GPS
In Christ in Community
Summation of the gospel:
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. —Col 1:13-14
Read Col. 1, but with help
Who was Jesus?
Gospels
Stories, but also The Word
Mystery, not unsolved but beyond in glory and wonder
Paul wants us to understand the larger story that we find ourselves in
Jesus was so much more than we thought
All
Jesus is:
Creator
Firstborn - kingly heir
Head of the
Firstborn from among the
All the fullness of
All things reconciled
What Jesus has done
What Jesus is doing
Destroy the small Jesus we settle for:
1) not passive, not far away, not a watchmaker
2) not a tame, boxed in Jesus
3) not a Jesus to serve the powers of this world
4) not a Jesus we need to prepackage and make cool
This same Jesus has rescued us
Physical
We are being reconciled, we follow him from the grave into everlasting life
We join him as the body of the church
He’s the head - he’s doing the redeeming, reconciling
But we partipate, we are in on it
Our life’s work - all things
We can’t settle for one aspect
It will take every ounce of us
Suffering
vs. 24 - not that Jesus’ wasn’t enough
Jesus is still long-suffering for
Paul - loves the church, and so he suffers
Self-giving love is
Set aside your selfish ambition, listen, understand
Lift them up
Working to present the other mature in Christ
Today we come to the table
Ready to encounter by faith this Jesus
With wonder
Ready to
Jesus in his fullness
Ready to join
love without abandon
Suffering in love