New Testament in a Year – Colossians 1

Thanksgiving and Prayer - Colossians 1:1-14

Understand It

• Who wrote the letter to the Colossians? (1:1)
• Who was with Paul when he wrote this letter? (1:1)
• How did Paul address the Colossian Christians? (1:2)
• How did Paul greet his audience? (1:2)
• Why did Paul offer prayers of thanksgiving for the Colossians? (1:3-4)
• From what source did the believers’ faith and love spring? (1:5)
• What did Paul stress about the gospel? (1:5-6)
• Who taught the gospel to the Colossians? (1:7)
• How did Paul describe Epaphras? (1:7)
• What did Epaphras tell Paul and Timothy about the Colossians? (1:7-8)
• What was Paul’s primary prayer for these Christians? (1:9)
• What results did Paul want for the Colossians? (1:10)
• How could the church at Colosse have spiritual strength? (1:11-12)
• How does God enable believers to share in His inheritance? (1:12-14)

Apply It

• What is one way you can improve your prayer this week?
• What missionaries can you pray for on a regular basis over the next month?
• To whom can you write an encouraging letter sometime during the next week?

The Supremacy of Christ - Colossians 1:15-23

Understand It

• What is Christ’s relationship to God? (1:15)
• What is Christ’s relationship to Creation? (1:15-17)
• How do "all things . . . hold together" under Christ? (1:16-17)
• What is Christ’s relationship to the church? (1:18)
• Why was the resurrection of Jesus significant? (1:18)
• How did Paul explain the deity of Christ? (1:19)
• What did God achieve through the work of His Son? (1:20)
• How did Christ bring us to God? (1:21-22)
• Why was reconciliation necessary? (1:21-22)
• What is a Christian’s position before God? (1:22)
• What is the role of faith in reconciliation with God? (1:23)
• What kind of faith did the Colossians have? (1:23)
• What was Paul’s confident expectation? (1:23)

Apply It

• When can you take time this week to meditate on this powerful, compelling description of Christ?
• What truths about Christ do you want to remember when you present the gospel to unbelieving friends?
• How can you strengthen your faith in Christ this week?

Paul's Labor for the Church - Colossians 1:24-2:5

Understand It

• Why did Paul rejoice? (1:24)
• What did Paul do for the sake of the church? (1:24)
• What commission did God give Paul? (1:25)
• To what mystery did Paul refer? (1:26)
• To whom had God chosen to make known a mystery? (1:27)
• How did Paul help believers become spiritually mature? (1:28-29)
• What kind of effort did Paul expend in preaching and teaching? (1:29)
• What did Paul want his audience to know? (2:1)
• What was Paul’s stated purpose? (2:2-3)
• What is hidden in Christ? (2:3)
• How would a commitment to the full knowledge of Christ protect the Colossians? (2:4)
• How was Paul unified with the church at Colossae? (2:4)
• What delighted Paul? (2:5)

Apply It

• What kind of "spiritual workout" would increase your stamina for the Christian journey ahead this week?
• How can you learn more about Christ this week?