Adult Sunday School Lesson for February 24, 2013

       "Spiritual Disciplines for New Life”

International/Uniform Sunday School Lesson for February 24, 2013

Scripture Text: Colossians 4: 2-6

Purpose: To celebrate how spiritual disciplines sustain and strengthen our new life in Christ

Colossians 4: 2-6 (CEB)

2Keep on praying and guard your prayers with thanksgiving. 3At the same time, pray for us also. Pray that God would open a door for the word so we can preach the secret plan of Christ—which is why I’m in chains. 4Pray that I might be able to make it as clear as I ought to when I preach. 5Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6Your speech should always be gracious and sprinkled with insight so that you may know how to respond to every person.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

This lesson concludes our study of Paul's letter to the church at Colossae. Colossae seems to be part of a three church circuit, consisting of Colossae,  Laodicea and Hierapolis, all of which are mentioned in Paul's close to this letter. The church at Colossae met in the home of Philemon, the slave owner that Paul address in another letter of the New Testament, called Philemon.

Paul's concluding thoughts make up this lesson, continue to pray, always pray with thanksgiving, pray that doors will be opened, and (every ministers prayer), pray that they will understand me and heed my words.

In addition to Paul's thoughts on prayer he also address how the congregation at Colossae can best spread the good news of the Gospel. Be kind to outsiders, and always be careful when you talk to them, that your speech is gracious, and discerning. Paul realizes that the way we are perceived by others is important for the Church to grow. Paul encourages us to be involved with those outside the church, that are experiencing problems.

Being a follower of Christ should cause a change in the way we respond to others. It should also cause a change in our priorities. Paul addressed those in our previous lesson in chapter 3, when he says, “5 So put to death the parts of your life that belong to the earth, such as sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6The wrath of God is coming upon disobedient people because of these things. 7You used to live this way, when you were alive to these things. 8But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language. 9Don’t lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices 10and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it. 11In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people.

I would suggest you now go back and read this letter to the Colossian, in one setting. (4 chapters) I think you will have a better understanding of this letter and of our responsibilities as Christians.