Fruitful

Northwest Gospel Church

Fruitful

Colossians 1:1-8

September 8, 2024 • Ben Potloff • Colossians 1:1–8

Colossians 1:1-8 | Ben Potloff | A special relationship existed between Paul, Timothy, and the Christians in and around Colossae. Considering Colossian, you are faced with the beauty of a local church established in the gospel and growing in the grace of the Lord Jesus. In the opening of the letter, we see the power of the grace of God in the lives of his people.

MAIN IDEA

The gospel bears fruit.

OUTLINE

I. Faith and love come from the hope of the gospel (vv. 1-5a)

II. Faith and love come from the hearing of the gospel (vv. 5b-8)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Paul starts this letter by stating his apostleship and appointment by the will of God. Why is it important for the reader to understand Paul’s role and authority? Does Paul continue to expound on his authority throughout the letter? What other aspects of his relationship with the church does he write about in these opening verses? What effect would this have on the Colossian believers?

2. This letter is written to believers, fellow Christians who have already placed their faith in Christ, though not directly through Paul’s ministry. Does this influence how Paul addresses them? How does Paul feel about these people? What can we learn from this and apply to our own interactions with others?

3. Paul prayed for the believers at Colossae with love, appreciation, and dedication, though he didn’t know them as individuals. What are effective ways we can pray beyond our circles of family and friends? How can we make praying for people we don’t know more personal and meaningful? Does praying for people we don’t know change how we think and feel about them?

4. In verses 4-8, Paul describes a few characteristics of the Colossians that show the sincerity of their faith in Jesus. What attributes in our lives demonstrate the authenticity of our relationship with Jesus? Does recognizing Christ in the lives of people around you encourage your own commitment?

5. Why is it important for the Gospel to always be bearing fruit in our lives? What does being fruitful mean? How can we evaluate this in ourselves? What are key requirements for being fruitful?

Team Sport

November 24, 2024 • Ben Potloff • Colossians 4:7–18

Colossians 4:7-18 | Ben Potloff | Sitting on the floor of a Roman prison and bound in chains, Paul concludes the dictation of his letter to the church in Colossae. In his usual format, Paul closes the letter by extending his greetings to the complex network of leaders connected with his churches across the Roman world. After all that Paul has written to the Colossian church, this is what he wants to leave them with. Also, this means that after all that the Holy Spirit has inspired Paul to write to His people, this is what He wants to leave His people, us, with. It’s easy to neglect these greetings and skim through them, but they matter just as much as every other word of Scripture - let’s see why! MAIN IDEA Kingdom work is done together. OUTLINE I. Our call is faithful service (vv. 7-9, 12-13, 17) II. Our comfort is fellow servants (vv. 7-11, 14-15) III. Our connection is in Christ (vv. 7, 12, 16-18) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What does encouraging other believers’ hearts look like to you on a practical level? 2. Paul asks the readers to remember his chains. Why is it important for Christians to remember one another in their suffering? 3. What does “struggling in prayer” mean to you? Is there anything or anyone that you’ve been struggling on behalf of in prayer? 4. What would it look like for you to fulfill the ministry/work in which you have received in the Lord? 5. How can you use your present circumstances to spread the gospel and support your fellow believers, as Paul did from prison? 6. How does Paul’s message to the early church inform or challenge the way you view participation in your local church?

And Another Thing…

November 17, 2024 • Max Janusch • Colossians 4:2–6

Colossians 4:2-6 | Max Janusch | This week, after pointed instruction about the household of the follower of Jesus, Paul begins to conclude his letter, giving some final instructions before wrapping up. He puts his finger on two crucial elements of the Christian life: prayer and our behavior toward those who do not believe. In light of who Jesus is and what he’s done, how should we pray? And how should we act around those who aren’t living as though all things truly are through him and for him? MAIN IDEA Let your life speak of Christ. OUTLINE I. Persistent prayer should permeate God’s people. (vv. 2-4) II. Would-be witnesses should walk wisely in the world. (vv. 5-6) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Think back on last week’s text (3:18-4:1). Now read this week’s short text together (4:2-6). How do Paul’s words in these five verses help us apply the instruction from last week’s passage? 2. Look at all five days of “Engage the Text.” You’ll notice that all of Paul’s instructions in these verses can be traced back to the teachings of Jesus. Take a few moments and look at all the overlap, making observations as you go. 3. Look at verses 2-4. What does Paul say about prayer? How should this shape how we pray? Does this come easy to you? Difficult? Why? 4. How often do you pray for each other, that God would help your group mates as you share the gospel with others? How can you encourage each other in this? 5. Read verses 5-6. Why is this especially important in our current day and age? Think about your own personal relationships. What are specific ways that this can be a struggle? How can we, as the people of God, grow in this area?

How Shall We Live?

November 10, 2024 • Luke Hendrix • Colossians 3:18–25, Colossians 4:1

Colossians 3:18-4:1 | Luke Hendrix | Moving on from his exhortations in the beginning of Colossians 3, Paul now takes those principles and then gives instructions on what it looks like to live life in Christ in the context of the relationships we find ourselves in. He first addresses the family, the foundational relationship of any society. He speaks to wives, husbands, children, and fathers before turning his attention to servants and masters. Our lives in Christ are to reflect him fully, no matter what role we find ourselves fulfilling, living out verses twelve through seventeen in every context. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What role or roles in your life are you struggling the most to live out considering Paul’s call in verses 12-17? 2. In the roles of wife, husband, mother, father, boss or employee, what has helped you most in living as God’s chosen ones? 3. Paul says that fathers are not to provoke their children, for those that are parents in the group, how do you do this well and where do you see yourself needing to grow in this area? 4. The work that you do, who do you think people see you doing it for and why? 5. Verse 25 tells us that God shows no favoritism and that judgment will be impartial regardless of human “class”. How should this change the way we think about people and the way we treat them in life?