Day 2
Lisa Scheffler, author
Read
Colossians 1:17–18 (NIV)
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.
Study
- Make a list of what verses 17 and 18 say are true of Christ.
- What do you think it means that Christ is “the firstborn from among the dead”? Compare your thoughts with the Faithlife Study Bible note for 1:18. (If you haven’t already, you will need to sign up for a free Faithlife account at com to access the Faithlife Study Bible.
Think about
A little bit later in Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we’ll discover that Paul is concerned about harmful philosophies that have crept into the church. Believers in Colossae were turning to beliefs and practices apart from the gospel they’d first received. They were not trusting in the sufficiency of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension.
They didn’t have a big enough view of Christ! In our passage for this week, Paul is directly confronting their empty philosophies by using beautiful and poetic language to exalt the supremacy of Jesus Christ and the sufficiency of what he has done for humanity.
Think about your own view of Christ. Not just what you believe about Jesus, but how you live out your view of Jesus. In what ways can you demonstrate your trust in Jesus as supreme and sufficient? What changes do you need to make to show that you recognize his absolute authority over your life?
Pray
Knowing that Christ has all authority and in him all things hold together gives us tremendous comfort and strength in a world that seems frightening and chaotic. As you bring your worries and concerns before the Lord today, thank him for his supremacy in all things. Praise him for the hope you have that one day he will make all things right and that you will experience resurrection at the end of the age.
Talk about
- Have each person share a concern they have in life. How can rejoicing in Christ’s supremacy combat anxiety? Commit to praying for one another.
To listen to last week’s message go to cfhome.org/messages