Sabbath School Lesson for March 21-27, 2026
Introduction for Lesson 13, Standing in All the Will of God
Memory Text: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV
Paul had a focused mission, but also strategies to carry out that mission through teamwork that proved effective in reaching the vast Roman Empire with the gospel of Christ.
Extensive travel and training of lay workers was coupled with efforts to link people and churches by revisiting and writing to them. These methods helped Paul’s strategic aim to share the message of salvation with others. His love and concern for the churches was felt by his audience, encouraging them to stay in the will of God.
We take particular notice of Paul’s strategies, as he closed his letter to the Colossians, mentioning the names of several individuals who made up his “dream team” of gospel ministers. Thanking them personally and exhorting believers to thank God for their ministries was intended to draw them closer to following and staying in God’s will.
Sunday: Lessons on Outreach
Paul’s outreach was extensive indeed. It’s estimated that his travels covered about 13,400 miles. That would be the equivalent of going from coast to coast in the United States four or five times. And most of Paul’s travel would have been on foot–not an easy, comfortable endeavor, to be sure. Paul strategically chose port cities of trade to introduce the gospel, so it could be spread inland to other cities and towns, saving him further miles of travel.
Both Tychicus and Onesimus were mentioned by Paul as “faithful” and “beloved” brothers (Colossians 4:7, 9). Paul counted on them to share with him knowledge of what they were experiencing in their churches, and also to share with the churches what Paul’s imprisonment was like.
Tychicus must have been a trusted minister. He was one of two men from Asia Paul chose to accompany him to Jerusalem with a collection for needy believers there (Acts 20:4). Certainly, donations for such projects constitute a form of outreach that is still needed in the world.
Onesimus, you may remember, was the runaway slave of Philemon in Colossae, who was converted while Paul was in Rome. Onesimus’ report about Paul’s imprisonment would surely have been lovingly given and received.
Verses and questions:
Colossians 4:7-9, Acts 20:4, and Ephesians 6:21
- What were some probable reasons why Tychicus and Onesimus were chosen as emissaries of Paul?
- What are some of the things that make people good communicators and trusted friends in your world?
Monday: Church Connectivity
After Tychicus and Onesimus, Paul mentioned three Jewish believers who were “of the circumcision” (Colossians 4:10, 11). They were Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus. These three had been a comfort to Paul, and the Colossians were encouraged to receive them openly and warmly.
These connectivity measures were not just the pride-filled “namedropping” used by some to make them appear important. This tactic was helpful in making individual churches feel united with the bigger cause of spreading the gospel to the world. In this case, it confirmed to the local congregations that there were Jewish Christians who could be trusted and followed, and safely reached out to with the message of Christ.
Evidently, Aristarchus had suffered imprisonment in Rome with Paul. John Mark was the young missionary who had previously deserted him and Barnabas, but later proved himself loyal and worthy of Paul’s trust. And finally, there was Jesus (a Jewish name), also known as Justus (the Roman equivalent), whom Paul found to be a worthy worker for the Lord and a comfort during his sufferings in Rome.
Verses and questions:
Colossians 4:10, 11
- Why might Paul have included these three Jewish Christians in his letter to the church in Colossae?
- What made them worthy of Paul’s recognition and praise?
Tuesday: Standing Perfect and Complete
Epaphras, whom Paul also mentioned at the end of his epistle, was someone Paul had converted in Ephesus. Epaphras brought the message of Christ back to his hometown of Colossae and began a church there.
Epaphras also had great zeal for the churches in Laodicia and Hierapolis. Paul mentioned that Epaphras was one of them though, a Colossian, and had labored and prayed fervently for his beloved Colossian friends to “stand perfect and complete in the will of God” (Colossians 4:12).
“Standing” implied that they should be “steadfast and grounded”, as Paul described in Colossians 1:23. The idea of being “perfect” was no doubt in connection with the kind of perfect love Jesus said to strive for, one that called for loving their enemies (Matthew 5:44, 48). It is this kind of sacrificial love that we must continually strive for in our lives.
