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Deepening Your Faith: A Journey Through Colossians

At Gateway Church in Austin, John Burke created a study through the book of Colossians and invited me and Rick Shurtz to help as well.

My small group in South Austin is going through Colossians. Here are two different ways to go through Paul’s letter using the Deepen webisodes.

Ideas for Groups Going Through Colossians:

For added benefit, read through the entire letter to the Colossians the first time you meet together. It will take about 15 minutes. Set the stage: “Pretend the person that helped you find faith has moved away and has now written you and your network (or your small group) a letter. You’ve all come together to read through the letter to hear his message from him.”

Encourage those who come to read through Colossians 5 or 6 times a week. This would be really valuable for personal growth.

Encourage people to come even if they aren’t able to read, listen, or watch any of the prep work, but of course, the more someone invests in their spiritual growth, the more they will grow!

NINE WEEKS OPTION – Watch the videos during your time together as a group and then discuss the following questions:

  1. What do you think is Paul’s message to the Colossians in this section of his letter?
  2. How can we apply this section of the letter to the Colossians to our life today?
  3. How can we pray for each other to help us apply what we are discovering? (This can be done as an entire group together or in smaller groups of 3).

FOUR WEEKS OPTION

Before week one, try to watch or listen to the following messages at www.gatewaychurch.com/deepen:
Bible Study Methods Videos (parts one and two)
Bible Study Method handout

Week One – Colossians 1:1-14
Before this week, try to watch or listen to the following message at www.gatewaychurch.com/deepen

Discussion Questions:

  • What do you think is Paul’s message to the Colossians in this section of the letter?
  • When others see your faith or your love, how do they respond? What can we do to increase our faith and our love to positively impact others?
  • Where have you seen the good news “bearing fruit”? {Bearing fruit refers to character change “fruit of the spirit” and helping others discover faith in Christ}.
  • How do we gain “knowledge of His will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding from God”?
  • What are the results of this knowledge, wisdom, and understanding?
  • How can we apply this section of the letter to the Colossians to our life today?
  • How can we pray for each other to help us apply what we are discovering? (This can be done as an entire group together or in smaller groups of 3).

Week Two – Colossians 1:15-2:5
Before this week, try to watch or listen to the following messages atwww.gatewaychurch.com/deepen

Discussion Questions:

  • What do you think is Paul’s message to the Colossians in this section of the letter?
  • What makes Jesus unique according to Paul?
  • What does it mean to “reconcile”?
  • What are the three descriptions of our lives before being reconciled to God through Jesus?
  • What are the three descriptions of our lives after being reconciled to God through Jesus?
  • How does Paul describe his purpose in life and his calling?
  • How can we apply this section of the letter to the Colossians to our life today?
  • How can we pray for each other to help us apply what we are discovering? (This can be done as an entire group together or in smaller groups of 3).

Week Three – Colossians 2:6-3:10
Before this week, try to watch or listen to the following messages atwww.gatewaychurch.com/deepen

Discussion Questions:

  • What do you think is Paul’s message to the Colossians in this section of the letter?
  • According to Paul, who is Jesus?
  • According to Paul, what does Jesus do for those who follow Him?
  • According to Paul, because of what Jesus has done for us, how should we live differently?
  • How can we apply this section of the letter to the Colossians to our life today?
  • How can we pray for each other to help us apply what we are discovering? (This can be done as an entire group together or in smaller groups of 3).

Week Four – Colossians 3:11-4:18
Before this week, try to watch or listen to the following messages atwww.gatewaychurch.com/deepen (See Moving from Superficial to Spiritual Conversations (video & notes))

Discussion Questions:

  • What do you think is Paul’s message to the Colossians in this section of the letter?
  • How does Paul describe the way this new community in Christ treats each other, treats their families, and serves others?
  • How can we possibly pull this off together?
  • What is the mission of this new community in Christ? (Notice the list at the end of Col. 4 of those on mission with Paul).
  • How are we able to pull this off?
  • How can we apply this section of the letter to the Colossians to our life today?
  • How can we pray for each other to help us apply what we are discovering? (This can be done as an entire group together or in smaller groups of 3).

What are other great small group discussion questions, personal insights, or ways you’ve applied the letter to the Colossians to your life?