You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our passion is to experience and express grace.
Join us.
We need the reminder of that song because life will disappoint you.
Friends may let you down, but Jesus has not and will not fail us.
He won't.
Amen?
Amen.
He won't.
We just wrapped up several weeks this summer talking about our relationships with God, walking with Jesus.
What it looks like for us day by day as he meets us right where we are in our lives.
If you were here, you'll remember that we marveled at the reality that God speaks to us.
So we treasure listening to him and his word and meeting him there.
And then perhaps even more amazing that God listens to us and so we can speak to him in prayer and meet him there.
We rejoiced in the gifts of baptism and the Lord's Supper to God's people to meet us there, to taste his grace together.
Together.
Right?
And in the past couple weeks, Pastor Derek has so helpfully reminded us that God makes space for us so that we can share that space with others.
Because we walk with Jesus and meet him every day in our relationships with one another in this family and with our neighbors all throughout our lives and everywhere God takes us.
Now we are about to jump back into our study of John's gospel that we are over halfway through.
We've been encountering the real Jesus, the historical man now in the final week of his life before the cross.
And this fall we get an inside look from his beloved disciple at these final intimate words to his disciples on the night that he's betrayed.
It's going to be awesome.
I can't wait to get back into that together but actually we're going to wait one more week.
Restart that study next Sunday.
Today I want to remind us of the importance of our relationship with Jesus one more time.
Both so that we remember what we've been talking about, what we've learned this summer, to reflect on that together.
And to kind of build a bridge toward diving back into John and remembering why it is we so desperately need to see Jesus, to listen to him, to love him.
As we go back to John and read more about him there.
We never stop focusing on walking with, in relationship, Jesus.
I want to look this morning at a hymn about Jesus in Colossians chapter 1.
I want to take a few minutes with you to take a deep breath of Jesus, to reflect on your life wherever you are, especially if you're starting a new year.
A new rhythm in many ways to consider what it could or should look like for Jesus to be in first place.
For your walking with Jesus, moment by moment, day by day, to be the supreme purpose.
The central foundation, the highest delight of your entire life.
Let's read Colossians 1, beginning at verse 15.
God's holy, inerrant, inspired word about his son, Jesus.
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.
This is God's word.
Let's ask for his help.
Father, would you renew our hearts?
Would you reorder our lives according to your glory and grace?
By your word?
By your spirit?
We ask you to do it even now for us this morning.
Change us forever.
We ask in Jesus' name.
Amen.
I know many of you, like my family, have gotten to enjoy watching some of the Olympic competition this week.
See those golden moments when the athletes in first place step to the top of the podium to be honored as the greatest in the world.
Right?
The fastest, the strongest, the best at their craft.
Like these five amazing gymnast gold medalists.
It was incredible to watch.
Or like Katie Ledecky, the world's greatest distance swimmer who keeps finding herself on top of the podium year after year.
Can you imagine it?
So many amazing, gifted athletes all gathered together in one place competing.
And then out of all of those, for someone to finish in first place.
It's quite remarkable, isn't it?
It's a great achievement.
It's worthy of honor.
That word first, the best, the top ranked in the world is used of Jesus several times in our passage today.
It has even deeper meaning, even broader implications for us to see how and for what reason Jesus is in first place.
I want us to do really two things this morning.
First, for a few minutes, to wonder at the greatness of Jesus.
And then for a few minutes, talk about what difference that actually makes in our lives.
Is that greatness of Jesus coming home in the way that we relate to him and the way we live day in and day out?
So, Paul starts here by first praising Jesus as first in creation.
That word firstborn, which will be repeated in verse 18 to mark the second stanza of this hymn.
Here it means that Jesus reigns supreme over all creation.
He ranks first.
He's number one.
See, he made it all, didn't he?
He is not created.
Verse 16 is clear.
He is creator.
All things through him.
Just as we read in John chapter 1, through him all things were made.
Without him nothing was made that has been made.
Trees and flowers, bears and bugs and mountains and rivers, galaxies.
Spiritual beings.
All of them spring to life by the word of his power.
Because he brings them into existence.
And don't miss, by the way, while Paul is pointing this out.
We're going to come back to this later.
But they all exist for him.
He is the goal of all creation.
That is how high ranking the firstborn is.
In fact, verse 17, it's not just that once upon a time he was the source of all of creation.
But to this very moment, he is the one who powerfully holds it all together.
Amazing.
The bigness.
The size of Jesus to be holding all of creation together.
Some of you study space, right?
You know a lot more about it than I do, okay?
Way more.
And you're still learning more about it.
