June 2017 – New Connexions Church

A study on Colossians 1:24-29

This study is based on the sermon Nothing New Here!

Read Colossians 1:24-29; what are your first thoughts?
Paul says he is glad to suffer and that he is participating in the sufferings of Christ [cf. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27]. Talk through what he means and how we should apply this in our lives.
Paul is at pains to make clear that he is a servant for God. Discuss why it is important that we understand this and live it out.
What does it mean to preach the whole gospel and how do we do it?
God’s wisdom and strength are the key to Paul’s service – are we working, serving and living in His strength, power and wisdom? what difference does it make?

A study on Colossians 1:21-23

If you missed the sermon you can pick it up here: K.I.S.S.

What is ‘the whole Gospel?’ – Discuss.
Why does Paul describe humanity as alienated and hostile in mind, enemies of God, evil etc. and why do we need to tell people that?
What does it mean to be: a) reconciled, b) presented to God, c) holy, d) blameless and e) above reproach?
What might stop us from continuing in the faith?
Spend some time, as a group, in prayer: for each other; our fellowship and the lost.

This study is based on the sermon What you see is what you get!

Before reading the passage share with each other how you would answer someone who asks ‘who is Jesus Christ, and why should I be bothered?’
Reading: Colossians 1:15-20
This passage is full of incredible and sometimes complex statements which we unpacked in the sermon.
As a group take each phrase and carefully discuss what it says about the person and work of Christ
What difference does having a right understanding of who He is make to us as individuals today.

This study is based on the two sermons below and so it would be beneficial to have heard them prior to the study:

What do we know about this letter (why and when did Paul write etc.), Colossae, and the Colossian church?
Read the passage: Colossians 1:1-14
Work through the passage again – slowly, paying particular attention to what it teaches us about prayer. Which aspects of Paul’s approach to prayer might be missing in our prayer lives? Discuss and then consider how this can be put right.
How can we know the will of God? Discuss this question in some depth, it’s a major topic amongst Christians today, yet the answer is plain and simple, so why do we still struggle.
Please take some time together praying for each other and the wider fellowship; that we may know more and more of Jesus in our lives.