PRAYING WITH PAUL - This week we catch a glimpse of an early intercessory "prayer report." The opening words reflect the writer’s posture toward the recipients, a particular prayer style and structure, and theological concerns. Couched within the prayer of thanksgiving are several of the themes that will be addressed later on in the epistle-hope, heaven, the gospel, truth, reminders of their "rescue," etc.

EUCHARISTIA - No matter where the introduction ends (1:12 or 14 or 20 or 23), the opening thought of this first section of Colossians is eucharistia or eucharistountes, ("giving thanks" / "thanksgiving"). That theme will reappear throughout the entire letter. With verse 10-12 we have four participial phrases that describe the qualities of character and growth among the Colossian congregation.

fruit-bearing - (in doing good works)

growth (in the knowledge of God)

strength and endurance that comes from God (to live fully pleasing lives)

lives marked by thankfulness and joy

Notice the emphasis on thanksgiving which begins and ends this section? What draws out the eucharistia in you? What top three memories, faces, names, experiences draw you into spontaneous thanksgiving and gratitude to God?

 

While the genre of Colossians is, of course, epistolary, a primary strand of this letter-and this Sunday’s lesson in particular-leads us into someone’s prayer room. Someone is praying. The proclaimer might do well to lead hearers into this room to let them make their own fresh discoveries about prayer.

This Sunday would allow for you to raise the Christian discipline of prayer and to walk the congregation through the prayer so that listener’s can gain from the prayer and hopefully can also improve their own prayers of intercessions.