October 18th, 2026
Complete in Christ 3 - The Mystery of Maturity
October 18th, 2026
Like a concerned parent, Paul writes to the church out of a concern that we be ‘mature in Christ’. This maturity springs out of the mystery of the gospel – salvation for all people through Jesus – which Paul says is both the wisdom he uses to teach us and is itself the wisdom we walk in. Spiritual Maturity is receiving what God tells us to be true, and living the way that he has meant us to. Far from being something we try to achieve on our own, this is something that God himself helps us with. God offers to us the mind of Christ, where we can learn to think the way he does rather than build our lives on worldly perspectives and truth claims. At the same time, we endeavor to allow God to work out his message of hope through us, embracing the mission of Christ. In a way that doesn’t make intuitive sense to the world, we actually receive clarity and confidence when we live in mystery. That is, the mystery of Jesus is God’s offer to show us, help us, and be with us as we grow in him on our way to completion.
Read Colossians 1:24 - 2:7, perhaps a few times in a different translation.
Read through 1 Corinthians 2 and Ephesians 3 for other areas where Paul writes about the mystery of God. Then discuss:
Can you recall someone in your life who has helped make faith more clear for you, whether in understanding or in application? How did they communicate that made it click for you?
What was the goal of Paul’s proclamations? What should be the goal of Christian proclamation today? How should that goal be accomplished, and how could you and your group contribute?
Paul tells us that all wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ, and are available to everyone. Why do you think, in light of the challenge he has hinted at so far, Paul is stressing this point?
Why was Paul willing to suffer so much for people he hadn’t meant? How might that inspire us today? To what degree should we be expected to incorporate redemptive suffering into our own lives? What changes could we make in order to be more mission-oriented with our lives?