Jesus: The Center of Our Lives and Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus as the Foundation of Our Lives

Description: Jesus must be the foundation of our lives, just as a spouse should be the primary focus in a marriage. Nothing should come between us and Jesus, as He is preeminent and incomparable. This requires a conscious effort to prioritize Him above all other distractions. In our daily lives, we often find ourselves pulled in many directions—by our careers, financial concerns, or even our families. While these are important aspects of life, they should not overshadow our relationship with Jesus. He should be the cornerstone upon which everything else is built. [35:13]

Colossians 1:17-18 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you have allowed distractions to take precedence over your relationship with Jesus? How can you consciously re-prioritize Jesus in that area starting today?

Day 2: The Danger of Empty Philosophies

Description: Paul warns against being deluded by plausible arguments and empty philosophies. Modern examples include expressive individualism and the sexual revolution, which can captivate our hearts and minds, leading us away from the truth of the Gospel. We must be vigilant and discerning to keep Jesus at the center. These philosophies often promise fulfillment and happiness but ultimately leave us empty and distant from God. By grounding ourselves in the truth of the Gospel, we can resist these deceptive ideologies and remain steadfast in our faith. [43:18]

Colossians 2:8 (ESV): "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

Reflection: Identify a modern philosophy or cultural trend that has influenced your thinking. How can you counteract this influence by grounding yourself more deeply in the truth of the Gospel?

Day 3: Salvation and Spiritual Growth in Jesus

Description: Our salvation and spiritual growth are entirely dependent on Jesus. We don't contribute to our salvation; Jesus has done it all. This truth should lead us to live lives rooted in Him, continually growing in faith and love. Understanding that our efforts do not earn us salvation but that it is a gift from Jesus should fill us with gratitude and motivate us to grow spiritually. This growth involves daily practices such as prayer, reading Scripture, and engaging in community with other believers. [42:04]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: Reflect on your daily spiritual practices. Are they helping you grow in your relationship with Jesus? What is one new habit you can start today to deepen your spiritual growth?

Day 4: Encouragement in the Christian Community

Description: Encouragement is a vital resource that God gives us to stay faithful. Paul emphasizes the importance of encouraging one another to prevent our hearts from being hardened by sin's deceitfulness. This mutual support helps us remain grounded in our walk with Christ. In a world that often feels isolating, the Christian community provides a space for mutual encouragement and accountability. By lifting each other up, we can help one another stay focused on Jesus and resist the temptations that seek to pull us away from Him. [39:10]

Hebrews 3:13 (ESV): "But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

Reflection: Think of someone in your Christian community who might need encouragement today. How can you reach out to them and offer support and encouragement in their walk with Christ?

Day 5: The Profound Significance of Being 'In Christ'

Description: Being "in Christ" encompasses security, acceptance, assurance, and participation in the divine nature. It speaks of the inexhaustible significance of our redemption and the transformative power of Jesus in our lives. We must examine whether we have truly appropriated these truths and keep Jesus at the center of our convictions. This identity in Christ provides us with a firm foundation and a sense of belonging that nothing else can offer. It transforms how we see ourselves and how we live our lives, rooted in the assurance of His love and grace. [53:58]

2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."

Reflection: Reflect on your identity in Christ. Do you truly believe and live out the security, acceptance, and assurance that come from being "in Christ"? What is one practical way you can remind yourself of this truth daily?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we delved into Colossians 2:1-15, focusing on the centrality of Jesus in our lives. We celebrated the one-year anniversary of Graceland Church Dearborn, reflecting on how God has been working through our various campuses. The core of our discussion was about making Jesus the center of all things, emphasizing His preeminence and the need for Him to be the foundation of our lives.

I shared a personal story about my relationship with my wife, Lauren, to illustrate the importance of prioritizing our commitments. Just as in marriage, where no other person or thing should come between spouses, nothing should come between us and Jesus. We explored how various distractions—like career, money, or even our children—can vie for our attention, but Jesus must remain our primary focus.

