Filled with the Knowledge of His Will

In one paragraph

This message came from Paul's letter to the Colossians, working through the practical prayer of Colossians 1 alongside the letter to Philemon. The pastor traced Paul's petition for the church at Colossae and showed how it connects to a very specific situation involving one man, his runaway slave, and the gospel. The sermon moved the congregation toward communion as its destination, framing the...

Read together

1. Psalm 63:1 opening worship reading, David in the desert thirsting for God
2. Matthew 6:9-13 Lord's Prayer sung and then explained as the disciples asking Jesus how to pray
3. Colossians 1:9-14 main text, Paul's prayer for the Colossians to be filled with knowledge of God's will and walk worthy
4. James 3 contrasting earthly wisdom with wisdom from above in explaining the Greek word for wisdom
5. Ephesians 4:1-3 Paul as prisoner urging believers to walk worthy with humility, gentleness, patience and unity
6. Ephesians 2:10 believers as God's workmanship created for good works prepared beforehand
7. Colossians 2:8 warning not to be taken captive through philosophy and empty deception according to traditions of men
8. Colossians 3:17 whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks
9. Colossians 4:1-18 instructions to masters, call to prayer, greetings including sending Onesimus back
10. Romans 12:1 the mercies of God as the grounds for presenting ourselves and walking forward
11. Philemon 1-25 Paul's personal appeal to Philemon to receive runaway slave Onesimus back as a beloved brother

Talk about it

1. Paul prays that the Colossians would be 'filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.' The sermon described wisdom as clarity, including clarity of the whole situation rather than just one point of view. Where in your own life right now do you feel like you are only seeing part of the picture, and what would it look like to ask God for that wider clarity?
2. The sermon quoted the little poem: 'The nearest thing that should be done that can be done by you.' How does that definition of God's will sit with you, and can you think of a time when the next right step turned out to be simpler or closer than you expected?
3. Pastor Nathan talked about his seminary professor who skipped the 'prone to wander' verse in Come Thou Fount, insisting we can walk in victory, and said what we are prone to do is whatever we practice repeatedly. Do you find yourself more drawn to the 'prone to wander' honesty or to the professor's insistence on walking in victory, and why?
4. Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus back, not as a slave but as a beloved brother, and even offers to cover whatever Onesimus owes. The sermon connected this to the Good Samaritan. Is there a relationship in your own life where the gospel is calling you to change the terms, the way Paul asked Philemon to change them with Onesimus?
5. At the end of the sermon, Amy shared that she came to First Baptist thirteen years ago broken and not wanting to be there, and that Donna Young met her at the door like she was her best friend. What does that story say to you about what it actually means to be the church to someone who is hurting?