Sermons in Colossians based on observation notes
Day #2 Sermon Starters – Questions on the Text
Purpose: On
the second day of the study of Colossians, we have provided you with 15
questions that would be sufficient for at least a dozen sermons in the book of
Colossians. The reason for these
questions were to help me understand, analyze, and summarize major thoughts in
the epistle to the Colossians. They will
form the basis for other studies, including the yet future “30 Facts About
Christ in Colossians”.
May the LORD see fit to use these questions to help
you in your studies:
Questions on Colossians:
1. What
does the epistle teach about Christ?
2. Why
was the epistle written?
3. To
whom was the epistle written to?
4. Do
a word study on the concept of “stablished” (for instance, established in the
faith)
5. Do
a word study on the word ‘walk’. [Hint,
Day 1 of Colossians included this outline.
You may make note to the hearers that the word walk appears once in
every chapter of the letter to the Colossians.]
6. Do
a word study on the word ‘faith’.
7. Do
a word study on the concept “In Christ” or “In Him”
8. Do
a word study on the word “peace”.
9. Do
a word study on the word “thankful” or its derivatives.
10. Do
a phrase study on the concept “whatever you do, do to God’s glory.”
11. Do
a phrase/word study on the idea of the “will of God”.
12. Do
a word study on the concept of ‘love’.
13. Do
a character study on the person named “Epaphras”.
14. Do
a concept study on the idea of ‘prayer’ or praying.
15. Do
a study of forgiveness in Colossians.
B. Bonus Material: Subject Study on the idea of being taken away
from Christ by worldliness and sin.
[Majority of verses on this subject seem to appear in chapter 2 and
early in chapter 3, indicating a specific problem Paul wanted to deal with for
these faithful disciples of the Lord:
getting easily beguiled by those who didn’t want them looking at
Christ.]
a. Colossians
2:4, “And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.”
b. Colossians
2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after
the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
c. Colossians
2:16-23, verse 20, “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of
the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,”
d. Colossians
3:2, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Hint: While taking verses
that all deal on the same topic and stringing them together is helpful, it is
even more helpful to see verses in the same epistle or book. However, such valuable wisdom is only useful
as you immerse yourself in the message of the epistle you are studying. In this way, when you quote these verses at
the appropriate time in your sermon, the Holy Spirit will bring back to your
memory the context and arguments being used in the book or epistle so you do
not un-necessarily misconstrue the Bible.
Trust that the Holy Spirit can use the background information you have
studied to properly position topical verses to the needs of people today. God Bless you.
