Join the Hit the Mark panel as they discuss Sabbath School Lesson 13 – Standing in All the Will of God. It’s the fastest hour of the week!

Make sure to get this week’s keyword handout HERE

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/standing-in-all-the-will-of-god-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=standing-in-all-the-will-of-god-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school

Introduction: We’ve come to the final study in this series of lessons. This is Paul’s farewell to the members of the church at Colossae. The way in which Paul describes his coworkers is a lesson for all of us. When you are discussing someone you know, do you also mention the bad things about them? Or do you keep it positive? Let’s dive into our study of the Bible and see what we can learn!

I. Tychicus

A. Read Colossians 4:7-8. Do you think the members of the church at Colossae knew Tychicus? (It does not sound like they do.)

B. Read Ephesians 6:21-22. Is reporting about Paul and encouraging the members a standard role for Tychicus?

1. What conclusion do you reach when you see that Paul wrote essentially the same thing about Tychicus to two of the churches?

II. Onesimus

A. Read Colossians 4:9. How does Paul describe Onesimus?

1. Does it appear that the Colossians know Onesimus? (Yes. Paul says that he is “one of you.” Meaning one of those from Colossae.)

B. Read Philemon 1:10-12 and Philemon 1:15-18. What is Paul telling us about Onesimus? (That he is a runaway slave. Paul is sending him back to his master. But Paul writes that he is Paul’s “heart.” Paul loves Onesimus and looks on him as if he were a child of Paul.)

C. Look again at Colossians 4:9. Would you have written this introduction the same way?

1. Or would you mention that Onesimus is a runaway slave?
2. What point do you think Paul is making when he describes Onesimus as “one of you.” (Paul might simply be saying that Onesimus is from the same town. But he more likely is saying that Onesimus is a fellow Christian, and not a slave.)

III. Aristarchus

A. Read Colossians 4:10. What is the relationship between Paul and Aristarchus? (They are both prisoners.)

B. Read Acts 19:29-31. What has happened to Aristarchus, and what does Paul want to do about it? (The context is that Paul has been preaching about Jesus in Ephesus, a riot starts in defense of Artemis, the local goddess, and Aristarchus is caught and dragged by the rioters. Paul wants to rush in and save Aristarchus, but his coworkers think this is a bad idea.)

C. Read Acts 27:1-2. What kind of bonding relationship does Aristarchus have with Paul? (He is in prison with Paul more than once. He suffered at the hands of the rioters who were most likely looking for Paul. You might say that he is always in the danger zone when bad things happen to Paul.)

IV. Mark and Barnabas

A. Read again Colossians 4:10. Who were the Colossians acquainted with, Mark or Barnabas? (The fact that Paul calls Mark the cousin of Barnabas, tells us that they knew (or at least knew about) Barnabas.)

1. Why would Paul be uncertain whether Mark would come?
2. What kind of instructions do you think Paul sent regarding Mark?

B. Read Acts 15:36-40. What is John Mark’s history when it comes to being committed to the gospel work? (He had previously turned away. Paul and Barnabas disagreed about giving him another chance.)

C. What does Colossians 4:10 reveal to us about the motivation of Barnabas in this dispute? (John Mark is family. I suspect this fact especially influenced Barnabas, and perhaps it also affected Paul’s view of the dispute.)

1. Do you think this is why Paul is uncertain about whether Mark will show up to work with the Colossians? (Read 2 Timothy 4:11. This shows us that John Mark has now become a trusted helper.)
2. Do you hold grudges against those who have let you down before? (The key here is that Mark has proven himself to be “very useful.” If a church member regularly lets me down by failing to do what the member promised to do, I stop asking that member for help. This is not holding a grudge, it is doing what is best for the church.)

V. Justus and the Judaizers

A. Read Colossians 4:11. What does Paul mean by the phrase, “men of the circumcision?” (He means that they are Jewish, just as Paul is Jewish.)

