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The Ministry of Hospitality

 Day 2 

Lisa Scheffler, author

Read

Colossians 1:17–18 (NIV)

17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

Study

  • Make a list of what verses 17 and 18 say are true of Christ.
  • What do you think it means that Christ is “the firstborn from among the dead”? Compare your thoughts with the Faithlife Study Bible note for 1:18. (If you haven’t already, you will need to sign up for a free Faithlife account at com to access the Faithlife Study Bible.

Think about

A little bit later in Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we’ll discover that Paul is concerned about harmful philosophies that have crept into the church. Believers in Colossae were turning to beliefs and practices apart from the gospel they’d first received. They were not trusting in the sufficiency of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension.

They didn’t have a big enough view of Christ! In our passage for this week, Paul is directly confronting their empty philosophies by using beautiful and poetic language to exalt the supremacy of Jesus Christ and the sufficiency of what he has done for humanity.

Think about your own view of Christ. Not just what you believe about Jesus, but how you live out your view of Jesus. In what ways can you demonstrate your trust in Jesus as supreme and sufficient? What changes do you need to make to show that you recognize his absolute authority over your life?

Pray

Knowing that Christ has all authority and in him all things hold together gives us tremendous comfort and strength in a world that seems frightening and chaotic. As you bring your worries and concerns before the Lord today, thank him for his supremacy in all things. Praise him for the hope you have that one day he will make all things right and that you will experience resurrection at the end of the age.

Talk about

  • Have each person share a concern they have in life. How can rejoicing in Christ’s supremacy combat anxiety? Commit to praying for one another.

To listen to last week’s message go to cfhome.org/messages

 

 

     

    About the Engage God DailY

    Jesus invites us to know him personally and engage with him daily. Through daily Bible reading and prayer, we can grow in our relationship with him. The Engage God Daily is a daily resource designed to help you better understand the Bible and take you deeper into the concepts taught on Sunday mornings.

    Use this guide to prepare for next Sunday’s teaching. Each day presents a reading, Scripture, and a prayer to help grow in your walk with Christ this week. 

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    Past Studies

    Colossians: Week 2 | Day 5

    Colossians: Week 2 | Day 5

    Day 5  Lisa Sheffler, author Read Colossians 1: 22–23 (NIV) 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and...

    Colossians: Week 2 | Day 4

    Colossians: Week 2 | Day 4

     Day 4  Lisa Scheffler, author Have you checked out the new Pastors Pregame Podcast with Bruce, Jaime, Mark, and Lisa? New episodes every Thursday! It’s available at cfhome.org/pregame or on the Apple podcast app. Read Colossians 1:21–22 (NIV) 21 Once you were...

    Colossians: Week 2 | Day 3

    Colossians: Week 2 | Day 3

      Day 3  Lisa Scheffler, author Read Colossians 1:19–20 (NIV) 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed...