November 3-4, 2012
Series: Greater Than
Message: Chasing Treasure
Passage: Colossians 2:1-7
INTRODUCTION – 5 MINUTES
What are the Indiana Jones movies in the order they were released?
What are the marks of a great hidden treasure story?
OBSERVATION – 20 MINUTES
Read Colossians 2:1-7. What does Paul tell you about this adventure?
What is the treasure?
UNDERSTANDING – 20 MINUTES
What makes this treasure worth finding?
Everyone is following a map that leads somewhere. What are other treasure people seek? What does their map look like?
APPLICATION – 20 MINUTES
Is Jesus the treasure you continue to seek?
Look at the map qualities in the observation question. Where are you not deviating from the map?Where do you fall off the map at times?
What are the dangers and is He worth overcoming them?
What are our resources?
LIVE IT OUT
As you consider the treasure, “in Christ, Hope of Glory”, with whom can you share the story of your treasure hunt? How can you be their resource, and help them address their dangers?
PRAY: As you end your time together spend time in overflowing thankfulness. Either silently or as a group, give God the glory for how He has, and is, providing, blessing and protecting you. Then ask God for wisdom and discernment as you run into the dangers of life, and that He will set your feet solidly on back on the map. Pray He will continue to reveal to you that you are “in Christ” and what that means in your life.
Flow Questions with Leader notes
INTRODUCTION – 5 MINUTES
What are the Indiana Jones movies in the order they were released?
Leader note: Have your group remember as many of the movies as they can, and then ask them why their choice is the favorite. For your reference the movies are as follows: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, Last Crusade, Crystal Skull
What are the marks of a great hidden treasure story?
Commentary:
- adventure
- danger
- treasure is worth it
- enemy
- believable hero
- map
Transition to the observation question with this: “This passage has all the elements of a great adventure story.”
OBSERVATION – 20 MINUTES
Read Colossians 2:1-7. What does Paul tell you about this adventure?
Leader note: This passage has all the elements of a great hidden treasure adventure. It may be easier to go through the text if you highlight resources, dangers and the map of finding and getting the treasure.
What is the treasure?
Leader note: The treasure is “In Christ, hope of glory”,
UNDERSTANDING – 20 MINUTES
What makes this treasure worth finding?
Leader note: Another way to ask this is “What does “in Christ” mean?” and “What “hope of glory” mean?”.
Follow that up with what seems like a hypothetical question, “Is the treasure worth the dangers we will face?” But you will see as you progress through the questions people will really have to come to terms with their answer “the treasure is worth it”, because life’s dangers are big and other treasures look pretty good.
Commentary:
In Christ:
- hope of eternal salvation
- freedom from sin, death, etc.
- gives purpose to life
- All of what is given/sustaining Paul is available to you.
- Reconciles us to God – right relationship with God
- I have a family, I belong
- Not my strength – I have power that doesn’t run out.
- I’m being purified… (have been purified)
- Continual presence
- All of who God is…
- guidance
- joy
- nothing I can’t overcome
- passion for his work
- freedom from sin and fear
- renovation
- power to live.
- Grace
- Be part of the Kingdom of God, no and forever
Hope of Glory:
- This is an eternal treasure for here and now and for forever…
Everyone is following a map that leads somewhere. What are other treasure people seek? What does their map look like?
APPLICATION – 20 MINUTES
Is Jesus the treasure you continue to seek?
Leader note: Remind your group that after we find the treasure and are “in Christ”, we continue to see to be “in Christ”, we are still on the map, we still face dangers and we still need to call upon our resources.
Leader note: Other ways to ask this question, “What map are you following and where is it leading?” “What are you hoping in? People put something like ambition, power, status, money as our treasure and the map we’re following is leading us to that treasure and includes making our own rules, being selfish, not being generous, spending less time with God, etc)
Look at the map qualities in the observation question. Where are you not deviating from the map?Where do you fall off the map at times?
Leader note: It could be that you don’t find yourself in overflowing thankfulness, but that you feel like God hasn’t given you your fair share. Or maybe you’re not spending time in God’s word, growing your roots, bearing fruit.
What are the dangers and is He worth overcoming them?
Leader note: Our dangers are basically the same as those Paul faced: discouragement, believing there are other things worth pursuing, feeling alone and more.
What are our resources?
Leader note: Hopefully your group will see each other as resources. Your accountability to each other, providing the safe place to discuss and grow in your faith, prayer partnerships, these are all resources.
LIVE IT OUT
As you consider the treasure, “in Christ, Hope of Glory”, with whom can you share the story of your treasure hunt? How can you be their resource, and help them address their dangers?
PRAY: As you end your time together spend time in overflowing thankfulness. Either silently or as a group, give God the glory for how He has, and is, providing, blessing and protecting you. Then ask God for wisdom and discernment as you run into the dangers of life, and that He will set your feet solidly on back on the map. Pray He will continue to reveal to you that you are “in Christ” and what that means in your life.