He Is Indeed in First Place

In one paragraph

This message was the second week in Colossians, covering chapter one, verses 13 through 20. Pastor Josh walked through what many scholars call the "Christ hymn" of Colossians, a dense and carefully constructed passage about who Jesus is and what He has done. The application he landed on was simple and personal: Jesus is indeed preeminent, but is He first place in your life? Pastor Josh started by...

Read together

1. Colossians 1:9-12 read as a ramp leading into the main passage, covering prayer for the Colossians to walk worthy
2. Colossians 1:13 rescue from the domain of darkness and transfer into the kingdom of Christ
3. Colossians 1:14 redemption defined by the appositive as forgiveness of sins
4. Colossians 1:15-20 the Christ hymn describing Jesus as image of God, firstborn, agent of creation, head of the church, firstborn from the dead, and reconciler of all things through the blood of his cross
5. John 1:1-3 cited to confirm Jesus as the word who was with God, was God, and through whom all things were created
6. Hebrews 1 quoted describing Jesus as the radiance of God's glory and exact representation of his nature
7. Philippians 2:5-9 cited twice describing Christ not grasping equality with God, taking on obedience unto death on a cross, and being exalted above every name
8. Revelation 1:4-5 quoted identifying Jesus as the faithful witness, firstborn of the dead, and ruler of the kings of the earth
9. Ephesians 6:12 referenced when noting that thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities sound like the wrestling-not-against-flesh-and-blood language in Ephesians
10. Ephesians 2:8-10 paraphrased to say it is by grace through faith you are saved and you are his workmanship created to do good works
11. 1 John 1:8 paraphrased as John saying the one who claims to have no sin is a liar

What was said

• Pick one relationship in your family and ask yourself honestly whether Jesus is in first place in the way you handle it this week, not whether they are following him, but whether you are.
• The next time you catch yourself worrying about something, stop and pray about it instead, treating that as a concrete act of putting Jesus first.
• Sit with Colossians 1:17, 'in him all things hold together,' and let it settle over whatever feels fragmented or unstable in your life right now.
• If there is something in your past you keep returning to with shame or regret, ask God to help you see how he has brought you out of that domain of darkness and into the kingdom of his Son.
• At some point this week, at work or wherever your daily routine takes you, pause and ask whether the decision or attitude you are about to carry forward puts Jesus in first place.

Talk about it

1. Paul prays that the Colossians would walk in a manner worthy of the Lord before he gets to any instruction. What does it look like in practice to let theology shape how you live, rather than treating belief and behavior as separate things?
2. The sermon said that the domain of darkness looks different in Jackson than it does in Central Asia or wherever any of us grew up, but that we all start there. How did that domain of darkness show up in your own life before you came to faith?
3. The phrase 'in him all things hold together' was applied to quantum mechanics, to family relationships, and to keeping the church from splitting over isms and schisms. Where in your own life right now do you most need that reality to be true, and what would it look like to actually lean on it?
4. The sermon made the point that every sin ever committed will either be justly condemned or mercifully forgiven, and that Christ is glorified either way. How does sitting with that change the way you think about sharing the gospel with someone who keeps rejecting it?
5. The closing questions asked whether Jesus is in first place in the way you deal with your family, your job, your worry, and your past. Which of those four is the hardest one for you right now, and why?