Sermons That Work From Colossians are brief sermon outlines from the book of Colossians. The following sermon outline explains and expands a passage of Scripture from Colossians 1:15-20. The topic of this Sermon That Works is The Greatness of Jesus Christ.
Sermons That Work From Colossians
Introduction: Understanding the sovereignty, preeminence and greatness of Jesus Christ is a life-changing experience.
Moreover, as we come to understand and appreciate the fullness of the person of Jesus Christ, we will trust Him more and more in our Christian journey.
We often sing a song that says: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus…look full in his wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace” (Sourced From Scripture in Song).
In Colossians 1:15-20, Paul presents four pictures to help us understand and appreciate the greatness of Jesus Christ – Sermons that work from Colossians.
The first picture of the greatness of Jesus Christ involves…
1. Jesus’ Relationship With God
Look at the beginning of verse 15, it says, “He is the image of the invisible God.”
Image implies two ideas:
A. The First Idea is Representation
That is Jesus Christ is the exact representation of the nature of God (Hebrews 1:3). In other word, Jesus Christ reveals the nature of God.
B. The Second Idea is Manifestation
That is Jesus Christ is the visible manifestation of the invisible God. Jesus Himself said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
Many people touched Jesus, walked with Jesus and spoke to Jesus; however, many of those people rejected Him as the Son of God.
Jesus Himself said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He displayed the very nature of God and revealed God to the people. But the question we must ask of ourselves is this: “Are we willing to trust in Him?”
The second picture of the greatness of Jesus Christ involves…
2. Jesus’ Relationship to Creation
A. Notice, He is lord over all Creation
Look at the end of verse 15, it says, “The firstborn of all creation.”
Firstborn does not refer to birth. Firstborn implies that Jesus Christ is before creation in time and that Jesus Christ is sovereign over all creation. Jesus Christ is Lord over all creation!
B. Notice also, Jesus Christ is the creator of the Universe
Jesus Christ is the one through whom all things came to be (Colossians 1:16). He is before all things (Colossians 1:17a) and He is the one through whom all things continue to exist (Colossians 1:17b).
Look at verses 16 and 17, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And he is before all things and in him all things consist.”
If Jesus Christ holds the whole universe together, then I wonder: are we willing to trust Him with our lives? Are we willing to trust Him in every situation we find ourselves? Now, that’s a good question.
The third picture of the greatness of Jesus Christ involves…
3. Jesus’ Relationship to the Church
A. Notice, He is the head of the church
(Colossians 1:18a)
The church is a living organism joined together by the living Christ. We are part of the church because God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). Because Jesus Christ is the head of the church, He controls every part of the body and He gives life and direction.
Look at Ephesians 4:16, which says, “From Christ the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
B. Notice also, He is the first to rise from the dead to die no more
(Colossians 1:18b)
We serve a risen Christ not a dead Savior. This means Jesus Christ is the preeminent One, the supreme One.
Look at verse 18 again, “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”
In light of this, are we willing to trust Him with our lives? After all, He is the head of the church and the first to rise from the dead to die no more.
The fourth picture of the greatness of Jesus Christ invovles…
4. Jesus’ Relationship to Redemption
A. Notice, He is the incarnate Son of God
(Colossians 1:19)
For redemption to take place, God needed to come to this earth in the flesh and He came in the form of His Son. Look at Colossians 2:9, it says, “For in HIM dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”
B. Notice also, He is the Reconciler of all things
(Colossians 1:20)
Look at verses 19 and 20, “For it pleased the Father that in him all the fullness should dwell, and by him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross.”
God has reconciled us to Himself through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has done this for us. The question is: “Are we willing to trust Jesus Christ with our lives?
Conclusion: The greatness of Jesus Christ is seen in His relationship to God, to creation, to the church and to redemption. When we understand and appreciate the greatness of Jesus Christ, all we can do is put our lives in His hands. As that old song says, “He’s all I need, He’s all I need, Jesus is all I need.”
However, Jesus never forces Himself upon us. Yes, He does seek after us … and He wants us to follow Him.
But that is a choice we must make … to trust Him for salvation and life … a choice we make in light of the greatness of Jesus Christ.
Related Resources For Sermons That Work From Colossians
Hermeneutics is a set of principles that is used to determine the meaning of the biblical text under investigation. Understanding hermeneutics is paramount in developing a consistency in the interpretation of Scripture.
Homiletics is the art of preaching. It involves how to prepare and deliver a sermon.
Further Resources For Sermons That Work From Colossians
Chapell Bryan, 1994, Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Koller Charles W, 1995, How To Preach Without Notes, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids Michigan.
Braga James, 1981, How To Prepare Bible Messages, Multnomah Press, Portland, Oregon.