a group of the leaders in the church called him in and asked him about what he had done. They asked, "Did you show the young people a film?" In all honesty he responded, "Well, yeah, I did." "We don't like that," they replied. Without trying to be argumentative, the youth worker reasoned, "Well, I remember that at the last missionary conference, our church showed slides-­‐-­‐" One of the church officers put his hand up signaling him to cease talking. Then, in these words, he em-­‐
phatically explained the conflict: "If it's still, fine. If it moves, sin!" You can show slides, but when they start movin', you're gettin' into sin. (Source: Chuck Swindoll, Grace Awakening, 160-­‐161) EXAMINE 1. In what ways would Jewish Christians have received Paul’s words in Colossians 2:16-­‐20? How might Gentiles have understood them differently? 2. What is the timeless truth of Colossians 2:16-­‐20? ENGAGE 3. Read Colossians 2:17. What did Paul mean by referring to the rituals listed in verse 16 as a “shadow of the things to come?” 23 3
4. Instead of giving extra influence to those who practice false humility and claim to have re-­‐
ceived visions or who are “puffed up by their sensuous minds,” to what and whom should we turn for direction and insight on the Christian life? 5. In Colossians 2:20, the elemental spirits likely refer to demonic influence. How are non-­‐
believers especially in danger of demonic influence? Why can Christians live in victory over the demonic? EXECUTE 6. In light of the freedom that you have in Christ, what should you stop doing today? 7. How can you obey God’s word and avoid legalism in your own life or in your expectation of others? 8. Colossians 2:23 refers to “man-­‐made” religion.” Talk together about ways that you can avoid creating your own “religion” and remain Bible-­‐centered in your faith. Prayer Requests 24 1
The Cross & Peace (Colossians 3:1-­‐17) Week 7 – May 1, 2016 Sermon Notes from Sunday, April 24 Use this space to write down notes from the sermon or your personal study. 25 2
Discussion Guide for Sunday, May 1 BIG THOUGHT Set your mind on the things that are above. INTRODUCTION Discussion starter: Have you ever known anyone who seemed to keep his or her mind focused on Christ constantly? What was different about their life? In April 2000, Ruby Eliason and Laura Edwards were killed in Cameroon, West Africa. Ruby was over eighty. Single all her life, she poured it out for one great thing: to make Jesus Christ known among the un-­‐
reached, the poor, and the sick. Laura was a widow, a medical doctor, pushing eighty years old, and serv-­‐
ing at Ruby’s side in Cameroon. The brakes failed, the car went over a cliff, and they were both killed in-­‐
stantly. I asked my congregation: Was that a tragedy? Two lives, driven by one great passion, namely, to be spent in unheralded service to the perishing poor for the glory of Jesus Christ—even two decades after most of their American counterparts had retired to throw away their lives on trifles. No, that is not a tragedy. That is a glory. These lives were not wasted. And these lives were not lost. “Whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35). I will tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider a story from the Febru-­‐
ary 1998 edition of Reader’s Digest, which tells about a couple who “took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells.” At first, when I read it I thought it might be a joke. A spoof on the American Dream. But it wasn’t. Tragically, this was the dream: Come to the end of your life—your one and only precious, God-­‐given life—and let the last great work of your life, before you give an account to your Creator, be this: playing softball and collecting shells. Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: “Look, Lord. See my shells.” That is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. Over against that, I put my protest: Don’t buy it. Don’t waste your life. (Source: John Piper, Don’t Waste You’re Life, pg. 45-­‐46) How does Paul’s instruction to put on godliness and set your mind on the things that are above conflict with the American ideal? EXAMINE 1. What are some reasons that Paul would have chosen the specific list of sins used in these verses? 2. What is the timeless truth of Colossians 3:1-­‐17? 26 3
ENGAGE 3. As you read Colossians 3:1-­‐17, what other passages of Scripture come to mind? How do the-­‐
se verses compliment similar biblical passages? 4. Last week we talked about the dangers of legalism. How can you contrast the dangers of le-­‐
galism with the command of Paul to put on the new self? 5. What are the implications of Colossians 3:11 in our own day and time? EXECUTE 6. How can you set your mind on the things that are above? How does Paul explain this con-­‐
cept in Romans 12:2? 7. Paul urges believers to put off the old self and put on the new self. What sins have you walked away from? How have you replaced these sins with works of grace? 8. Colossians 3:12-­‐17 has a great deal to say about interpersonal relationships. How would your relationships be different if you put these verses into practice? Who could you ask to hold you accountable for living according to the standards laid out by Paul? Prayer Requests 27 1
The Cross & Purpose (Colossians 3:18-­‐4:1) Week 8 – May 8, 2016 Sermon Notes from Sunday, May 1 Use this space to write down notes from the sermon or your personal study. 28 2