Love is what makes us like God, mature and full of God’s blessings. In other words, it allows us to completely fulfill God’s will with the power He gives us.
Verses and questions:
Colossians 4:12, 13
- What kind of purpose is described here for those who are called Christians?
- What is the only way to stand perfect and complete before God?
- How does love help us fulfill God’s will and be complete in Him?
Wednesday: Living in This World but Not of It
Paul mentioned a beloved physician, Luke, at the end of his epistle to the Colossians. Luke, a favorite traveling companion of Paul, is thought to be the only Gentile author in the New Testament.
Paul also mentioned Demas, but nothing else is said about him (Colossians 4:14). 2 Timothy 4:10, 11 revealed that Demas, at one point, had forsaken Paul, having loved the present world too much.
We have warnings about doing such a thing in 1 John 2:15, where it says “if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him”. Jesus was certainly aware of the danger of loving the world too much when He prayed that His disciples be in the world, but not taken away by the evil one (John 17:14-19).
Demas evidently had a problem with being drawn to the things of the world–something today known as materialism.
Verses and questions:
Colossians 4:14, 15 and 2 Timothy 4:10, 11
- Why did Paul say so little about Demas in this letter to the Colossians?
- What caused Demas to forsake Paul?
- How can we also be drawn into the things of the world without realizing it?
Mark 13:32-33, Titus 2:11-14, 2 Peter 3:10-14, and Revelation 3:17-21
- How do these verses help us fight against loving the world too much?
Thursday: A Message for Laodicea
The church in Laodicea must have weighed heavy on Paul’s heart. He mentioned them at the beginning of his letter to the Colossians (Colossians 2:1-3). And once again, at the end (Colossians 4:15-17).
John the Baptist and Jesus both preached a message of repentance and revival so the Israelites would be prepared for the final judgment. Their need for repentance was great because they had the purpose of preparing the world for the first coming of God’s Son. They were, in a sense, in the last phase of their church era, like the Laodiceans John was concerned about in chapter three of Revelation.
The seven churches John addressed in Revelation are thought to symbolically represent eras in church history. Since Laodicea is mentioned last, it may be the church of our day, close to His Second Coming. We, too, need to repent and revive our zeal for God to prepare for that grand event.
Verses and questions:
Colossians 4:15-18, 2:1-3, and Philemon 2
- Why do you think Paul was so insistent on the Laodiceans getting his letters?
- What did Paul perhaps mean by calling Archippus a “fellow soldier” in Philemon 2? In what way are we soldiers and why?
Friday: Final Thoughts
God has mercifully dealt with sin in the universe by taking steps to unite heaven and earth. His end goal is to get rid of the suffering and death sin has caused and to restore this earth to its Edenic beauty and glory. The stages of God’s judgment that lead to this unity with heaven include:
- Christ’s death on the cross at Calvary…Righteous angelic beings are no longer attracted to Satan’s agenda, knowing how hideously cruel it has shown itself to be. See John 12:31 (a passage where Christ predicts His death and what it means to Satan).
- Christ’s present judgment ministry going on in the heavenly sanctuary just prior to His Second Coming…This investigative phase, called the cleansing of the sanctuary, will prove to the angels in heaven that God’s rewards for the righteous are justly determined. See Daniel 8:14 and Revelation 22:12.
- Christ’s judgment process in heaven during the millennium…This phase will prove to the righteous that God is fair and just in how He will punish the wicked after the millennium. See Revelation 20:4.
- Christ’s final punishment after the millennium, raining fire down to destroy the wicked…This event will put a quick end to sin once and for all, in a way that preserves His character of merciful love and transparent justice. See Revelation 20:7-10.
Next Week: Reality Check (new quarter–Growing in a Relationship With God)
To read the Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly and see more resources for its study, go to
