Tag: Colossians 1:15-23

Colossians 1:15-20 // Snow Snakes: Outsiders Wk 1

Introduction // 5 minutes

What’s Changed?

Select a few people to be observers and others to be the changers.  The observers are given 30 seconds to survey the room after which they are instructed to close their eyes for another 30 seconds. During that time the “changers” change things around the room.  Challenge the “observers” to identify all the changes.

Leader Note: The purpose of this game is to set up the idea that it is very easy to forget or loose sight of our surroundings.  We often need time to refocus and remind ourselves of the things and people around us.

 

Observation // 10 minutes

Read Colossians 1:15-20

What does this passage say about Jesus?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • He is the image of God. We see and know God through Jesus (v15)
  • He is supreme over all creation (v15)
  • All things were created through him and for him (v16)
  • He comes before all things and holds all things together (17)
  • He is the head of the church (v18)
  • He is the firstborn, the heir over creation (v18)
  • The fullness of God is representing in him (v19)
  • He reconciles all things to himself (v20)
  • His sacrifice brings peace to everything (v20)

Commentary: The most impactful truth to keep in the forefront from this passage is that in seeing Jesus we see and know God.  Jesus is the fullness of God on display.  He fully embodies and represents the character and nature of God.  Any discussion on what God is like must be rooted in who Jesus is.

 

Understanding // 15 minutes

Where have you, or someone you know, been told and believed a “made up” story?

Here are a few childhood examples to use if you need help with this question

  • “My mom told me there was a little man who lived in the fridge that would turn the light on for you.  I believed her and I was terrified of that little man!”
  • “My parents told me about Santa and how he’ll eat me for Christmas if I wasn’t a good kid.”
  • “When the ice cream truck plays music, it means they’re out of ice cream.”

What was the effect or outcome of believing that story?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • Embarrassment and being tricked into believing a lie
  • Broken trust
  • Loneliness, everyone else knew the truth
  • Stupid, other people knew what I didn’t
  • Betrayed and vulnerable, causes us to ask, “What else am I stupid about?”
  • Anger at the one who told me the lie

Leader Note: While the majority of stories your group will share are lighthearted there can be negative effects on the person who becomes the “butt of the joke.”  Those stories have a way of robbing our trust and can cause us to question reality and our own intelligence.

 

Application // 25 minutes

Where has your image of God become distorted?

Sample Answers May Include…

  • God is an overbearing and controlling father
  • God is a policeman, waiting for you to break the law
  • Powerless but loving grandfather
  • A genie in a bottle
  • Angry raging father
  • A distant uninvolved creator

What things led to that distorted view?

Commentary: The enemy works in all these things to cause us to challenge the fundamental question of God’s goodness. Past and present hurts, negative church experiences, a world in crisis and destruction.  All of these things lead us to question God’s goodness. 

As in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), Satan comes after our view of God and tempts us to believe that we know best and that God is holding back from us in some way making him less than good.

Leader Note: For many of us our distorted views on God are birthed out of tragedy and loss. Shepherd your group through this portion of question with care and sensitivity.  Lead with listening and avoid the temptation to offer correction or answers during this time.

What could it look like for you to reclaim a right view of God?

Commentary: Colossians tells us that in seeing Jesus we come to see and know God.  Jesus is the full representation of God on display.  Jesus must be our starting point and ultimate authority and understanding God.  Starting at any other place, whether it be our experiences or some philosophical concept of divinity will never lead us to an accurate depiction of God.  We start with Jesus and we are lead to see exactly what God is like.

What’s one image of God you need to hold on to today from the passage?

 

Live It Out // 10 minutes

How might an accurate picture of God through Jesus change your relationships?

Prayer: Lord we are grateful that you have made yourself fully known through Jesus.  We thank you for choosing to reveal yourself and inviting us into relationship.  Help us to maintain a right view of you as we look to your Son, Jesus.  We pray that our lives would be forever impacted through what we see in Jesus and that the impact of that view would be expressed in every area of our life.  Help us to be a people who live with certainty and boldness and point to your glory and kingdom with all that we are. Amen

Colossians 1:15-23 // Greater Than Wk 1

 

Series:  Greater Than
Message:  What Only Jesus Can Do
Passage:  Colossians 1:15-23

 

INTRODUCTION

What is something what is the one thing in your life or family only you can do?

 

OBSERVATION

Before starting questions, read Colossians 10-14.  This is what God wants for you (Paul’s prayer):

Read Colossians 1:15-23.  What do you learn about Jesus and his unique ability to reconcile?