And it is mind-boggling as you consider space how small the biggest, strongest of all of us feels in that vast space.
And yet the space that we study and that we explore, Jesus, is even in this very moment, he is sustaining it.
He is holding it together.
He is causing it not to explode.
Wow.
He's huge.
Remember, we've seen it when he walked among us, right?
This is the very Jesus who speaks and the powerful storm is still, right?
Who prays and five loaves of bread and two fish feed 5,000 plus people with multiple leftovers.
Who casts out a demon with a word.
Who turns water into wine by merely asking.
Who heals the worst diseases.
Who even raises the dead.
God, every power, every part of creation bows the knee to King Jesus.
He is supreme.
He is in first place.
Because he is, in fact, the one true God.
The image of the invisible God.
The one who makes the unseen seen.
The untouchable felt.
The unknowable known.
The idea here with that word is that it's not just a good copy.
But it's something that participates in the very essence of the thing that it represents or reflects.
That kind of image.
Somewhat like a sunbeam.
That is actually sun in itself, right?
As well as it's how we feel the sun.
The radiance of the glory of God, Hebrews says.
The one who was with God and was God, John says.
This is God himself.
In a way you can touch and know and see.
Jesus is first place in creation because he supremely makes the God that we so desperately need to know.
One we can and do know.
How wonderful that is.
As if that weren't enough cause for wonder and worship at the person of Jesus.
Stanza two then praises Jesus as first in the new creation.
Verse 18.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning.
The first born from the dead.
See, God who once upon a time breathed life into humanity.
Now when he finds them dead and separated from himself.
He breathes new life into people, doesn't he?
He recreates them through the first born who rises from the dead.
Jesus is supreme over the most powerful forces we know.
Conquering sin and death.
Becoming the first one to rise.
Never more to die, but to reign forever.
God exalted him to the highest place.
First place.
And gave him the name above every name.
The name of King Jesus.
Supreme one.
First place.
Philippians 2 tells us.
Jesus Christ is Lord.
No one else.
He is God in his fullness.
Jesus Christ is Lord.
Not merely a peace or a part of God, but the true God himself.
Rising victorious to return to his throne where he has always reigned.
And as he does that, in rising to his eternal throne, Jesus brings to life the new people of God who were far from God.
Jesus brings to life the new creation of God that was suffering under the curse of God.
He reconciles all things, verse 20 says, to God by the blood of his cross.
Because he's the firstborn from the dead.
And many, many will follow.
See, his resurrection life is what gives us hope, right?
His resurrection body.
It heralds the renewal of all creation that is presently groaning or deteriorating.
His resurrection power today fuels our life and mission.
It's his resurrection presence at God's right hand that secures our adoption, our acceptance into the family of God.
As some of the many who live never more to die.
That's true of you.
Never more to die.
He will raise you with him forever with the Father.
That is good stuff, church.
This is why he is our head.
This is why we are his people that are part of the entire creation that was made for him.
We exist for his glory so that he will receive the praise that he deserves.
We were created by him and for him.
So we worship him.
Join me in that.
Let's worship Jesus today.
And every day with full hearts.
The only one who could give us life like that, right?
Because he is the firstborn over all.
The risen King Jesus is our head.
The one who started all of this for us.
The world's great creator.
The greatest re-creator.
The firstborn over all.
With the result.
The end of verse 18.
That in everything he might be preeminent.
Kids, preeminent is a fancy word for first place.
It's got that same word first in the Greek.
It may even be used here in this hymn as a title for Jesus.
Like the incomparable Christ.
The supreme one.
The first place gold medalist Jesus.
Now just consider this with me for a second as we begin to ask how this changes our lives.
These gold medalists right here are great athletes, aren't they?
World class gymnasts.
But do you think that the five of them, is there any chance those women would get first place in basketball?
On a track relay maybe?
Could the great Katie Ledecky win first place in weightlifting or tennis?
Is that likely?
I think not.
And yet Jesus is to be first place in everything.
In every stage of life, no matter how young or old you are.
In every area of life, no matter what you have on your schedule or agenda this week.
In every single life.
What about in your life?
Is that where he is?
See for most of us, most of the time,
what we experience in our lives is Jesus as one among many slices of life that we have to manage.
This right here is not the picture that the Bible gives us, to be clear.
I don't want you to be confused.
But you see Jesus here as one slice up there at the top of a pie.
And we have to manage all of these things.
With nothing at the center,
with nothing in first place,
supremely orchestrating the heart and goal of our lives,
what happens?
Our own instincts,
our desires,
our comfort,
they become central
and they direct us toward managing all these varied priorities,
including Jesus,
for our own purposes.
This is true for all of us.
