It Starts Small

⁴ I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. ⁵ For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.  ⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  ⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. ⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 

Colossians 2:4-10

that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

Here, we uncover two powerful truths that resonate deeply within us. Firstly, we recognize that there are individuals determined to mislead the masses, targeting the faithful in particular. Secondly, we affirm that we are not destined to fall prey to their deceitful schemes. We possess the strength to protect ourselves and others from these insidious assaults. What formidable defenses do we muster in this righteous battle?

Paul passionately introduced this vital truth in verse 2: a true knowledge of Christ! When we delve into the Word ourselves, we truly immerse ourselves in its depths. This immersion arms us against the seduction of false teachings. Take a moment to reflect on one of the very first words you learned to spell, “dog”. How do you spell “dog”? Now, picture me spending the next thirty minutes bombarding you with all sorts of convoluted formulas and proofs that assert “dog” is actually spelled “doog”. Would you even consider believing that? Absolutely not! It doesn’t matter how many persuasive arguments I unleash; deep down, you know the unshakeable truth. And because you possess that truth, you can pierce through the lies and deceit surrounding you. I could try to sway you until I’m breathless, but you won’t be fooled!

If I tried to convince you that Jesus was just a good person and not the Son of God, I fervently hope you would see through it. There are many other profound biblical issues that demand our attention. These include the six-day creation, the works of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual gifts, baptism and salvation, and the distinct roles of males and females in both the church and the home. Do you truly understand what the Bible passionately reveals about these vital topics?

You may encounter fervent debates on these vital issues and beyond. When you hear these discussions sizzling with intensity, what should you do? Return to the ultimate source: the Bible! Stand unwaveringly on the Word to ensure you remain steadfast and not swayed by deception.

I am present with you in spirit 

Paul may not have been physically with them, but his heart overflowed with thoughts of them, and he fervently prayed for their well-being. How uplifting it was for them to feel the warmth of other believers who genuinely cared about their spiritual journey! Are you reaching out to fellow believers, letting them know that you are fervently praying for them? Are you taking the time to send heartfelt notes of encouragement, pouring out your love and support?

how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is

In this powerful message, Paul fervently urges the Colossians to stand firm and unwavering in their faith, clinging to Christ with unwavering resolve. This calls for determination and discipline. What kind of discipline, you ask? Consider the individual striving to stay fit and healthy, who refuses to let their weight swing wildly. What must they do? The answer is straightforward. To maintain their fitness, they must embrace a nutritious diet and engage in regular exercise. By doing so, they will often find themselves physically fit and stable. The same principle applies spiritually. Remember the beloved children’s song that rings true: “Read your Bible, pray every day, and you’ll grow, grow, grow.” However, if you don’t read your Bible and forget to pray, you’ll shrink, shrink, shrink. Though simple, the message resonates deeply. If you wish to remain steadfast in your faith, commit to reading your Bible and praying every single day. It truly is that simple!

just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him

The Christian life is not a sprint; it’s a marathon filled with purpose and depth! A famous Chinese idiom beautifully captures this truth: a journey of a thousand miles begins with that very first step. So it is in our vibrant relationship with Christ! Believers embrace the gospel with fervent enthusiasm. Our hearts are ablaze with the joy of placing our faith in the Lord. We seek His forgiveness for our sins. Many of us radiated joy, our faces aglow, eagerly sharing our newfound faith with everyone around! But where along this glorious journey did we allow that excitement to fade? When did we allow discouragement and complacency to creep in, silencing our voices? Paul urges us to press on, to continue living out our faith just as we began! This requires a bold life of unwavering obedience. Every single day, we must put one foot in front of the other. We do it again and again. We embody persistence and faithfulness in all we do!

¹ Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

Psalms 1:1-3

Here is the same concept as in the last several verses, echoing with fervor! We are called to be stable and disciplined, to stand strong in our faith. Here, he passionately urges us to be firmly rooted. Throughout the Bible, this powerful imagery resonates. Believers are often compared to majestic trees or vibrant crops. They flourish with life. But why, you may ask? How can we truly become firmly rooted? The secret lies in our unwavering commitment to grasp the Bible firmly! There are five dynamic ways to hold onto its truth:

• Hear – Romans 10:17
• Read – Revelation 1:3
• Study – Acts 17:11
• Memorize – Psalm 119:9, 11
• Meditate Psalm 1:2-3

I participated in a group activity. We took a clean sheet of paper. We drew an outline of our hand. On each finger we wrote one of the words above and the verses above. It was to remind us to “hold” fast and on to the Word of God.

