DEEPER in Devotion, DISCUSSION, & DISCIPLESHIP

Deeper with the Sermon – Questions for Discussion • Read Colossians 2:6-10.

• When Cole talks about “the adventure of engaging cultures in a society” he’s not talking about “pop-culture” per se, but about cultures. What’s the difference? What’s the significance?

• Cole talked about the difference between the indicative (statements about reality; teaching about God, doctrine, etc.) and the imperative (commands based on the teaching about God, doctrine, etc.). What is the relevance for Paul’s letters? Why does he often give truth before telling you “what to do”? What is the significance for our passage today?

• What is Paul’s goal in ministry (1:28) and what is one of the main reasons he wrote this letter (2:4)?

• Given the reality of 2:4 (indicative), why should we expect the imperative that we see in 2:6-10?

• Cole told a story of Rosie Ruiz, who was labeled a sociopath in the aftermath of her supposed cheating to “win” the Boston Marathon. What is a sociopath? Then, borrowing Eugene Peterson’s phrase, Cole talked about “religopaths” (and illustrated such a person with Deepak Chopra’s “Who is God?” video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqP9wvswqwc). What is a religiopath?

• How does Col 2:6-10 speak to the opposite view of the religiopathic view?

Deeper with Yourself – Questions for Reflection • How does the person of Jesus Christ help ground you in the midst of a culture inhabited by many

religiopaths? What truth is there in Col 2:6-10 that helps you have a proper view of God and reality? • When interacting with the religiopaths around you (either famous talking heads or actual people with

whom you have regular interaction), do you get defensive? If so, why? • In what ways does defensiveness communicate a ‘fear of thinking’? How should this change the way

you interact with and engage the cultures in our society? • Cole said that we should be protective at times, and advancing at others, but not defensive. What does

it look like in your life to be protective of the truth and advance it as well? How do you guard from being defensive?

• Are you winsome when engaging with the cultures around you? Are you familiar with the things that are keeping them captive (v.8)? How do you maintain familiarity without being taken captive yourself?

• How does Paul’s vision of Christ (2:6-7) help you to NOT be captivated by the things of the world?

Deeper with Others – Questions for Impartation With Your Children

Tell your children that some people around us think that they are god. Ask them what they think about this (it might be humorous & informative to hear this evaluated from a child’s point of view). Prepare them w/ a proper, biblical view that will help them engage views from Col 2:8.

With Other First Evaners It is no surprise that there are the Deepak Chopra’s of the world whom we must engage in our culture. But, perhaps more surprising is Paul’s command to those in the church to not be taken captive by these ideologies. What steps can we take to avoid such captivity?

With Non-Christians Show them Deepak Chopra’s video and ask them to evaluate it. Do they think is great? Bogus? Confusing? Helpful? Point out some of the inconsistencies (so much unknown, yet he can say w/ absolute certainty that we are gods, for instance). Then, use Col 2:6-10 to offer the Christian view.

SERMON SERIES DATE “Beware the Religiopath”

(Col 2:6-10) One Whirling Adventure: The Full-On, All-In

Gospel of Colossians Oct 14, 2012

DEEpEr DocumEnT