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New Hope EFC July 5, 2009
Message #6: Colossians 2:4-15
God’s Power To Walk In
Holiness (Col 2:6-15) Intro (Col 2:6-10):
*** Col 2:6-15 reveals that Christ alone fills us with the ___________ to walk in _______________:
I. ... by giving us the only solid _____________ for life (Col 2:7).
II. ... by sovereignty & supernaturally _____________our hearts (Col 2:11).
III.... by_________ us with Christ in His________ & resurrection (Col 2:12).
IV …by freeing us from the ___________ of our sins (Col 2:13-14)
V …by freeing us from the __________of our enemies (Col 2:15)
Concl:
Digging Deeper into today‘s Bible verses & themes Note: These questions are designed to help families, small groups & individuals be more transformed into the image of Christ by being attentive to how God is speaking to us in Sunday’s worship service & by helping us spend more time reflecting on this past Sunday’s Bible passage & theme. Adapt these questions as you find helpful.
1. What insight, principle or observation from Sunday’s message did you find to be the most helpful, eye-opening or troubling? Explain.
2. Read & reflect on Dt 10:16, Jer 4:4, & Ezek 44:7 - especially in light of Col 2:11. What do you think about “spiritual circumcision”? Has God done this to you (“without human bands)? Do you want Him to?
3. Have you been baptized? If so, what does your baptism mean to you?
4. Compare Col 2:12 with Rom 6:1-5. What does water baptism seem to symbolize in the life of the one who trusts in Jesus? How is this supposed to help the believer “fight the good fight” against sin & for a life of practical holiness?
5. Pastor Jeff suggested that the biggest emphasis in Col 2:6-15 is the power of being “in Christ” which is repeated about 10 x (look for & reflect on the phrases “in Christ”, “in him”, “in whom” & “with him” in this passage). What does it mean to you to be “in Christ”? Do you feel that you “have been filled in him” (2:10) who is Himself “all the fullness of God”? In what ways has God “filled you”? How is this impacting your life (or how should this be impacting you)?
6. Col 2:6-15 clearly emphasizes the preeminence & supremacy of Christ. How does Heb 1:1-4 contribute to our understanding of the person of the Lord Jesus? See also Col 1:15-20, 1:27 & 2:2-3. Share how one or more of those pictures of Jesus impact you.
Bonus Questions:
1. Ask 1 or more of these questions in order to reflect on Sunday’s worship service: • How did God speak to you or reveal Himself to you in Sunday’s service? • How did God use you at our worship gathering (to speak through you or use you to touch someone else)? • During the worship service was there anyone God seemed to be laying on your heart for whom to pray? Is there anyone God is calling you to write, phone or meet with soon?
2. Digging Deeper for yourself: • Into “fullness” in Christ, Col 2 9-10, see also Jn 1:16 & Eph 3:19/4:13/1:23 • Into the repetition of “thanksgiving” in Col - Col 1:3, 12, 2:7; 3:17& 4:2 • Into Jesus supremacy: see also Cot 1:15-20 & 1:27 & 2:2-3 • “in him” - see Eph 1:3-14
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