Sermon S m n 3 JESUS IS THE CENTER OF IT ALL Colossians 1: 15-20
Pastor/preacher make their own personal Introduction and Greetings.
REVIEW (OPTIONAL) Last week we looked into Colossians 1: 8 – 12 and we learned that: (PARAPHRASE)
1. The power of the gospel and the Word of God should be the foundation, the root from which all our activities, ministries, training, equipping, fellowship, maturity, worship, discipleship, and mission branch out, individually and as a church. The integrity of our walk with God, our own personal spiritual experience and Maturity will determine the fruits and effectiveness of our ministry.
2. Christ’s power is sufficient to enable us to live with integrity and serve in ministry and missions joyfully, obediently and faithfully
3. Being in Christ gives us a grateful heart
Colossians 1: 15 – 20 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1: 15 – 20 Speaks about the supremacy of Christ and His role in creation and redemption. Jesus is indeed the center of it all! He created us, he redeemed us through his sacrifice, he empowered us to live holy lives through the Holy Spirit and he is our hope for the future! He is sufficient to meet all that we need and want and desire! He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end!
JESUS IS SUFFICIENT to meet even the world’s greatest needs
The Phrase Jesus is the answer hits the nail right on its head! The answer to what? The answer to your life’s deepest questions. The answer to your heart’s deepest desire. The answer to your life’s greatest need. We think that having more money, more friends, more lands and properties is the answer but the more we run after these things we find that they only satisfy for a moment and want more. Jesus is the answer and Paul’s short letter to the Colossians is rich with truths about who Jesus is. Let us just go through a few in relation to Missions
1. JESUS is God’s Ultimate Revelation of himself.
Colossians 1: 15, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Jesus is the express image of the person of God. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” In Jesus, the invisible God made Himself visible. Through Jesus, we can see and know God. When we look at Jesus, we see God’s love, God’s justice, God’s mercy, and God’s holiness. Hebrews 1: 3, The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
All our questions about who God is, what God is like, does God exist – are fully answered in Jesus! When we read through the gospels about the life of Jesus and farther explanations of Paul in the Epistles, we see the character and attitude, love and image of God! To know Jesus is to know God.
2. JESUS is the Creator and Sustainer
All power in heaven and earth and all fullness of glory and grace have been given to Jesus. At the foundation of the world God brought all things forth through Jesus and by His power. Colossians 1: 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy. Through Jesus all things were made out of nothing. This includes the highest angel as well as every person throughout all history. At the foundation of the world God brought all things forth through Jesus and by His power. Creation is the work of an infinite, unlimited, perfect being, who possesses all wisdom and knowledge. Jesus acted of and from Himself in creation. All was made through wisdom and Jesus is the eternal wisdom of the Father. His supremacy far surpasses anything of the created order, even the angelic divisions and offices. He is excellent above all. And He is not some abstract creator but a personal and intimate companion. Colossians 1: 16 - 17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible
Sermon 3 JESUS IS THE CENTER OF IT ALL
and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
In Jesus all things hold together. Without Jesus, the whole universe would fall apart. Jesus is the Sustainer of all creation and the sustainer of our lives. In our lives, many things can fall apart. Dreams, hopes, plans, relationships, businesses — everything and anything can fall apart. In Christ we are held together. “He is able to keep us from falling”(Jude 24). He holds everything together.
Nothing is beyond His Sovereignty and control. We can live with confidence, hope and faith because we can trust Jesus to hold us together… to hold everything together, especially during those times when everything seems to be breaking and falling apart. When things get difficult and it’s hard to keep on, we can remain faithful, because Jesus can be trusted to sustain us.
3. JESUS is the Head of the Church
Colossians 1: 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Jesus is creator, originator, and sustainer of all creation, and He is also Head over the church. His headship is universal, but His leadership revolves around His church and the people who have accepted him by faith, those who have willingly chosen to receive His love and grace and love Him wholeheartedly in return.
Jesus rules over His people, the church, not by force and power but by their willing submission to his Lordship in their lives.That is why every service we give, every money we give, every hour that we spend with him, every ministry we do must come from our love for Jesus and our willingness to serve Him!
Jesus is ‘the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead…” Jesus, through His death and resurrection leads us into eternal life. Just as in Adam all died, in Christ all will be made alive spiritually and eternally (see 1 Cor. 15:20-23)
Jesus is the author and dispenser of all life, salvation, light and authority, to those who call upon Him.
Sermon 3 JESUS IS THE CENTER OF IT ALL
4. JESUS’ sacrifice on the cross brings complete reconciliation with God, redemption and healing.
Colossians 1: 19 - 20 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
When we look around us today – we can clearly and plainly see that the world needs to be reconciled with God. The world needs the healing and redemption that only JESUS can provide. Nations war against nations. People murder innocent people randomly. Marriages and families are breaking apart in hatred, anger and jealousy.Millions of people are homeless, hungry and dying from a multitude of causes. The world is suffering because it is a sinful world.
People are living outside of the will and the plan of God simply because they don’t know Jesus.Billions of people around the world have not yet heard the good news that in Jesus there is redemption, reconciliation and healing.
Even here in our own country, community and families we see the wreckage that sin has brought — disunity, corruption in the government and even in the religious sector. Crime and drug abuse are rampant and pervasive. Our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health are deteriorating, COVID, RS virus and so on. Families are in trouble. Homes are breaking apart – these are just a few of the devastating results of sin that we see in our lives and in the church.
(See Romans 8: 19 – 24)
As followers of Christ, the church, we have experienced what it means to be
reconciled with God. We have testimonies of how pointless, broken, destroyed our lives have been because of sin and how Jesus has turned our lives around.
In Jesus we have experienced healing in our bodies, reconciliation of broken
relationships, freedom from the bondages and addictions, and more. Jesus has reconciled us back to God and now we are enjoying the peace, confidence and hope as we follow God’s plan and purpose for our lives!
It is a blessing to know Jesus and be a part of His family. It is our privilege to be
invited to take part in Christ’s mission of reconciling the world back to God as redeemed children of God,
Sermon 3 JESUS IS THE CENTER OF IT ALL
CONCLUSION
As we close, let’s remember who Jesus is:
JESUS is God’s Ultimate Revelation of himself.
JESUS is the Creator and Sustainer JESUS is the Head of the Church JESUS’ sacrifice on the cross brings complete reconciliation with God, redemption and healing.
Jesus is above all. He is worthy of our worship. He is worthy of our love. He is worthy of our obedience, our service, our all. He is worthy of our lives.
Let us worship Jesus. Let us live for Him. Let us serve Him with our ALL. And let us make His greatness and goodness known to ALL nations so that they too can give Jesus all the glory, honor, worship and love that He deserves.
Questions for reflection and application:
1. Who are the people in your life: friends, families, relative and co-workers who need to know Jesus? How will you introduce Jesus to them?
2. How can you be a part of CAMACOP CHURCH PLANTING and MISSIONS
MOVEMENT? What steps will you take?
(The preacher or pastor can present the church’s missions program or present practical ways on how the congregation can be involved in missions.)
