A Concentrated Description of Christ’s Glories
Intro Read by Pastor:
Paul has just prayed for the Colossians that they would “be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (vv. 9-10). In verse 14, he begins a litany of amazing truths about Jesus Christ that are probably the most concentrated description of the glories of Jesus in the New Testament. Our scripture readings this morning will be read by our teens and our youth groups.
Reader 1: In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Reader 2: He is the image of the invisible God.
Reader 3: He is the firstborn of all creation—that is, the specially honored, first and only Son over all creation.
Reader 4: By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.
Reader 5: All things were created through him.
Reader 6: All things were created for him.
Reader 7: He is before all things.
Reader 8: In him all things hold together.
Reader 9: He is the head of the body, the church.
Reader 10: He is the beginning.
Reader 11: He is the firstborn from the dead.
Reader 12: In everything he is preeminent.
Reader 13: In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.
Reader 14: He reconciles all things to himself, whether on earth or in heaven.
Reader 15: He makes peace by the blood of his cross.
Closing Remarks read by Pastor: This list is worth memorizing. If your heart ever wavers and grows cold, go here; memorize this litany of glories and ask God to give you affections that correspond to the measure of this greatness. If any person or any power or any wisdom or any love awakens any admiration or any amazement or any joy, let it be the greatest Person and the greatest power and the greatest wisdom and the greatest love that exists—Jesus Christ.
Source:
1. Taken from: (John Piper Aug 12,2007) – Adapted by S. Brown
2. All Scripture is NIV
