A growing church. A bustling city. Cultural pressures threaten the way of Jesus - from religion to philosophy, to mysticism and politics.
It’s here, around 60AD, that the apostle Paul, in prison, writes to this church. Here, he offers a panoramic view of Jesus and how this bigger view changes how you view your life and reality itself.
So for the next ten weeks, we’ll study this book as we ask - what does the church in Colossae have to say to our church? What are the cultural pressures we face? And how does a bigger view of Jesus change how we view everything else?
To help facilitate LifeGroup discussion, we'll be posting resources for each week of the series.
Week 1: TexMex & Christianity
Week 2: All Things for All Time
Week 3: Mature in Christ
Week 4: Hold Fast to Christ, the Head
Week 5: Put Off
Week 6: Getting Heaven Into Us
Week 7: Getting Heaven Into the Home
Week 8: Work, Slavery, and Power Dynamics
Week 9: The Frisbee on the Roof
One of the main ways we grow into the image of Jesus is to listen, meditate, and live out what He says in Scripture. To help us with that, for this series, we’re offering resources to help you further study the passage from Sunday.
Below you can find related videos, podcasts, and articles to learn more about the passage we studied that Sunday. You can also choose to receive those resources every Monday straight to your inbox. Just type in your email below. For now, we only have the first few weeks of the series posted, but more will be added soon.
WEEK 1
WATCH
“Book of Colossians Summary” from The Bible Project (9 minutes) For almost ten years, The Bible Project has released short explainer videos of every book of the Bible. This video provides a visual overview of what Colossians is all about.
“How to Read the New Testament Letters” from The Bible Project (6 minutes) Another one. Along with Bible book overviews, The Bible Project also has a series on how to read different genres of the Bible. This one centers around how to read New Testament Letters.
“Letter to the Colossians” by N.T. Wright (14 minutes) If you don’t know the name, N.T. Wright might be the GOAT in New Testament studies. Combining both the academic and pastoral, Wright provides the cultural landscape of Colossae, situated within the Roman Empire.
LISTEN
“Strength to Wait with Patience” from Desiring God (3 minutes) A devotional written by John Piper on Colossians 1:11 - is available both as an article and as a podcast episode.
READ
“Knowing the Bible: Colossians and Philemon” from The Gospel Coalition (over an hour) TGC released a free 12-week class on this book. Talk about a deep dive.
WEEK 2
WATCH
“Heaven and Earth” from The Bible Project (7 minutes) Like we mentioned in the sermon, Heaven is more than just a place you go to when you die. As the video explains, the emphasis of the Bible is that Heaven is a reality you can experience through Jesus now.
“Understanding God’s Identity in the Bible” from The Bible Project (8 minutes) Arguably one of the densest pieces of theology in the Bible, The Bible Project explains the concept of the Trinity.
LISTEN
“How Did God Reconcile All Things to Himself?” from Desiring God (14 minutes) John Piper dives more into Colossians 1:20 on his popular Ask Pastor John podcast series.
“The Son of God: Dr. Iron’s Trinitarian View of Jesus” from Trinities (50 minutes) This is a deep one - one of the premier Trinitarian theologians discusses the biblical view of the Trinity on a podcast devoted to talking solely about the Trinity. Meta.
READ
“He Holds All Things Together” from Desiring God (30 minutes) Both a sermon and a manuscript unpacking Colossians 1:15-20 from David Mathis, the executive editor at desiringGod.com.
“The Preeminence of Christ” from Reformed Theological Seminary (22 minutes) A seminary chapel message to an audience of mostly seminarians, Dr. Dusenbury unpacks Colossians 1:15-20.
WEEK 3
WATCH
“What Happens When We Die According to the Bible?” from The Bible Project (55 minutes) Last week’s text/idea was a big one, so to unpack a bit more on this concept, here’s more from Dr. Tim Mackie.
Kids Bible Devotional - Rooted in God | Colossians 2:6-7 from YoungHearts Ministries (5 minutes) Ok this is a little cheesy, but a great little video to teach kids about being “rooted in Christ.”
