Colossians Chapter 1
Last week we introduced the Book of Colossians–one of Paul’s general epistles (go back and listen to it if you missed it) …We talked about what an epistle is:
- Fancy word for letter
- From the Greek Epistle meaning letter, message, dispatch
- Written to a person or group of persons
- Includes encouragement and instructions and sometimes answers to questions
Colossians was written around 62 AD by Paul and Timothy (as the scribe) while Paul was in prison…again…after he heard, probably from Epaphras, about the false teaching that had arisen in the church at Colossae.
Today, we are going to dig into Colossians chapter 1…
This Letter to the Colossians starts out in a very ‘Pauline’ way, with his greeting, and offering grace and peace (“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae Grace to you and peace from God our Father”)...Paul also adds ‘an apostle of Christ Jesus’ likely to demonstrate he was qualified to write this letter of instruction to the Colossians, though he had never met them personally…
The church in Colossae was started by a coworker of Paul’s named Epaphras, who was from Colossae.
Epaphras had recently visited Paul in prison and updated him on how well the Colossians were doing overall.
However, Epaphras had also mentioned some of the cultural pressures that were tempting them to turn away from Jesus. Paul wrote this letter to encourage the Colossians, and address the issues Epaphras had raised…
The letter opens with two prayers…
Verse 3 thank God when we pray for you
Verse 9 have not ceased to pray for you
Do you have someone that you know doesn’t cease to pray for you?
If not, we encourage you to get into community and find someone who will pray for you
What were they praying?
Let’s take a look at verses 11-14 for a minute–part of Paul’s first prayer…
“being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
I love that it says that the Father has qualified us
When we think of qualifying we think of maybe earning a spot in a race or acceptance to a school or job position
But this verse is reminding the church and us that the Father causes us to be sufficient
It is only through our acceptance of Christ that we are qualified
Freedom to stop striving and receive the truth of this verse
You do not have to be smart enough, know enough, give enough or be gifted enough to be qualified
We receive the position
2 Corinthians 3:5-6
' Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. '
2 Corinthians 3:4-6
The word sufficiency is the noun version of the word from Colossians
God took action on our behalf
That is freedom!
Now let’s take a look at verse 13: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,”
I think this is SO important today for us to really recognize we have been delivered from the domain of darkness because:
The power of darkness is seen in its effects, and we must be ever-vigilant, especially in today’s world of social media, immediate gratification, and all the ‘me-centric' ideals:
The power of darkness lulls us to sleep.
The power of darkness is skilled at concealment.
The power of darkness afflicts and depresses us.
The power of darkness can ALSO fascinate us–a huge internet pitfall!
The power of darkness can embolden us to remain in compromise
Though we ARE delivered from this domain, the enemy is always prowling around us…Stay alert!
We have been transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son
This is the same Kingdom that Jesus came and preached about
We are not saved to go to heaven only but to bring heaven to earth
In the middle of the darkness, pain, chaos, mystery and confusion, we can experience the joy, peace, comfort, protection of heaven on earth
My past week but God’s peace in it all
Savor Moment:
Grab a friend and your Bible and read through Chapter 2 as you make these yummy treats:
Sweet Cinnamon Air Fryer Banana Chips:
Ingredients You’ll Need:
2 ripe bananas , sliced thinly (use a mandoline slicer for even cuts)
1 tbsp melted coconut oil (or olive oil spray)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1–2 tbsp granulated sugar
Step 1: Prep the Bananas
Slice bananas into thin rounds (about ⅛-inch thick). Pat dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture—this ensures crispiness!
Step 2: Coat with Cinnamon Sugar
In a bowl, toss banana slices with melted coconut oil.
Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar (if using), tossing gently to coat evenly.
Step 3: Air Fry
Preheat your air fryer to 300°F (150°C) (low heat prevents burning).
Arrange banana slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket—don’t overcrowd.
Cook for 8–12 minutes , flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy. Cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer model.
Step 4: Cool & Serve
Let chips cool completely—they’ll crisp up further as they sit.
Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days (if they last that long!).
