Bible study week 1

Here’s a video talking about pandemics and a biblical worldview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xFPcL-Ehi4

Read through Romans 8:18-25.

Some helpful articles:
Is it sometimes God’s will for believers to be sick?
https://www.gotquestions.org/sickness-will-God.html

What does the Bible say about coping/dealing with a terminal illness?
https://www.gotquestions.org/terminal-illness.html

Why does God allow sickness?
https://www.gotquestions.org/God-allow-sickness.html

Here are some questions you may ask them:

  1. How have you seen your friends respond to the coronavirus? Do you think that the way they reacted was okay/helpful?

  2. How are you feeling?

  3. In Romans 8, we read that creation is corrupted with evil. What do you think about God allowing terrible things to happen in our world?

  4. What do you think God is doing in all of this?

  5. How do you think Christians should react to the coronavirus?

  6. What is something (thought, knowledge, belief, conviction) that that is helping anchor you right now?

  7. Who is one friend that you could reach out to and encourage right now?

Here’s another video you may show of a Pastor processing through his thoughts surrounding the virus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg-q7QO3Vrw

Bible Study Week 2

Here’s a video giving an overview and context of Colossians (this video may be helpful to refer back to throughout the study of this book): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXTXlDxQsvc

Read through Colossians 1:1-14. This opening part of the text is a prayer of encouragement and affirmation to the people of Colossae. Much of it centers believers’ hearts on what is true and affirms our confidence in God. Many of the questions that I have laid out below for discussion are defining terms and digging out meaning in this opening text. It is important to not just skim over all of this, but to come to an understanding of the promises, securities, and hopes that we have in Christ - which are addressed in this text.

Here are some questions you may ask:

  1. Paul starts out this letter with encouragement. Why do you think its important for believers to encourage one another? Who can you text/call/facetime/message some encouragement to this week?

  2. What does “hope laid up in heaven” in verse 5 mean?

  3. Verse 6 says “...indeed in the whole world [the gospel] is bearing fruit and increasing - as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.” Looking at our world today, what are some examples you have seen of the gospel bearing fruit and increasing? What are you doing to further understand the grace of God in his word right now?

  4. What do you think “God’s will” means?

  5. Why is it important to pray that we (and others) are filled with knowledge of of God’s will? Don’t say this: the answer is in the next verse. See if they go to the text for an answer. If they don’t, point them towards the text.

  6. What do you think “endurance and patience with joy” means in verse 11? How do we gain endurance and patience with joy?

  7. Who can you be praying for this week?

Not directly related to the text, but this is an extremely encouraging video, especially in the time we find ourselves in. It might spark some cool discussion with your children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrNamnkxzkA

Bible Study Week 3

Read through Colossians 1:15-23

Here are some articles explaining:

The “firstborn of all creation” description Paul gives Jesus: https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-first-born.html

Christ as the God-man: https://www.efca.org/blog/understanding-scripture/incarnation-jesus-christ-god-man

Questions:

  1. What do you think Paul means when he says that Jesus is the “firstborn of all creation”?

  2. If Jesus has always existed, what was he doing while God created the world in Genesis 1? John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16

  3. What do you think it means in verse 17 “...in him all things hold together”? Have you thought about how Jesus is holding all things together during the coronavirus?

  4. How have you made Christ preeminent in your life during the coronavirus? If you haven’t, what are some steps you can take towards making him preeminent?

  5. Verse 19 says that the fullness of God was pleased to dwell in Christ, and elsewhere it says that Jesus is also human. Is Jesus less human because he is also God?

  6. Have you spent time to think about how Jesus “reconciles everything to himself”, how he makes “peace by the blood of his cross”, and how he “has reconciled you in his death” during this pandemic? If not, schedule out some time every day to reflect on these truths.

Bible Study Week 4

Read through Colossians 1:24-2:5.

Also, Paul is speaking personally here, so remind the students that Paul is writing this letter from prison when he refers to his suffering.

The idea of joy in suffering is explained by John Piper in reference to Paul’s letter to the Phillipians in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGx_fBg7HJg

What is lacking in Christ’s afflictions?
https://www.gotquestions.org/lacking-in-Christ-afflictions.html

What does it mean that Christ in us is the hope of glory?
https://www.gotquestions.org/Christ-the-hope-of-glory.html

What is the mystery of God referred to in the Bible?
https://www.gotquestions.org/mystery-of-God.html

Here are some questions:

  1. Why does Paul rejoice in his sufferings?

  2. What do you think Paul means when he says “lacking in Christ’s afflictions”? Does he mean that Christ wasn’t afflicted / tortured / hurt enough so we need to suffer more?

  3. What do you think the “mystery” is in verse 26? Who are the generations that this mystery was kept hidden?

  4. What does Paul mean when he says “Christ in you, the hope of glory” in verse 27?

  5. Paul speaks of striving to bring believers to maturity. If God brings growth and maturity to believers, why should Christians strive to bring maturity to others?

  6. At the end of 2:5, Paul says that he rejoices in seeing the Colossians faith though being physically distant from them. How have you been encouraged by another Christian while social distancing? If you haven’t, who can you check in with to be an encouragement or to be encouraged in your faith?

Bible Study Week 5

This week we will be going through Colossians 2:6-15.

In this section, circumcision is brought up. You should have received a heads up from one of our leaders this weekend. Here’s an article explaining circumcision throughout scripture: https://www.gotquestions.org/circumcision.html

Circumcision in this text is a way of identifying believers with Christ. We have shed our old flesh, and we are identified in the new life we have in Christ.

