Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School Class, March 28, 2026.

Central Theme: This week, we will look at Paul’s mission strategy, which involved the very efficient use of time and resources in reaching the major centers of the Roman Empire, as well as training promising lay workers in order to reach the cities and towns that Paul would not visit, such as Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis.

Read in Class: Colossians 4:7-9 and Ephesians 6:21. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passages.

Study: How is Tychicus described, and what reasons does Paul give for sending him and Onesimus to Colossae?

Apply: How do these personal things in Paul’s letters not only show his humanity but, in a small way, affirm the validity of his ministry?

Share: Your friend says that he has heard that pastors cannot really be friends with their congregations, and yet it seemed like Paul was friends with everyone. Your friend asks why many pastors feel they cannot be personal friends with their church members. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Colossians 4:10-13. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: Besides sending news back and forth through emissaries (Col. 4:7-9), what other ways did Paul encourage connectivity? In view of some of the problems Paul has addressed in this epistle, what message might be conveyed through these greetings?

Apply: How can you, at your local church, work to lessen the things that threaten our unity? What are these tensions at the local level, and what can be done about them?

Share: Your friend asks whether we should all be praying for our church families as Epaphras prayed for his. What do you tell your friend? Can you share how Ephaphras prayed, and how we pray today?

Read in Class: Colossians 4:14-15 and 2 Timothy 4:10-11. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passages.

Study: How is Luke distinguished from Demas and why?

Apply: Read Titus 2:11-14, and 1 John 2:15-17. How do we make sure we do not get carried away with the ways of the world, so that we are ready when Jesus comes?

Share: Your friend tells you that her nephew has been offered a college football scholarship from a prestigious university. Sure, he will have to give up the Sabbath, but this is an incredible opportunity for his life. It could even get him into the pros, which can make millions. Some of that he will even be giving to the church. What an opportunity, right? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Colossians 4:16-18 and Colossians 2:1-3. Compare with Revelation 3:14-22.

Study: Thinking about Jesus’ message to Laodicea, what correlations do you find with that of Colossians, which was to be read also in the Laodicean church of Paul’s day?

Apply: What can you yourself (not looking at anyone else) do in order to remain faithful to God and to the truth He has given us? That is, what choices are you making that reveal who truly has your heart?

Share: Your friend asks if it is possible that our church could be like Laodicea? If so, how, and what is the remedy? What do you tell your friend?

Mission: Do you know of a friend who was in the church and has fallen back into the world? Can you intentionally pray for that friend every day this week? And keep him or her on your prayer list?