Jesus+Nothing

Jesus + Nothing Part 8 – “Influence/Impact”

Colossians 4:1-6

Week Eight
Opening Questions:
1. Tell about a time you tried to, or wanted to share Jesus with someone who didn’t know him.
2. If you could fix any one problem in the world through prayer, what would it be (other than salvation of the whole world)?

Important to Know:
As Paul wraps up his letter, he includes some final instructions for the church, and then specific messages and greetings. In his instructions, he reminds them to be devoted in prayer, and specifically to pray for him to
have open doors and clear word as he proclaims the gospel. Clearly, Paul believes that prayers have consequence- namely, that things happen because we pray.
Next, he tells them to make the most of every opportunity with those who don’t yet know Christ. Essentially, Paul is closing with two thoughts: pray for others in their proclamation of the Gospel, and then proclaim the Gospel yourself as well. This is where the rubber hits the road. How will your relationships with Christ and with each other change how you interact with the world?

Questions from the Text:
1. According to verse 2, what are two essential parts of being devoted to prayer? Why is it important to be both of these things?
2. We know from other areas of the Bible that prayer can be a way to connect relationally with the Father. How do verses 2-4 show that prayer is also causative (it has an expected outcome)? What is the category of the things Paul requests prayer for?
3. How does verse 5 instruct us to act towards outsiders?
4. What do you think verse 5 means by “be wise” in the way you act towards those who aren’t Christians, and to “make the most of every opportunity”? What might examples be?
5. In verse 6, what do you think seasoned with salt means? Why do you think Paul instructs us in this way?

Application Questions:
1. What are some strategies to help you have a better prayer life: both relationally with the Lord, and consequent-causing in the world?
2. Who is someone you will proclaim Jesus to? How might you do that?

Jesus + Nothing Part 7 – “Love One Another”

Colossians 3:16-25

Week Seven
Opening Questions:
What do you think are some of the reasons for the breakdown of marriage and family in our society?
Is there something you find yourself wishing that Paul would have said in these instructions?

Important to Know:
– There is a continuation of the instruction to live our whole lives in the name of Jesus and for the Glory of God, and we must consider how that relates to our most intimate and ongoing relationships.
– The household codes were guidelines and expectations for how a 1st century Roman home should operate. Paul both
reveres aspects of the known household codes and suggest significant differences, namely relating all of them to Christ.
– Seeds are being sown of subversive love that will grow to change the world, and how we relate to one another with
Christ as our Lord.
– Everyone who us united to Christ is called to submission as Christ demonstrated for us no matter what their station in life.
– We are invited to be devoted to pray both the engine of a life of love and surrender and as an example of how the
Kingdom of God is built in the world.

Questions from the Text:
1. What are wives and husbands called to do in marriage?
2. What does “submission” and “love” in marriage look like?
(Consider the wider context of the new life we are to live in Christ in Col 3:12-14)
3. Read Ephesians 5:21-33. How does this passage enhance your answer to Q. 2?
4. In v. 21 the command to parents is stated in the negative. What is the implicit positive command in this verse and why is it so important?
5. Apart from the obvious, why is it important that a child learn obedience? (Think – What relationship does the parent-child relationship mirror?)
6. What are some different attitudes that our society has towards work? Read Colossians 3:22-4:1 8. Who does the Christian serve, even in apparently “secular” work?
7. How should our new life in Christ impact our attitude towards our work?
8. Discuss different ways in which the gospel might shape the way you work in your specific work place? (For those who don’t have a 9-5 type job, e.g. Mums, volunteer work; think broader about what constitutes your work place).

Application Questions:
Read Colossians 3:17 and discuss how this verse is a guiding principle for 3:18-4:1.

Jesus + Nothing Part 5 – “Freedom”

Colossians 2:16-23

Week Five
Opening Question:
1. In what ways would you characterise yourself as permissive, and in what ways would you characterise yourself as strict?

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Jesus + Nothing Part 4 – “Fully”

Colossians 2:9-15 What if our approach to connecting with God has been all wrong?

