Book of Colossians – A Thimble-full of Theology for Daily Living

Colossians Commentary with Big Ideas and Preaching/Teaching Notes

Book of Colossians
/ By Randall Johnson

As far as we know, Paul never visited Colosse. We infer this from his comments in this letter that he “heard of their faith” (1:4), that their teacher was Epaphras (1:7), and that he had not seen them

Tying Up Loose Ends – Colossians 4:12-18

Tying up loose ends. That’s what it seems Paul is doing here. The term loose ends refers to the ends of a rope, string, or cable that need to be fastened. Most sources speculate that the term loose

Networking – Colossians 4:7-11

I like what Stephanie Speisman says in her article, 10 Tips for Successful Business Networking. She says, “networking is the linking together of individuals who, through trust and relationship building,

Pray and Talk – Colossians 4:2-6

It was quite popular for awhile to quote St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.” This is a most useful perspective about holiness and its value in evangelism.

Where Holiness Matters Most – Colossians 3:18-4:1

Mark Holmen of Focus on the Family writes about an experience he had co-teaching a seminar for parents called “Nurturing Faith of Teenagers” with Dr. David Anderson. Anderson asked the parents

Not Absence, but Presence – Colossians 3:12-17

How do you know you are no longer a thief? When you quit stealing? Not according to the apostle Paul. It is when you work with your own hands to provide for the needs of others (Ephesians 4:28). This is

Change of Clothes – Colossians 3:5-11

I noticed something strange when I was first converted to Christ at the age of 16. Some sexual temptations I was experiencing vanished. I put away the use of profanity without a blink of the eye. I had

Holy Company – Colossians 3:1-4

Project Life Mastery has this as its main principle: “Surround yourself with people that reflect who you want to be and how you want to feel. Energies are contagious.” In answer to the question, “Do

Elemental Spirits – Colossians 2:20-23

In the Wikipedia article on asceticism it describes it this way: “Asceticism is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals.

Knowledge as Salvation a Heresy – Colossians 2:15-19

In an ancient text, Pistis Sophia, possibly written between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, the risen Jesus had spent eleven years speaking with his disciples, teaching them only the lower mysteries. After

Don’t Abandon This Gospel – Colossians 2:6-15

It is so tempting to abandon or water down the true gospel message of Christ. Human ingenuity always thinks it has a better idea of how to live out God’s plan. Sometimes we get too focused on one

Struggle for the Church – Colossians 2:1-5

Nothing brings me greater joy than to see the church I love recovering from a period of disorder and even a failure of love. No one that I know of wrote an epistle to this church to help it get back on

Keeping the Edge – Colossians 1:24-29

I told someone recently that I felt I had lost my “edge” as a servant of Christ, only to realize once I said it that this implied that my service before was effective because of my edge, because

Hostile in Mind Again? – Colossians 1:21-23

Charles Templeton was an associate of Billy Graham who came to doubt Christianity to the point that he left the Graham ministry and became an atheist. He had preached the same gospel Billy preached but

Firstborn of All Creation – Colossians 1:15-20

In my several conversations with Jehovah’s Witnesses (see here for an example, but be warned, it’s long) it is inevitable that they get to their focus on Jesus not being God, but God’s

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