 

UNDERSTANDING

Where have you seen Jesus reconcile relationships of people to each other? 

Where have you seen Jesus reconcile relationships of people to God?

 

APPLICATION

Where in your life have you seen Jesus reconcile relationships?  Between you and God?  You and others?

 

Where are you resisting Jesus reconciling relationships in your life?

 

What do you have to believe about Jesus to let him do what only he can in reconciling this relationship?

 

LIVE IT OUT

What would it look like if we trusted Jesus to do what only he can do?  To our families?  To our friends?  Our community?

 

 

 

 

Flow Questions with Leader Notes and Commentary

 

INTRODUCTION – 5 MINUTES

What is something what is the one thing in your life or family only you can do?

Leader note:  This is something you have always done that you would not think of not doing, or that your family would not think of you not doing.  It could be building all the furniture or toy kits, it could be a recipe, doing the organizing of events, vacations, maybe it’s the dinner prayer or tucking kids in.  Be creative!

 

OBSERVATION – 20 MINUTES

Before starting questions, read Colossians 10-14.  This is what God wants for you (Paul’s prayer):

Commentary:

  • ·         To bear fruit
  • ·         Strengthened with all power
  • ·         Growing in the knowledge of God
  • ·         Share in the inheritance of Jesus
  • ·         Joyful thanksgiving
  • ·         Great endurance and patience

Read Colossians 1:15-23.  What do you learn about Jesus and his unique ability to reconcile?

Leader note:  Consider as you read, what qualifies Jesus to reconcile us to God, us to each other, and us to Creation.  What are the qualities that uniquely qualify Him?

Commentary:

  • ·         He is the visible expression of the invisible God – I can see and know God through Jesus
  • ·         He is creator, firstborn of all creation – eternal, before all things
  • ·         Holds all things together – sustains everything, He is the source of life
  • ·         Firstborn among the dead – resurrected
  • ·         Head of the body/church/over all in the Body of Christ
  • ·         makes peace (Shalom)
    • o   Through his incarnation, sacrifice on the cross
    • o   Reconciles all things
      • Us to Creation
      • Us to each other
      • Us to God Reconciles relationships
  • ·         Has sovereign control over everything, In/through/for Him – both visible and invisible (thrones, principalities, rulers, elections, leaders)

 

UNDERSTANDING – 20 MINUTES

Where have you seen Jesus reconcile relationships of people to each other? 

Leader note:  Consider marriages that were crumbling and Jesus brought reconciliation through forgiveness, mercy, unexplained change of heart.  Think of those who have had issues with parents, those who were estranged and found a way back to each other. 

 

Where have you seen Jesus reconcile relationships of people to God?

Leader note:  Jesus reconciled people to God through His death on the cross, before we knew Him, we were forever separated from God, except for the atoning sacrifice on our behalf, a gift of grace we received.  Because we are reconciled, we have the power from Jesus to break through darkness, break strongholds, eliminate fear, overcome sin.

 

APPLICATION – 20 MINUTES

Where in your life have you seen Jesus reconcile relationships?  Between you and God?  You and others?

Leader note:  If you have been freed of an addiction and through the power of Jesus broke that stronghold, you have been reconciled to God.  Perhaps you and a loved one were at odds, and through the forgiveness and Jesus interceding in the situation, you were reconciled.

 

Where are you resisting Jesus reconciling relationships in your life?

Leader note:  Consider relationships you could let Jesus reconcile – parents, siblings, coworkers – but instead choose not to.  It may be because you are afraid of additional hurt, or feel you are protecting your family from abuse. 

What do you have to believe about Jesus to let him do what only he can in reconciling this relationship?

Leader note:  It may be that you have to trust that if Jesus reconciles he can also sustain.  He can give you the strength to endure temptation, someone speaking against you, the possibility of a broken relationship happening again.  This is not a command to continue to enter into an abusive relationship, this is an invitation to reconcile what only Jesus can.  And then to trust Him to be bigger than, greater than, the brokenness, the troubled relationship, the addiction until such a time you are reconciled forever.  If Jesus gives you the power to break a stronghold, He can give you the power to stand strong against it. 

 

LIVE IT OUT

What would it look like if we trusted Jesus to do what only he can do?  To our families?  To our friends?  Our community?

 

PRAY:  End your time together praising Jesus for His unique power of reconciling you – first to your Creator, then to each other, giving you the ability to create unity within His family.  Pray God will give you wisdom in your relationships to know where you are not reconciled, where forgiveness and the qualities of Jesus need to be called upon to right the relationship.