Discussion Guide for Sunday, May 8 BIG THOUGHT The cross affects my relationships with others. INTRODUCTION Discussion starter: Can you name a time when your Christian faith played an important role in your relationship with someone else? Relationships matter for the Christian life. God created human beings to be in relationships with each other and in his word he had given instructions on how to live together in harmony. Consider the follow-­‐
ing story from Alan Wilson of Nylon, Switzerland: Castleward, a stately home, was built in the 1760s about thirty miles form Belfast, Ireland. The origi-­‐
nal owners of the house were Bernard Ward, the first Viscount of Bangor, and his wife, Lady Anne. One of the most striking features of the house is its two styles of architecture. The rear of the house is built in Gothic style, while the front is neoclassical. It’s built that way because Bernard and Lady Anne could not agree on one style. Not only did they differ in their architectural preferences; they appar-­‐
ently had other differences, because Lady Anne eventually walked out of the marriage. Depending on your point of view, the house is either a celebration of diversity or a monument to stubbornness. (Source: 1001 Illustrations that Connect, pg. 270) The church is a miraculous work of God that brings together diverse people to accomplish a common goal. All of our relationship should prize diversity while also working to maintain unity in the truth of Christ. EXAMINE 1. How would wives, husbands, children, and slaves have responded to Paul’s words in Colos-­‐
sians 3:18-­‐4:1? 2. What is the timeless truth of Colossians 3:18-­‐4:1? ENGAGE 3. Submission is seen as a bad word in many circles today. How does the Bible describe sub-­‐
mission? How is the command to “submit” significantly different than “obey?” 29 3
4. Read Ephesians 5:22-­‐33. How does marriage serve as an illustration of Christ and his church? 5. How can Paul’s instruction to slaves in the first century relate to the employer/employee relationship in the 21st Century? EXECUTE 6. Human trafficking is a great evil that we should work to oppose when possible. How can we discuss the evils of slavery even as we affirm Paul’s words in Colossians 3:22-­‐4:1? 7. How has the cross of Christ given you purpose in life? How are you living out that purpose? 8. How should you change the way you interact with others beginning today in light of the verses studied this week? Prayer Requests 30 1
The Cross & Mission (Colossians 4:2-­‐6) Week 9 – May 15, 2016 Sermon Notes from Sunday, May 8 Use this space to write down notes from the sermon or your personal study. 31 2
Discussion Guide for Sunday, May 15 BIG THOUGHT The cross gives you a mission. INTRODUCTION Discussion starter: What is your favorite missionary story? Those who do most for Christ (like missionaries) usually make the best use of the time that God has given them. Jonathan Edwards was a pastor, theologian, and college president among other things. Many peo-­‐
ple suggest that Edwards great work for the Lord was possible in large part because of a list of 70 resolu-­‐
tions he penned at age 19. At least seven of his resolutions have to do with time management: 5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can. 7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life. 17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die. 18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest no-­‐
tions of things of the gospel, and another world. 19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump. 37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722. 40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723. (Source: http://edwards.yale.edu) How are you using the time God has given you to fulfill the mission to which he has called you? EXAMINE 1. How would Paul’s instructions in Colossians 4:2-­‐3 have enabled the people at Colossae to partner with him in his mission? 2. What is the timeless truth of Colossians 4:2-­‐6? ENGAGE 3. What is your responsibility toward your Christian leaders in light of the verses being stud-­‐
ied this week? 32 3
4. What is the mystery of Christ spoken of in 4:3? 5. What does it mean to walk in wisdom? Why is this especially important for outsiders? 6. Use the cross-­‐references in your Bible to compare Colossians 4:6 with similar passages. What does the Bible teach us about the proper use of our words? EXECUTE 7. Are you making the best use of your time? How could you better use your time for God’s glory? 8. Discuss the implications for Colossians 4:6 in your own life in evangelism, apologetics, and in your conversations with other believers. How is this verse important in each one of these situations? 9. Are you living on mission for Christ? What gets in the way of you living on mission daily? Prayer Requests 33 1
Youth Sunday (1 Timothy 4:12) Week 10 – May 22, 2016 Sermon Notes from Sunday, May 15 Use this space to write down notes from the sermon or your personal study. 34 2
Discussion Guide for Sunday, May 22 BIG THOUGHT Set an example for others to follow. INTRODUCTION Discussion Starter: Who are some good role models that you follow after in your life? At the 1993 annual meeting of the American Heart Association in Atlanta, three hundred thousand doc-­‐
