Study Guide: Colossians 1:9-14
*This study guide can be used in conjunction with the message preached on January 11, 2026 during the series Jesus >.
Pray
As you begin, start by taking a deep breath. Then ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the knowledge of God’s will and to help you live in a way that pleases Him.
Read
Colossians 1:9-14
Observe
vv. 9–11 | Paul petitions God on behalf of the Colossians
Because of what he heard about their faith and love, Paul says he never stopped praying for them. His main request was that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, shaped by true spiritual wisdom and understanding. Knowing God and knowing what He desires is the starting point of the Christian life. Paul did not want them to remain spiritually ignorant, because ignorance leads to error, instability, and sorrow. This knowledge was meant to shape how they lived, so that their daily walk would be worthy of the Lord and fully pleasing to Him. A worthy walk shows itself by being fruitful in every good work and by continuing to grow in knowing God more deeply. As Jesus taught, a life that abides in Him will bear much fruit and bring glory to the Father. Paul also prayed that they would be strengthened by God’s glorious power, so they could endure difficult circumstances with patience and deal with difficult people with endurance, all while maintaining joy.
vv. 12–14 | Paul’s specific thanks to the Father
Paul then turns to thanksgiving, praising the Father who has qualified believers to share in the inheritance of the saints. This qualification does not come from our works, but from God Himself, and it is received as an inheritance, not earned like wages. The God the Father has rescued us from the power of darkness—a phrase that describes Satan’s realm and the spiritual forces opposed to God—and has transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son. This transfer is complete and decisive, like a conquered people being moved into a new kingdom, meaning our lives now belong fully to God. In Christ, we have redemption, which means release by the payment of a ransom, and that price was paid through the blood of Jesus Christ. Because of this, our sins are forgiven—literally “sent away”—so they no longer stand between us and God. Though believers are still tempted, they are no longer under Satan’s authority, because they now live under the loving rule of God’s Son.
Credit: Guzik, David. “Colossians 1 - The Greatness of Jesus Christ.” Enduring Word, n.d., https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/colossians-1.
Application
1. Pursue spiritual growth intentionally.
These verses remind us that knowing God’s will does not happen by accident. We are called to seek spiritual wisdom and understanding through prayer, Scripture study, and obedience, allowing God’s truth to shape how we think and live.
2. Live out what you know about God.
Spiritual knowledge should lead to a worthy walk. As we grow in understanding God’s will, we should aim to please Him through a life marked by good works, perseverance in hardship, and patience with others, all empowered by His strength.
3. Live with gratitude for what God has already done.
Paul’s thanksgiving calls us to remember that our salvation is a gift, not something we earn. Gratitude grows when we regularly reflect on how God has rescued us from darkness, brought us into Christ’s kingdom, and forgiven our sins through Jesus.
Pray (ACTS)
What is the ACTS prayer model?
A - Praise God for bringing you into His kingdom.
C - Confess a time you missed an opportunity to do the right thing and did what you wanted instead.
T - Thank God for rescuing you from the power of darkness and giving you redemption and forgiveness through Jesus.
S - Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with more and more of God’s knowledge.
Discuss
Questions for personal reflection, spiritual insight, or group interaction.
What does it look like in your daily life to be “filled with the knowledge of God’s will”?
In what areas are you growing in spiritual wisdom and understanding, and where do you still feel unsure?
How would you describe a “walk worthy of the Lord” in practical, everyday terms?
What good works is God currently calling you to be fruitful in?
How can bearing fruit and growing in your knowledge of God happen at the same time?
Where do you most need God’s strength to endure with patience right now?
How do you usually respond to difficult people, and how might God be calling you to respond with joy instead?
What does it mean to you personally that God has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints?
In what ways has God rescued you from darkness, either in the past or in your present walk?
How does knowing you belong to the kingdom of Christ shape your identity and decisions?
Why is it important to remember that forgiveness is a gift, not something you earn?
How can gratitude for redemption and forgiveness reshape the way you pray and live this week?
Memory Verse
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” - Colossians 1:13
Resources for Further Study of Colossians: