Hello all! What a great class on Sunday. Take a moment this week to pray specifically for one of your classmates and their praise or prayer request as per the Hampleman’s email. Why not also reach out to them via phone, email, snail mail, or in person to see how that specific issue is?
Duties for believers -
On Sunday we studied Paul’s continued admonishment for us to dedicate all of our actions to the Lord (see vs 23). The paragraph we studied on Sunday consisted of a series of special appeals based on the several relationships in the Christian household. Now Paul returns to counsel that applies to the entire church. Most of what he says relates to the personal devotional life, but the section closes with an appeal for wise behavior toward non-Christians.
Read Colossians Chapter 4
Paul covered the complete and utter sufficiency of Christ and our need to strengthen virtues of our new life in Christ (i.e. indwelling and dependence on the Word, etc). In Chapter 4 he now clearly defines our duties.
Read Colossians 4:2-4
What is the general appeal for here?
“Devote yourselves” (proskartereite) is used 10 times in the new testament in a variety of ways. It is built on the root meaning “to be strong” and always connotes earnest adherence to a person or thing. In this passage it implied persistence and fervor
- Read Acts 1:14, 2:46, and 6:5
- Read Romans 12:12
“Being Watchful” (greegorountes; lit., “keeping awake”) suggests constant spiritual alertness.
- Read Matthew 26:41
- Read Mark 14:38
- Read 1 Thess 5:6
- Read 1 Peter 5:8
Why does Paul call us to pray?
Read again Colossians 4:3-4
This is Paul’s request for prayer for himself while he was imprisoned in Rome. His concern was that he and his associates might have opportunities for witnessing and that Paul might make clear that great secret of redemption in Christ in a worthy manner. There is no selfish motive behind this prayer’ Paul’s consuming interest was for the advancement of the gospel not his own blessing.
What do you pray for? (answer honestly, no one is grading you…)
Read Colossians 4:5-6
These verses, with their call for discreet behavior in an unbelieving society, my reflect the fact that charges of misconduct on the part of Christians were being circulated. Therefore the Colossian Christians should be all the more cautious, living in so exemplary a way as to give the lie to such slander.
What appeals does Paul make?
In verse 5?
In verse 6?
How do you live and speak? Paul challenges that our living and speaking should be the same and as one.
Read verse 5 aloud
To “be wise in the way you act toward outsiders” is to show practical Christian wisdom in dealing with secular society. Paul’s words imply that believers are to be cautious and tactful so as to avoid needlessly antagonizing or alienating their pagan neighbors. In a positive sense, they also imply that believers should conduct themselves so that the way they live will attract and convict non-Christians and give the pagan community a favorable impression of the gospel.
For more on ‘outsiders Read 1 Cor 5:12-13, 1 Thess 4:12, 1 Tim 3:7
The verb in the statement “make the most of every opportunity” is a market term that meant “to buy out,” “purchase completely” (exagorazomenoi). So Christians, as an expression of practical wisdom, must make the most of every opportunity for witnessing to the faith. Note Matthew 13 and the parable of the pearl.
What holds you back from entirely ‘buying out’ every opportunity with others?
Write out verse 6 below –
Like the Lord and also like James, Paul knew how important the way Christians speak is.
- Read Matthew 12:36
- Read Eph 4:24
- Read Titus 2:8
- Read James 3:1-12
Think on these verses and Colossians 4:6 for this Sunday. I will be making this a focus for the class.
Please pray for guidance and wisdom for Vance and I this week as we move towards completing our study of Colossians. We have 2 weeks left after this Sunday.
Warm Regards,
Andy
