Pastor: Kevin Buynak

Sermon Notes:

· Jesus is over everything!

· 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

· How does Jesus describe himself? (put the next 3 verses on one slide)

John 10:30 – “I and my father are one”

John 14:9 – “He who has seen me has seen the Father”

John 8:58 – “Most assuredly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am!”

· 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

· Jesus is not created, but He is the Creator!

· Worship only the true Creator.

· Don’t try to make God who you want Him to be!

· 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

· The greatest threat to us is not the circumstances we face, but our constant bend toward self-sufficiency.

· What did you bring with you today that you are carrying alone?

· Jesus holds everything together.

· 18 He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

· Jesus brings peace to his people.

· 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds.

· 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

· Jesus gives us new identity

· The identity Jesus offers reconciles your past, redeems the present, and gives you a residence for eternity.

· Vs. 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

· Jesus commissions us to proclaim the Gospel.

· Is Jesus truly over your life today?

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Starter Question

· When have you seen something “hold together” that you thought was going to fall apart? What helped it stay strong?

Read Colossians 1:15-16

· Paul calls Jesus “the image of the invisible God.” What does that mean to you personally?

· How does understanding Jesus as both Creator and Sustainer change how you see Him day to day?

Read Colossians 1:17

· Verse 17 says, “In Him all things hold together.” What are you trying to hold together?

Read Colossians 1:18-20

· What does it practically look like for Jesus—not a person—to be the true head of the church?

· In what ways do people today struggle with a “Jesus and” mindset—adding something else to their faith instead of trusting Jesus fully?

Read 1:21-23

· Paul says the gospel “has been proclaimed in all creation” and that he became a minister of it. What does it look like for you to live as someone sent to share Jesus over everything?

· If “Jesus is over everything,” what’s one area of your life that needs to come under His authority this week?

· If you’ve never written down your story, do so this week! Simply share what your life was like before Jesus, how you met Jesus, and what life is like with Jesus now.