Knowing Jesus: Week 1 Col 1:3–8

February 5, 2025

Introduction

This past Sunday we kicked off our latest series “Knowing Jesus” through the book of Colossians. This month we will be focusing on the Habit of Grace, Prayer. Prayer is fueled by a need for God and God alone. Do you need God? Take some time this month to check out the Habit of Grace section of the notes, even if it does not happen within the TC gathering.

Kick of the discussion with prayer followed by this week’s reading and discussion questions

Passage:

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 1:3–8.

Paul is rejoicing in thanksgiving to God for their faith and the way they love one another. God is so good to give such things! And he wants them to know that what happened to them is happening all over the world. How good!?

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Discussion

Do you perceive the Gospel as something that is increasing and bearing fruit throughout the world today?
Is the Gospel increasing within you or decreasing?
Is the Gospel producing fruit in your life? If so, in what ways? If not, what makes you think it isn’t?

Share with one another and pray for each other.

Habit of Grace

Habit of Grace: Prayer

Discussion:

How would you assess your prayer time?

0 = Non-existent

1 = Distracted or superficial

2 = Some engagement, but frequently wandering

3 = Moderately engaged with moments of deep focus

4 = Mostly focused with significant moments of deep connection

5 = Fully immersed, deeply reflective, and emotionally connected

Encouragement:

“A praying life isn’t simply a morning prayer time; it is about slipping into prayer at odd hours of the day, not because we are disciplined but because we are in touch with our own poverty of spirit, realizing that we can’t even walk through a mall or our neighborhood without the help of the Spirit of Jesus.”

- Paul Miller from A Praying Life

A need for God is essential to fueling an intimate and enjoyable prayer life. If you need God, prayer is the place you’ll find him.

Practice this week: Create a Daily Rhythm

Pick a time and a place.

Using an event trigger is helpful. After I wake up, I go to the patio and pray. Before I brush my teeth I kneel next to my bed and pray. To start my lunch break, I go for a walk and pray. Try to find times that are least likely to get interrupted.

Pick a length of time.

If you do not have an active rhythm, start with 10-15 minutes. If you are already praying try to stretch the amount of time you spend with God.

Get support.

Get your spouse, a roommate, a friend to pray with once a week or to support you in creating the time and space to pray.

If you currently do not have an active prayer life, or any framework for prayer, or heavy doubts/discouragements with God or prayer, I encourage you to pick a time and a place and every day go to that spot at that time, get on your knees and simply tell God exactly how you feel in that moment. This could take as little as 15 seconds.