March 7 - 13
PULPIT DRIVEN DISCIPLESHIP
Carrying Discipleship Home and Beyond

On Sunday mornings, through Colossians, our Church Family will be spending the next few months thinking through the reality that Jesus Christ is “Above ALL!”

Well, what does that mean for us on Monday, or Tuesday, or the rest of the week?

Plan time each day this week individually or with your small group of beloveds (whoever and wherever they may be) to spend time thinking about what the "Big Idea" preached means.
PERSEVERING IN
THE GOSPEL
Colossians 2:8-10
Daily Study
  • Pray: Ask the Lord to reveal His intention for the text
  • Read the passage
  • Think about Pastor Bill's "Big Idea"
  • Who would God have you share this study this week?
  • Reach out to others to discuss this together
Colossians 2:8-10(ESV)
 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
Big Idea:
Nothing secures the believer from the illusion and enslavement of "something more" like the faith embrace of fullness in Jesus Christ.



The Sermon Outline
  1. The Fullness of Jesus Christ
  2. Our Fullness in Jesus Christ
  3. A Life Fueled by Fullness
DISCUSS
  1. What does it mean that the whole fullness of deity dwells in Jesus Christ?
  2. Why does Paul include the word “bodily” when speaking of Jesus’ fullness?
  3. How does a believer share in the fullness of Jesus Christ?
  4. What would it look like today to be taken captive by “philosophy” or “empty deceit”?
  5. How does this passage lead you to praise God?
  6. How does this passage lead you to repentance?
  7. How does this passage lead you to live differently?
Adapting Discussion Questions

The questions above are designed to be general for many age groups and believers in various parts of their walk with Christ. Here are some ideas of ways to adapt these questions to make them applicable to the group God is calling you to learn with.
YOUNG CHILDREN
  • Verse 8 speaks of being careful not to be made “captive” by false teachings. Other translations render that word as “control” or “captivate”. Talk with your children about being on guard or watching out for something. If they know about the game Capture the Flag, then use that to talk about guarding ourselves against false teachings.
  • Paul compares the Biblical teaching centered on Christ with “human tradition”. Therefore, talk about the importance of the source of our teaching (Bible) and the focus of our teaching (Jesus).
  • Verse 9 speaks of the divinity of Jesus. Ask your children about how they would describe God. Then take time to talk about the sufficiency of Jesus since He is God. Make sure to then talk about how we don’t need to add anything to our faith in Christ. This is good time to remind them of the theme of Colossians that Jesus is Above All. He is the greatest hero.
  • We read in verse 10 that we are “filled in him”. Let your children fill up a cup with water. Then talk about how Christians are filled with Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit and therefore we have His power in us. Refer to Colossians 1:27 to reinforce this truth.
  • Paul is comparing the fullness we have in Christ with the emptiness of the false teaching and “human tradition”. Show your children an empty cup and compare it to the one they filled with water as a visual teaching about Paul’s comparison.
For further study, read and discuss
John 10:1-18 with a focus on John 10:10.
STUDENTS
  1. What can we be taken captive by? (2:8)
  2. What type of “tradition” does Paul have in mind? (2:8)
  3. In what way can we be taken captive(“according to” what)?
  4. Today, what ideas lead people astray?
  5. What false beliefs or religious traps do you find yourself falling into?
  6. What does it mean for the “fullness of deity” to dwell in Christ’s body? (2:9)
  7. What is the significance of what God has accomplished in His Son?
NON-BELEIVERS OR NEW BELEIVERS
  • In verse 8, Paul essentially says “see to it that no one snatches you as a prey to lock you up through a belief system, or any idol, that promises much but gives nothing.” Have you ever put all your hope in something only to find that it disappointed you?
  • An idol is anything more important to you than God, that promises security, significance, safety, or fulfillment. It could be a person, an ideology, or money, sex, and power. Do you have any idols in your life?
  • How do you spot an idol in your heart? One author provides the following clues: What do you most care about having, increasing, or keeping? What do you most fear losing? What do you think about, pray about, or daydream the most about? Is there anything that is so central to your life that if you lost it your life would feel hardly worth living?
  • There is only one true God. And verse 9 says that Christ is God. He was not just a man who taught about God or gave good moral lessons. The Bible claims that while Jesus was fully man, he was also fully God. Even the name “Christ” means “King.” Have you considered putting your trust in him and submitting to him as your only God and King?
  • Verse 10 says that as Christians we have been given fullness in Christ. Where as idols can never satisfy us and always leave us empty, God intends to flood your life with his own power and richness through Christ by his Spirit. Do you know this fullness? Would you like to experience all that God has in store for you?