We all have a lot of things to manage.
But I've been thinking,
especially this week of young people,
as you start a new school year.
Will you look at this pie with me for a couple minutes?
This is one I made a special for you.
You can read some of them.
You'll notice Jesus is still there.
Up there, kind of top right.
Life can be really challenging.
Can't it?
I mean, just think, young people,
all the relationships
that you're managing,
your family,
your friends,
all the classes at school,
the different subjects you're trying to learn,
what you look like,
what you're going to wear,
the hobbies you enjoy,
or the college you're getting ready for,
or the part-time job you have.
You got to check social media to stay in the loop.
You got to make sure you figure out what skibbity means,
because otherwise you might be left out.
I don't know what it means,
but some of you do.
And if you don't keep up with these things,
you're going to be left out, right?
That's an anxiety I would carry.
And in the midst of all of that,
you're trying to manage,
and so much more,
Jesus, too.
Jesus is, like, really important to you,
isn't he?
But it's all just so much,
so much to manage.
You may even love Jesus so much
that you think what many of us do,
that what you really need to do
is make that Jesus slice of the pie a bit larger,
you know?
Like, read a devotional,
or rush to youth group as many times as possible,
or join FCA,
or something to make Jesus
get just a little bit bigger, right?
I get it.
I've done that.
But see what happens as the days go by,
and more and more people come in,
and more and more decisions,
and more and more responsibilities,
they all get added into your life,
and you start to feel pressure
to squeeze it all in,
and somehow make it all make sense,
and figure out who you are in the midst of that.
And some of us hold that together
longer than others, right?
But eventually, at some point,
it will just explode.
It's just gonna fall apart.
Maybe you've felt it,
maybe you're feeling that it could be there
in just a few days.
We feel this overwhelming confusion,
like, where do I even start
to pick up the pieces,
and know how to put my life back together,
and figure out what I'm supposed to do.
It feels like way too much.
Kids, you know why it sometimes
feels like way too much,
and you start to feel pressure and anxiety,
maybe even right now while I'm talking about it?
Sometimes it feels like that because it is.
It is too much.
It is more than we can manage.
And so,
God is speaking to you today from His Word
to tell you something that will help you
not just with this school year,
but with the rest of your life.
Jesus first
in everything.
Everything.
How many things do you leave out of everything?
Nothing.
In everything.
Don't start by trying to figure everything out.
It won't work on your own.
Start by turning to Jesus.
Seeing how supremely valuable He is,
and then let Him direct all of those other things.
See, it's not merely that Jesus needs to be
a bigger slice of your life.
That will just build pressure for you, won't it?
It's truly that He is first place
in every aspect of your life.
So slowly, maybe one piece at a time,
you can start by asking,
what does it look like for Jesus
to be first place in my schoolwork?
That's a hard question.
That'll take you a while to sort through.
You can ask,
what does it look like for Jesus
to be first place in my friendships?
What does it look like for Jesus
to be first place in my money,
my free time,
with my phone?
But we need to ask all those questions
because He is that worthy.
He is that wonderful
that He would be first place
in everything.
Young people,
if that seems tough to you,
you should ask your parents
how they're doing it, right?
So that they can help you.
But when you do that,
when you go to your parents,
you need to be patient
because if they're anything
like the adults in my house,
they'll need to admit
that they don't live with Jesus
in first place
in every area of life either.
They're still learning.
They're trying to figure that out
and all that that means
in their life.
But we need to do that together.
And don't you long to?
Don't you long for that
to be more of what your life is like?
Wouldn't that give our lives purpose
and direction
and focus
so that we're not overwhelmed
all the time?
But instead,
we're living the way
our Maker designed us to live,
to flourish?
Y'all, it's hard
to keep Jesus in first place
for a lot of reasons.
We have so many commitments
that we may have to drop
or hold back on
some good things
in order to make sure
we don't miss
the best thing.
Our lives are so full
of so much
that sometimes
we have to simplify things
or it will explode.
Right?
You've been there.
It's hard to keep Jesus
at the center
because living with myself
at the center
is more natural.
It requires a lot less effort
and a lot less intentionality.
I'm used to it.
I know how to live that way.
But it's also hard
for another reason
I want to be honest about
for a couple minutes.
Jesus being first place
in your life
is both better
and worse
than the other things
that take his place
in first place.
In other words
it's not always better
in terms of how our lives feel.
That's a lie.
That's not what the Bible says.
It does not
just make everything easy
all the time.
No.
I wrestled with this
this week.
I wrestled with
considering Jesus first
multiple times
even as I was preparing
to preach about it.
You think I could have
had a good week?
