Embracing God's Grace: Colossians/Philemon
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About this ebook
As the latest book in bestselling author Elizabeth George's popular A Woman After God's Own Heart® Bible study series (550,000 copies sold!), Embracing God's Grace focuses on Colossians and Philemon, helping readers strengthen their faith by discovering more about God and His principles.
Working through 25 lessons, readers will better understand who Christ is and who they are in Him. They'll be encouraged to embrace His life in all its fullness and...
- put away their sin natures
- develop compassion, kindness, peace, and other fruit of the Spirit
- draw on Paul's dedication and zeal to live fully for Christ
- employ the keys to recognizing and avoiding false teachings
- know and accept the amazing grace and forgiveness God offers
This uplifting and stimulating study helps readers know more about their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and how they can live and share His love, wisdom, and teachings.
Elizabeth George
Elizabeth George is the New York Times bestselling author of sixteen novels of psychological suspense, one book of nonfiction, and two short story collections. Her work has been honored with the Anthony and Agatha awards, the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, and the MIMI, Germany's prestigious prize for suspense fiction. She lives in Washington State.
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Embracing God's Grace - Elizabeth George
Publishers
Before You Begin
In my book A Woman After God’s Own Heart®, I describe such a woman as one who ensures that God is first in her heart and the Ultimate Priority of her life. Then I share that one crucial way this desire can become reality is by nurturing a heart that abides in God’s Word. To do so means that you and I must develop a root system anchored deep in God’s Word.
Before you launch into this Bible study, take a moment to think about these aspects of a root system produced by the regular, faithful study of God’s Word:
• Roots are unseen—You’ll want to set aside time in solitude—underground
if you will—to immerse yourself in God’s Word and grow in Him.
• Roots are for taking in—Alone and with your Bible in hand, you’ll want to take in and feed upon the truths of the Word of God and ensure your spiritual growth.
• Roots are for storage—As you form the habit of looking into God’s Word, you’ll find a vast, deep reservoir of divine hope and strength forming for the rough times.
• Roots are for support—Do you want to stand strong in the Lord? To stand firm against the pressures of life? The routine care of your roots through exposure to God’s Word will cultivate you into a remarkable woman of endurance.*
I’m glad you’ve chosen this study out of my A Woman After God’s Own Heart® Bible study series. My prayer for you is that the truths you find in God’s Word through this study will further transform your life into the image of His dear Son and empower you to be the woman you seek to be: a woman after God’s own heart.
In His love,
* Taken from Elizabeth George, A Woman After God’s Own Heart (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2006), pp. 31-36.
Whether you lived 2000 years ago or you’re alive today, God’s message is the same—His grace is total and complete. Nothing needs to be added. As you study verse by verse through Colossians and Philemon you’ll realize the sufficiency of Christ more deeply as you discover…
• God’s grace offered through the ministry of others
• God’s grace manifested in the life and ministry of Christ
• God’s grace exhibited in a Christian home
• God’s grace shown in the workplace
• God’s grace witnessed in the forgiveness of others
This uplifting study will give you a more thorough understanding of the person and work of Jesus Christ. You’ll be encouraged as you see firsthand how His life is lived out in practical and exciting ways through ordinary people.
Lesson 1
Greeting the Brethren
Colossians 1:1-2
When you’re a published author, it’s assumed that you know something about writing. That’s one reason I’m often asked to read, give suggestions for, and endorse book manuscripts. However, because of my packed schedule and limited time, I have to graciously decline. But on occasion, if I personally know the author of a book, I will agree to write an endorsement of the person and their ministry. This endorsement lets people know what I admire and appreciate about the author of the work.
As we begin our study of the New Testament epistle of Colossians, that’s exactly what the great apostle Paul is doing. He’s writing his endorsement of a group of believers—a church body—he’s never met, yet whose spiritual qualities he’s heard a great deal about. In addition, Paul is sending an endorsement to the church of the very man who has brought him a glowing report of the growing and dynamic Christians in Colosse. But as Paul’s letter progresses, he also voices concerns for their continued spiritual growth.
Let’s now look at what Paul, a powerful encourager, has to say about embracing God’s grace.
Colossians 1:1-2
¹ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
² To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Out of God’s Word…
1. Paul—How does Paul describe himself in verse 1?
Using an English dictionary, define an apostle.
How does Paul say he became an apostle?
What additional information do these scriptures tell you about Paul?
Romans 1:1—
Galatians 1:1—
What else do you learn about Paul’s situation in Colossians 4:3?
2. Paul’s companion—What other person is mentioned in this greeting to the Colossians (verse 1)?
What do we know about him from these verses?
Acts 16:1-3—
Philippians 2:19-22—
2 Timothy 1:5—
2 Timothy 3:15—
3. Paul’s readers—How does Paul describe those who will read his letter (verse 2)?
Where are his readers located?
The city of Colosse was 100 miles east of Ephesus on the Lycus River and included what was known as the Asian region.
Colosse was not as influential as the nearby city of Laodicea, but as a trading center and crossroads, it exerted an impact on religious thinking and philosophy.
What do you learn about Paul’s ministry in Ephesus as he speaks to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:31?
How widely did the message spread beyond Ephesus according to Acts 19:10?
4. Paul’s greeting—What two greetings does Paul offer to his readers in verse 2?
—
—
What is the source of these blessings (verse 2)?
…and into Your Heart
• Your role as a mentor/discipler—Paul’s mention of Timothy brings to mind the issue of mentoring or discipleship. More than 10 years have passed since Paul first asked young Timothy to join his missionary team. Timothy has been nurtured and trained to the point he is now a seasoned missionary. So much so that he is capable of passing on to others what he learned from Paul so they too can grow spiritually. Titus 2:3-5 describes the role older women
are to play in this mentoring and training process. Who does God say your students are (verse 4)?
What are you to teach them (verses 4-5)?
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
What does Paul say you should do to prepare yourself for fulfilling this role (verse 3)?
How important is it to mentor and disciple young women?
What part can you play in training up the next generation of godly women?
Can you think of any areas in which you need preparation so you can teach others?
• Your position and practice—Paul referred to the Colossian Christians as saints
or set apart ones.
You, along with them, are not a saint because of any merit of your own. You are a saint because you have been set apart by God’s great grace to devote yourself to a holy and pure way of life. This is your fixed spiritual position in Christ.
But how are you doing when it comes to living in the real world of practical everyday life? What qualities in your life and actions would cause you and others to describe you as faithful
? List a few here, then any areas that need improvement. Make it your goal to leave no room for doubt about your faithfulness to Christ.
• Your blessings—Paul offers two blessings to the Colossians in his greeting. Both have as their source God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace
means God’s unmerited favor. And peace
is what Jesus established between believers and the Father through His death on the cross. With God as your Father, you now have peace from God
and the peace
of God. Read Ephesians 2:8 and comment on God’s grace in your life.
Heart Response
Paul had a deep love for Jesus Christ, and that love spilled out of his heart and into the letters of love and concern he wrote to the people in various churches, including the church at Colosse. His heart was always burdened for churches everywhere. He was devoted to encouraging and correcting believers regarding anything that was happening to them