By Tyler Ingalls

Introduction 

  • Opening Prayer
  • Purpose of the Study: Bringing light to our eyes, by rightly dividing the Word of God!
  • Overview of Colossians:
    • Written by Apostle Paul around 60-62 AD while imprisoned in Rome.
    • Addressed to the church in Colossae, a small city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).
    • Main theme: The supremacy of Christ and the believer’s completeness in Him.

I. The Supremacy of Christ (Colossians 1:15-20) 

  • Text Reading: Colossians 1:15-20.
  • Insight:
    • Focus on the preeminence of Christ in creation and redemption.
    • Christ as the image of the invisible God and the firstborn over all creation.
    • Emphasis on Christ’s role in the church as its head and the fullness of God dwelling in Him.
    • Righteousness by his blood.
    • A Cristocentric Gospel. Who is the center of the Gospel story?
  • Emphasis and Application:
    • Where in our culture do we see “humans” as the pre–eminent beings? 
    • What is the anthropocentric gospel? How do we contend against it? 

II. The Fullness of Life in Christ (Colossians 2:6-15) 

  • Text Reading: Colossians 2:6-15.
  • Insight
    • The dangers of legalism and human traditions that detract from the sufficiency of Christ. Reverting to a anthropocentric Gospel (which is no good news)
    • Christ’s victory over the powers and authorities through the cross.
    • The warning against deceptive philosophies and the importance of grounding ourselves in Christ.
    • Understanding human tradition (Legal Gospel and Licentious Gospel)
    • Shadows of Christ are ways to learn.
  • Emphasis and Application:
    • How can be sure of our foundation on Christ?
    • What can shadows teach us?

III. The New Life in Christ (Colossians 3:1-17) 

  • Text Reading: Colossians 3:1-17.
  • Insight:
    • The call to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.
    • Cristo-centric or anthropocentric
    • Putting off the old self and putting on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
    • The virtues of the new life: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
    • The practical outworking of the believer’s union with Christ.
    • The role of the Holy Spirit in transforming the believer’s character.
  • Emphasis and Application:
    • What motivates good behavior? 
    • How does our vision of the end, create a trajectory of righteousness and godliness?

Conclusion 

  • Recap of Key Points:
    • The supremacy of Christ over all creation and him being central in the Gospel.
    • Not following human tradition.
    • The call to live out our new identity in Christ is fueled by correctly seeing Jesus.