We opened our workout with a singing of "And Can It Be" (hymn #180) and a group recitation & review of James 1.

After our review of James 1, we studied Colossians 1 together. We went around the table to develop propositions through the chapter.

Colossians 1:1-4 (Henry)

Thankful Christians pray for one another.
Genuine believers exhibit faith, love, and hope.
- Reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5:8 ("breastplate of faith and love; helmet of hope and salvation").
- This proposition challenges us to ask ourselves: "What am I believing in? How am I loving God and others? What do I place my hope in?"

Colossians 1:5-8 (Daniel)

The gospel has been given to us.
- There is no self-boasting in its discovery, or that we have found it out for ourselves.

Other propositions from the group for verses 1-8:

The gospel continuously bears fruit throughout the world.
The gospel comes through people (in that faithful servants of Christ teach the gospel to others).
The gospel is heard, and the gospel is understood.
- It is meant to be fully understood, not just heard and checked off a list.
Genuine Christians continually grow.
Christians share encouragement & praise reports with one another.
The gospel is the word of truth.
- Simply put, the gospel is truth. People need to hear the truth. When paired with the understanding that we have the gospel, the truth that comes from God, we are compelled to share the gospel. In simple words, sharing the gospel is merely giving people truth that they do not yet have or understand.
Believers are in the Spirit.
- Every genuine believer of God has His Spirit in them.

Colossians 1:9-10 (Sassoun)

Christians are to pray without ceasing.
Knowledge of God's will is a gift of God dispensed through prayer.
- The bearing of spiritual fruit is a result of having this knowledge.

Colossians 1:11-12 (Nate)

A Christian's strength comes from God's power.

Other propositions from the group for verses 9-12:

Christians strive to be steadfast and patient.
- Endurance and patience require strength that comes from God.
- Real power is demonstrated in submission to God's will and timing. This falls in line with the worldview that God is sovereign and controls all things.
Christians give thanks to God.
God allows and qualifies Christians to receive the inheritance of eternal life.
God wants us to strive to produce fruit in every good work.
- Not focused in only one specific area, but in a comprehensive way we are to excel in every good work
Having spiritual wisdom and understanding is necessary to please God.
- Knowing and practicing God's will requires that we have spiritual wisdom and understanding. We ought to take God's truth and appropriate it in real life in tangible ways.

Colossians 1:13-14 (John T.)

Christ is our King and our Redeemer.
We are responsible for our sins and we need forgiveness and rescue.
We once belonged to the domain of darkness, but we have been transferred to Christ's kingdom.

Colossians 1:15-17 (Ming)

Christ existed before all things.
All things have been created through Christ.
Creation includes things that are invisible.
- The world is more than what we can see with our eyes.
All things depend on God for existence and sustenance.

Colossians 1:18-20 (James)

Christ is preeminent in the church and in all things.
The church is the body of Christ.
Christ reconciled all things to God through the blood of the cross.
- The truth that we need reconciliation shows that we are at enmity with God because of our sins.

Question: The Bible tells us about others who had been resurrected in the flesh before Christ's resurrection took place. Knowing this, why is Christ called the firstborn from the dead?

Christ is the first to be resurrected in a glorified sense.
The others who had been resurrected physically before Christ had not been raised unto eternal life and glory. Although those people were physically resurrected, they still eventually died physical deaths. In contrast, Christ was resurrected and is eternally alive.
The hope of resurrection we have is that we will also be raised unto eternal life and glory.