A Shepherd for Our Waywardness
September 25, 2022
Preached by Ben Bechtel
Scripture Reading
Colossians 1:15-23
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And 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, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Family Discussion Questions
Read verses 15-20 out loud as a family as slowly as possible. Then, go around and talk together about all the amazing things this passage says about Jesus and why that matters for us.
Is Jesus preeminent in your life? What are some ways practical ways in which he could become in your life? (Remember, Jesus will be preeminent in everything, which includes all things in your life. Think about as much as you can.)
I gave three ways that the real Jesus being the head of the church causes us to stop freaking out but there are so many more. As a family brainstorm some other ways this truth affects our experience as the church in the world.
