Rooted in Hope

MAIN POINT: If we know Christ we have an incredible hope for future glory. When we root ourselves in this hope, instead of hoping in our own abilities, we are able to withstand the storms of this world.

ICE BREAKER: What was the last thing you really looked forward to? What was the anticipation like, waiting for it to happen?

INTRODUCTION: A funny thing tends to happen when someone has known Christ for a long time: they can forget what they were like before. In some ways this is an incredible blessing. What great freedom there is in Christ, that we don’t have to be broken and hurting anymore! Yet in other ways this can lead us to a devastating place. When we forget who we were before Christ, we have a tendency to believe we no longer need him. While we acknowledge that Jesus made us a new creation we begin to believe it is up to us to produce fruit apart from the power of God. This mindset had begun to creep into the Colossian church and is prevalent in churches today. We hope in Christ for our salvation, but begin to hope in our own abilities to be made holy. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth – we are set apart for God’s purposes only when we root ourselves in the hope of Christ.

ENCOUNTERING GOD THROUGH BIBLE STUDY Have someone read Colossians 1:21-29. 1. What does Paul say the Colossians were like before they knew Jesus? How were they alienated and hostile? 2. Why was Jesus’ body of flesh necessary to reconcile the Colossians to himself? 3. What does Paul explain in v.22 is the result of this reconciliation? How can we be presented as holy and blameless when we still “step into stupid”?

Rooted in Hope

4. What does Paul mean in v.23 when he says, “if you continue in the faith”? Does Paul doubt their faith and the ability of Christ to sustain it? 5. How does focusing on the hope of the gospel make it easier to remain steadfast? What difficult situation have you experienced that the hope of Christ sustained you through? 6. Who does Paul explain that he is suffering for? In what ways did Paul suffer as a missionary of the gospel? 7. How could Paul fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions? Does Paul mean that Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t sufficient? 8. How can Paul rejoice in suffering? Have you ever wanted someone to understand the hope of Christ so badly that you would do just about anything for him or her to get it? 9. What does Paul explain is the goal of his ministry in v.28? By what power and energy is Paul able to do this in the midst of such persecution and suffering? Why are we so tempted to try and do this by our own power and ability? 10. Who are you willing to restrict your freedom, and even suffer for, that you might present them mature in Christ? How can you begin to do that this week?

Rooted in Hope

Leader Notes: Don’t feel the need to ask every question. Pick out the questions which will fit your group best and ask those – you know your group better than we do! 1. What does Paul say the Colossians were like before they knew Jesus? How were they alienated and hostile? The Colossians were alienated from God, hostile toward God, and as a result doing sinful or evil things. Before Christ the idea of a God who loves us and desires a personal relationship is totally foreign to us. There is no way to really understand the power of sin to separate us from God until we have a relationship with Him. The reality of sin is that our entire beings are affected, making us hostile to the very idea of a perfect God who loves us. While we may understand God as a concept, the idea that we can’t fix ourselves, but need only to rely on His grace is offense. 2. Why was Jesus’ body of flesh necessary to reconcile the Colossians to himself? Scripture is clear that the cost of sin is death (Romans 6:23). This penalty of sin had to be paid for in order for God to be a just God. Paul explains further this reality in Colossians 2:11-12, explaining that when we come into a relationship with Christ our flesh is buried with Christ and we are raised with him from the dead. If Jesus did not die a physical death, then our flesh hasn’t been crucified with him. Because Jesus came in the flesh, his death can become our death, and more importantly his life can become our life (Romans 6:5-11). 3. What does Paul explain in v.22 is the result of this reconciliation? How can we be presented as holy and blameless when we still “step into stupid”? This language of holy and blameless is the same language used in Leviticus to describe the animals brought for sacrifice to God. Because of Christ’s death for us on the cross, we are presented to God not with our own righteousness, but with the blameless and holy righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Rooted in Hope

4. What does Paul mean in v.23 when he says, “if you continue in the faith”? Does Paul doubt their faith and the ability of Christ to sustain it? The Greek phrase here is in the indicative mood, which communicates that Paul fully expects the Colossians to continue on. The literary device used is similar to a rhetorical question today, the answer is obvious: if you continue in the faith, which of course you will. This does not downplay the significance of remaining steadfast in our faith throughout our lives (Matthew 10:22). However we understand this endurance is evidence that Christ is alive in us and is sustaining us until his return. 6. Who does Paul explain that he is suffering for? In what ways did Paul suffer as a missionary of the gospel? Paul explains that his suffering is for the body of Christ, the church. Paul suffered a great deal in order that the gospel would be proclaimed among the gentiles as he explains in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28. 7. How could Paul fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions? Does Paul mean that Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t sufficient? Clearly, he does not mean that something was lacking in the atoning work of Jesus; that the suffering of the cross was not sufficient to settle the question of sin (Hebrews 9:11-15). What was “lacking” in Christ’s afflictions was the suffering of all who restrict their rights so that others can clearly see Christ in their lives. Paul isn’t talking about providing salvation for the Colossians, but edification. Had Paul not suffered as a missionary of the gospel, the Colossians would not have heard of the mystery hidden for ages, that there is hope in Christ for all. 9. What does Paul explain is the goal of his ministry in v.28? By what power and energy is Paul able to do this in the midst of such persecution and suffering? Why are we so tempted to try and do this by our own power and ability? Paul desires to present everyone mature in Christ. If we try and do this by our own ability we only produce self righteous “Christians”. It is only through the power and grace of Christ that we can be made holy, not based on what we do but what Jesus did on the cross.