No Part of Human Existence Left Untouched

In one paragraph

This was a Monday-night study wrapping up the book of Colossians, with Pastor Carl leading First Baptist Jackson through chapter four. The passage covers Paul's call to devoted prayer, his instructions for engaging unbelievers wisely, and his long closing list of greetings to friends and coworkers. College House, visiting from Columbus, Georgia, joined the congregation for the evening. Pastor Carl...

Read together

1. John 5:17 Jesus quoted saying his Father is always at work and he too is working, used before a worship song
2. Romans 8:28 paraphrased in prayer: God making all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose
3. 1 Peter 1:3-4 read aloud as the basis for the sure and certain living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
4. Colossians 4:2-18 the main passage read through in full and expounded as the conclusion of the book of Colossians
5. James 3:17 quoted to describe God's kind of wisdom: pure, peace loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good deeds, not showing favoritism, sincere
6. Colossians 3:14 quoted in closing prayer: clothe yourselves with love which binds together in perfect harmony
7. Colossians 3:15 read at the close: let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts, called to live in peace and be thankful

Talk about it

1. Paul asks the Colossians to pray for more opportunities to share the gospel rather than praying for his release from prison. What does that tell us about how he understood his circumstances, and how does it challenge the way you typically pray when life is hard?
2. Pastor Carl walked through the kind of wisdom James describes as 'pure, peace loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good deeds, not showing favoritism, and sincere.' Which of those qualities feels most natural to you when you are with people who don't yet know Jesus, and which feels hardest?
3. Verse six calls for conversations that are 'full of grace, seasoned with salt.' Several people in the group described grace as leaning toward someone with the desire to bless them, even when they haven't earned it. What would it look like in practice for you to carry that posture into a regular, everyday conversation this week?
4. Chipper described how slowing down after retirement helped him notice hurting people he used to walk past, and he kept running into the same young man, Kyle, in unexpected places. Has there been a person or a moment in your own life where you sensed God was arranging a connection? What did you do with it, or what do you wish you had done?
5. Paul closes Colossians with a long list of real people, friends and coworkers in the faith, some of whom had failed him or hurt him, and he still names them with affection. Pastor Carl pointed out that those relationships required grace, and that grace is also how Paul opens and closes the letter. What is one friendship inside the church right now where you could more intentionally leave room for that kind of grace?