1. Who is Paul referencing? (The commentators disagree, but Adam Clarke writes that Paul is referring to Aristarchus, John Mark, and Justus.)
2. Why is this comment appropriate? Paul previously wrote in Colossians 3:11 that these kinds of distinctions in the church are not appropriate? (Paul is making a different point. There was a general hostility about converting Gentiles, and a dispute over how “Jewish” the Gentile converts needed to become. Paul tells us that these men of Jewish heritage supported him.)

B. Look again at Colossians 4:11. What do you conclude from Paul stating that these “are the only men” of Jewish heritage supporting him? (Paul seems discouraged by this fact.)

VI. Epaphras

A. Read Colossians 4:12-13 and Colossians 4:16. What kind of a minister is Epaphras, who struggles when he prays? (According to the Popular New Testament commentary, the title Paul uses for Epaphras, “servant of Christ Jesus,” is special. Paul only uses it to describe himself, and once, to describe Timothy.)

1. Is struggling in prayer a good thing? (Yes! This kind of prayer will help the Colossians “stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” Do not give up praying urgently for others.)

a. What do you think it means to stand mature and fully assured regarding the will of God? (The Holy Spirit has aided you to have confidence in your understanding of God’s will.)

B. In verses 13 and 16 Paul refers to the church in Laodicea. Read Revelation 3:14-17. Does the church in Laodicea have the same kinds of problems as the church in Colossae? (No. Laodicea is complacent and spiritually blind. The Colossians have a church that is basically healthy but is fighting false teaching.)

1. So why would Paul tell the Colossians to share their letter with the Laodiceans? (They were neighboring cities in the Lycus Valley.)
2. Wait a minute! Why would geography be the best answer, or even a good answer? (Geography by itself cannot be the only answer. Not everyone in a single church has the same spiritual struggles. While complacency might not have been the defining characteristic of the Colossians, it is likely that some members had this problem.)

VII. Luke and Archippus

A. Read Colossians 4:14. Why would Paul need a physician when miracles abounded in the early church? (Physicians know that their role is to aid the body in healing itself. Whether the miracle is slow or fast, God is the author of healing.)

B. Read Colossians 4:17. Who is Archippus? (Read Philemon 1:1-2. We know almost nothing about Archippus, except that he is a fellow worker with Paul.)

C. Read Colossians 4:18. Think about the way Paul closes his letter to the Colossians. What is the importance of this part of his letter being written in his own hand? (It authenticates the letter.)

1. Why would Paul write about his chains? (Perhaps the chain was around his right wrist, making it more difficult for him to write.)
2. Why are Paul’s last words about grace? (It is the most important point of his letter to the Colossians. We are saved by grace alone.)

D. Friend, Paul wrote this letter in part because of his concern that the members of the church in Colossae were threatened by those who argued that works made them fit to be saved. Paul wrote to them (Colossians 1:22) that Jesus presents us as “holy and blameless and above reproach” before God. Will you accept God’s grace right now?

VIII. Next week: We begin a new series of lessons on “Growing in a Relationship with God.”

Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/13-standing-in-all-th-will-of-god-colossians-47-18-teaching-outline/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=13-standing-in-all-th-will-of-god-colossians-47-18-teaching-outline

Daily Lesson for Thursday 26th of March 2026

Looking at the history of God’s people through the ages, the same problems occur again and again. The prophets rebuked Israel for wanting to worship like the world and urged them to repent before it was too late. Isaiah even lamented, “How the faithful city has become a harlot!” (Isaiah 1:21, NKJV) and urged the people to return to God for forgiveness and cleansing (Isaiah 1:16-20).

Both John the Baptist (Matthew 3:2,8-10) and Jesus (Matthew 4:17, Matthew 12:33-37) called upon the Israelites to repent and bear fruit that would stand the test of the judgment in the last days. The apostles bore a similar message (Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

God will unite heaven and earth. But because of the great controversy, that must be done in stages:

1. At Calvary, Satan lost any affection left toward him among the heavenly beings (John 12:31).

2. Through the judgment ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanc­tuary, God’s people are “complete in every good work to do His will” (Hebrews 13:21, NKJV) and fitted for heaven.

