Colossians:
Christ in You, the Hope of Glory
Fall semester, 2023
There will be no lesson on Sept. 26/27 for Service Day
Lesson 4 (Oct. 3, 4): The Mystery of Christ in You
Reading Assignment and Study Questions for this lesson: Colossians 1:24-2:5
- Study questions will be posted here when available.
Key Verse: “...the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:25b-27
Lesson 3 (Sept. 19, 20): The Supremacy of Christ
Reading Assignment and Study Questions for this lesson: Colossians 1:15-23
- What was meaningful to you from Paul’s prayer of intercession in Col. 1:9-14? What analogy was Paul drawing in verses 12b-14? What does that mean for us?
- Consider the “Messiah Poem” in Col. 1:15-20. Can you see how this could be an ancient hymn? If you are familiar with the New Testament, what other passages does this remind you of? What are some similarities?
- Think about some of the significant points made in this hymn/poem about Jesus’ nature. What is the main point of vs. 15-16? What does verse 17 add to it? What is the main point of vs. 18-20?
- How does the author apply the theological lessons of the hymn to his audience in vs. 21-23? How do you think these points apply to us?
You can also watch the Lesson 3 Tuesday class here.
Download the Lesson 3 Handout - the Christ Hymn in verse form
Key Verse:
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”
Colossians 1:15-16
Lesson 2 (Sept. 12, 13): Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom
Reading Assignment and Study Questions for this lesson: Colossians 1:9-14
- What genre is Colossians & what does that mean for our understanding of the book? What struck you as meaningful in the introduction to Colossians and in Paul’s opening thanksgiving?
- What is Paul telling the Colossians in verses 9 and following? Why does he give them a report on his prayers—why not just pray on his own?
- What things does Paul ask God for on behalf of the Colossians? Which one(s) stands out to you? Do these apply to us? What would you most like to have?
- What kind of language is used in verse 12-14, with the words “share,” “inheritance,” “dominion,” and “kingdom”? What event in Israel’s history is being alluded to? Why?
You can also watch the Lesson 2 Tuesday class here.
Key Verse:
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13-14, NIV
Lesson 1 (Sept. 5, 6): Introduction & Thanksgiving
Reading Assignment and Study Questions for this lesson: Colossians 1:1-8
- Look for the Genre, Author, Audience and other details we can glean about the book of Colossians. What can we learn from just the text of the book (you can also add info from Col. 4:3)? What more might we want to know?
- How does Paul begin the body of his letter (v.3 and following)? For what is he thankful?
- From whom did the Colossians learn the gospel? What else did he do for the Colossians? What does this tell us about the possible circumstances of the writing of the book?
- If the introduction to a letter is a clue to its main themes, what might we guess are going to be some themes of Colossians?
You can also watch the Tuesday class here.
Key Verse:
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you.” Colossians 1:3-6a, NIV
About this In-depth, discussion-based study:
Join our fall Bible Study! This semester we’ll be studying Paul's letter to the Colossians.
Colossians is a short but mighty book, about who Jesus is and about how being in Christ changes everything about our lives and our future. It contains one of the three great Christological passages (the other two are in John 1 and Philippians 2), which we'll study in Lesson 3! Colossians is transcendent but also practical, ancient yet relevant, brief and still rich.
The class will provide lots of compelling time focused on Jesus, plus opportunity for discussion with great, welcoming women!
Choose between in-person on Tuesdays at 10:30am Central in downtown Austin, Tx (Zoom also available) or online via Zoom on Wednesdays at 7pm Central.
Sources for this Series
I'm currently using three commentaries and a book on Paul to prepare this series.
Capes, David B., Reeves, Rodney, and Richards, E. Randolph. (2017). Rediscovering Paul: An Introduction to His World, Letters, and Theology (Second Edition 2017). Downers Grover, IL: IVP Academic.
Patzia, Arthur G. (1990). Understanding the Bible Commentary Series: Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon (eBook Edition, 2011 ed.). (W. Ward Gasque, Robert L. Hubbard Jr., Robert K. Johnston, General Editors) Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
Pace, R. Scott and Akin, Daniel L. (2021). Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in Colossians, Philemon. Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing Group.
Wright, N. T. (1986). Tyndale New Testament Commentaires: Colossians and Philemon. (Leon Morris General Editor) Downers Grove, IL: Inter-varsity Press.
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In addition I use several technological tools, which increasingly employ smart / AI functionality. If you are curious or concerned about AI functionality and how it is used, I suggest the resources at www.CreativePenn.com/future (I have no affiliation with this site, I just find it educational).
- Bible Study by Olive Tree - I use the laptop (Windows) and phone (Apple) versions to access several versions of Scripture, in English, Greek and Hebrew; to access the UBC, cited above, several Greek and Hebrew dictionaries; and to perform cross-referencing. All notes, history, highlights and other content sync between my phone and laptop, even though they are not the same operating system.
- ChatGPT by Open AI - I use the laptop and phone versions to capture and expand my brainstorming and to organize content. I do not use it to generate finished content.
- ProWritingAid - I use this software in my editing process. It's like a spelling and grammar checker, but it does more.
Fall Semester Schedule: Meeting weekly with a break for service projects the last week of each month.
Date | Lesson | Colossians: Christ in You, the Hope of Glory |
Sept. 5/6 | 1 | Introduction and Thanksgiving - Colossians 1:1-8 |
Sept. 12/13 | 2 | Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom - Colossians 1:9-14 |
Sept. 19/20 | 3 | The Supremacy of Christ - Colossians 1:15-23 |
Sept. 26/27—Service Day | ||
Oct. 3/4 | 4 | The Mystery of Christ in You - Colossians 1:24-2:5 |
Oct. 10/11 | 5 | Alive in Christ - Colossians 2:6-15 |
Oct. 17/18 | 6 | Freedom in Christ - Colossians 2:16-3:4 |
Oct. 24/25 | 7 | Clothed in Christ - Colossians 3:5-17 |
Oct. 31 / Nov. 1—Service Day | ||
Nov. 7/8 | 8 | Relationships in Christ - Colossians 3:18-4:1 |
Nov. 14/15 | 9 | Devotion to Prayer and Personal Greetings - Colossians 4:2-15 |
Nov. 21/22—Off for Thanksgiving Break | ||
Nov. 28/29—Service Day | ||
Dec. 5 | 10 | Final Greetings and Conclusion - Colossians 4:16-18 |
Dec. 12/13—Bad Weather Makeup Day (we follow AISD for weather closures) | ||
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Join us for this new series beginning Sept. 5 and 6! All the Readings, Discussion Questions, and videos will be here as they become available. Contact Deanna to attend in real time!
