Read: Colossians 2:8, Colossians 2:3-4
Captured! It’s predictable. In so many action movies these days there is at least one point in the movie where the good guy is captured by the bad guy. Somehow the good guy has been tricked and the bad guy has him in his grip. All hope seems lost. The bad guy has won and the good guy has failed. Suddenly a rescue comes out of nowhere and the hero is saved. Unfortunately in the real world this kind of rescue doesn’t always come. Sometimes the good guys are captured by the bad guys and terrible things happen to them. They must always be on their guard to avoid being captured by the enemy.
This is the kind of picture that Paul paints for us here. The Colossians are to be careful and on guard that they are not taken captive by hollow and deceptive philosophy. False teachers are out there like the enemy seeking to take the Colossian believers captive with their deceptive teachings. These teachings depend on human tradition, human logic and the basic principles of the world rather than depending on Christ.
This is also why Paul tells the Colossians that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in verse 3. These hollow and deceptive philosophies depend on human wisdom and knowledge while missing the only true source of wisdom and knowledge, Jesus Christ Himself. They are exchanging the true source of wisdom and knowledge for deception and lies.
The Colossians are in real danger here. Paul uses the vivid picture of them being captured or carried off as slaves by this false teaching. This is not some secondary issue that doesn’t really matter in the end. This is vitally important. The Colossians are to be vigilant and alert so that they are not taken captive by false teaching.
The answer is clear. Rather than look to false teaching and human philosophies they are to look to Christ as the source of all wisdom, knowledge and truth. They are to hold firm to the gospel that they have been taught (Colossians 1:23) and to remain solid and firm in the faith that they have been taught (vs 7).
We are no strangers to hollow and deceptive philosophy. Perhaps even more than the Colossians, we are exposed to all sorts of false teaching. We can be tempted to trust in arguments that are based on human experience and not on the word of God. We can be drawn in by science and evolution and reject the truth taught in the Bible. We can be caught up in all the teaching in the popular media and drawn into confused and muddled ways of thinking about the world.
Not only are we exposed to false teaching from secular sources. Many so called preachers or teachers of the Bible are actually teaching falsely, seeking to capture us though hollow and deceptive philosophy.
We must be totally vigilant and on guard against any false teaching, careful not to be taken captive. We must grow in our understanding of God’s word and depend on Him as the source of all wisdom and knowledge.
Prayer:
Use the Bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would work against those in the world who would seek to capture people through false teaching. Pray that He would frustrate their plans and protect His people against being misled.
It is hard to be deceived and captured by false teaching when we are growing in relationship with God, growing in understanding of His word and in fellowship with mature believers. Let’s be on guard together.
1. Why do you think Paul views being captured by false teaching as such a bad thing? Does it really matter what we believe?
2. How should believers respond to false teaching? Consider the following passages in your answer: Acts 18:24-28, Romans 16:17-19, 1 Timothy 1:3-7, Galatians 1:6-9, 2 John 7-11, Jude 3-4.
Intro: We all need someone to go to when we need help.
Share: Someone that you can go to when you need help or when something bad has happened? Why would you go to that person?
Read: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 There is no one better to go to when we need help than God. He knows everything and is the king of the universe! God gives us the Bible to guide us when we need help. What does this passage say about the Bible? Why do you think we can trust the Bible? What should we do when we need help?
Pray Together: Thank God that He has given us the Bible to help us when we are in trouble.
Read: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 There is no one better to go to when we need help than God. He knows everything and is the king of the universe! God gives us the Bible to guide us when we need help. What does this passage say about the Bible? Why do you think we can trust the Bible? What should we do when we need help?
Pray Together: Thank God that He has given us the Bible to help us when we are in trouble.
Intro: We all need someone to go to when we need help.
Share: Someone that you can go to when you need help or when something bad has happened? Why would you go to that person?
Read: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 There is no one better to go to when we need help than God. He knows everything and is the king of the universe! God gives us the Bible to guide us when we need help. What does this passage say about the Bible? Why do you think we can trust the Bible? What should we do when we need help?
Pray Together: Thank God that He has given us the Bible to help us when we are in trouble.
Read: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 There is no one better to go to when we need help than God. He knows everything and is the king of the universe! God gives us the Bible to guide us when we need help. What does this passage say about the Bible? Why do you think we can trust the Bible? What should we do when we need help?
Pray Together: Thank God that He has given us the Bible to help us when we are in trouble.
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