Personal Study Questions for Colossians 1:3-8

Each week at Pennington Park Church, we provide a Sermon Discussion Guide for Small Groups to use in their time together. Below are some additional questions to study in advance to help you dive deeper in Colossians 1:3-8.

Personal Study Questions

1. Summarize in one sentence the main idea you think Paul is highlighting in 1:1-8.
2. Read Col. 1:3, 12; 2:7; 3:15-17; and 4:2. What are some things you notice about when you should give thanks, to whom you should give thanks, and for what reasons should you give thanks?
3. What do you notice about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in 1:1-8? For example, what actions are they doing, how are they relating to us, and what does it say about them?
4. Paul sees “hope” as a concrete, objective inheritance secured for us in the future. Look up Mt. 25:34; Eph. 1:12-14; Col. 1:12; Heb. 9:15; 1 Peter 1:3-5. What is the nature of our “hope” and “inheritance”? How might that help you endure the hardships of this life?
5. Think about who has been an Epaphras in your life, and who you might be an Epaphras for. Who are people in your life who need to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ or need help in maturing in their faith? How can you pray for them? How can you intentionally love them and seek to share the gospel with them or help them grow as a disciple?
6. To get a picture of how the Church loved one another, research “one another” verses in the Bible. Here are a few places to start: Rom. 12:10; 14:19; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:9, 13, 16; I Thess. 4:18; 5:11; James 5:16. How can you or your family take steps toward serving, loving, caring for, and building up other members in your local church?

Ideas for Response

• Write out your own story (testimony) of how the gospel of grace came to you in such a way that you saw your sin and turned in faith to Christ. A good length is something that could be shared in 3-4 minutes.
• Begin a list of things you’re thankful to God for, including spiritual blessings. Start by writing down three things you want to thank God for.
• Make a list of three to five unbelievers in your life. Begin praying for them by name and ask God to allow you to be an Epaphras who shares the gospel with them (evangelism) and disciples them.
• Write out in 1-2 sentences how you want to apply what you’ve learned this week. Maybe it’s a promise to cling to, a truth to believe, an action to take, or something you want to put off (fight) and put on (practice).