LISTEN
“Guard Yourself with Gratitude” from Desiring God (35 minutes) This is a sermon of John Piper’s from 1985. So yeah, this is a throwback.
READ
Colossians and Philemon For You by Mark Meynell For those interested in Bible commentaries, the “For You” series is an accessible, concise set of commentaries that digs into different books of the Bible.
“The Incomparable Christ” from Reformed Theological Seminary (15 minutes) Dr. Ligon Duncan works through this passage in Colossians expositionally with his seminary students.
WEEK 4
WATCH
“Spiritual Beings series” from The Bible Project (about 5 minutes per video) When Paul mentions “elemental spirits” in Colossians 2:20, he doesn’t really believe evil spirits exist…right? In this video series, The Bible Project brings up an important concept that serves as a helpful biblical backdrop.
LISTEN
“What is Baptism and How Important Is it?” from Desiring God (45 minutes) Baptism is a central part of Paul’s argument in this passage - so how are we to think about baptism biblically? John Piper got you.
READ
“How Do Baptism and Circumcision Correspond?” from Desiring God (46 minutes) Also central to Paul’s argument in the passage is the connection between circumcision and baptism. So….what’s that about? Once again, John Piper on the mic!
The Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser If that Bible Project video series whet your appetite, then check out the book that inspired it (outside the Bible, of course). This book teeters on the intellectual side, so Heiser also released a non-academic version of the book too called Supernatural. Either book is well worth your time.
WEEK 5
WATCH
“The Glory of Christ and Racial Unity” from Desiring God (45 minutes) What does Jesus’ death and resurrection have to do with racial unity? A lot actually. Here, John Piper unpacks how because of Jesus’ work, He is drawing all people to Himself.
LISTEN
“Saved From God’s Wrath” from The Bible Project (56 minutes) The Bible Project not only is the top-tier video resource, their podcasts are also pretty solid too. In this one, the gang covers how to think about the atonement.
“The Light Beyond the Light” from Desiring God (4 minutes) I love that title! In this quick podcast, John Piper unpacks what it means to be seated with Christ.
READ
“The Incomparable Christ” from Reformed Theological Seminary (20 minutes) Once again, Dr. Ligon Duncan, president of RTS, teaches through the book of Colossians.
BONUS VIDEO
A couple of years ago, most of us learned to be pros at Zoom. The key phrase here is, “most of us.”
WEEK 6
WATCH
“What Jesus Meant by Eternal Life” by The Bible Project (6 minutes) The call to “put on” Christ is a call to step more and more into the abundant life Jesus makes us available to us now. The Bible Project unpacks this more.
“What Happens When We Sing?” by Desiring God (1 hour) In Colossians 3, one way in which we let the “word of Christ dwell in us richly” is through singing together. In this sermon, John Piper presses into this idea and why singing is a crucial practice in our formation to Jesus.
LISTEN
“Gloria Furman on Eternal Outlook for Everyday Life” by The Gospel Coalition (49 minutes) ”Whatever you feel defines you, look at this in light of what you read in Colossians—that this life is not all there is. You know that. We all know that. God has put eternity in man’s heart. But we have to do the hard work of remembering that our life is hidden with Christ in God.”
“Matt Chandler on Worship” by The Gospel Coalition (48 minutes) In this sermon given to an audience of worship pastors, Matt Chandler speaks on the importance of worship in our lives.
READ
Following Jesus Together - We created a website on spiritual practices to help us further “put on” Christ. Here you’ll find blogs and videos on how to abide with Jesus, confess sin, fast, and more.
“Living Together When Christ is All” by Desiring God (26 minutes)
WEEK 7
Watch
Parenting Resources from Midtown Fellowship There are a million voices and blogs telling you what to do and not do as a parent. So we created and pooled together some of the best parenting content to help!
“Marriage: Forgiving and Forbearing” from Desiring God (53 minutes) Colossians speaks to the importance of marriage. Ephesians 5 is also a great text in the New Testament, further unpacking that. In this sermon, John Piper speaks to how marriage is a pointer to the work of Jesus.
