What are the three specific commands Paul gives regarding prayer in verse 2? (Colossians 4:2)
Who does Paul ask the Colossians to pray for in verse 3? And why? (Colossians 4:3)
What does Paul want to proclaim and what is his personal circumstance as he writes this? (Colossians 4:3)
What is Paul's second prayer request in verse 4? (Colossians 4:4)
What two commands does Paul give for our conduct towards outsiders? (Colossians 4:5)
According to verse 6, what two qualities should characterize a believer's conversation? and why? (Colossians 4:6)
INTERPRETATION
What does it mean?
What does it mean to be steadfast & watchful in prayer? What might a believer be watching for or against? (Colossians 4:2)
Why does Paul connect thankfulness with devotion to prayer? (Colossians 4:2)
What is the mystery of Christ that Paul wants to proclaim? (Colossians 4:3)
Paul is in chains for the gospel. Why doesn’t he ask for prayer for his release or comfort? What does this teach us about his priorities? (Colossians 4:3)
Why did Paul, a gifted and experienced Apostle, specifically ask for prayer to proclaim the message clearly? What does Paul's request for prayer reveal about his view of his own abilities? (Colossians 4:4)
Who are the outsiders? In the context of the early church, what would this relationship have looked like?(Colossians 4:5)
What does it mean to make the best use of time? What kind of opportunities might Paul have in mind? (Colossians 4:6)
What does the metaphor - “speech seasoned with salt” mean? (Colossians 4:6)
APPLICATION
What will I do?
Why is prayer so important to the further spread of the gospel? How does this passage encourage us to participate in the work of evangelism?
Who are the outsiders in your life right now (coworkers, neighbours, family members, friends) ? Think about a recent interaction with one of these people. Was your conduct wise? Did you make the most of the opportunity? What could you have done differently?
In what ways have you been tempted to be a bystander when it comes to engaging the world with the gospel? How can you change it?
How does a believer's outward conduct in verse 5 relate to our verbal conversation in verse 6? Why does Paul put these two thoughts together?
In the ancient world, salt was used for preservation, flavour, and purification. What could this metaphor mean for our speech? (Colossians 4:6)
Is your typical conversation more full of grace or full of judgment, gossip or negativity? What is one way in which you can be more gracious in your speech?
