Paul Barnes, Lead Minister at Madison Christian Church, outlined on Apr. 14 his method for praying through the biblical book of Colossians, a practice he said he has followed for years and shared in response to requests from congregants. The guidance comes after the church completed a sermon series on Colossians that spanned from late 2025 through Easter Sunday in 2026.
Barnes described how engaging with scripture in prayer can deepen personal faith and align individuals with what he called God’s agenda. “Our Heavenly Father knows us intimately. He is very capable of letting us know in his inspired, infallible Word what is important in our lives. I have found this to be a powerful way to get on the same page with the Lord,” Barnes said.
He provided step-by-step suggestions for using passages from each chapter of Colossians as prompts for gratitude, requests for spiritual growth, and praise. For example, Barnes recommended thanking God for community and grace based on early verses and asking for wisdom and endurance inspired by later sections. He encouraged customizing prayers according to personal circumstances: “Thank you for giving me such an amazing wife… Thank you that I am a dad… Help me never to embitter or discourage any of them in any way.” He concluded by inviting others to try this approach even if it seems time-consuming: “Nothing is more important than adopting God’s agenda for our lives, as it is laid out for us in the Word of God.”
Madison Christian Church serves Groveport, Madison Township, southeast Columbus and extends its mission globally according to the official website. The church features facilities such as a worship center, gymnasium, classrooms and kitchen according to the official website. It operates independently without denominational ties according to the official website.
The congregation offers worship services along with ministries designed for children, students and adults aimed at fostering spiritual growth according to the official website. Its activities reach both local communities—including Groveport and southeast Columbus—and global outreach efforts according to the official website.
Looking ahead, Madison Christian Church continues its focus on connecting individuals with faith while nurturing their development through various programs supporting all age groups within its diverse congregation according to the official website.
