To strive means to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something. The only place striving doesn’t work in our favor is when we strive to make God love us. Doing more and doing better isn’t enough. Jesus’ work tore down the hostility and brought what we so desperately needed. Jesus gave us reconciliation. This week we are going to talk about how Jesus restored the broken relationship that we once had and gave us the ability to connect with God once again.
This week’s memory verse: “You, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.” Colossians 1:21–22.
1. Read John 14:27. Why should we not be afraid? Does this mean God will give us a world free of trouble?
2. Read John 16:33. What is Jesus guaranteeing that we will have in this life? What does it mean to you to hear that Jesus has overcome the world?
3. Read Colossians 1:15-18. What do these verses tell us about Jesus? According to these verses what, is more important or more powerful than Jesus? What are some things that people tend to make more important than Jesus?
4. Read Colossians 1:19. What is this verse telling us about Jesus? Why is that important for me and you?
5. Read Colossians 1:20. According to this verse, what does the word reconcile mean? What does this verse imply about the relationship?
6. The Bible teaches us that everything was not created to revolve around us, but everything was created for us to enjoy as a good gift from God. God’s intent was that we would give Him praise for all that He has given us. What happens when we give our praise to the creation rather than the Creator? What are ways people typically give praise to that which was created?
7. Read Psalm 16:11. What is this verse saying about how believers connect with God and find joy, pleasure, hope, and security?
8. Read Psalm 73:25-26. According to this verse where is our heart and life created to find true fulfillment?
9. Read Philippians 3:8. We were created to glorify God by joyfully loving and treasuring Him above anything else. Why did Paul find joy in losing all things? Have you ever lost everything and still found that you had joy?
10. Pastor James said: “The root of our conflict with God is that we are searching for something other than God to bring peace to our lives.” How have you seen this play out in your life? What steps did you take to correct it?
11. Read Colossians 1:21-22. Sin breaks man’s relationship with God. What happens when we are alienated from God? What did Jesus do to fix that? What is the end result?
When life does not go the way you planned, remember that your peace is secured by the finished work of Christ.