Colossians 1:1-14 (NLT)
1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of
Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. 2 It is written to
God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and
sisters in Christ. May God our Father give you grace and peace. 3 We
always pray for you, and we give thanks to God the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, 4 for we have heard that you trust in Christ
Jesus and that you love all of God’s people. 5 You do this
because you are looking forward to the joys of heaven—as you have been
ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. 6 This
same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is
changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day
you heard and understood the truth about God’s great kindness to
sinners. 7 Epaphras, our much loved co-worker, was the one who
brought you the Good News. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is
helping us in your place. 8 He is the one who told us about the
great love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you. 9 So
we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We
ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in
your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. 10
Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you
will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will
learn to know God better and better. 11 We also pray that you
will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the
patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always
thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that
belongs to God’s holy people, who live in the light. 13 For
he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and
he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. 14 God has
purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins.
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Paul was
encouraged when he heard about their faith in Jesus. [v3-6]
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Think about how
hearing about other people believing in God encourages you.
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Think about how
you might encourage other Christians by making it known that you believe.
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Paul and his
friends prayed for them
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Think about the
Apostle’s prayer—what does he pray for in others? How different is it
from your own prayers?
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Think about your
friends—use the content of Paul's prayer to pray for your friends.
·
They would have
full understanding of Christ. [v9]
·
The way that they
live would always honour and please the LORD. [v10]
·
They will have his
power to keep on believing. [v11]
·
That they will
have joyful and thankful hearts. [v11,12]
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Paul reminds them
of what God has done [v13-14]
Go to Day Two
