Week 11 – Colossians 3:18-4:1Life at Home, according to The Lord

1. It is __________ in the Lord for a wife to submit under her husband. (Col 3:18)

2. Husbands, __________ your wives, and do not be harsh with them. (Col 3:19)

3. It _________ the Lord for Children to ______their parents in everything. (col 3:20)

4. Fathers can either instill courage into or _____________ their children. (Col 3:21)

5. Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with _________ hearts, ________ the Lord. (Col 3:22)

6. Work for the _______, not for _____. He is the one who can truly __________ you. You reap what you sew, so serve the Lord. (Col 3:23-25)

7. If you are in __________, be just and fair, knowing you have a Master in Heaven who is in charge of you. (Col 4:1)

Week 11 ~ Day 1 “The Marriage of the Lamb”

Please handwrite Colossians 3:18-20

God’s creativity astounds me. Marriage is one of the earthly institutions God set forth to paint a picture of how life will be in eternity. Jesus is our bridegroom, and we are the bride of Christ. Our role as the Jesus’ bride is so very significant in how we understand marriage here on Earth. Turn your Bible to Ephesians 5:25-27.How did Christ show His love for us (the church)?

How is the Church (the Bride) described in v.27?

Now, back in v.26, who is the one who does the sanctifying and cleansing of the Bride? How does He do it?

Describe what that means to you as a daughter of the King.

Now, let’s look at Revelation 19:7-9. In v.7, who is responsible for making the bride ready?

Focus your mind on v.8 for a moment. What are we to be doing?

Week 11 ~ Day 2 “Sons of God”Please handwrite Colossians 3:21I am quite certain that we have all heard it said somewhere that we are “all children of God.” Have you? Well, in light of Colossians 3:21 talking about Fathers and children, I’d like for us to find the answer to who really are the children of God according to the Bible. Turn to Romans 8:14-19.

v.14 – Who are the children (sons) of God?

v.15 – What spirit did we NOT receive?

– What spirit DID we receive?

v.16 – What role does the Holy Spirit play?

v.17 – IF we are God’s children, then we are also what?

– What must we do (share) with Jesus if we want to share in His glory?

I love how the Holy Spirit knows us as humans so well. He directs Paul after writing about suffering at the end of v.17 to go into v.18 and explain that any suffering we experience here on Earth could not compare to what?

v.19 – What is all of creation is waiting for?

Does that just do something in your mind and heart today? It does mine. Friends, there will come a day when the full revelation of God is at hand. There is no escaping it. The true children of God will be revealed.

Turn to 1 John 3:1-10. What 2 options do we have as to whose children we are?

How are we identified as the children of God?

How are we identified as the children of the devil?

Respond to your Heavenly Father now:

Week 11 ~ Day 3 “Sincerity of Heart”Please handwrite Colossians 3:22There is so much goodness and truth in Colossians 3:22. If you are not participating in the writing-out of each verse along with your homework, I urge you to write v.22 here:

This verse is a great warning to those of us who easily fall prey to people pleasing. Do you happen to fall into that category? Why or why not?

I do actually. It is a huge temptation in my life. At best I am a peace-maker, and at worst I’m seeking to please people so that I end up looking good. That’s just harsh reality, isn’t it? I think that’s why Paul finishes v. 22 the way that he does. It’s the “sincerity of heart” thing that gets me, does it you? Describe what this verse means to you personally…

We are to serve, not only when another human being is watching us, so as to please man. But, we are to serve with a sincere heart, fearing Whom?

I wonder, is some people-pleasing going on currently in your life? Maybe some insincerity of heart? If so, let’s repent. Let’s fear the Lord our God and work diligently so as to represent Him well in all that we do. Finish today’s study by reading Colossians 3:22-24.

Week 11 ~ Day 4 “Grace that is Greater”Please handwrite Colossians 3:23-25Verse 25 is one of those sort of bone-chilling scriptures that, apart from knowing Christ, should make you quake in your boots. The ESV says, “the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.” I have been the wrongdoer in my life; how about you? Here’s the Greek definition: to act unjustly, to act wickedly, to sin, to violate the law in some way, to do wrong, to do hurt

We deserve hell. Every single one of us. The human heart is not basically good, at least that is not what the Bible teaches. Maybe that is hard for your ears to hear, or maybe you’re nodding along with that statement. But, I believe one of the reasons we are so deceived in our westernized world is that we have strayed from what the Bible says about our sinful human condition. We have bought into this worldly humanistic lie that everyone really does have a good heart except for those “really bad people” like ISIS and prayer-meeting murderers.

But, I am here to tell you the only good that lives in me is Jesus. The only capacity I have to hold this life together in the smallest of ways is His grace to me. I was lost and, praise Jesus, now I am found. If we do not believe that we are inherently wicked and in need

of a Savior, doesn't that cheapen the sacrifice He made at Calvary? If we could somehow be sweet enough or give enough money to good causes or volunteer enough time in homeless shelters or feed enough hungry children or refrain from enough evil to gain Heaven…then we never needed Jesus to lay down His life. And if He didn’t need to lay down His life, then His resurrection means nothing to us. We’re about to get real here. I hope you’re ready, take a deep breath and turn to Romans chapter 1. Please read verses 18-32.

After reading those verses, what are you feeling right now?What does v.32 mean to you?Okay – whatever you were feeling just now, let’s take another deep breath and get ready for what God is about to tell us. It’s a hard word, but we need to hear it. Please read Romans 2:1-11. In what category are we placed in v.1?

v.2 – What “rightly” falls on all who practice the sins listed in Romans 1?

What is the point of God’s kindness in v.4?

v.5 – What would cause us to store up God’s wrath for ourselves?

But, thanks be to our God! There is Good News, and His Name is Jesus!!! Please flip over to Romans 3, read v.21-26. What is our only hope in this world of escaping God’s wrath, which we all deserve?

Did you notice that in all 3 scriptures we read it said God shows no partiality or distinction? (Colossians 3:25, Romans 2:11, and Romans 3:22) We are all sinners; we all deserve hell. Thanks be to God that He does not give us what we deserve if we are covered in the righteous blood of His Son. Read John 3:16 afresh today in light of what we’ve studied. Actually, go ahead and read John 3:16-21. Respond to the Lord now:

Week 11 ~ Day 5 “Philemon”Please handwrite Colossians 4:1I’ve been hoping to incorporate Philemon into our study somehow, because if you remember from week 1, it’s his own home to which this letter was sent to the Church in Colossae. This personal letter to Philemon was written and sent with the Colossian’s letter at the same time. Please read Philemon now.

I want to address Paul’s desire to be a peacemaker between Philemon (the master) and Onesimus (the bondservant). What do we learn about Philemon in verses 4-7?

What people-skills can you & I learn from Paul in verses 8-16? How does he appeal to Philemon?

Paul’s leadership, here, is winsome and forthright. He appeals kindly and firmly to a man he knows has invested time/money into a bondservant (Onesimus) who likely ran away and met Paul in prison. Yet, Paul is willing to lay himself on the line for Onesimus as his brother in Christ. How does Paul also expect Philemon to receive Onesimus according to vv.16-17?

Revisit Colossians 3:11…there is no longer slave or free…but Christ is all in all. If you were in Philemon’s position, would you be moved to show grace to Onesimus having received Paul’s letter?