Noon Day Bible Study

Mount Bethel Missionary Baptist Church

Bible Study

Facilitator: Dr. Jacques Boyd, Lead Servant 

May 31, 2023

The Sufficient King: Overview of Colossians & Philemon

Introduction

1. Authorship: 

2. Date:

Colossians: New Life in Christ 

3. Purpose  

Attack on the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. 

1. Judaising tendencies deny the ___________________ of Christ’s work (2:16-17)

2. Preoccupation with angelic experiences deny the _______________________ of Christ (2:18-19)

3. Asceticism denies the __________________________ of Christ. (2:20-23)

The life of the Kingdom is a cross-centered life.  

Key verses: 2:6-7

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 

Major Themes

1. The source of their new life
   1. ________________ God
   2. _______________ Christ
   3. Through Christ ________________

2. The purpose of their new life
   1. ________________ God
   2. For others
      1. Family
      2. Colleagues
      3. Everyone
   3. The need to persevere

Application:

What is it in our lives that might replace Christ in terms of how we live the Christian life?

1. Are we always looking to the next spiritual ‘high’

1. 1. The great sermon

1. 2. The answered prayer

1. 3. The new Christian book

All these things are good only as much as they point us back to the gospel and to depend upon Christ.

2. Do we depend upon ourselves or Christ?

1. 1. How different would your day look if you decided that tomorrow you were going to stop trying to live for Jesus in His strength and start living in your strength?

2. 2. When things are going well, do we feel good about ourselves, or feel grateful to the Lord?

Outline

1. Introduction (1:1-14)
2. Christ is sufficient for attaining new life. (1:15-20)
3. Reconciliation of the Colossians to God (1:21-23)
4. The apostle Paul’s labor for the gospel (1:24-2:3)
5. The worldly alternatives, and their dangers (2:4-23)
6. How to out our new life in Christ (3:1-4:6)
7. Personal notes and final greetings (4:7-18)

Philemon: Reconciliation in the Kingdom 

Background

Key verses (8-9) 

Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you.

Major Themes and Message

• Reconciliation through the power of the cross

• Appealing on the basis of love

Conclusion

Outline

1. Paul’s greeting (1-3)
2. Thanksgiving and intercession for Philemon (4-21)
3. Paul’s plea for Onesimus (8-22)
   1. Paul’s return of Onesimus (8-16)
   2. Philemon’s reception of Onesimus (17-22)
4. Final remarks (23-25)