Colossians: Setting Our Sights on Jesus

Colossians 1:15-23

Joel Miles

July 9, 2023

With a friend, your family or in your small group, discuss the following questions:

1. Before focusing on Colossians 1:15-20, read through the end of 1:20-22. How would you summarize Paul’s claim in this verses?
2. Continuing to look at 1:21-22, list the things God/Jesus is said to do. Now list the things we are said to do. What do you notice? According to these verses, how sufficient/complete is Christ’s work on our behalf?
3. Read 1:23. According to this verse, what does it seem is the problem Paul is seeking to warn the Colossians against? (For help you can look at Colossians 2:8 and 2:16-17)
4. Why do you think it is hard for us to truly believe that Christ is the gift that we need, and that he has been given to us? How do you think this helps explain why Paul began with this remarkable poem about the person and work of Jesus Christ?
5. Read 1:15-17. What is/are Paul’s claim in these verses concerning Jesus? (Note: if you are reading a version that uses the word “firstborn,” that term is being used metaphorically here to refer to “rank rather than temporal priority.” In other words, it means Jesus is supreme over all creation, not that he was the first to be created).
6. Read 1:18-20. What is/are Paul’s claim in these verses concerning Jesus?
7. Do we normally think of Jesus as this glorious and exalted? Do you see that even though Jesus is this remarkable, he loved us so much that he died for us? How should this effect and change our way of living?