Centering Life on Christ: The Source of True Identity

Summary

The journey through Colossians reminds us that the Christian life is not about self-improvement or simply following a set of rules, but about centering everything on Jesus Christ. He is not just a part of life—He is life itself. From the very beginning, Paul insists that we start not with what we do, but with who Jesus is: the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, the one who holds all things together. When we try to make ourselves the main character, or put anything else at the center, life becomes fragile and off-balance. We were never meant to carry that weight. Only Jesus can bear it.

Life constantly pulls us off-center, tempting us to find our worth, peace, or identity in things like success, relationships, or control. But anything other than Christ at the center will eventually collapse. Like a bike that only stays upright when balanced, our lives are stable only when Jesus is at the core. He is the bridge that spans the chasm between us and God, not a gatekeeper blocking the way, but the very way itself. No amount of striving, self-discovery, or alternative philosophies can lift us out of the pit of sin and death—only Christ can raise us to true life.

This new life in Christ is not just a future hope, but a present reality. We are called to set our minds on things above, to live as those who have already been raised. That means putting to death the old ways—sin, shame, false identities—and putting on the new self, renewed in the image of our Creator. Our truest identity is not found in our past, our achievements, or what others say about us, but in who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

Letting Christ rule means letting love rule. The life He gives is marked by compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, and above all, love. This is not about following rules, but about letting the love of Christ shape every part of who we are and what we do. Each day, we are invited to surrender everything—our resources, relationships, ambitions—back to Him, trusting that in His hands, we find real life, peace, and purpose. Communion is our reminder: Jesus was broken for our brokenness, died our death, and gives us His life. In Him alone, we are made new.

Key Takeaways

- Jesus is not just a part of your life; He is the center and the source of all true life. When anything else takes that place, life becomes unstable and fragile. Only Christ can bear the weight of being at the center, and only in Him do we find lasting fulfillment and purpose. [06:57]

- The world offers many “bridges” to happiness and meaning, but only Jesus truly spans the gap between us and God. He is not a barrier to life, but the very way to it. All other paths, no matter how promising, ultimately fall short and cannot carry the weight of our hopes. [14:20]

- Our identity is not defined by our past, our failures, our achievements, or what others say about us. In Christ, we are given a new self, renewed in the image of our Creator. The truest thing about us is who Jesus is and what He has done, not what we have done or experienced. [25:33]

- The process of putting to death the old self and putting on the new is not about managing sin or striving harder, but about daily renewing our minds in Christ. When we remember who we are in Him, we are empowered to walk in freedom, leaving behind shame and false identities. [24:28]

- Letting Christ rule means letting love rule. The life He gives is marked by compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, and above all, love. This is not about following a list of rules, but about allowing the love of Christ to shape every thought, action, and relationship, surrendering all to Him each day. [29:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Family Worship and Communion Instructions
[02:30] - Series Recap: Unshakeable Truths
[04:15] - The Preeminence of Christ
[06:57] - The Danger of Self-Centered Living
[10:19] - The Bike Illustration: Staying Centered
[14:20] - The Bridge Illustration: Christ Alone
[15:48] - Psalm 40: Lifted from the Pit
[19:03] - The Futility of Self-Discovery
[21:02] - Raised to Life: Living the New Reality
[22:40] - Putting Sin to Death
[24:28] - Turning from Old Ways
[25:33] - Renewing Identity in Christ
[29:11] - Letting Love Rule
[36:51] - Responding: Returning to Center
[38:16] - Communion: Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice
[39:14] - New Covenant and Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Centered on Christ” (Colossians Series)

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### Bible Reading

Colossians 3:1-17 (ESV)

> 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
> 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
> 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
> 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
> 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
> 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
> 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
> 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
> 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
> 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
> 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
> 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
> 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
> 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
> 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
> 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
> 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Colossians 3:1-4, what does Paul say has happened to believers, and what are they now called to do with their minds and hearts?
2. What are some of the “old self” behaviors Paul lists that we are to put to death or put away? (vv. 5-9)
3. What does Paul say is true about our identity now that we are in Christ? (vv. 10-11)
4. In verses 12-14, what qualities does Paul say we are to “put on” as God’s chosen people?