(If you are using the printable journal, turn to the back of the journal to locate this page. DO this exercise and make it your own. You can download the individual worksheet here)

We must cultivate an exhilarating connection to the Word! Yet, the tree stands incomplete without its bold, vibrant foliage and the irresistible allure of luscious fruit. Imagine the devoted monk stumbling upon a hidden cave. The cave is nestled deep within a majestic mountain. It’s far away from the noisy distractions of civilization. With unwavering fervor, he plunges into the depths of the Word. He pours himself into fervent prayers that echo through the night. His passion burns so brightly. He casts aside every earthly delight. He no longer indulges in succulent steak, tempting hamburgers, spaghetti, or chocolate cake. He consciously embraces a life of singular devotion. He thrives on the barest of essentials. His life is fueled by a fire that transcends the mundane and reaches for the divine!

In his isolation, he is tragically neglecting the powerful call to spread the gospel. He neglects the call to love his neighbor. This leaves those around him blind to the vibrant witness he could share for the Lord. We must be passionately anchored in the Word. Otherwise, we risk being swept away by misleading doctrines. We also risk being swept away by the ever-changing whims of culture. Not everything that glimmers with the promise of spirituality is truly good! Moreover, we must be fervently built up! Our gratitude should surge forth. It should be an overflowing testament for all to witness. This draws others to give glory to God in heaven. A tree with only roots serves no purpose; likewise, a tree without roots is destined to wither and die.

See to it that no one takes you captive

In this verse 8, Paul passionately warns us. He alerts us against the insidious false teachings that pervade our world. He highlights the alarming deception that threatens to warp our understanding of truth. We find ourselves incessantly bombarded by lies and propaganda. This onslaught creates a suffocating atmosphere. Distinguishing fact from fiction becomes an uphill battle. Schools teach that there is no God, and this misguided curriculum leads us to a belief. They claim we evolved from monkeys, which strips away the profound divine significance of our existence. In this chaotic landscape, universities inspire a misguided sense of self-belief. They also drive students into a relentless race for material wealth. All too often, moral and ethical foundations are sacrificed. In their relentless quest for power, governments shamelessly spread propaganda. It spans a grotesque spectrum. In the Middle East, men are permitted to beat their wives, which is a horrifying affront to human dignity. In the West, homosexual agendas are aggressively championed. This is falsely depicted as a hallmark of progress. The media and Hollywood fan the flames of these alarming narratives. They spread countless lies, such as the dangerously misleading notion that “sex outside of marriage is innocuous and fun.” These lies lure unsuspecting individuals into emotional and spiritual turmoil. They boldly claim that “homosexuality is normal.” This is a desperate attempt to normalize behaviors viewed as contrary to the essence of natural law. Even more infuriating is their portrayal of “cursing and crudity as funny.” This reduces language and basic decency. It ultimately undermines our societal values and harms the fabric of our interpersonal relationships.

Cult members relentlessly strive to infiltrate our churches, seeking to lure away the faithful. Meanwhile, society scoffs at us, mocking our beliefs as mere “foolishness.” A glaring example of this disdain is when a group of students distorted Richard Dawkins’ derisive comparison of faith in God to a belief in a flying spaghetti monster. They even went so far as to create a mock “church” dedicated to this absurdity. But make no mistake, these lies are nothing but hollow deceit! They cling to the empty traditions of men, not the sacred truth of God. They are driven by the world’s lusts and desires, not by a genuine understanding of the Divine. Yet, these corrosive ideas assault us at every turn. How can we stand strong and unwavering in the face of such relentless ideological warfare?

For in Christ

Paul here repeats Colossians 1:19.

¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 

Colossians 1:19

It serves as a powerful reminder that Jesus is our Lord! We are never alone, nor are we without hope. We don’t have to confront these temptations and battles on our own; we can rely on Christ. He will be the glorious banner lifted high above us as we charge into battle, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

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Discussion Questions

• What is the main theme of this passage?
• What does the term “delude” mean?
• In what two areas did Paul commend the Colossians?
• How can you be disciplined?
• How can you be stable in the faith?
• How can you understand verse 6?
• In what way have you received Him?
• How can a believer be firmly rooted in the faith?
• Are you firmly rooted?
• What comes next after being firmly rooted?
• How can a believer continue being built up in Him?
• What does it mean in verse 8 to be taken captive?
• Is philosophy bad? Why or why not?
• What is the key idea in verse 8?
• What types of philosophies or beliefs may negatively influence the church today?
• How can we stand firm against this ideological warfare?
• Should we isolate ourselves from these ideas? Or is there another better way?
• Why might Paul repeat the same truth about Jesus here in verse 9 from back in 1:19?

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