We examined Paul's words in Colossians, where he encourages believers to be rooted, built up, and established in Christ. Paul warns against being deluded by plausible arguments and empty philosophies that can lead us away from Jesus. We discussed two specific modern philosophies: expressive individualism and the sexual revolution, both of which can captivate our hearts and minds, leading us away from the truth of the Gospel.

I emphasized that our salvation and spiritual growth are entirely dependent on Jesus. We don't contribute to our salvation; Jesus has done it all. This truth should lead us to live lives rooted in Him, continually growing in faith and love. We also touched on the importance of encouragement within the Christian community, as it helps us stay faithful and grounded in our walk with Christ.

Finally, we reflected on the profound significance of being "in Christ," which encompasses security, acceptance, assurance, and participation in the divine nature. I urged everyone to examine whether they have truly appropriated these truths in their lives and to keep Jesus at the center of their convictions.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus as the Center of All Things: Jesus must be the foundation of our lives, just as a spouse should be the primary focus in a marriage. Nothing should come between us and Jesus, as He is preeminent and incomparable. This requires a conscious effort to prioritize Him above all other distractions. [35:13]
2. The Danger of Empty Philosophies: Paul warns against being deluded by plausible arguments and empty philosophies. Modern examples include expressive individualism and the sexual revolution, which can captivate our hearts and minds, leading us away from the truth of the Gospel. We must be vigilant and discerning to keep Jesus at the center. [43:18]
3. Salvation and Spiritual Growth in Jesus: Our salvation and spiritual growth are entirely dependent on Jesus. We don't contribute to our salvation; Jesus has done it all. This truth should lead us to live lives rooted in Him, continually growing in faith and love. [42:04]
4. Encouragement in the Christian Community: Encouragement is a vital resource that God gives us to stay faithful. Paul emphasizes the importance of encouraging one another to prevent our hearts from being hardened by sin's deceitfulness. This mutual support helps us remain grounded in our walk with Christ. [39:10]
5. The Profound Significance of Being 'In Christ': Being "in Christ" encompasses security, acceptance, assurance, and participation in the divine nature. It speaks of the inexhaustible significance of our redemption and the transformative power of Jesus in our lives. We must examine whether we have truly appropriated these truths and keep Jesus at the center of our convictions. [53:58]
### [53:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:19] - Graceland Church Dearborn Anniversary
[33:06] - Jesus as the Center of All Things
[34:35] - Personal Story: Prioritizing Commitments
[35:13] - The Importance of Keeping Jesus First
[36:00] - Understanding Jesus' Preeminence
[36:24] - Making Jesus King of Your Life
[37:16] - Reading Colossians 2:1-15
[38:42] - Encouragement in Faith
[39:10] - The Role of Encouragement
[42:04] - Salvation and Spiritual Growth in Jesus
[43:18] - The Danger of Empty Philosophies
[45:55] - Expressive Individualism
[46:14] - The Sexual Revolution
[53:58] - The Significance of Being 'In Christ'
[59:18] - Invitation to Receive Jesus
[63:13] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Paul mean when he says believers should be "rooted, built up, and established in Christ"? ([38:42])
What are the two modern philosophies mentioned in the sermon that can lead us away from the truth of the Gospel? ([43:36])
How does Paul describe the significance of being "in Christ" in Colossians 2:1-15? ([53:58])
What role does encouragement play within the Christian community according to the sermon? ([39:10])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important to keep Jesus as the center of all things in our lives, according to Colossians 2:1-15 and the sermon? ([36:00])
How can the philosophies of expressive individualism and the sexual revolution captivate our hearts and minds, leading us away from the Gospel? ([43:36])
What does it mean that our salvation and spiritual growth are entirely dependent on Jesus, and how should this truth impact our daily lives? ([42:04])
How does being "in Christ" provide security, acceptance, assurance, and participation in the divine nature? ([53:58])