LISTEN
“How do I Not Provoke My Children?” from Desiring God (12 minutes) Colossians 3:21 warns against fathers provoking children. But what could that look like?
”Family of God” from The Bible Project A podcast series on the biblical theme of family from Dr. Tim Mackie and Jon Collins. Enjoy!
The Family of God sermon series from Midtown Fellowship How we love our neighbor reflects our love for God and how we love God manifests itself in how we love our neighbor. And the reality is, while our “neighbor” encompasses everyone, it most immediately applies to who we share a home with and see daily. Check out our sermons from 2021 as we unpack this more.
READ
Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley “Discover simple habits and easy-to-implement daily rhythms that will help you find meaning beyond the chaos of family life as you create a home where kids and parents alike practice how to love God and each other.”
Family Worship by Donald Whitney “Gathering together for worship is an indispensable part of your family’s spiritual life. It is a means for God to reveal himself to you and your loved ones in a powerful way.”
WEEK 8
Watch
"Does the Bible Support Slavery?" from The Gospel Coalition (1 hour) Dr. Peter Williams (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) argues, based on the standard definition of slavery, no. "To make his argument, he examines the key Old Testament and New Testament texts said to support slavery. Along the way, he looks at the biblical words commonly associated with slavery and how their translation has changed over time. He also looks at the logic of the Old Testament world and the way ancient societies were structured quite differently from ours."
LISTEN
Precious in His Sight sermon series by Midtown Fellowship. In our sermon, we explored the power dynamics at play in Roman culture and how Jesus speaks into those dynamics. And while our context looks different than Rome, we want to equip each other to understand better our nation's history and how to navigate such issues.
Work sermon series by Midtown Fellowship. We can put love into our work without necessarily loving our work. Check out our sermon series from 2019 to learn more.
READ
Garden City by John Mark Comer. "Does God care where I work?" "Does he have a clear direction for me?" "How can I create a practice of rest?" Check out this book on work to learn more.
How Then Should We Work? by Hugh Whelchel. This book covers topics like the difference between work, vocation, and calling as a Christian, the history of the Christian view on work, the call to "reweave shalom" through your job, how to live a life of deep significance, and more.
Resources on Race by Midtown Fellowship. "As followers of Jesus, we stand up for righteousness, truth, justice, and love - because those things are definitive of life in the Kingdom of Heaven…In the list of resources, we've also included links to organizations and opportunities for you to take further steps to stand up for justice and love."
WEEK 9
Watch
“How Does God Answer Prayer for Others?” by Tyler Staton (13 minutes). When we pray for others, what happens to us? Check out this video (and honestly, this whole series is awesome and worth your time.)
“Paradise Now” by Tim Mackie (50 minutes). From the 24-7 Prayer USA Conference, The Bible Project’s Tim Mackie talks about entering this Heaven and Earth reality when we step into prayer.
LISTEN
“The Power of Persistent Prayer” from Midtown Fellowship (30 minutes) This was from our Acts sermon series in 2022. (Personally, I’m a fan of whenever we can mention Dwayne the Rock Johnson as an example.)
“The Practice of Prayer” from Midtown Fellowship (38 minutes) Fom our 2020 series based on the Sermon on the Mount, “The Way of Jesus.”
READ
“Abide” from Following Jesus Together. For some practical steps on prayer, including blogs and videos, check out our Abide page and practices like “Lectio Divina” and “Examen Prayer.”
“Persevere in Prayer!” from Desiring God (5 minutes) John Piper unpacks Colossians 4:2-6 and offers five guidelines for prayer.
A Praying Life by Paul Miller IMO, this is one of the best books of prayer in the last ten or so years.
BONUS VIDEO
Hoop dreams!
Acts | Part 2
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.”
These were some of Jesus’ very last words on Earth. And yet, a little over a week later, something happened. Jesus released His Spirit on the disciples who went out proclaiming everything Jesus did. Their proclamation was the day The Church began.
You cannot tell the story of the early church without also telling the story of the person, work, and power of the Spirit of God. He’s everywhere on almost every page of Acts.
We hope that during this series, we experience afresh not only who the Spirit is but experience all the potential He can unleash in and through us when it comes to walking more closely with Jesus, including prayer, worship, and being on mission.
