Flourishing from a Distance
A Godly Response to a Pandemic – Part 6
Series Overview
Proverbs 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” The COVID-19 outbreak certainly shows that this is true. When 2020 began, we had no idea we would face this new kind of challenge. Though it caught us by surprise, we know God was not surprised. He knew this would happen and will guide us through this challenging time.
This study guide is the second in a new Faith Baptist Bible study series called “A Godly Response to a Pandemic.” Each lesson will provide biblical teaching that enables us to think, feel, and live in a Christlike way throughout this pandemic experience.
Together, we’ll tackle topics like fear, anxiety, and loneliness. We’ll also examine our behavior as a church. Most importantly, we’ll learn about our loving, sovereign God who is all-knowing, almighty, always present, and trustworthy in every way.
Series Guidelines
This series will continue throughout our period of “social isolation” in New York City. To participate, please take the following approach.
- A new study guide will be provided each Saturday at Shepherd Thoughts. You can follow the guide online or download and print it as a PDF.
- Use each guide for an in-home Bible study from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
- If you live with a Christian family, you can study together. If not, try studying together with another believer from Faith by phone or internet using a service like Facebook Video Chat, Google Hangouts, Skype, or Zoom.
- For each study: (1) begin with prayer, (2) read the Scripture passage, (3) work through the study guide, then (4) end with prayer.
- Then tune in early to the Faith Baptist Livestream on Facebook at 10:45 a.m. to post questions, feedback, and comments about the lesson. Pastor Overmiller will respond to your feedback before the 11:00 a.m. service begins.
- You can also leave comments on the blogsite at the end of the study guide page and Pastor Overmiller will respond by sometime Sunday.
- As a bonus, memorize a verse or more from the passage and think about it throughout the week ahead.
Lesson Introduction
Perhaps you’ve heard the common cliché, “When the cat’s away the mice will play.” It reminds us of what happens when a grade-school teacher steps away from her classroom. The students goof around, don’t they? And let’s not pick on the kids here because this also happens when the supervisor goes on break or the boss takes a vacation. The employees take longer lunches and make personal phone calls on the clock. Though this happens, it doesn’t have to – and the same is true for a church.
As an apostle, Paul functioned in a pastoral way for churches throughout Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and Eastern Europe. Though he never stayed in one place for more than 3-4 years (usually much less), he retained a sense of long-distance, pastoral care for these congregations. This concern motivated him to write letters like Colossians to encourage them not to drift away.[1]
In this way, he provides pastors today with an example to follow during times of extended absence from the congregations they serve. Through the words he shares, he also provides any congregation with timely advice that applies to long periods of social isolation.
In the absence of in-person, pastoral care (which is crucial), the members of a church should still flourish in their relationship with Christ and their devotion to sound doctrine. So, let’s dig in and take some encouragement from what Paul has to say to the believers at Colosse.
Colossians 2:5-7
For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Study Guide
Consider the Background
Paul wrote and delivered Colossians from prison in Rome, in tandem with Ephesians and Philemon (Col 4:18). (During the same imprisonment he also wrote Philippians.) This was a letter to the church in the city of Colosse, the church where Philemon was a member.
Examine the Scripture
In his absence and lack of personal influence in their lives, what was Paul concerned might happen to the members of this church?
- What clue does Col 2:4 provide?
- How Paul describe his concern in Col 2:8?
- What does Paul say about his concern in Col 2:16-19?
- What else does he say about his concern in Col 2:20-23?
- What other concerns does he hint at in Col 3:5-9?
Ask Yourself Some Questions
The regular, in-person teaching ministry of your church is an essential factor in your spiritual growth. When it’s missing, you’re more vulnerable to spiritual digression.
- In what way(s) might you be influenced by false teaching during this period of social isolation away from the in-person pastoral teaching and care of your church?
- In what way(s) might you be susceptible to personal temptations and sins?
Examine the Scripture
Paul says, “Though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit” (Col 2:5; see also 1 Cor 5:3). This expression doesn’t mean he was having some sort of out-of-body experience that enabled him to visit their church metaphysically. It was a figurative statement that described his sense of personal and spiritual closeness to them even in his absence.
Ask Yourself a Question
Do you feel this way towards the members of your church when you’re not gathered together?
Examine the Scripture
A member from Colosse had traveled far to visit Paul in prison. During his visit, he had given Paul an encouraging report about the testimony of the members in his church (Col 1:7; 4:12). Paul was overjoyed with this news!
- What two things about the church members at Colosse encouraged Paul (Col 2:5)?