3. Through the millennial judgment and the final judgment after the millennium, all remaining questions are forever settled, and sin and unrepentant sinners are destroyed in the lake of eternal fire, which also cleanses the earth (Revelation 21:8).

4. Only with the end of sin can heaven and earth finally be united (Revelation 21:3).

<–Wednesday Friday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-13-a-message-for-laodicea/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-13-a-message-for-laodicea

Daily Lesson for Wednesday 25th of March 2026

The apostle John tells us, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Luke’s love for Jesus and His kingdom led him to stand by Paul to the end, come what may, whereas Demas loved this world more than the world to come.

1. Mark 13:32-37

2. Titus 2:11-14

3. 2 Peter 3:10-14

4. Revelation 3:17-21

Jesus and the apostles frequently warn us to “watch,” be vigilant, and be ready always for the Master’s coming so as not to be taken by surprise. Unfortunately, as did the disciples who failed to heed Jesus’ command to “watch and pray” (Mark 14:38, NKJV), many will not make the necessary preparations. It all comes down to who or what has our hearts, because we cannot serve two masters.

In the message to Laodicea, Jesus gives us a clear prescription. First, repent of our sins. Second, we are to open our hearts to Jesus and let Him be in control, which then (third) enables us to obtain the “gold” of faith and love tested by trial and victorious over temptation.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-13-living-in-this-world-but-not-of-it/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-13-living-in-this-world-but-not-of-it

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School Class, March 28, 2026.

Central Theme: This week, we will look at Paul’s mission strategy, which involved the very efficient use of time and resources in reaching the major centers of the Roman Empire, as well as training promising lay workers in order to reach the cities and towns that Paul would not visit, such as Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis.

Read in Class: Colossians 4:7-9 and Ephesians 6:21. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passages.

Study: How is Tychicus described, and what reasons does Paul give for sending him and Onesimus to Colossae?

Apply: How do these personal things in Paul’s letters not only show his humanity but, in a small way, affirm the validity of his ministry?

Share: Your friend says that he has heard that pastors cannot really be friends with their congregations, and yet it seemed like Paul was friends with everyone. Your friend asks why many pastors feel they cannot be personal friends with their church members. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Colossians 4:10-13. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: Besides sending news back and forth through emissaries (Col. 4:7-9), what other ways did Paul encourage connectivity? In view of some of the problems Paul has addressed in this epistle, what message might be conveyed through these greetings?

Apply: How can you, at your local church, work to lessen the things that threaten our unity? What are these tensions at the local level, and what can be done about them?

Share: Your friend asks whether we should all be praying for our church families as Epaphras prayed for his. What do you tell your friend? Can you share how Ephaphras prayed, and how we pray today?

Read in Class: Colossians 4:14-15 and 2 Timothy 4:10-11. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passages.

Study: How is Luke distinguished from Demas and why?

Apply: Read Titus 2:11-14, and 1 John 2:15-17. How do we make sure we do not get carried away with the ways of the world, so that we are ready when Jesus comes?

Share: Your friend tells you that her nephew has been offered a college football scholarship from a prestigious university. Sure, he will have to give up the Sabbath, but this is an incredible opportunity for his life. It could even get him into the pros, which can make millions. Some of that he will even be giving to the church. What an opportunity, right? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Colossians 4:16-18 and Colossians 2:1-3. Compare with Revelation 3:14-22.

Study: Thinking about Jesus’ message to Laodicea, what correlations do you find with that of Colossians, which was to be read also in the Laodicean church of Paul’s day?

Apply: What can you yourself (not looking at anyone else) do in order to remain faithful to God and to the truth He has given us? That is, what choices are you making that reveal who truly has your heart?

Share: Your friend asks if it is possible that our church could be like Laodicea? If so, how, and what is the remedy? What do you tell your friend?

Mission: Do you know of a friend who was in the church and has fallen back into the world? Can you intentionally pray for that friend every day this week? And keep him or her on your prayer list?

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/13-standing-in-all-the-will-of-god-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=13-standing-in-all-the-will-of-god-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan