The Supremacy of the Son of God

Colossians 1:15-29

Introduction

In this session, Colossians chapter 1: 15-29, we will focus on understanding truths about the supremacy of the Son of God by considering who Jesus, the Son of God, is. What he has done for you and what made him a unique savior.

Objectives

By the end of this session, the learner will have:

  • Understood about the Supremacy of the Son of God
  • Identified what the best, top kept secret for centuries and generations, which is now revealed?
  • Identified the role of God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit for accessing help from above

Outline

  • Supremacy of Jesus, Son of God
  • Top kept secret now revealed
  • Christ in you, the hope of glory
  • Paul’s role to the Gentiles

Group Study Time

Colossians 1:15-29

Connecting

  • Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
  • Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
  • Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
  • Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.

Comprehending

  • Read Colossians 1: 15-22. List down at least 7 truths revealed by Jesus the Son of God: who he is, what he has done for you. What makes him a supreme and unique savior?
  • Read Colossians 1:26-27. What was the top-kept secret for centuries and generations now revealed?
  • From his introduction, what was Paul’s role, work, and responsibility to the Gentile believers? Colossians 1:23 b, 24-29.

Committing

  • Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
  • List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
  • Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
  • Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
    • Sin to confess
    • Promise to claim
    • Attitude to change
    • Command to keep
    • Error to change
    • Prayer to make
    • Example to copy
    • Truth to obey and
    • Something praiseworthy

Communicating

  • Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
  • Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
  • Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.

Post Lesson Teaching Summary

Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!

The Supremacy of the Son of God

Colossians 1:15-29

Colossians 1:15-29

Context

  • The church in Colossae was started by Epaphras, a disciple of Paul trained in the school of Tyrannus during Paul’s three years in Ephesus.
  • False teachers arose immediately after the church opened, teaching that Jesus is not enough and additional help like special knowledge or circumcision is needed.
  • Some teachings reverted to traditional religions or Judaizers’ requirements, while others involved mysticism.
  • Paul wrote to affirm that believers have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, which is the greatest help.

The Supremacy of Christ (Colossians 1:15-29)

  • Image of God: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
  • Creator of All: For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.
  • Sustainer: He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
  • Head of the Church: He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.
  • Fullness of God: For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him.
  • Reconciler: Through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.
  • Former Enemies: Once alienated from God and enemies in minds because of evil behavior.
  • Reconciled: But now He has reconciled by Christ’s physical body through death to present holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.
  • Continue in Faith: If continue in faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.
  • Proclaimed Gospel: This is the gospel heard and proclaimed to every creature under heaven, of which Paul has become a servant.

Application

  • Know about Jesus and learn His supremacy over all other help to access spiritual assistance through Him alone.

How to use these studies

These lessons are designed as short, 25-minute studies based on Bible truths, and meant for self-learning or small group study. The study sets systematically cover different books of the Bible. 

Each lesson follows a simple structure:

  • Introduction (Including the outline and objectives)
  • Step 1: Connecting
  • Step 2: Comprehending
  • Step 3: Committing
  • Step 4: Communicating

These sections include questions to help you reflect on the bible passage and how it applies to your life. 

Use these lessons to disciple others by journeying together over time and allowing God’s word to penetrate your heart and bring transforming change to your life. As a leader, pray for wisdom in leading and for modelling the truths in your own life.

Sharing offline

Each lesson has three buttons allowing you to download a easily saveable and shareable PDF version of the study. You can choose either a Mobile-friendly PDF version, and Print-friendly PDF version, or a print version of the Full Study PDF (for example all the lessons in the current book of the Bible).

These are free and can be easily copied and shared from one person to another!

Gathering a Small Group

Start small to build a safe space for sharing and growth.

  • Pray first: Ask God to show you 3-6 people who need encouragement in faith, like family, neighbors, or fellow believers facing hardship.
  • Invite personally: Meet one-on-one, explain how the lessons are designed to help people grow in their faith and knowledge of God and his Word.
  • Keep it simple: Meet in a home or quiet spot; no need for fancy setup – just willing hearts.
  • Aim for consistency: Suggest weekly meetings, but be flexible for busy lives or safety concerns in persecuted areas.

Trust helps everyone open up, reflect, and apply truths without fear.

  • Start with sharing: In the first meeting, share simple stories of your own faith struggles to show vulnerability.
  • Set ground rules: Agree to listen without judging, keep stories private, and focus on encouraging each other.
  • Build bonds: Begin each session with a short prayer or song inviting God to be present with you.
  • Be patient: Trust grows over time – encourage quiet members gently, and celebrate small steps of honesty.

Good preparation makes the lesson flow and helps discipleship.

  • Read ahead: Study the lesson before; pray over the Bible passage and think how it fits your group’s challenges.
  • Adapt for the group: Use simple words; if literacy is low, read aloud slowly and explain questions or stories.
  • Gather basics: Have a Bible (in your language) and paper for notes.
  • Reflect personally: Ask yourself the study questions first – lead from your own growth and experience.
  • Pray: Pray for your group members.

Guide the group through the lesson structure to encourage discovery and commitment.

  • Step 1 – Connecting: Start the group meeting by praying together. Thank God for his Word and ask for open hearts to receive it. Read the Bible passage together (Read it aloud twice; ask someone to repeat in their words.)
  • Step 2: Comprehending: Use the provided questions to help you grapple with the truth of the Bible passage.
  • Step 3 – Committing: Consider how the passage might apply to your lives and what simple steps of obedience you can commit to. The goal of these studies if life-change! Not just knowledge!
  • Step 4 – Communicating:  Think of who you can share the truths you have learned with.
  • Close with Prayer: Let group members pray short prayers of thanks or commitment. Pray for one another.

For many of the lessons, there is a short summary teaching voice-note at the end of the lesson (together with a text summary). This is designed to be a recap and reminder of the key lessons you should have learned through the lesson. 

As a leader, you might like to use these summary teaching resources to help you in preparation for leading your group, though ideally not before you have spent time prayerfully reflecting on the passage.

This is an ongoing discipleship journey aiming to transform lives and help people to live victorious Christian lives. Focus on growth, not just finishing lessons.

  • Meet regularly: Join together at least once a week. Review past actions at each start to build accountability.
  • Encourage reflection: Between meetings, urge personal time with the lesson – read, pray, and try complete commitments made.
  • Support one another: If your group members are facing challenges, use lessons to pray together and share burdens; become “agents of change” by helping others in your community.
  • Multiply groups: As trust grows, encourage members to start their own small groups with family or friends.
  • Keep it short: Stick to 15 – 25 minutes per lesson to fit busy, challenging lives.
  • Handle challenges: If fear or hardship arise, encourage members by always pointing back to God’s love. 
  • Stay safe: In persecuted areas, meet discreetly; focus on heart change over big displays.
  • Celebrate progress: Note how people have grown in faith; allow time for sharing testimonies of what God has done. Take note of what you pray for, and give thanks when God answers prayer.

Final encouragement

Leading these lessons is serving like Jesus – humble, loving, and truthful. As you journey together, God will build growing faith into each person’s life. Pray often, and watch lives transform!

If you would like to share stories of faith from your own communities, please get in touch with us!