- Good order is a military term that implies “orderly conduct” and “proper procedures.” In the absence of Paul’s in-person ministry, they continued to function as a church in a biblical, faithful, and orderly way, with each member doing his or her part.
- Steadfastness is another military term that portrays a firm, rigid, unbreakable line of soldiers who hold rank (and don’t defect) and are ready to withstand the onslaught of an opposing army.
- In this case, steadfastness applies specifically to their (our) “faith in Christ” and refers to sound doctrine about Christ and the Christian life he has called us to live.
Ask Yourself Some Questions
- What are some ways in which we might be tempted to abandon orderly conduct and proper procedures or “break rank” during this period of self-isolation?
- Why is it important for a church to “stand firm” together?
- Name one or more ways that you can practice commitment and faithfulness during this time? How can you strengthen the solidarity of your church?
Examine the Scripture
In the next verse (Col 2:6), Paul compares the beginning of the Christian life to the ongoing lifestyle that follows.
- The word receive normally refers to accepting or embracing some doctrine or teaching (see 1 Cor 11:23; 15:3; 1 Thess 4:1). In this case, however, it refers to accepting Jesus Christ himself, not just the teaching about him or the teaching that he gave. Here it specifically refers to receiving him as “Lord” – as God and master of your life, your divine and supreme leader, your king.
- “So walk in him” means that just as you welcomed Christ into your life as God and king, you should view him and respond to him that way on a regular, daily basis. (“Walk” is a description of the Christian life; just as you take a series of steps to walk somewhere physically, so you make a series of regular decisions as you live the Christian life.)
Though Paul’s in-person influence at Colosse would have helped the believers there do this, they could do this without him, too. They only needed a reminder, even if it was by a letter from a long distance. A faithful Christian says “no” to the dangerous and deceptive teachings that come along, remaining focused on Christ in a singular way (“in him”)
Ask Yourself Some Questions
- What does it mean to make regular, daily decisions that treat Jesus Christ as your Lord?
- The phrase “in him” may also be translated as “in union” or “in harmony” with Christ. How does this help you understand what Paul is teaching believers to do?
Examine the Scriptures
Paul describes further what it means to “walk in Christ” just as you received him. To do this, he uses three phrases: “rooted in him,” “built up in him,” and “strengthened in the faith” (Col 2:7).
These activities happen by focusing on sound, biblical teaching about Christ. To grow as a Christian, we don’t need new, special knowledge, nor do we need additional supernatural experiences, or some rituals and man-made rules.
We need to sink our roots deeper into the truth about Jesus – who he is, what he has done, what he is doing, what he will do, and what he has called us to be and do for his glory. We also need to build upon this foundation, increasing in our knowledge of his will as revealed in Scripture and in our obedience to what he has said.
In the first two activities (being “rooted” and being “grounded”), Christ himself is the focal point – he is the soil and the foundation of all our forward progress. The third activity, being “strengthened in the faith,” continues this instruction by emphasizing the need to strengthen our understanding of the Christian faith. It refers to more than the act of believing (as in having stronger faith), but to the knowledge of what the Christian faith entails (as in the Christian faith, or Christian doctrine and theology). The subsequent phrase, “as you have been taught,” underscores this perspective. When you catch yourself discovering something “new” and different than Christ and what he teaches, then you’re discovering something untrue.
Ask Yourself Some Questions
- How are you sinking your roots deeper into Christ, building yourself up on Christ more firmly, and strengthening your faith in Christ during this time?
- What attitude should be abounding in your heart throughout the routine and flow of your daily life (see the end of Col 2:7)?
This final point is important because an unthankful, dissatisfied Christian is vulnerable to deceptive false teaching. A believer who is satisfied with Christ and increasingly grateful for Christ is most safe and secure.
Conclusion
As we weather this protracted period of social isolation, let’s pay close attention to our spiritual growth, especially since we are more distant from the in-person teaching ministry of the church. This challenge is not insurmountable, that’s why we only need a reminder. By focusing more intently on our relationship with Christ and the truth of Scripture we’ve been taught, we can sink our roots deeper into him rather tan drift away into wrong teaching or sinful behavior. As we do, let’s “abound with thanksgiving,” remembering to give thanks for all that we do have in Christ, despite the things that are missing for a while.
Share Your Feedback
Now that you’ve finished this study, don’t forget to tune in early to the Faith Baptist Livestream on Facebook at 10:45 a.m. to post questions, feedback, and comments about the lesson! Pastor Overmiller will respond to your feedback before the 11:00 a.m. service begins.
[1] It’s possible that Paul hadn’t visited Colosse in person, though he knew some of their members personally (Col 1:7; 4:9, 12).