Application Questions

Reflect on your daily life. Are there any distractions (e.g., career, money, children) that are taking your focus away from Jesus? How can you prioritize Him above these distractions this week? ([35:13])
Have you ever encountered philosophies or arguments that seemed plausible but led you away from the truth of the Gospel? How did you respond, and what can you do to stay vigilant and discerning? ([43:18])
In what ways can you encourage others in your Christian community to stay faithful and grounded in their walk with Christ? Think of a specific person you can encourage this week. ([39:10])
Do you truly believe that your salvation and spiritual growth are entirely dependent on Jesus? How does this belief affect your actions and mindset? ([42:04])
Examine your life to see if you have truly appropriated the truths of being "in Christ." What steps can you take to deepen your understanding and experience of these truths? ([53:58])
How can you make Jesus the center of your convictions and decisions? Identify one area of your life where you need to make a change to keep Jesus at the center. ([36:24])
Think about a time when you felt encouraged by someone in your faith community. How did it impact you, and how can you be that source of encouragement for someone else? ([39:10])

Sermon Clips

1. "Jesus is preeminent. It's a word that we really don't use a lot. It means superiority, incomparability, transcendence, awesome, prominence, prestige. Like he is to be the center of everything that we believe and do. And nobody gets to a point where you can say with a clear conscience, you know, he is the center of all things. We all have ground that we want to be in to yield to Jesus." [36:00] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "You can never be good enough. You can never remove the stain and the stench and the penalty and the punishment of sin. Only Jesus does that. And because he does that by God giving us of himself. How do we do that? How does one death actually bring about the forgiveness of sins for the world? Well, God provided himself. That's how." [36:40] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Encouragement is one of the gifts that God gives to us. In Hebrews chapter 3, so long as it's called today, encourage one another so you'll not be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. That encouragement is one of the tasks, the resource that God gives to us to stay faithful to the task. And Paul says, I want your hearts to be encouraged and I want you to understand the comfort and the courage that comes from knowing Jesus." [39:10] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "A lot of us are like the Giant Jake the Snake, Macho Man Randy Savage, or my favorite, America's favorite, Hulk Hogan. Okay, we get in the ring and this is how we kind of function. This is what we think Christianity is like. We try hard... You reach over to the rings and Jesus is your partner. And Jesus is like, just come over and touch my hand. Just come over and touch my hand. And you tag the hand of Jesus and he comes in and then Jesus pummels." [41:00] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus does it on our behalf all by himself. We don't contribute to our salvation. And he's mindful of the dangers that Christians and Colossians are undergoing and experiencing. He says, listen, don't let any philosophies... Meaning, sweetness of speech that are philosophies of empty disbelief. Do not let them delude you or take you captive." [42:04] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Expressive individualism... Holds that each person has a unique set of core feelings and intuitions that should be expressed if individuality is to be realized. What does that mean? He says the modern self assumes the authority of inner feelings and if authenticity is defined by the reality that you need to have the freedom to give the ability to express yourself socially." [43:55] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The cross is a clarion declaration that who you are left to your own devices is not a good thing. You are on a path, you're on a path and a road that moves away from God. And God has to intervene and awaken us to the fact that, listen, you don't want to be authentic and sincere. It's actually to come under the rule and the word and the commandments and the truth and the values and the belief and the worldview of Jesus." [45:41] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "The New Testament writers and Jesus are very convinced of this truth: deception is tied to temptation. Deception is tied to temptation. Trust your heart. You be you. Do your feelings. Temptation leads to slavery to sin. But what does Jesus say? You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." [47:38] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "You received Jesus, walk in Jesus, be rooted in Jesus, establish in Jesus. It's not you received Jesus by faith and he died my death and he was resurrected. I believed in him. As I've already said, I punched my ticket to heaven. He's left me to do everything on my own. What does the text say? The text is we're saved by faith by his grace and we walk in Jesus by faith through grace." [49:13] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "The expression in Christ is as brief and profound as the expression as possible regarding the inexhaustible significance of a person's redemption being purchased out of spiritual slavery. It speaks of security in Jesus who bore in his body the judgment of God against our sin. It speaks of acceptance in Jesus with whom alone God is well pleased. It speaks of assurance for the future in Jesus who's the resurrection and the life." [53:58] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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