Week 4 Study Questions

Opening Question:
Share with each other how long you have been following Christ, and the ways you have seen your faith deepen and your discipleship grow over those months/years.

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Jesus + Nothing Part 3 – “In Christ”

Colossians 2:1-8

Opening Questions:
1. What is a freedom you are grateful for?
2. What do you think is a mark of maturity?

Important to Know:
In this section, Paul further elaborates on why Christ is enough, and on what sort of “fine-sounding arguments” he doesn’t want the church to be deceived by. In verses 6-8 he reminds us that Christ is enough and to not drift away from Him.

Questions from the Text:
1. In Vs 2:1 Paul says he is struggling for the church. What could he mean? (in prayer (vs. 3), in teaching (vs. 28), in proclaiming, in suffering (see in verse 18 that he is in chains)).

2. Vs 2-3 says all wisdom and knowledge is found in Christ. Where else do people often look for these things? a. How could finding your wisdom and knowledge in Christ alone help present you “fully mature in Christ” (vs. 1:28)?

3. In vs4 Paul wrote so that “no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.” What are some “fine-sounding” arguments you are aware of that have crept into the church?

4. In verse 7, what four images does Paul give of living with Christ?

5. What do each of these four images illuminate about living with Christ:
a. Rooted in Christ (an agricultural term) being in Christ once and for all and not moving
b. Built up in him (construction term) outward and orderly progress through time
c. Strengthened in the faith (athletic imagery) exercise and practice of determination and perseverance and obedience
d. Overflowing with thankfulness (water imagery) continuous renewal of thanks, like water from a spring feeding everything around it.

6. What does Paul warn against in verse 8?

7. What are some things you think might fall under “hollow and deceptive philosophies”? (tolerance, no absolute truth, materialism as success, many ways to God, science as final authority rather than a revealer of it, intellectualism esteemed as enlightenment)

Application Question:
Of the four images in question 2, which do you feel strongest in? Which do you need to grow in? How can you help each other do this?

Jesus + Nothing Part 2 – “The Purpose/ Focus of the Church”

Colossians 1:25-29

Jesus + Nothing – Colossians 1:25-29

Opening Questions:
Share a story about someone now living for Jesus that you never would have thought would ever make that decision.

Important to Know:
In this section, Paul continues from the previous week’s assertion that he is a servant of the gospel, and then explains why he is so – to present the word of God for the sake of Christ’s body the church. He says that the mystery of the Gospel has now been disclosed to God’s people, and that God has even chosen to reveal this mystery to the Gentiles. Paul is presenting a “ta-da!” sort of mystery. The kind that is like a plot twist. It is the sort of mystery that is hidden, and is then revealed to all who would receive it – not just a select few.

Questions from the Text:
1. In verse 25, What does Paul say his role is?

2. In verse 24, Paul says his flesh takes on the suffering that was still lacking from Christ’s afflictions. If Christ did all that was needed to redeem us, what “lack” might Paul be talking about? (See verse 25). All that is left for people to receive the sacrifice of Christ, is to HEAR about it! For the sake of Christ’s body, the church, we may suffer that people may hear the gospel, and join the body.

3. Verse 26. What is the mystery the world has been waiting to be revealed? What is the answer? Ex. Mystery: How (even if) God will reconcile people to Himself. (Answer: Christ in us, the hope of Glory.)

4. According to verse 28:
What is our message?
Who is our target?
What’s our goal? (How does transformation differ from information?)
Who does this work?

5. Following, in verse 29, how are we supposed to do this work? How does this work for you in “real life?”

Application Questions:
Verse 28 talks about teaching everyone with all wisdom, so we may present everyone perfect (mature) in Christ. How can you follow Paul’s lead in “teaching” your fellow Christians? How about to those who don’t know him?

Jesus + Nothing Part 1 – “Staying Centred on What’s Central”

Jesus + Nothing
Week One: Staying Centred on what’s Central – Colossians 1:15-23

Opening Questions:
1. What was the weirdest/most difficult job you’ve had. What was hard? What made it worth it?
2. Have you ever had to reconcile with someone? What was the circumstance, and how did you both make it through the rough time?

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