What are principalities and powers? Below is an excerpt from this article which speaks to Colossians 2: “In the next chapter of Colossians, we read about Jesus’ ultimate power over all other powers: “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15). In keeping with all things, the powers are created by Christ and therefore under His control. They are not to be feared, for they have been disarmed by the cross. The Savior, by His death, took dominion from them, and took back what they had captured. Satan and his legions had invaded the earth and drawn mankind into captivity, subjecting them to their evil reign. But Christ, by His death, subdued the invaders and recaptured those who had been vanquished. Colossians 2:14 speaks of Jesus being nailed to the cross along with the written charges against us. The record of our wrongdoing, with which Satan accuses us before God, is nailed with Christ to the cross. It is thereby destroyed, and the powers can no longer accuse us; we are innocent in the eyes of God. Hence, they are disarmed.”
Full article: https://www.gotquestions.org/principalities-and-powers.html

What are the elemental spirits?
https://www.gotquestions.org/elemental-spirits.html

Questions:

How have you continued to be rooted and built up in Christ during COVID-19?
What might be “philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition” that could lead us away from God today?
What is an elemental spirit?
What does it mean to “put off the body of flesh” in verse 11?
You are made alive in Christ, you’re free from your debts through the cross of Christ. Spend time thinking and praying about this truth. Write down any thoughts or feelings you have during this time. You can share in your group what you’ve written if you’re comfortable.

Bible Study Week 6

This week we’ll be going through Colossians 2:16-2:23.

I’m sending a few videos with this study. Two of them hone in on sabbath, a practice that most of the students will have a vague understanding of. The point of doing a deep dive on sabbath is that when we have a fuller understanding of sabbath in relation to our faith, we can understand the point Paul is making when mentioning food and drink, festivals, man made regulations, legalism, law, and rules.

The context is also important to keep in front of us in this passage. Paul is writing to greek converts (gentile converts) and Jewish legalism was of concern to him. In this text, we see Paul bucking up against Jewish legalism to give us a fuller picture of the wholeness in Christ, and Christ alone.

What is Sabbath?  Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFTLvkB3JLM

Do Christians have to obey old testament law?  Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjDk0Erf8pY

Does God require Sabbath-keeping of Christians?  Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=189&v=F151lujCp_U&feature=emb_logo

What is legalism and why is it so bad? Article
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/erik-raymond/what-is-legalism-and-why-is-it-so-bad-2/

The difference between legalism and discipline Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxNlj7jFmBM

Questions:

Do you agree or disagree with this statement: “Following rules cannot keep you from sin.” Why or why not?
Should Christians keep the sabbath or the laws about what food to eat? Why or why not?
Why is Paul warning these Greek Christians about Jewish law and rules?
What is legalism? What is spiritual discipline? What’s the difference?
What is the point of Old Testament law?
Why is it important to understand Old Testament law if we don’t have to follow it?

Bible Study Week 7

Hey everyone!

This week we’ll be reading Colossians 3:1-11. 

What are the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs? Article
https://www.gotquestions.org/psalms-hymns-spiritual-songs.html

What does it mean to be with Christ in God? - David Platt Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNZ-ZBsPpgk

Questions:

What does it mean to be “with Christ in God” in verse 3?
What are “things that are above” and “things that are of earth”?
Why is it important to set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth?
Christ IS your life, if you are a believer. What might this look and feel like? 
To “put off” in this text means something similar to taking off clothes. If we as believers in Christ have taken off our old selves and we have on our new self, why do we still struggle with sin? What does it mean to grow in knowledge of God? What does sanctification mean? How do all these things relate?
Colossians 3:11 can often be misunderstood. We know that people have different roles within a church body (1 Cor. 12:14-26). Not everyone has the gifting to be a pastor, elder, or worship leader. If Colossians 3:11 is not talking about roles within the body of believers, what do you think it means when Paul says that there is no distinction between types of people in Christ?

Bible Study Week 8

This week we’ll be going through Colossians 3:12-17.

What are the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs? Article
https://www.gotquestions.org/psalms-hymns-spiritual-songs.html

Questions:

We, as believers, are God’s chosen people for salvation and as such, Paul calls us holy and beloved. Verses 12-13 is one complete thought. Why is it so hard for many christians to live to the standard in verses 12-13? Is it hard for you?
What does forgiveness mean? How have you seen forgiveness happen in your life?
Why is love more important than everything else in verses 12-13?
What effect do you think letting “the word of Christ dwell in us richly” might have on us?
Do you think of ALL that you do as an act of worship to God? What might this look like?

Bible Study Week 9

This week we’ll be diving into Colossians 3:18-4:1.

Does a wife have to submit to her husband? Article
https://www.gotquestions.org/wives-submit.html

What does it mean that husbands are to love their wives? Article
https://www.gotquestions.org/husbands-love-wives.html

What does the bible say about obeying parents? Article
https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-obeying-parents.html

What is a bondservant? Article
https://www.gotquestions.org/bondservant.html

Does the Bible condone slavery? Article
https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-slavery.html

Questions:

How do you feel when you read that wives are to submit to their husbands?
How would you describe a husband who is not harsh with their wife?
Do you have to submit to your parents all the time?
Does the bible teach that slavery is okay?
What is the difference between slavery in the bible and American slavery?
Paul, Timothy, Peter, James, and Jude were all major figures in the leadership of the early church and all considered themselves bondservants to Christ. Why should we consider ourselves slaves to Christ? What does that mean?
Why is Paul giving all of these expectations for how Christians treat those in their families?