I am currently in a Bible Study book called Cappuccino with Colossians to prepare for leading a women's small group after the holidays. It will be a group of about 4-8 women/mothers and we are focusing on how to raise godly children in an ungodly world. I thought I would begin with a study of Colossians, however, to get to know the women, find out where they are in the Lord and because the book is alot shorter than the one I actually want to complete. I figure we will start out with something fairly easy and move from there!The verses I want to highlight from chapter 1 are 10 -14 which state: "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of lights. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
NOTES: our Biblical knowledge is not just the posssession of facts. Actually, in the Bible, wisdom and knowledge are practical; it is having to do with godly living. (see v. 10-12) Knowledge, wisdom and understanding result in a life worthy of the Lord.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
- What are some dangers of accumulating knowledge without wisdom and understanding?
- What is the source of strengthening for living worthily?
- Do you have joy as you give thanks?
- Are your good deeds motivated by self-glory or God's glory?
5 comments:
You have a terrific blog! I'm not sure how I found you, but I'll be back.
You've asked some excellent questions, and they're especially pertinent to those who love to accumulate knowledge and to teach. I've been thinking in particular about #4 lately. Stepping back from ministry once in awhile helps me to refocus on my own need for Him, and to receive his love. Then I remember to send all the glory where it belongs.
Blessings, e-Mom
Dear e-mom: thanks for your comments. The questions are not ones I came up with though (I WISH I had thought of them!) They are taken from the study I am doing to prepare to lead a woman's group at my church. There are many questions after each chapter but I want to focus on certain ones. Come back soon!
God Bless you!
Faith
Very thought provoking questions! I've wondered about these coffee cup bible studies. They sound wonderful!
Hi Faith,
Yowza! I just finished a study in Colossians too...from the Willow Creek "New Community" six week study series. It was a few weeks ago, on a business trip, I was sitting on the balcony of a hotel room in Lake Placid overlooking Mirror Lake and the fall foliage and reading Col. 1:22, "...He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you holy and blameless..." It was a moment of great encouragement. I'm grateful for study books to bring out the gems like these in the epistles.
Kathy
Hi Kathy: I love those encouraging moments the Lord gives us! And yes, I love study books for those reasons too! It helps me to really understand the Scriptures when I dig into a study. Hey...if ya wanna join my group, it will begin after the holidays, just 2x per month at my place. (an evening thing)
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