Unit 2 LESSON 11

November 9, 2025

Study Text: Colossians 1:1through 2:3

Central Truth: Jesus is supreme over all things and deserves our complete devotion.

     KEY VERSE--Colossians 1:18 He [Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (KJV).

Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything (NLT).

LET'S GET STARTED

For the next three weeks, we'll be looking at the Book of Colossians.  Like Paul's letter to the Philippians, this letter to the Colossians was also written from prison. In Colossians, Paul was confronting dangerous teachings that could have led believers away from the true gospel. The main theme of his letter is the lordship of Jesus. Paul affirmed that Jesus is supreme over all things and deserves every believer's complete devotion.

Discussion Starter--Letter from Prison

Imagine you were in prison for your faith and had the opportunity to write a letter to other believers--maybe even to your home church. What would you include in your letter?

In Colossians, Paul was confronting dangerous teachings that could have led believers away from the true gospel. The main theme of his letter is the lordship of Jesus. Paul affirmed that Jesus is supreme over all things and deserves every believer's complete devotion.

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PART 1- Creator of ALL Things

Redeemed by Jesus             Colossians 1:1-2, 11-14

Paul had never met the Colossian believers personally (Colossians 2:1), but their leader, Epaphras, visited him in Rome and reported on their spiritual progress (4:12--13). Paul did not hesitate to commend their faith and their genuine love for other believers (1:1-2). He prayed the Colossians would be filled with God's strength so they would have "all the endurance and patience" they needed (verse11). God had done so much for the Colossians that Paul expected them to be filled with joy. through Jesus, they had been rescued from darkness and ushered into the light of Jesus' kingdom (verse 12-13).  So have we! Paul explained that Jesus "purchased our freedom" (verse 14). He redeemed us, buying us back from the sin that had enslaved us.

DISCUSS? Do you naturally focus more on knowledge (learning about God) or experience (being in God's presence)? How can you make sure you keep those two things in balance?

Created and sustained by Jesus                   Colossians 1:15-17

Paul's main purpose in Colossians is to explain who Jesus is. A heresy called Gnosticism had apparently crept into the church in Colossae. One false teaching Gnostic teachers spead was that physical matter (including the human body) was inherently evil, so God would never have interacted with the material world--let alone become a human himself. Paul continued to refute the errors in the Colossian church by explaining that through Jesus, which means that someday all opposing forces will be under His feet and He will be acknowledge as  King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Corinthians 15:25; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 19:16). Not only was Jesus active in creation, but He "Holds all creation together" (Colossians 1:17). He is the reason everything exists and continues to exist. when we recognize Jesus' supremacy, the natural result is to trust Him completely as the Lord of our lives.

 Discuss?  How does it make you feel to know you were created by Jesus and for Jesus?

Part 2-- Head of the Church

                         Reconciled to God through Jesus           Colossians 1:18-20                   

Paul's declarations about Jesus in this passage are echoed throughout Scripture: (1) Paul describes Jesus as "the beginning" (Colossians 1:18). According to Revelation 21:6, Jesus himself will declare one day: "I am the Alpha and the Omega--the Beginning and the End." (2). Paul explains that since Jesus was the first to be raised to a glorified body, He is 'supreme over all who rise from the dead" (Colossians 1:18). Jesus is supreme because "God in all his fullness" lives in Him (Colossians 1:19). Full of divine identity and authority, Jesus is the only qualified agent of reconciliation. The Father reconciles all things to himself through Jesus (verse 20). Reconciliation was achieved by Jesus' death on the cross and bodily resurrection from the dead. while God made the first move, sending Jesus to redeem and reconcile us, we are responsible for accepting God's gift. Only by repenting and surrendering our lives to Jesus can we experience a restored relationship with God.

DISCUSS? How would you describe to an unbeliever what it feels like to be at peace.

Brought into God's Presence                  Colossians 1:24-27

The reason people are lost is because they are alienated from God (Colossians 1:21). But mercifully "our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son' (Romans 5:10). The purpose of Jesus' reconciling work is to make people holy and blameless and then usher them into God's presence (Colossians 1:22). The ongoing nature of Jesus' reconciling work is evident as believers "continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it" (verse 23). We must continue to live in obedience to God, not allowing ourselves to "drift away from the assurance [we] received when [we] heard the Good News. when we understand who Jesus is and all he has done for us, we will not allow any false teaching or ungodly lifestyle to separate us from Him again.

Discuss? What are some ways people might drift away from the truth of the gospel?

      Part 3- Our Hope of Glory

        Jesus Lives in You     Colossians 1:24-27

When he described his suffering as "participating in the sufferings of Christ" (Colossians 1:24), Paul was not implying anything was lacking in the atonement Jesus provided. Instead, he was likely referring to suffering for the sake of the body of Christ, the Church. Paul rejoiced that his sufferings might cause the Church to be more firmly established and continue to expand. Paul saw his ministry as a God-given "responsibility" (verse 25). Paul explained that, from creation until Jesus' time on earth, the gospel had been a "secret" foreshadowed in the Old Testament, but not fully apparent. Then Jesus came and the amazing mystery was revealed: "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Sharing that glory includes spending eternity in God's presence, but it is more than that. Even now, Jesus lives in us. This is the very essence of salvation. It is the vital, life-sharing union that ensures we will one day share Jesus' eternal glory. And it begins here and now.

Discuss? How does it make you feel to know the mystery of the ages has been revealed to you and now lives in you?

Tell Others about Jesus                Colossians 1:28-29

Paul's goal was to evangelize and disciple as many people as possible, so one day they could be presented to God as mature followers of Jesus (Colossians 1:28). To reach that goal, Paul worked hard and depended on God's power to work through him. Every Christian has the responsibility and privilege of telling others the good news of Jesus. We are all members of the body of Christ, gifted by God and placed just where He wants us (1 Corinthians 12:18-31). May each of us operate obediently in that place so as many people as possible can have the opportunity to believe in and follow Jesus

DISCUSS? Why must we depend on Jesus' mighty power working within us as we do the work of God?

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US? 

Is it possible we sometimes take for granted all we have received through Jesus? Think about all Jesus has done: He created and sustains all things. His resurrection assures ours. He has reconciled us to God. He presents us to God, holy and blameless. He energizes us for service. Jesus deserves our complete devotion.

LIVING IT OUT

Set aside time to worship Jesus as Lord of lords, the One who reigns supreme over everything. Thank Him for the miraculous mystery that He lives in you.

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               DAILY BIBLE READING

                           Monday: Jesus' Birth and reign Foretold. Isaiah 9:2-7   

         Tuesday: Jesus Is the Light. Isaiah 49:1-7

                      Wednesday: The Suffering Savior. Isaiah 53:1-12

                        Thursday: Jesus Reveals the Father. John 1:14-18

     Friday: Jesus Above All. Hebrews 1:1-12

                Saturday: The Worthy Lamb. Revelation 5:6-14

Gospel Publishing House. 1445 N. Boonville Ave. Springfield, Missouri 65802 Volume 107 Number 1. Sep. Oct. Nov 2025