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon compared centering our lives on anything other than Jesus to a bike that falls over when it’s off-balance. Why do you think life becomes “fragile and off-balance” when something else is at the center? [10:19]
2. The passage says our “life is hidden with Christ in God.” What does it mean for your identity to be “hidden” in Christ, rather than defined by your past, achievements, or what others say? [25:33]
3. The sermon said, “Letting Christ rule means letting love rule.” How is this different from just following a list of rules or trying to be a good person? [29:11]
4. Paul says to “put to death” the old self and “put on” the new self. What does this process look like in real life? Is it a one-time event or an ongoing journey? [24:28]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about how we often put things like success, relationships, or control at the center of our lives. Is there something in your life right now that is competing with Jesus for the center? What would it look like to move Jesus back to the center this week? [06:57]
2. When you think about your identity, what are you most tempted to let define you—your past, your job, your family, your failures, or something else? How can you remind yourself that your truest identity is in Christ? [25:33]
3. The message said, “The process of putting to death the old self and putting on the new is not about managing sin or striving harder, but about daily renewing our minds in Christ.” What is one practical way you can renew your mind in Christ this week? (For example: a daily prayer, a verse to memorize, a habit to start or stop.) [24:28]
4. The sermon used the illustration of a bridge, saying that only Jesus can truly span the gap between us and God. Are there “bridges” you’ve tried to build to God or to meaning in life that have let you down? What would it look like to trust Jesus as the only bridge? [14:20]
5. Paul says to “put on” compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, and love. Which of these do you find most challenging? Is there a specific relationship or situation where you need to let love rule this week? [29:11]
6. The message described surrendering everything—resources, relationships, ambitions—back to Jesus. Is there an area of your life you’re holding back from God? What’s one step you could take to surrender it to Him? [29:11]
7. Communion is a reminder that Jesus was broken for our brokenness and gives us His life. How does regularly remembering Christ’s sacrifice help you stay centered on Him? Is there a way you can make this a more regular part of your spiritual life? [38:16]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray Colossians 3:17 together:
“Jesus, let your love and your peace rule in my heart in everything I do today. Help me to do it in your name.”

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Christ Alone is the Center

Life finds its true balance and purpose only when Jesus is at the center, not when we try to make ourselves or anything else the main character. When we revolve our lives around ourselves—our desires, anxieties, relationships, or achievements—things inevitably become fragile and off-balance. We were never meant to carry the weight of being at the center; that place belongs to Christ alone. Just as a bike stays upright only when its center of gravity is right, our lives remain stable only when centered on Jesus. Anything else we try to put at the center will eventually collapse under the weight. Jesus is not just a part of your life—He is your life, the one who holds all things together and gives lasting fulfillment and purpose. [10:19]

Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 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. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Reflection: What is currently taking center stage in your life, and how can you intentionally put Jesus back at the center today?


Day 2: Raised to Life in Christ Alone

No matter how hard we try, we cannot bridge the gap between ourselves and God on our own; sin separates us, and all our efforts fall short. But Jesus is the bridge—He alone makes a way where there was no way, lifting us out of the pit of sin and death and raising us to new life. Everything else we trust in—success, self-discovery, religion, or status—ultimately leads to emptiness and death. In Christ, you are already raised; you don’t need to strive to become what you already are. Stop looking back at the pit—live as someone who has been raised, setting your mind on things above and walking in the new life Jesus has given you. [21:02]

Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV)
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to stop striving and instead live as someone already raised with Christ?


Day 3: Renewed from Lies—Putting Off the Old Self

Jesus not only raises us to life but also renews our minds, freeing us from the lies and patterns of our old selves. Paul calls us to put to death what is earthly in us—not just to manage or minimize sin, but to make a clean break from it. This means recognizing that certain thoughts, habits, or identities no longer define you; they are part of your old life, not your new one in Christ. When old patterns or shame resurface, you don’t have to beat yourself up—Jesus was already beaten for you. Lay those things at the foot of the cross, remember who you are in Him, and walk forward in freedom, letting Christ be the truest thing about you. [25:33]

Colossians 3:5-11 (ESV)
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Reflection: What is one old pattern or lie you need to lay at the foot of the cross today, trusting Jesus to renew your mind?


