Colossians: Rooted in Christ - Week 4 – The uniqueness of Christ
Study: Juan Carosio
Reading: Colossians 1:15-23
Sermon date: 30 September 

Icebreaker

Discuss within your housegroup what “unique” means.
Definition:  existing as the only one or as the sole example; single; solitary in type or characteristics: a unique copy of an ancient manuscript. Having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable: Bach was unique in his handling of counterpoint.

Discuss: How do you think people see Jesus nowadays? Do you think he is seen as another “nice person” along with other historical characters? How do you see him?
 

Study

Background: the Colossians were mostly gentiles, but like the Galatians they were being pressured to follow the Jewish law and were adding extra rules and false teachings to the faith. Some of them were priding themselves on having visions and getting secret spiritual knowledge, So Paul writes this letter to tell them: “when you’ve got Jesus the Messiah, you’ve got it all”
Todays passage aims at putting Christ in the right place and that is at the centre (first and foremost) of our faith.

Intro: todays passage can be divided into two distinct sections, The first section talks about the supremacy of Christ (v15 – v19) and the second is about the effects that Christ’s ministry have on us (v20-v23) 

Please read Colossians 1 v 15-19
 
Q1 - Have you ever thought about the notion of Christ taking an active part in creation? 
 
Q2 – Do you see Christ as the Head of the Church? (v17-18)
 
Please look at v 15 again and read Hebrews 1 v3-4
 
Q3 - How do these passages relate? 
 
The basic message is that Jesus is “exactly” God. If you see Jesus, then you see God. ” 

Please read verses 20-23

Q4 - Passage talks about being enemies of God because of our evil behaviour (v21) Can you give some examples of how this happens in todays society? Is there really anything new or things that haven’t happened before?

Q5 - Do we see ourselves as “participants” in the ministry of reconciliation talked about in V20-22 or are we merely “spectators”? 
 
Q6 - Discuss ways in which you think your faith might become more established ?  Or share with the group some significant event in your life that has helped to establish your faith(v23)
 

Action: 

 
Spend some minutes in prayer asking God to reveal himself to the group and the understand the uniqueness of Christ and the implications this should have for our life.