tors, nurses, and researchers came together to discuss, among other things, the importance a low-­‐fat diet plays in keeping our hearts healthy. Yet during mealtimes, they consumed fat-­‐filled fast food, such as bacon cheeseburgers and fries, at about the same rate as people from other conventions. When one cardiologist was asked whether or not his partaking in high-­‐fat meals set a bad example, he replied, “Not me; I took my name tag off.” (Source: Stephen Nordbye, “Always an example,” Preachingtoday.com) How do our Christian lives reflect the hypocrisy of cardiologists gorging on French fries? EXAMINE 1. About what age was Timothy when Paul wrote this letter? 2. What is the timeless truth of 1 Timothy 4:12? ENGAGE 3. How would you restate 1 Timothy 4:12 in your own words? 4. Why was it important for Timothy set an example to the believers with his lifestyle as well as preach to them the truths of God’s word? 35 3
5. How would you compare Paul’s admonition to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12 with Paul’s quali-­‐
fications for overseers (pastors, elders) in 1 Timothy 3:1-­‐7? What is the primary difference in qualification between pastor and deacon (according to 1 Timothy 3)? EXECUTE 6. Consider Paul’s words to deacons and elders in light of his general comments about Chris-­‐
tians in Galatians 5:16-­‐26. How are pastors and deacons called to be different than other believers? 7. Leaders in the church are to be tested. What does this mean? How are you passing or failing the test of leadership in our church? 8. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul urges the Corinthian believers, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Are you honoring Christ highly enough in our life that you could urge others to fol-­‐
low your example? What do you need to do to be a better example to other believers? Prayer Requests 36 1
The Cross & Perseverance (Colossians 4:7-­‐18) Week 11 – May 29, 2016 Sermon Notes from Sunday, May 22 Use this space to write down notes from the sermon or your personal study. 37 2
Discussion Guide for Sunday, May 29 BIG THOUGHT The cross unites us together to accomplish the purposes of God. DISCUSSION STARTER We all have had times where we had to work with a team to accomplish a goal. Share with your LifeGroup about a time where that went it well or when it didn’t go as planned. What made your team successful (or not so successful)? INTRODUCTION “By now, the story is familiar: On August 5, 2010, 33 miners were trapped 2,000 feet below ground at the San Jose mine in Chile’s Atacama Desert. In their first 17 days without contact with the surface and for weeks thereafter, the miners organized themselves for survival under the leadership of foreman Luis Ur-­‐
zua with an unusual level of cooperation and unity. Meanwhile, teams of mining and other experts toiled above ground to find a way to free the miners. Given a 2% chance of a successful release that could take four months, all of the miners emerged above ground alive, just two and a half months later in a trium-­‐
phant and improbable rescue…” This improbable rescue came about through the relentless teamwork of thousands of people and compa-­‐
nies. These contributions included everything from UPS flying a US-­‐made drill machine to the rescue site for free to a company providing a box of special toothbrushes designed to provide effective cleaning with little movement — perfect for the unusually close quarters.” “Soppe, whose company, Center Rock, sup-­‐
plied the drill that ultimately reached the miners, recalled the repeated, often heartbreaking, attempts to drill through to the right spot. After he heard the December rescue estimate, Soppe thought: “If we get the right technology, we could speed it up by four to six weeks.” Center Rock shut down its entire plant and rebuilt its equipment in three days — a process which would have normally taken three to four weeks, Soppe noted. “It was a function of teamwork. The faster we got through, the faster we’d get the miners out.” (Source: Wharton.edu; “The Chilean Miner Rescue: A Lesson in Global Teamwork”) By working together as a global community, the world saw the rescue of these miners who were once considered unreachable. As believers, the gospel unites us together to accomplish the things that God has called us to do. As an African Proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go to-­‐
gether.” Community can be difficult and messy at times, but it is through this family that God is expanding His kingdom. EXAMINE 1. Each of the people and churches listed in this passage were contributing to the kingdom in their own ways. What are some of the ways that these people were serving the kingdom? 38 3
2. Why would Paul end his letter with “Grace be with you” (4:18)? 3. What is the timeless truth of Colossians 4:7-­‐18? ENGAGE 4. Several of the people listed in these verses are also mentioned elsewhere in the New Tes-­‐
tament: a. John Mark (4:10) – He went with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5). However, he later left the group and went home (Acts 13:13). This caused a conflict between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:39). Despite this conflict, it is apparent that Paul reconciled with John Mark. How can conflicts among believers threaten to derail the work God has for us to do? How should we respond when con-­‐
flict arises? b. Demas (4:14) – Paul writes in a later letter that Demas ended up deserting him be-­‐
cause he is “in love with this present world.” (2 Tim. 4:10). How should we react when people we once trusted turn their backs on the gospel? 5. Nympha is mentioned as hosting the “church in her house.” How can small and often unno-­‐
ticed gifts like hospitality help us to work together as a church family? 6. Paul mentioned individual churches working and communicating together. Why is it im-­‐
portant that we belong to a specific individual church family? How can we work together with other church families to build up the kingdom of God? 39 4
