Sincerely, Paul
- Cornerstone Church
- Oct 25
- 3 min read
The Book of Acts closed with Paul imprisoned in Rome for 2 years. Paul used this time to write letters and minister to different churches. Paul is believed to have written several letters, which include the readings from this week in Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon. Colossians and Ephesians were written to the Churches of Colossae and Ephesus. Both letters are structured similarly, with the first half focused on doctrine and the second on application. Philemon is a personal letter to a friend (Philemon) of Paul’s concerning a runaway slave, now converted believer, named Onesimus. All of these letters are extensions of the Lord Jesus’ ministry through Paul, and a testament to God’s faithfulness. God faithfully provided His Word, both for His church then and now, through Paul, continuing to work out the implications of our new life in Christ. That is the Big Picture.
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Week 44
Bible Reading Plan
Daily Prayer Plan
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2025 to see how Love Shows Up from the Old Testament and into the New Testament. How do we understand so many stories and lessons through the entire Bible while trying to stick to the "sacred timeline"? The answer is the big picture. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in the books of Colossians, Philemon, and Ephesians, what is impacting you the most? How has praying daily through the Psalms impacted you? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
R.E.A.D. - Repeated words. Examine & mark. Ask what I learn about God? Do.
STUDY IT.
Read Colossians 1:15-20. What does the poem teach about Christ?
Read Colossians 1:25-29. How does Paul describe what he is making known and his goals? What, therefore, ought to be the goal today?
Read Colossians 3:1-11. How does Paul contrast the actions of those “raised with Christ” and those of “earthly nature”?
Read Philemon 1:8, 14-16. What is Paul’s argument for a deeper reconciliation between Philemon and Onesimus?
Read Ephesians 2:1-3. What do you learn about human depravity? Read Ephesians 2:4-7. What do you learn about God’s love towards His people? Read Ephesians 2:8-10. What do you learn about boasting in salvation?
SHARE IT.
Read Colossians 1:9-12. What do you learn about prayer from Paul’s example here?
Read Philemon 1:4-7, 22. What do you learn about prayer from Paul’s example here?
Read Ephesians 1:16-19. What do you learn about prayer from Paul’s example here?
Read Colossians 3:12-17. What challenges you about how Paul describes the Christians life?
Read Colossians 3:17. What is the standard by which we are to measure “whatever we do”?
FINAL THOUGHT
In the observable universe, there are estimated to be over 2 trillion galaxies. That is over 2,000,000,000,000 galaxies. There are roughly 100 billion stars in each galaxy. That is 100,000,000,000 stars. Doing the math, there are roughly 2 X 1023 stars in the observable universe. That is a 2 with 23 zeros behind it. That is just in the part that humans can observe. And yet, “the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26-27). What is this glory? Having been made alive with Christ, “He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” The same God that holds a 2 with 23 zero’s of stars behind it says all those stars are kid stuff in comparison to what you will see for my/God’s glory and our/Christians’ good.
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