COLOSSIANS BIBLE READING PLAN

READ:  1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.  COLOSSIANS 1:1-8

REFLECT:  Paul begins his letter with greetings and expresses his thankfulness for the faith, love, and hope of the Colossian believers. He acknowledges the fruit of the gospel that is evident in their lives.

PROCESS:

• How does Paul describe the Colossians' faith and love?
• What role does hope play in your spiritual life?

APPLY:  
Reflect on the hope that the Gospel brings. Consider how you can express your faith and love to those around you today.

READ:  9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. COLOSSIANS 1:9-14

REFLECT:  Paul prays for the Colossians to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and to live lives worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit and growing in endurance, patience, and thankfulness.

PROCESS:

• What specific things does Paul pray for the Colossians?
• How can spiritual wisdom help you live a life that pleases God?

APPLY:  
Pray for spiritual wisdom and strength. Identify one area in your life where you need to grow in bearing fruit.

READ:  15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

REFLECT:  Paul provides a beautiful description of Christ’s supremacy over all creation. Jesus is the image of the invisible God, and in Him, all things were created and reconciled through His death on the cross.

PROCESS:

• What does it mean for Christ to be supreme in all things?
• How does understanding Christ’s role as Creator and Redeemer impact your relationship with Him?

APPLY:  
Spend time reflecting on Christ’s supremacy. How can you better align your life with Christ’s lordship, priorities, and purposes for your life?

READ:  21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.  COLOSSIANS 1:21-23

REFLECT:  Once alienated from God, believers have now been reconciled through Christ’s death. Paul urges the Colossians to remain steadfast in their faith and hope.

PROCESS:

• How does reconciliation with God change your perspective on life?
• What does it mean to continue in your faith without shifting from the gospel’s hope?

APPLY:  
Reflect on the reconciliation you’ve experienced in Christ. Are there relationships in your life where you need to seek reconciliation?

READ: 24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.  COLOSSIANS 1:24-29

REFLECT:  Paul describes his joy in suffering for the church and his role in proclaiming the mystery of Christ to the Gentiles, emphasizing that Christ lives in believers.

PROCESS:

• What does it mean for Christ to be in you, the hope of glory?
• How can you serve others with the same dedication Paul demonstrated?

APPLY:  
Consider how you can serve others in your church or community. Pray for opportunities to share Christ’s love with those around you.

1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  COLOSSIANS 2:1-7

REFLECT:  Paul expresses his desire for the Colossians to be encouraged in heart and united in love, finding all wisdom and knowledge in Christ. He reminds them to remain rooted and built up in Christ.

PROCESS:

• How can you remain rooted in Christ in your daily life?
• In what ways can you grow in your faith and knowledge of God?

APPLY:  
Take time to deepen your roots in Christ by spending more intentional time in prayer and Scripture this week.

READ:  8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.  9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.  13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. COLOSSIANS 2:8-15

REFLECT:  Paul warns against false teachings and philosophies that rely on human traditions rather than Christ. He reminds believers that they have been made alive in Christ, forgiven of all sins through His death and resurrection.

PROCESS:

• What deceptive teachings might pull you away from Christ?
• How can you stay focused on Christ’s sufficiency?

APPLY:  
Evaluate the teachings and influences in your life. Make a plan to regularly examine them against the truth of Scripture.

READ:  16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.  COLOSSIANS 2:16-23

REFLECT:  Paul encourages the Colossians not to be judged by external religious practices like food, drink, and festival observances. These practices are only shadows of the reality found in Christ.

PROCESS:

• How can religious rules or traditions become distractions from Christ?
• What does freedom in Christ mean to you?

APPLY:  
Reflect on areas in your life where you might be relying on religious performance rather than Christ’s grace. Focus on living in the freedom He provides.

READ:  1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  COLOSSIANS 3:1-17

REFLECT:  Paul instructs believers to set their minds on things above and to put to death their earthly nature. He calls them to clothe themselves with Christ-like virtues, such as compassion, kindness, humility, and love.

PROCESS:

• What earthly things do you need to "put to death" in your life?
• How can you clothe yourself with the virtues Paul describes?

APPLY:  
Identify one negative habit or attitude you need to "put off" this week. Focus on replacing it with one of the virtues Paul lists in this passage.

READ:  18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. COLOSSIANS 3:18-25

1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.  COLOSSIANS 4:1-6

REFLECT:  Paul provides instructions for Christian households, encouraging godly relationships between husbands, wives, children, and servants. He also encourages believers to be watchful in prayer and wise in their dealings with outsiders.

PROCESS:

• How can you apply Paul’s instructions for relationships in your own household or community?
• How can you make the most of opportunities to share Christ with others?

APPLY:  
Reflect on your relationships and consider how you can improve them based on Paul’s teachings. Pray for wisdom in your interactions with non-believers.