Intro & ch1:1-12

 Paul writing from prison in Rome AD62  Colossae situated in Lycus Valley, 100 miles from Ephesus, modern day Turkey  City of Colossae in economic and social decline after a series of earthquakes  Losing commercial influence to neighbouring Laodicea and Hieropolis  Sister church at Laodicea

Lightfoot quote: “Without doubt, Colossae was the least important church to which any epistle of St Paul is addressed…”

 Church plant about 10 years old, not planted by Paul personally (Col 2:1), but as a result of his evangelism in Ephesus  Church was under Paul’s apostolic ministry  Led by Epaphras, a fellow prisoner of Paul at the time of the letter (Col 1:7; 4:10-12)  Church was a mixture of Gentile and Jewish converts (2:13; 2:16)

 Although he had probably never visited Colossae, Paul has a great love, care and concern for the believers there  The “Colossian Heresy” (Col 2:4, 8)

1. WISDOM / KNOWLEDGE / UNDERSTANDING / MIND Col 1:9, 1:21, 1:28, 2:2, 2:3, 2:8, 2:18, 2:23, 3:2, 3:16, 4:5 2. ALL / EVERYTHING / COMPLETE / FULLNESS Col 1:6, 1:9, 1:10, 1:11, 1:14, 1:15, 1:16, 1:17, 1:18, 1:19, 1:20, 1:23, 1:24, 1:25, 1:28, 2:1, 2:2, 2:3 2:9, 2:10, 2:13, 2:22, 2:23, 3:8, 3:14, 3:16, 3:17, 3:22, 4:12, 4:17 3. HEAVEN & EARTH / VISIBLE & INVISIBLE / CREATION / WORLD Col 1:5, 1:13, 1:15, 1:16, 1:20, 1:23, 2:10, 2:15, 2:18, 2:20, 3:2, 4:1

4. HEAD & BODY Col 1:18, 1:22, 1:24, 2:5, 2:9, 2:10, 2:11, 2:17, 2:19, 2:23, 3:5, 3:15 5. FLESH Col 1:20, 1:22, 1:24, 2:1, 2:11, 2:18, 2:23, 3:12, 3:14, 3:22 6. DEATH / LIFE / RESURRECTION Col 1:18, 1:22, 2:12, 2:13, 2:20, 3:1, 3:3, 3:4, 3:5 7. MAN / OLD MAN / NEW MAN Col 1:28, 2:8, 2:22, 3:9, 3:10, 3:23 8. PUT ON / TAKE OFF (CLOTHING) Col 1:5, 1:11, 1:23, 1:27, 3:4

9. GLORY / HOPE Col 1:5, 1:11, 1:23, 1:27, 3:4 10. RICHES / WEALTH / TREASURE Col 1:27, 2:2, 2:3, 3: MYSTERY / HIDDEN Col 1:12, 1:13, 1:26, 1:27, 2:2, 2:3, 3:3, 3:4 12. IMAGE Col 1:15, 3:10

 What is God like?  What should the church look like?  How did we get here?  What should we do now?

 What is God like? ◦ Trinitarian: Father, Son, Spirit  What should the church look like? ◦ Characterized by Faith, Hope & Love v4-5  How did we get here? ◦ Heard the Truth of the Gospel of Grace v5-6  What should we do now? ◦ Send out more workers with the gospel message! v7-8

“Be filled!” “Walk!”

 Feeling worthy  Pleasing God  Bearing fruit  Doing good works  Growing in knowledge  Being strong in His power  Learning steadfastness and patience  Being joyful and thankful