Series Summary:

Fear not! Grace and peace to you! Jesus is the MESSIAH! For everything was created by MESSIAH, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through MESSIAH and for MESSIAH. MESSIAH is before all things, and by MESSIAH all things hold together. MESSIAH is also the head of the body, the church. So, speak of the MESSIAH! #colossians #2024

Starter

What is one of you favorite family traditions around this time of year?

Pray

Father, we are asking that we may be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, ****so that we may walk worthy of You, fully pleasing to You, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of You. ****May we be strengthened with all power, according to Your glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy ****giving thanks to the You who has enabled us to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. You has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son You love. We have redemption the forgiveness of sins because He is Messiah. May we learn to better walk in Messiah. Amen

Study Questions

Messiah is an anglicization of the Latin Messias, which is borrowed from the Greek Μεσσιας, an adaptation of the Aramaic meshiḥa (מְשִׁיחָא), a translation of the Hebrew mashiaḥ (מָשִׁיחַ), "the Anointed One”.

Christ derives from the Greek word χριστός (chrīstós), meaning literally "anointed one". The word is derived from the Greek verb χρίω (chrī́ō), meaning literally "to anoint." In the Greek Septuagint, χριστός was a semantic loan used to translate the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (Mašhíaḥ, messiah).

“Changing the language of a word does not affect the meaning of the word. We call a bound and covered set of pages a “book.” In German, it becomes a buch. In Spanish, it is a libro; in French, a livre. The language changes, but the object itself does not.  In the same way, we can refer to Jesus as “Jesus,” “Yeshua,” or “YehSou” (Cantonese) without changing His nature. In any language, His name means “The Lord Is Salvation.”” www.gotquestions.org

The Lord Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus the Lord, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Christ, or Lord to the Hebrew, Christian, and even the worldly (Roman) understanding would have been understood to mean the guy who He and/or his followers think He is, God, the promised Messiah, the anointed one, who was named Yahweh saves (Jesus=Yeshua) who called himself Yahweh (I am-John 8:58).

READ: Colossians 1:1-2, Luke 1:28-32

Messiah (Christ) is referenced 7 times in chapter 2 -understanding in Messiah 2:2 -faith in Messiah 2:5 -walk in Messiah 2:6 -based on Messiah 2:8 -circumcision of Messiah 2:11 -substance is Messiah 2:17 -died with Messiah 2:20

  1. Who is writing this Colossians letter?
    1. Who is it to?
    2. What are the recipients of the letter called? Why?
  2. Luke 1 says Mary was “favored”. Would you feel favored if you were asked to walk in this knowing the consequences of it would turn your life plans and expectations upside down? Why?
  3. What does Luke 1:28-32 tell us about the Messiah?

READ: Colossians 2:1-10

  1. Paul is writing this letter from prison.
    1. In the midst of that reality, what is Paul’s major concern?
    2. Would that be your major concern?
    3. This was always Paul’s concern in his ministry and letters. Is this your concern for people right now? Why/Why not?
  2. What are the most obvious things today that reveal people who say they are believers really do not believe “All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.”?
  3. Fill in the blank- Paul says he is saying this “so that ______________________.”
    1. Are we willing to say things to other believers so that they will not be deceived with persuasive arguments? Why/Why not?
  4. 2:6 We first have to ask ourselves and others whether we have received the Messiah. Next, we have to ask ourlseves and others whether walk in Messiah.
    1. Why is the second question of walking in Messiah a subject we don’t like to approach in the modern church with the boldness of Paul?
  5. What list are we given in 2:7 to help us know if we walk in Messiah?