Abstract And Introduction

By Stafford North

A STUDY OF THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS

13 Lessons for eBibleStudy.org

Dr. Stafford North

Distinguished Professor of Bible

Oklahoma Christian University

2011

Abstract:

Bible Study on the Book of Colossians

INTRODUCTION TO THE TEACHER

Colossians is one of those smaller books Paul wrote which is so filled with practical lessons for Christians today. This set of thirteen lessons particularly looks for those practical lessons in the book and emphasizes them. The lessons are not in order through the book but are, rather, developed more in the sequence in which the practical element leads from one to the next. You will need to explain this point to the students so they do not become confused by studying in chapter three on one Sunday and then back to chapter one the next.

As you start to teach each lesson, look at the objectives for that lesson and keep these in mind as you teach. Try to see that as many as possible in the class achieve those objectives.

Since these lessons emphasize the practical, it is very important that you allow plenty of time in the class for students to make applications. Be sure not to fall into the trap of letting the conversation in class go like this. Teacher: How could we apply this principle? Student: We could use it at work. Teacher: Good. Now let's go to the next principle. You will have to dig to get students to make good applications. So the conversation should go more like this. Teacher: How could we apply this principle? Student: We could apply it at work. Teacher: How could you apply it at work? Student: We could apply it when we deal with other people in the office. Teacher: Very good. Tell us about a specific situation in which you might apply this principle. Student: Well, the other day the boss got upset because some didn't follow his instructions. I tried to keep my cool and after he talked to us, I helped some of the others to calm down. Teacher: Do you think the others knew that you were providing a good influence in the group? Student: Yeah. A couple of them mentioned something about that afterward.

Worksheets are provided with each lesson. If you follow the lesson plan pretty closely, then the worksheets will be a good way for students to learn a little more by writing down some things as the class develops. If you don't follow the order of things in the lesson plan, then students will be confused by the worksheets. In this case, develop some of your own or do not use that teaching method.

The lessons are developed primarily through a set of questions developed from reading a passage. This plan is to encourage you to use the "question and answer" approach in your teaching. You don't, of course, have to ask all the questions. You may want to present some of the material more in lecture format. Try, however, to get the class as involved as you can by asking questions and letting them give answers. Particularly involve them in helping to apply the lessons to their particular situations in life. Each lesson ends with a proposed way to evaluate what the students have learned by asking them to do something or to be ready to answer questions about the lesson at the beginning of the next lesson. It is important that you tell the students what you are going to ask them to do at the next lesson. This will help them more likely to be ready at that point. Also each lesson has an assignment to give students. Sometimes this is reading and sometimes it is to make an application which they can tell the class about. You will need to adjust the content of the lesson to fit your time. Be sure, however, that you do not save time by cutting the time on applications.

The study of Colossians can be a wonderful experience. I hope the study turns out that way for you and your class.

Stafford North September, 2011

Back to Colossians

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.