5. Some say you cannot legislate
morality.
Question: Do you agree or disagree?
6. In Colossians 3, Paul says obeying
the law isn't enough.
We are called to a higher morality.
7. Our studies from Colossians have
focused on the supremacy of Christ
We have been furthered challenged not
to allow any false teachings us from
following Christ and growing in His
grace.
8. This lesson challenges us to reach
out by speaking and living in ways
that reveal the new life in Christ.
Paul wanted the believers at Colossae
to know that salvation (God’s will for
us) touches our world in every area.
9. Paul talks about how Christianity
relates itself to society.
Christianity is about our relationships
to other people.
10. Paul has taught that we are
complete in Christ and cannot add
anything necessary to our salvation.
However, in order to grow spiritually
and impact the lost we must pursue
habits and develop character that will
strengthen their faith.
11. Are you more apt to pray for
specific/occasional things or for
everyday things?
What does that say about us?
13. Paul requested that people pray for
him, his ministry, and his
effectiveness in preaching the good
news about Jesus.
Paul also said that people should
commit themselves wholeheartedly to
prayer and to “pray without ceasing”
(1 Thessalonians 5:17).
14. We must remember that our battles
are most often against spiritual
powers in the heavenly places and
not against human adversaries
We need prayer to win these battles,
overcome temptations and understand
the true meaning of the Word of God.
15. To “watch” means “to remain
fully awake.”
The word carries a military
implication as a guard or sentinel
would stand “watch” over his post.
16. Spiritually, the believer should
remain alert to his own needs, the
needs of the family of faith and the
needs of the lost world around him.
When that type of alertness
characterizes the believer’s prayer life it
is only logical that “thanksgiving” will
follow.
17. Perhaps the greatest example for
the apostle was the relationship
between a master and his slave.
It has been estimated by some that as much
as 20 to 30 percent of the population was in
that type of relationship at the time of the
writing of Colossians
18. Philemon was brother at Colossae
who had a runaway slave, Onesimus,
who was saved under Paul’s
preaching.
The epistle of Philemon is Paul’s request
to Philemon to receive Onesimus back
on the grounds of God’s saving grace.
19. Paul’s point is that Christian
“Masters” must to answer to
God for the way they treat their
“servants.”
The guiding principle for the
master/servant relationship is that both
he and his servant have the same Lord.
20. Christian employers must answer to
God for the way they treat their
employees.
Each of us will give account unto God
(Romans 14:12).
21. And pray for us, too, that God may
open a door for our message, so
that we may proclaim the mystery of
Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray
that I may proclaim it clearly, as I
should.
Colossians 4:3-4 (NIV)
22. Paul did not ask the Colossians to
pray for his release from prison;
he probably assumed they would
pray for his release.
When the apostles were imprisoned,
“they rejoiced that they were
considered worthy to suffer dishonor
for the sake of the name [of Jesus
Christ] (Acts 5:41).
23. He requested that they pray for him
to serve the Lord Jesus Christ
effectively everyplace he stayed or
went—including prison.
He wanted them to pray for him to
continue experiencing the privilege
of teaching about Jesus.
24. Maclaren described the phrase
“continue in prayer” as “the idea of
uninterrupted companionship”
It does not require praying verbally
or audibly every second of the day.
25. Praying for others is one of the
best ways to reach the world.
It prevents self-centeredness and
helps us remember the gospel
message is not ours alone.
26. If his listeners rejected Jesus Christ,
Paul did not want the reason to be
that he had not revealed the
mystery clearly or had not clearly
answered their questions.
27. Paul’s request for prayer from the
Colossian believers focused
specifically on the desire to see
“God would open unto us a door…”
Paul’s business was evangelizing. He
wanted the Colossians to make their
business that of prayer.
29. Be wise in the way you act toward
outsiders; make the most of every
opportunity.
Colossians 4:5 (NIV)
30. Paul did not want believers to think
that a life of study and prayer was
the only thing God required.
He wanted them to speak and act
wisely toward others too—not only
inside the church, but to those lost and
without hope.
31. Ephesians 2:12
At that time you were without the
Messiah, excluded from the citizenship
of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants
of the promise, without hope and
without God in the world.
They are “without” a host of other
things including fellowship, joy, peace,
security and love found in Christ.
32. Paul is teaching us to be wise in the
way we live and act toward those
that are lost.
This “wisdom” to which Paul refers is
no mere human wisdom but divine.
33. You cannot reach a lost world by
being like them
Believers must never conform to the
worlds standards but rather daily
conduct ourselves as Christians.
34. Remember that Jesus said, “…be ye
therefore wise as serpents, and
harmless as doves” Matthew 10:16.
It is still “salt and light” that penetrates
and arrests this corrupt culture and
sinful world Matthew 5:13-14
35. “Redeeming the time” basically
means “make the most of what time
you have.”
A wise believer will look for
opportunities just as a good business
man looks for financial opportunities.
36. 6 Letyour conversation be always full
of grace, seasoned with salt, so that
you may know how to answer
everyone.
Colossians 4:6 (NIV)
37. Paul wrote that we should not use
abusive language (3:8) but we need
to speak gracious words—kind and
loving words
“Seasoned with salt” means “just the right
amount,” for too little salt does not satisfy
and too much salt can ruin the flavor of
something or be physically harmful.
38. Christianity and the gospel must
never be shared in an arrogant
authoritative manner.
Words as well as works need to be
Christ like if the believer expects to
make an impact on the lost world.
39. “But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts: and be ready always to give
an answer to every man that asks
you a reason of the hope that is in
you with meekness and fear”
1 Peter 3:15
40. Every Christian should personally
understand the reason for the hope
that is within them because of
Christ.
Then consider how you would share
that understanding with a 12 year old
child.
42. Christianity not only changes the
individual, but the individual it
changes affects the world in which
he lives.
43. Christianity is not just personal. It’s a
changed life that changes the
environment in which that life lives.
44. How we walk and how we talk will
speak louder than any personal
experience we share.
45. Each of us is on mission right where
we are, at all times.
46. Paul wants us to always pray
thankfully. We are to be thankful for
specific things but also for constant
gifts.
47. In his book entitled “Crossing the
Border,” Christian author Guy H.
King writes these following words
about Colossians 4:2-6.
48. “When we are trying to explain to
another the reasonableness of our
belief, there is a proper way to do
it, a true Christian spirit in which to
talk.
Almost as important as knowing
what to say is to know how to say it.”
49. At the very beginning of the
Christian Church we are told of two
great characteristics of the apostles’
witness, which should qualify both
our public and private testimony.
50. The Bible says the apostles
witnessed with ‘great power’ and
‘great grace’ (Acts 4:33).
Shall we not ask for strength of
conviction, and sweetness of
manner?”
