Summary
What does it actually mean to say that Jesus is supreme? Not supreme in a vague, feel-good sense, but supreme in a way that reshapes how we see everything from the cosmos to our own daily lives. Drawing from Colossians chapter 1, we explore a profound portrait of who Jesus truly is. He is the image of the invisible God, the one through whom and for whom all things were created, the one who holds all things together, and the head of a new creation made up of redeemed people. This is not a small or manageable Jesus. This is a Jesus who pre-existed creation, who witnessed the first eagle take flight and the first mountain rise from the earth, who said to religious leaders, ‘before Abraham was, I am.’ When we grasp the full weight of his supremacy, we begin to understand why the apostle Paul was so urgent in his warning to a church that thought it could graduate from Jesus and move on to something more sophisticated. You cannot improve upon what is already supreme. And here is where it gets personal for us: if Jesus is truly who Scripture says he is, then our entire lives are meant to be oriented around him, not just our Sunday mornings, but every moment, every decision, every relationship. This message invites us to stop treating Jesus like a trinket we pull out in hard times and start recognizing him as the center of everything.
Key Scripture – Colossians 1:15-20
Sermon Theme
Colossians 1 presents a simple pattern: God calls us to know him so that our lives are changed, to be rooted in Christ so that our lives bear fruit, because what grows above the surface begins with what takes root below it.
Discussion Questions
The Supremacy of Jesus (Colossians 1:15-18)
- The sermon described Jesus as the image of the invisible God, distinguishing between being made in the image of God, as we are, and being the image of God, as Jesus is. What does it mean to you personally that God made himself fully visible through Jesus?
- The concept of “firstborn” in the ancient world carried the idea of authority, dominance, and the responsibility to carry on the family name and legacy. How does understanding Jesus as the firstborn over all creation change the way you think about his authority in your own life?
- Colossians 1:17 describes Jesus as the one by whom all things hold together. Where in your life do you find it hardest to trust that Jesus is holding things together? What makes it difficult to rest in that truth?
- The sermon made the point that the church is the new creation, and Jesus is its head. What does it look like practically for a local church community to operate with Jesus as the actual head rather than a figurehead?
The Work of Jesus (Colossians 1:19-23)
- Paul reminds the Colossians of who they were before Christ, using the word “alienated.” Why do you think Paul wants believers to remember their life before Jesus? What is the danger of forgetting it?
- The sermon used the illustration of buying back a donated book to explain reconciliation. How does the image of being bought back shape the way you understand your worth to God?
- The sermon addressed a common thought that keeps people from coming to Jesus: “I have sinned too much and gone too far.” How would you respond to someone in your life who genuinely believes that about themselves? What from this passage would you point them to?
The Response to Jesus (Colossians 1:24-29)
- The sermon described three ways we proclaim Jesus: with our words, our works, and our worship. Which of the three comes most naturally to you? Which one do you find most challenging, and why? What is your life preaching?
- Paul describes his ministry as laboring and striving, but he is clear that it is “with his strength that works powerfully in me.” What is the difference between striving in your own strength and striving in the strength Christ provides? What does that distinction look like in your daily life?
- The goal of proclaiming Jesus, according to verse 28, is to present everyone mature in Christ. How does your group, your friendships, and your church relationships contribute to that goal? Where do you see room to grow in helping others move toward maturity in Christ?
Scripture Reference
- Colossians 1:15-20 — The supremacy of Christ over creation and the new creation
- Colossians 1:21-23 — Reconciliation through Christ’s physical death
- Colossians 1:24-29 — Paul’s labor to proclaim Christ and present everyone mature in him
- Colossians 2:6 — Walking in Christ just as one received him
- Exodus 20:3-4 — The first and second commandments regarding other gods and graven images
- Genesis 25:29-34 — Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a pot of stew
- Psalm 89:27 — God declaring David his firstborn, greatest among kings
- John 8:56-58 — Jesus declaring “Before Abraham was, I am” in confrontation with Jewish leaders
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 — Being a new creation in Christ, the old gone and the new come
- Romans 5:8 — God demonstrating his love in that Christ died for us while we were still sinners
- 1 Timothy 1:15 — The faithful saying that Christ Jesus came to save sinners, of whom Paul considered himself chief