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{Prayers of the New Testament} ~7

 A PRAYER OF PAUL - 

Asking God for wisdom_ 

 
Gardeners often talk about what they learn from growing plants and from the soil, the weather and the wind. Christians who garden understand and experience the many metaphors in the bible that refer to plants and fruit-bearing trees. 
Gardening teaches patience. It requires planning. Things that are done in the early stages – such as composting, preparing the soil and making sure that a source of water is available – will have a significant impact months (or even years) later, when the flowers and fruit appear. 
In the life of faith, things that are done in the early stages – believing in the gospel of Christ, striving to know God’s will, and absorbing spiritual wisdom and understanding through studying the bible and learning from older Christians – will also have an impact months and years later, when the fruit appears. 

 

[Group discussion starter] Have you ever experienced fruit in your life from a decision or practice that took place much earlier? Describe what happened. 

 

 
In his prayer in Colossians 1, the apostle Paul asks that God will give the Colossian Christians knowledge of God’s will so that they can live a life worthy of the Lord and bear fruit in good works. His prayer offers us new ways to pray for other believers... 

 

[Read Colossians 1:1-14] 

 

Imagine you are one of the Colossian Christians. How do you think you would have felt after reading this first part of Paul’s letter? 

 
Does knowing someone is praying for you make a difference? 
Why or why not? 

 

In verses 3-8, Paul expresses his gratitude to God for the Colossians. What characteristics of the Colossians is he thankful for? 

 

What do you learn about the gospel from Paul’s words in verses 3-8? 

 

According to Paul, how is the Colossian’s faith and love connected to the gospel? 

 

Do you think believing in the gospel always results in the kind of faith and love Paul sees in the Colossians? 
Why or why not? 

 

[Activity] In verses 9-12, Paul prays for the Colossians. 
List the components of his prayer. 
How are these components related to each other? 

 

 

In what ways do you think knowledge, wisdom and understanding are similar in meaning? 
In what ways do you think they’re different? 

 

What is the purpose of power (verse 11)? 

 

In verses 6-11, the metaphor of bearing fruit is used. 
What characteristics of growing fruit are relevant to the central themes of this chapter? 

 

Near the end of the prayer, in verse 12, Paul prays that the Colossians would be thankful. Why do you think he includes thankfulness in the prayer? 

 
 
What relationship do you see between thankfulness and fruitfulness in your own life? 

 

How does this prayer encourage you to pray in new ways for family members, friends and other people you care about? 

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