To help facilitate LifeGroup discussion, we'll be posting resources for each week of the series.
Week 1: The Movement of God
Week 2: A Defining Moment
(Sermon) (Mission Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 3: Three Expectations from the Life of Paul
(Sermon) (Mission Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 4: Who’s In and Who’s Out
(Sermon) (Mission Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 5: The Church in Antioch
(Sermon) (Mission Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 6: The Power of Persistent Prayer
(Sermon) (Mission Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 7: Mountains, Molehills, and Which Ones to Die On
(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 8: The Church in Philippi
Week 9: The Church in Athens
(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 10: The Church in Ephesus
(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 11: Living in the Dash
(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 12: The Storm and the Shipwreck
(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 13: The Story Continues
We want to focus on particular tools to help us learn to follow Jesus more closely. Since Acts concentrates so much on spreading the name of Jesus, our corporate practice is mission.
To help us grow in this practice, we've created a six-week-long guide to work within your group. Each lesson comes with discussion questions, a teaching video, and worksheets to print out for everyone in your group.
To accompany our book and further expand on the topics covered in this series, we’d recommend the following books and videos to you.
Acts
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.”
These were some of Jesus' very last words on Earth. And yet, a little over a week later, something happened. Jesus released His Spirit on the disciples who went out proclaiming everything Jesus did. This was the day The Church began.
You cannot tell the story of the early church without also telling the story of the person, work, and power of the Spirit of God. He's everywhere and on almost every page of Acts.
So as we start a new year, when many of us are slowly regathering and relearning exactly how and what it means to be and do church together, let's begin it the same way as it started with the early church. Together, let's embrace and get to know the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit that dwells with us to be with Jesus and do what Jesus did.
We hope that during this series, we experience afresh who the Spirit is and experience all the potential He can unleash in and through us when it comes to walking more closely with Jesus, including prayer, worship, and being on mission.
To help facilitate LifeGroup discussion, we'll be posting resources for each week of the series.
Week 1: The Mission of Acts
(Sermon) (Transcript) (Scripture Guide)
Week 2: The Spirit of Acts
Week 3: How to Start a Fire
(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 4: The First Fruit of the Spirit
(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 5: The Meaning of the Miracles
(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 6: Spirit-Filled Witnesses
(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 7: The Spirit and the Flesh
(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 8: The Danger Within
(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 9: Condemned on Earth, Applauded in Heaven
(Sermon) (LifeGroup Guide) (Scripture Guide)
Week 10: Following the Work of the Spirit
During the month of January, instead of LifeGroups meeting in homes, they will participate in a weekly Night of Prayer and Worship from 6:30pm - 7:30pm. Our hope is to spend time praying and singing to the Lord, while asking Him to let us see His Kingdom come, here in Columbia. Our prayer is that during this time together, God changes our hearts and the hearts of those in our city.
Tuesday LifeGroups will meet weekly on Jan 11, 18 and 25 at 6:30pm at Midtown Downtown (1800 Blanding Street, Columbia)
Wednesday LifeGroups will meet weekly on 12, 19 and 26 at 6:30pm at our Lexington Church (924 East Main Street, Lexington)
Thursday LifeGroups will meet weekly on 13, 20 and 27 at 6:30pm at Midtown Downtown (1800 Blanding Street, Columbia)
Please note that masks are required for all in attendance at Tuesday's and Thursday's Nights of Prayer and Worship taking place at our Downtown church and requested at Wednesday's Night of Prayer and Worship taking place at our Lexington church.
Childcare is available each night at 6:15pm for children in 3rd Grade and under. Please note that spaces are limited. Please RSVP beforehand for childcare. We want as many folks as possible to participate, so if you already have an easy childcare option, please consider it first to free up spots for any families who don’t.
To help us grow in our understanding of God’s goodness, we decided to write a book for this series. You can download the digital version here.
To accompany our book and further expand on the topics covered in this series we’d recommend the following books and videos to you.
Stand-Alone | The Father Heart of God
Sermon by Brandon Clements on Friday, June 16.