Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/church4u/sermons/86748/christ-preeminent/.

Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions.
Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt.


[0:00] The preeminence of Christ.

[0:12] This brother thought that our church was lacking in that regard.! I think he's right. He said we're a load of pew warmers. I'm not sure if you are, but there's truth there, isn't there? Sometimes we can take a bit of challenge. I had to agree with him. We have got a lot of pew warmers in this church. Pew potatoes, if you like. This is not to condemn anyone, I'm just telling the truth. It's how someone thinks, someone perceives of this church.

[0:46] It grieves me to think that, someone would think that of this church, but I think we've got a long way to go. We need to lift our game as a church. This truth of Christ's preeminence, that's my theme today. What's at your centre? What is at your centre? What would you reckon are your personal priorities for your life? Who holds the first place in your life? My prayer for you is that in all things, Christ may have the preeminence. That's my prayer this morning. And it says in Colossians 1 verse 18, and he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things, he might have the preeminence. For some people, their emphasis in life is all about keeping up with the Joneses, isn't it? As if that's all there is to life, the pursuit of pleasure and happiness and comfort.

[1:49] Some will place their life priority on running the rat race. Could have pictured here a treadmill. The rat race, acquiring more and more, more and more wealth. Only trouble is with the rat race, it's only the rats that win. You're supposed to laugh at that one. Some will spend a lifetime chasing vanities. This is the reality. Like James says, life is passing us by. In James 4, 14, it says, whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow, for what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a time, a little time, and then vanisheth away. Life is a vapour, says James. Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.

[2:45] How will we spend our lives? How will we make it count? What we can too easily do is get the emphasis badly wrong. And like the writer of Ecclesiastes, this widely man of Ecclesiastes says, in Ecclesiastes 1 verse 2, vanity of vanities, saith the preacher. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

[3:09] What should occupy the first place? It's all about Jesus. It's all about him. It's all about his grace. It's all about his will. It's all about his praise. It's all about the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who should occupy our energy, engage our mind, strengthen our arms, guide our steps, and lead our way. This is what counts. That Christ be first and foremost, that he be preeminent above all else.

[3:37] That he take the highest place. That he be held supreme. Life is a vapour, says James. What is your life? It's like a vapour. It comes for a moment and it vanishes away. Our utmost should be that he be placed in the highest place. That he be held supreme. That he be praised.

[3:58] Christ. That he be at the centre. That he be at the centre of our life choices. It's been said that for some, the Lord can occupy a large place in our life, an important place, and yet not occupy the first place. It's very true, isn't it? He occupies a large place, an important place, but not the first place. That Christ occupy the first place of our life.

[4:28] Is Jesus first? That's the question. Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first?

[4:48] Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first?

[5:00] Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Thank you.

[5:38] Thank you.

[6:08] Thank you.

[6:38] Thank you.

[7:08] Thank you.

[7:38] Thank you.

[8:08] Thank you.

[8:38] Thank you.

[9:08] Thank you.

[9:38] Thank you.

[10:08] Thank you.

[10:38] Thank you.

[11:08] Thank you.

[11:38] Thank you.

[12:08] Thank you.

[12:38] Thank you.

[13:08] Thank you.

[13:38] Thank you.

[14:08] Thank you.

[14:38] Thank you.

[15:08] Thank you.

[15:38] Thank you.

[16:08] Thank you.

[16:38] Thank you.

[17:08] Thank you.

[17:38] Thank you.

[18:08] Thank you.

[18:38] Thank you.

[19:08] Thank you.

[19:38] Thank you.

[20:08] Thank you.

[20:38] Thank you.

[21:08] Thank you.

[21:38] Thank you.

[22:08] Thank you.

[22:38] Thank you.

[23:08] Thank you.

[23:38] Thank you.

[24:08] Thank you.

[24:38] Thank you.

[25:08] Thank you.

[25:38] Thank you.

[26:08] Thank you.

[26:38] Thank you.

[27:08] Thank you.

[27:38] Thank you.

[28:08] Thank you.

[28:38] Thank you.

[29:08] Thank you.

[29:38] Thank you.

[30:08] Thank you.

[30:38] Thank you.

[31:08] Thank you.

[31:38] Thank you.

[32:08] Thank you.

[32:38] Thank you.

[33:08] Thank you.

[33:38] Thank you.

[34:08] Thank you.

[34:38] Thank you.

[35:08] Thank you.

[35:38] Thank you.