Jesus + Nothing Part 3 – “In Christ”
Colossians 2:1-8
Opening Questions:
1. What is a freedom you are grateful for?
2. What do you think is a mark of maturity?
Important to Know:
In this section, Paul further elaborates on why Christ is enough, and on what sort of “fine-sounding arguments” he doesn’t want the church to be deceived by. In verses 6-8 he reminds us that Christ is enough and to not drift away from Him.
Questions from the Text:
1. In Vs 2:1 Paul says he is struggling for the church. What could he mean? (in prayer (vs. 3), in teaching (vs. 28), in proclaiming, in suffering (see in verse 18 that he is in chains)).
2. Vs 2-3 says all wisdom and knowledge is found in Christ. Where else do people often look for these things? a. How could finding your wisdom and knowledge in Christ alone help present you “fully mature in Christ” (vs. 1:28)?
3. In vs4 Paul wrote so that “no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.” What are some “fine-sounding” arguments you are aware of that have crept into the church?
4. In verse 7, what four images does Paul give of living with Christ?
5. What do each of these four images illuminate about living with Christ:
a. Rooted in Christ (an agricultural term) being in Christ once and for all and not moving
b. Built up in him (construction term) outward and orderly progress through time
c. Strengthened in the faith (athletic imagery) exercise and practice of determination and perseverance and obedience
d. Overflowing with thankfulness (water imagery) continuous renewal of thanks, like water from a spring feeding everything around it.
6. What does Paul warn against in verse 8?
7. What are some things you think might fall under “hollow and deceptive philosophies”? (tolerance, no absolute truth, materialism as success, many ways to God, science as final authority rather than a revealer of it, intellectualism esteemed as enlightenment)
Application Question:
Of the four images in question 2, which do you feel strongest in? Which do you need to grow in? How can you help each other do this?