EXECUTE 7. Paul ends his epistle by telling the Colossians to “remember my chains” because those chains showed the value of the gospel for Paul. (4:18) What are some ways that others see your value for the gospel in your own life? 8. What are some ways that you should be using your gifts and abilities to work with others for God’s purposes? Prayer Requests 40 1
The Cross & Politics (2 Chronicles 7:7-­‐22) Week 12 – June 5, 2016 Sermon Notes from Sunday, May 29 Use this space to write down notes from the sermon or your personal study. 41 2
Discussion Guide for Sunday, June 5 BIG THOUGHT The cross must affect the way you engage in the political process. INTRODUCTION Discussion starter: What role do you believe your Christian faith should have in the way that de-­‐
cide on candidates? The moral majority is dead and the religious right no longer exists. Of course, the demise of these political blocs has been eminent for some time, but Christians need not despair. Consider the words of Russell Moore: The church now has the opportunity to bear witness in a culture that often does not even pretend to share our “values.” That is not a tragedy since we were never given a mission to promote “values” in the first place, but to speak instead of sin and of righteousness and judgment, of Christ and his king-­‐
dom. We will now have to articulate concepts we previously assumed—concepts such as “marriage” and “family” and “faith” and “religion.” SO much the better, since Jesus and the apostles do the same thing, defining these categories in terms of the creation and of the gospel. We should have been doing such all along. Now we will be forced to, simply to be understood at all. Our end goal is not a Christian America, either of the made up past or the hoped-­‐for future. Our end goal is the kingdom of Christ, made up of every tribe, tongue, nation, and language. We are, in Christ, the heirs of this kingdom. (Source: Russell Moore, Onward, 9) EXAMINE 1. In what ways would the people of Israel have been encouraged with the building of the Temple? 2. What is the timeless truth of 2 Chronicles 7:7-­‐22? ENGAGE 3. What did the temple represent for Israel? 42 3
4. Why should we resist the temptation to draw direct comparisons between Israel and our own country/government? 5. 2 Chronicles 7:14 has often been used to urge Americans to pray for their land. Why is this not a great comparison? Who is God’s kingdom? 6. What is the difference between an Israeli king and an American politician? 7. How has Christ fulfilled the promises of the temple? EXECUTE 8. Are you allowing your Christian faith to shape your political views or are you being driven by another ideology (capitalism, Republican, Democrat, liberal, conservative, etc…)? How should this change in your life? 9. Just because 2 Chronicles 7 is not about America, should we avoid prayer? How are you praying for God’s will to be done right now? Prayer Requests 43 Recommended Resources for The Cross and the Christian Life Book Resources Onward –What’s needed now, in shifting times, is neither a dou-­‐
bling-­‐down on the status quo nor a pullback into isolation. Instead, we need a church that speaks to social and political issues with a bigger vision in mind: that of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Colossians and Philemon – “Colossians presents a picture of Christ who is 'the firstborn over all creation' and has disarmed and triumphed over the powers and authorities. N. T Wright's stated goal is to "give the text back to the reader uncluttered by a mass of glosses." The Epistle to the Colossians, to Phi-­‐
lemon, and to the Ephesians – F. F. Bruce’s commentary has stood the test of time and continues to be counted as one of the best on each of the three books it covers. Christ and Culture Revisited – Called to live in the world, but not to be of it, Christians m ust maintain a balancing act that becomes more precarious the further our culture departs from its Judeo-­‐Christian roots. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire -­‐ Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire shows what the Holy Spirit can do when believers get serious about prayer and the gospel. As this compelling book re-­‐
veals, God moves in life-­‐changing ways when we set aside our own agendas, take him at his word, and listen for his voice. Don’t Waste Your Life – Most people slip b y in life without a passion for God, spending their lives on trivial di-­‐
versions, living for comfort and pleasure, and perhaps trying to avoid sin. This b ook will warn you not to get caught up in a life that counts for nothing. Online Resources (Links Available at www.malvernhill.org) Bible.org – Bible.org is a great resource with thousands of articles and more than 60,000 Bible study notes. Grace To You – John MacArthur’s website offers a very good introduction to the book of Nehemiah that includes historical and theological themes, background information, and a section on interpretive chal-­‐
lenges. Blue Letter Bible – The Blue Letter Bible is an online resource and an app-­‐based resource. It includes multiple translations of the Bible, word studies, and commentaries all for free. Colossians – Malvern Hill has a subscription to Right Now Media, a web-­‐based company that gives you access to various kinds of Christian media. One of the Bible studies available to you through Right Now is Matt Chandler’s Bible study series on Colossians. You can find Colossians and much more at www.RightNow.org. 44