18. READ: COLOSSIANS 1:1-14
[Colossians 1:1] "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by
the Will of God, and Timothy our brother,
[2] "To the holy and faithful [or,
"believing"] brothers in Christ at Colosse:
"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 the
saints--[5] the faith and love that spring from the hope that
is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard
about in the Word of Truth, the Gospel [6] that has come to you.
All over the world this Gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just
as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and
understood God's grace in all its Truth. [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.
[9] "For this reason, since the day we heard about you,
we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with
the knowledge of His Will through all spiritual wisdom and
understanding. [10] And we pray this in order that you may live a
life worthy of the Lord and may 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, and joyfully
[12] giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in
the inheritance of the saints 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."
a. Where is the Gospel bearing fruit and growing?
b. What kind of life should we live?
c. Why should we live that way?