Day 4: Letting Love Rule—Living Out the New Life

The new life in Christ is marked not by following a list of rules, but by letting the love of Jesus rule in your heart and actions. As God’s chosen, holy, and beloved people, we are called to put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and above all, love. This love binds everything together and brings peace, not chaos, into our lives and relationships. Letting love rule means surrendering every part of your life to Jesus, allowing His love to shape how you treat others, make decisions, and respond to challenges. When love rules, your identity in Christ drives your activity, and your life reflects His character to the world. [36:51]

Colossians 3:12-17 (ESV)
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Reflection: Where do you need to let the love and peace of Christ rule in your heart and actions today, especially in a relationship or situation that feels challenging?


Day 5: Your True Identity—Found in Christ Alone

Your truest identity is not found in your past, your achievements, your failures, your status, or what others say about you—it is found in Christ alone. When you say yes to Jesus, He becomes the first and truest thing about you, and everything else fades in comparison. The world may try to define you by your job, your relationships, your struggles, or your background, but in Christ, you are made new, chosen, and beloved. Each day, you can choose to live out of this new identity, letting go of the old labels and embracing who you are in Him. Let Jesus be your life, your center, and your source of worth and purpose. [39:14]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Reflection: What old label or identity do you need to let go of today so you can fully embrace who you are in Christ?

Quotes

We've been building this on some unshakeable, firm, timeless truths that the...church christians all places all times that's what the creed means by catholic we maybe you would say universal or big c church capital c has always believed it clarified at times and said no this is where we stand these are things that don't move and shift with culture and as we go back to the beginning zoom out last week we said um that that following jesus is done through faith it's by grace through faith but faith in what or maybe better said in who and from the very first chapter of colossians paul he starts every letter that he writes this way he doesn't go straight to the advice he doesn't just say hey if you want to be a better person if you want things to go well for you here's some things you should do he always starts first with who god is namely jesus and who we are because of what jesus has done for us and then he says because of who god is and because of who he who he has made you in jesus this is how that new person lives this is what we do this is how we act it's not advice he starts with a person [00:02:12] (77 seconds)  #FirmFaithFoundation Edit Clip

There can only be one priority there can only be one first place one first jesus is preeminent jesus christ alone is the center that's why this whole series ends with this one unshakable truth in christ alonehe is the main character he's not a character he's a person [00:04:28] (20 seconds)  #ChristPreeminentCenter Edit Clip

Anytime we start to put our weight on something other than center, a force begins to act on that, right? And now you can, I hope that you can see where some of this is going, because it becomes a picture of life for me.when we stay centered our gravity is right here where it belongs centered on jesus anytime i start to lean to the left lean to the right put my weight on something and there's a lot of weight you know i put my weight on something or someone anything else it starts to fall it starts to collapse a little bit you know we fall down we get hurt we lose trust in things we say i'm never doing that again we miss out whatever that thing is for some of us when life revolves around you you fall but when it revolves around christ you're stable [00:11:04] (51 seconds)  #GravityOfChrist Edit Clip

Jesus is the bridge he came to make a way where there was no other way others have come others have gone there are philosophies traditions religions all of which fall short maybe some of them go further get closer than others all have fallen all fall short [00:16:18] (22 seconds)  #SeeJesusSeeSelf Edit Clip

It's not, here's what many people say, well, the more I can discover myself, the more I can see myself, the more I will live. It's this journey of self -discovery, right? Oh, now I've found out more about me.No, that's not what Colossians says. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear.You'll appear with him in glory. It's not about, let me look inside. Let me find the real me. So many of us are looking for that in so many different things. It's the more I see Jesus, the more I see myself.The more I see the real me starting to come out. All the things that I used to think defined me fade away. And the more I see him, the more I am raised to life, both now and forever in Christ alone. [00:20:42] (49 seconds)  #PutSinToDeath Edit Clip

If you're feeling low, the answer is Jesus. Jesus alone. So stop striving to come, striving to become what you already are. You didn't need to earn resurrection. Jesus did that for you. We live like someone that's been raised if you've been raised to life with him. That's what Paul says. If you've been raised, then live raised.Start looking around up here. Don't look back down to the bottom of the pit. If you've been raised by Jesus, then be raised. Walk with him. Set your mind on things that are above. [00:21:36] (36 seconds)  #IdentityInChrist Edit Clip

If Jesus hasn't been at the center of your life and you know it, this is your moment to put him back in his rightful place, to get back to center, to move forward again, to stand on something that doesn't shake or move. [00:37:15] (16 seconds)  #JesusBrokenForUs Edit Clip