Context is key

Use this curriculum to help you further engage with the sermon, the scriptures, and each other. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring things up to encourage and guide you so that you are always growing in your faith. If the Spirit leads you away from these questions and into conversation and prayer that encourages and points you to Jesus, go for it.

scripture

Read the following scriptures together: Colossians 3:18-25.

overview

Paul has been telling the Colossians that their old, rebellious nature died with Christ and that they should keep their mind on things above. In these final verses of chapter 3, he gets specific on how this ought to play out in Christian households. This goes against the grain of how people behaved then and even today – and that’s the point! We want our changed actions and generous love to display Christ’s new work in us. This is our new reality, now we ought to live this way.

question 1

What is a changed behavior or heart attitude that has come from your new life in following Jesus? Celebrate the work God has done in each of you.

discussion

In these verses Paul breaks down the different roles within the Christian households of that time, but the same calling is for all believers today and for all times – we are called to be countercultural regardless of ease or difficulty, we are called to be holy as Christ is holy, to submit and love as Christ loves the church. There is a God-ordained order of things, and he created a family model that when all are genuinely loving one another, the model is good but when one person abuses their position and allows pride or rebellion to creep in, it distorts God’s original intent and causes much harm. This is why some of these verses are hard for people today to read and understand. We need to read these passages with the understanding that God doesn’t condone abusive behavior, in fact throughout the bible he has instructed us to take care of others.

question 2

What are ways to ensure that our family relationships have mutual love, respect, humility, and submission to God? Are there any areas you want to work on as a child, sibling, parent, or spouse?

Look up and read Colossians 3:22-25 in The Message version. Every single person can apply this to their situation – whether you are in the workforce as an employee or a supervisor, a student, a volunteer, or maintaining your own household. This is a reminder to not cut corners and that whether someone else is watching you or not, God is, and we work as if we are working for him. This is not heaven, so we will work for and around people who make it difficult for us to live and love as Christ calls us to. It’s a high calling; but remember that God equips and encourages us through his Holy Spirit, his Word, prayer, and other believers.

question 3

Has anyone ever worked in a tough environment? How did you get through it? 

final thoughts

Keep Colossians 3:22-25 in the forefront of your mind this week and find ways to apply it to your situation.