Colossians: The Lord and Not Man
COLOSSIANS 3:23
Scripture verse: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”
Objectives:
- Students should memorize the verse and understand its context and content.
- Students should understand what it means to serve the Lord, whether one receives earthly recognition or not.
Background on the book:
The letter to the Colossians (Where is Colossae?) was also written while Paul was a prisoner in Rome. It is unique in that it was written to a group of believers whom Paul had never even met! Paul had sent Epaphras to Colossae years before (while Paul himself was in Ephesus on his 3rd missionary journey) with the news of the gospel and a church was started. Now Epaphras has come to Rome to tell Paul that the young church is having troubles. But, while in Rome, Epaphras was also imprisoned and Paul had to send his return letter with Tychicus and Onesimus, along with the letter to the Ephesians.
Possible Lesson Plan:
- Open with prayer.
- Review the background of the book. Look for a moment at Epaphras: Was he famous? Anyone even heard of him before? But Paul recognizes him in this letter as a faithful servant of the Lord; in fact, until Paul mentioned it (Ephesians 4:12-13), no one in Colossae even knew he was praying for them and had been imprisoned.
- Scripture Lesson: Colossians 3:23-24, Matthew 6:1-4. Read these together. Discuss their meaning. Repeat the verse a few times, then try a quiz on all of our memory verses so far. Try "Paul says" by having students stand in a row. Teacher begins: Paul says...if...then give either a correct verse or one with the words made funny or turned around...is right then pat your head". If the verse is correct, the students should do the action. If the verse is wrong, just as in Simon says, they should not.
- Look through the Bible for examples of humble and quiet service: What about Hannah, Ruth, Dorcas? Have you heard the story of Corrie Ten Boom, who with her family hid Jews from the Nazis for years? What was the immediate reward for her secret service? (She and her family were arrested and thrown in prison.) What was the outcome years later? (Her ministry, after being saved from prison by a clerical “error”, led many people to the Lord.)
- Does it frustrate you when others are recognized for some good deed they did and you aren’t? What does Jesus say about this situation? Who are we serving? Why are we serving? Think again about motives – are we serving the Lord so others will see us or in secret where only God can see what we’ve done and reward us?
- Be “Secret Pals”: Write the name of each student present on a slip of paper. Fold all slips and place in a hat or bowl. Have each student select a slip; if he gets his own name, he should put it back and try again. Instruct the students that they should plan a secret surprise for their secret pal this week – a gift (something cheap like a candy bar or dollar store gift) – or a special note of appreciation, etc. Somehow, they should do this without their secret pals knowing what they are doing; drop it off at home, leave it on the Church School table, on the windowsill in Church, etc. But do it in secret!
- Close with prayer.