Colossians for Beginners
Colossians 3:12-17
Stratégie d'enseignement
The focus of this lesson is a continuation of Paul’s discussion on Christian ethics. Of special note in this lesson is how various elements come together to establish a Christian standard for life and morality.
Résultats de l'apprentissage des étudiants
- Know: Understand Paul’s teachings of the pre-eminence of the teachings of Jesus.
- Feel: Recognize the pre-eminence of Jesus in how we determine right or wrong.
- Do: Follow the teachings of Jesus for our salvation and faithfulness.
Corps de la leçon
Questions à discuter
Vous trouverez ci-dessous des suggestions de questions à utiliser pendant la partie de la leçon consacrée à la discussion guidée. Vous trouverez également des suggestions de réponses aux questions pour aider les élèves à saisir les différents concepts. Ces réponses sont fournies pour faciliter la discussion et ne sont pas considérées comme des réponses "justes ou fausses".
Paul states we are to "put on" these characteristics as a garment that covers us and becomes how we are seen. We take on the identity based on the qualities he outlines in this verse.
We are now children of God, citizens of His Kingdom. As such we represent Him. As an example, members of a nation's military wear uniforms identifying who they belong to. In a real way, we are in a spiritual war as soldiers for Christ (Ephesians 6:10-18a; I Peter 1:13; I Peter 2:9-12).
We are God's spiritually chosen people and thus eternal. The Israelites were God's chosen people through whom Jesus would come. Their role and time came to an end when Jesus completed His earthly mission and established the church, to which we are added through our faithful obedience.
The term means to be separate or made separate. As God's people, we are separate from the physical nations of this world as part of a spiritual Kingdom.
We are God's people, part of His family adopted at a great price. This places us in a special category as members of His household and we are afforded spiritual rights and privileges. (A follow up question would be to have the class identify from their own view what those rights and privileges are. Look for indicators of a special relationship through such things as answered prayers and shortcomings forgiven.)
We should be loving, compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, bear with one another, forgiving, just as Jesus was. As those that identify with Christ, we must put on Christ in all elements of our lives, especially in attitude and behavior. As a practical example, Jesus preached the value of forgiveness, and then when He hung on the cross, He demonstrated it by asking God the Father to forgive those tormenting Him.
Love forms a bond of unity binding believers together with God and each other (see also I Corinthians 13 as the greatest of spiritual gifts). Love is the greatest of these because it is the nature of God and eternal, whereas hope and faith will be fulfilled when Christ returns.
The peace of Christ should rule in our hearts. It means that Christ is our standard and we have peace as we know we are following God's will and belong to Him.
We worship God with thanksgiving and encourage one another to do so as well. (See also Hebrews 10:22-25).
Our lives should be motivated to continue to live for Christ. This completes the positive cycle of thanksgiving: We experience the peace of Christ in our hearts; we are moved to give thanks to God for this (worship); we are motivated by gratitude to live and serve in His name (by His authority and as He wills); This reinforces and deepens the peace we feel and keeps the cycle turning.
We learn the teachings of Jesus and put them into practice in our lives This draws us closer to Him and encourages us to continue to grow like Him in personal holiness, a loving attitude and a thankful heart.