Not Your Average Bible Study Series

Deacon Steve

Does anyone have samples on the subject collection?

Not Your Average Bible Study Series (12 vols.)

DAL

Here's Lesson 1-3 of "Part I" on the Colossians volume (Lessons are short - Total of 8 lessons per section; see table of contents at the end of the sample lessons) You enter the answers in a box after each question (Box doesn't show here):

PART I: “I REJOICE IN MY SUFFERINGS FOR YOUR SAKE”

COLOSSIANS 1:1–14

While in prison in Rome, Paul had a scribe write down a message to the Colossians (compare 4:18). The scribe then gave the letter to Tychicus and a runaway slave named Onesimus to deliver to the churches at Colossae and Laodicea (4:7–9). They also carried a second, personal letter requesting that Philemon, a leader in the church and the owner of Onesimus, free the fugitive slave.

The beginning of Colossians (1:1–2:5) tells us how we can be like Christ. We learn the theology necessary to fight evil and the practicality of loving Jesus. The focus of the first section of the letter is Paul’s identity, why we should be thankful, and the need for prayer (1:1–14). Suffering is a battle for our souls, and Christ can be the victor.

Christ is at the center of Paul’s letter, and the focal point of every issue he addresses. Colossians tells us how we can make Christ the center of our lives too. Our first eight studies will teach us what it means to join Christ in His victory over darkness.

LESSON 1

TASTE-TESTING COLOSSIANS

Pray that God would reveal the message of Colossians to you.
Read all of Colossians aloud in one sitting.

This letter was meant to be read out loud, so we need to hear it before we can interpret it (4:16). (Double underline transition words like “now,” “therefore,” “yet” and “but,” as well as negations like “no” and “not.”)

Read all the verses again where these transition words are used. Write a short summary of each of these verses. What do these verses tell you about the general gist of the letter?

Now we have taste-tested Colossians—had a bit of an appetizer. But to get to the main course, we need to pray. The late scholar Brevard Childs once said, “Herein lies the secret of biblical interpretation: Wherever the Spirit is not present, there is no great explanation possible.” If you want to understand Paul’s letter, if you want to hear God, listen to the Spirit. Move Christ to the center of all you do.

LESSON 2

THE MAIN COURSE

Pray that God would strengthen you through Christ and the Spirit.
Read all of Colossians aloud in one sitting.

Reading the entire letter will allow you to see how the ideas Paul develops later in the letter are based on what he says at the beginning. (Draw square brackets or a box around the words “first,” “new,” “light,” “alive” and “hidden.”)

Read aloud each of the lines with key words in them. Who is at the center of Paul’s theology? (Who is he writing about?) Use four adjectives (description words) to lay out how Paul understands this character. How should Paul’s understanding of this character shape the way we look at the world?

Name some important events that have changed the world. How do these events affect our lives?

Last week, we taste-tested Colossians. Now we are getting to the main course: we’re going to understand Paul’s theology. When we combine study with prayer, we get an incredible result: theology shaped by our experiences—an understanding of God that is based (in part) on contemplation, prayer and practice. At the center of Colossians is the idea that our understanding of Christ directly reflects how we live. If we don’t understand Him, we can’t live like Him. Being like Christ means finding Christ everywhere—in all parts of life. Seeing Him in everything is a constant reminder that we need to show Him to others.

LESSON 3

COLOSSIANS IS ABOUT CHRIST—AND OUR ACTIONS IN HIM

Pray for the power to act on God’s calling every day, in every moment.
Read all of Colossians aloud in one sitting.

Reading a biblical book repeatedly helps us key in on phrases and ideas we would usually brush over. (Underline key verbs [action words] like “love,” “hear,” “thank,” “put” “pass,” “pray,” “give” and “open.”)

Read aloud all the verses with key verbs. What message becomes clear when you do so? What would change about your life if you lived by all these verses? Keep in mind that it was not Paul’s intention to create a rulebook. Nevertheless, we can’t be at peace with one another if we don’t obey the God who created us.

Choose seven ideas Paul emphasizes, that you can work on. Write a three- to four-word summary of each idea. Each morning this week, pray about one of the seven ideas. Journal each night, even in just a few short sentences, how you implemented that idea throughout your day. How did it change your interactions with other people? How did it change your view of God? Imagine what our world would be like if we all lived the words of Colossians each day.

Barry, J. D. (2014). Colossians: Being Like Jesus (pp. 5–10). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Here's the table of contents:

CONTENTS

How to Use This Resource

Introduction

Part I: “I Rejoice in My Sufferings for Your Sake” (Colossians 1:1–14)

Lesson 1: Taste-Testing Colossians

Lesson 2: The Main Course

Lesson 3: Colossians Is about Christ—and Our Actions in Him

Lesson 4: Adding “Saint” to Your Résumé

Lesson 5: From Slave to Brother

Lesson 6: “I Have it Under Control”

Lesson 7: Separation Anxiety—Separated from Christ, Separated from Joy

Lesson 8: From Darkness to Light

Conclusion

Part II: Jesus (Colossians 1:15–23)

Lesson 1: God’s Son Is Unique

Lesson 2: All Things Great and Small

Lesson 3: Christ at the Center

Lesson 4: Firstborn from the Dead

Lesson 5: God Dwelling with Us

Lesson 6: God Revealed

Lesson 7: Christ before Everything

Lesson 8: God’s Son—Highest Priority

Conclusion

Part III: Waking Up (Colossians 1:24–2:7)

Lesson 1: The Irony of Rejoicing in Suffering

Lesson 2: Stewards, Not Rulers

Lesson 3: Mystery

Lesson 4: Jesus among Us

Lesson 5: Empowerment

Lesson 6: Misplaced Treasure

Lesson 7: Firm Faith

Lesson 8: Rooted

Conclusion

Part IV: Treating the Good News Like Leftovers (Colossians 2:8–23)

Lesson 1: Elemental Spirits and Christ

Lesson 2: Deity in Flesh

Lesson 3: Circumcision, Baptism and Resurrection

Lesson 4: Alive in Christ

Lesson 5: Quality, Not Quantity

Lesson 6: Growth Defined

Lesson 7: Religion Kills—Jesus Saves

Lesson 8: Resurrected with Christ

Conclusion

Part V: Christianity Is Not Ethics Plus Belief in Jesus (Colossians 3:1–4:1)

Lesson 1: Raised with Christ

Lesson 2: Why Christ Died

Lesson 3: Greek, Jew, Slave, Free—Whatever

Lesson 4: It’s Not New-Age Christianity—Just Paul’s Christianity

Lesson 5: Christ Dwells in Us

Lesson 6: Paul Redefines Culture

Lesson 7: The Kids Aren’t Alright

Lesson 8: Did Paul Support Slavery?

Conclusion

Part VI: We Think Jesus Is Self-Explanatory (Colossians 4:2–18)

Lesson 1: Why We Pray

Lesson 2: What We Usually Don’t Pray For

Lesson 3: Outsiders Eating Your Table Salt

Lesson 4: Being Like Jesus Means Being a Good Friend

Lesson 5: Working for the Man

Lesson 6: Promoting Others Will Change You

Lesson 7: Spreading the Word Isn’t a New Idea

Lesson 8: Remember

Conclusion

Barry, J. D. (2014). Colossians: Being Like Jesus. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.