Colossians: Fullness in Christ

Sermons – St Bart's Anglican Church

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is the fourth sermon in our series on the Colossians. This sermon is “Fullness in Christ”. Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: Colossians 2:6-15

DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Next Steps this Week

BIBLE READING: Colossians 2:6-15

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Download in PDF format.

CONNECT: What next steps can you take to go deeper in your maturity in Jesus? Who can keep you accountable?

WARM-UP

1. Are there ever ways in which youʼre tempted to think, “if only I had ______” or “if only I did this ______” or “Iʼd be a more fulfilled/complete Christian, if I ______”?

Read Colossians 2:6-7 (Goal: Be Rooted and Built Up in Jesus)

1. In what way does Paul want the Colossians to continue walking with Jesus?

2. What does it mean to be both rooted and built up in Jesus? What type of images is Paul appealing to?

3. As we continue to walk with Jesus, why is it essential to be both rooted and built up in Jesus?

4. What are the rhythms or relationships that help you to hold fast and grow up in Jesus? How would you like to go deeper in your knowledge about Jesus and your relationship with Jesus?

5. How are you being: (a) strengthened in faith; and (b) cultivating an “overflowing” thankfulness?

Read Colossians 2:8 (Warning: Don’t be Taken Captive)

1. What is Paulʼs warning to the Colossians? What does he mean by being ʻtaken captiveʼ?

2. In what way were people telling the Colossians that their faith was insufficient or infantile?

3. What are the common ways that Christians are challenged (by other Christians) that they need ʻspecialʼ additional rituals, rules, knowledge, or experiences to be authentic Christians?

4. What are the hollow and deceptive philosophies of our culture that can take us captive? Is Paul against all philosophy or reasoning? How do we discern what is helpful and what is dangerous?

5. How do we ʻsee to itʼ that weʼre not taken captive by that which is shallow or deceptive?

Read Colossians 2:9-15 (Remember: Your Fullness in Christ)

1. In what way do we find all fullness in Jesus? Why is everything else therefore just a poor substitute?

2. What was the point of circumcision? How have the Colossian Christians been circumcised in Christ?

3. According to Paul, how is baptism connected to Jesusʼ death and resurrection?

4. How did Jesus disarm the powers and authorities, making a spectacle of the cross? Is this good news?

APPLY: What could most help you be rooted and built up in Jesus?

PRAYER

Gracious Father, thank you for the never-changing Good News of Jesus. Please help us to be rooted and built up in Jesus, not to be taken captive, and remember the fullness of Jesus. In Jesusʼ Name, Amen.

GOING DEEPER

On Your Frontline This Week: In what ways has God been at work on your frontline? Take some time this week to stop, pray, and give thanks!

Listen, Watch, and Read:

• Listen: “A Sealed Spirituality Under Threat” by William Talor

• Listen: “Alive with Christ” by Chris Wright

• Watch: “Christ and Disinformation” by Aaron Roberts (St Johnʼs Vancouver)

• Read: “Isnʼt Christianity Homophobic” (chapter in “Confronting Christianity” by Rebecca McLaughlin

• Read: “How to Find Yourself” by Brian Rosner

SERIES Resources:

• Read: St Bart’s Colossians Series Overview

• Book: NIV Scripture Journal for Colossians

• Book: “Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters” by Tom Wright

• Commentary: “Colossians” by Michael Bird (eBook)

• Video: “Letter to the Colossians” by N. T. Wright

• Video: Bible Project Overview of Colossians

• Course: (Paid) “Paul and his Letter to the Colossians” on Udemy

Grow as Families

Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.

Series Resource: “5 Things to Pray for Your Kids” by Melissa Kruger. This resource aims to help guide parents (along with grandparents, carers, and godparents) in praying meaningfully for their child, with biblical grounding.

Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray

High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions

Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ Talk

eBook: Watch the eBook