1. First Place in Everything! Colossians 1:15-20

2. Colossians 1:15-17 (NRSV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers— all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

3. Colossians 1:18-20 (NRSV) He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

4. Christ’s relationship to deity: The image of the invisible God The image of the invisible God In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell

5. Christ’s relationship to the universe: Firstborn Firstborn All things were created in him, through him, and for him All things were created in him, through him, and for him He is before all things He is before all things In him all things hold together In him all things hold together He has reconciled all things to God, by making peace through the cross He has reconciled all things to God, by making peace through the cross

6. All things: In heaven and on earth (16, 20) In heaven and on earth (16, 20) Visible and invisible (16) Visible and invisible (16) Whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers (16) Whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers (16)

7. Christ’s relationship to the church: He is the head of the body He is the head of the body He is our beginning, the firstborn from the dead He is our beginning, the firstborn from the dead

8. Conclusion: So that he might come to have first place in everything! (Col. 1:18)

9. Our Confession: Colossians 1:15-16 Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers— all things have been created through him and for him.

10. Our Confession: Colossians 1:17-18 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.

11. Our Confession: Colossians 1:19-20 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

12. Do you live in a Christocentric universe? Does Jesus Christ have first place among all things in your life?