An easy week
of Jesus being first.
It's all I was studying about.
And he brought a neighbor
into my path
who was inconvenient
for me to love
and didn't fit my schedule
and I needed to sit
and listen
and I didn't have time
I thought.
I struggled with
living with Jesus first
when my car repair
cost more than I expected.
I hadn't planned
to use the money that way.
I had other plans for it.
I struggled with it
when I felt
the decision Jesus
wanted me to make
as a parent
was disappointing
to my kids
and I hate that feeling
of disappointing them.
If you consider
Jesus first place
in your friendships
you may find yourself
left out
by a group
you really care
to be liked by
because you're loving
someone who is
already lonely
and left out
the way Jesus
would love them.
It doesn't feel good.
If you decide
to consider
Jesus first
in your job
it may at times
mean that you don't
make quite as much money
or get to
buy that car
or that dress
if you consider
Jesus first
in your free time
you may decide
he wouldn't have you
doing something
that you enjoy doing
and you sacrifice
that
in order to live
with him.
You'll still have
hard family arguments
still get news
of cancer
you'll still make
mistakes at work
it does not
magically
fix everything
okay
but
having
Jesus
in first place
planning your life
around your
relationship with him
is better
even when it
seems or feels
worse
don't miss this
as you spend
more time
with Jesus
as his love
for you
transforms your life
and your reality
living with him
first
is best
it is
best
because
no matter who
you're left out by
you'll never be left
alone by him
or without community
and his family
you'll always have that
because no matter
what you can't afford
your value
is secure
by the precious
blood
of Jesus Christ
given for you
because no matter
what bad
medical news
you receive
you're never
without eternal
hope
and the promise
of a resurrection
body that will be
given to you
that will never
break
and will never
hurt
and will always
last
it's better
even best
to consider
Jesus
first
because no matter
how challenging
your marriage is
you will be
tasting the love
of a perfect
spouse
who loves you
unfailingly
and forever
because no matter
how badly
you mess up
at work
or school
you'll always
have an identity
that's established
outside of anything
you do
or how well
you perform
you'll be
safe
and secure
and valuable
in Christ
because no matter
how many experiences
you feel like
you're missing out
on in this life
you'll never
run out of time
through eternity
to explore
every inch
of God's
glorious creation
and enjoy life
to the full
with Him
and with others
you love
forever
see no matter
whom you lose
or what it costs you
you'll have
Jesus
Himself
the great King
over all creation
the powerful
sustainer
of the universe
the supreme
lover
of your soul
He
will be
yours
always
never
ever
letting you down
Southwood
I'm inviting
you
again
I am
urging
you
to join
me
in the
journey
of walking
with Jesus
learning
together
what it means
in our lives
to have Him
in first place
in
everything
that's why
we're still here
this morning
I don't want
anyone to miss
this
in case you're
wondering
this is a journey
that will not end
I'm committed
to keeping it
before us
keeping us
on this journey
in fact
as a church
it is our first
core commitment
to being
Christ
centered
by which we mean
in every slice
of life
not just in our
preaching
or on Sundays
but in our mission
our shepherding
our serving
in all of life
24-7
365
we must do
this together
we need one another
for this
right
we as your leaders
are especially
trying to keep this
before us right now
because we know
how vital it is
and because we know
how hard it is
because we're living
it with you
it's a struggle
for us
too
so especially
be listening
in the days
and weeks
ahead
be talking
together
about how we
consider Jesus
first
lots of ways
to have this
on your radar
as we go back
to the gospel
of John
week in
and week out
and watch
and listen
to Jesus
hear his final
passionate
instructions to us
what it looks like
to live in relationship
with him
as we gather
in grace groups
to process together
what we're learning
and how this
transforms our lives
it's this first
place
Jesus
that is
what will be
training our
grace group
leaders
to help you
walk in together
as we gather
with
the parents
of kids
and youth
and we're going
to talk about
the very same thing
how we model
Christ centered living
and shape our kids
toward Christ centered
living together
Jesus first
in parenting
in work
in friendship
in time
in money
in marriage
there's a lot
to talk about
don't sit
on the sidelines
of this journey
don't think
Jesus is okay
with the bronze medal
hey he's a part
of my life
that's all he ever
wanted
don't think
you're the gold medalist
who will eventually
sort your own life out
it's just really busy
right now
but you'll eventually
figure it out
no
come back
and be a part
of this now
Jesus
first
one last
word of encouragement
for us
in this
this is especially
for those
who are like me
who feel convicted
when you hear this
maybe
like me
it's because
you've heard this
your whole life
and you're
you're kind of
cynical about it
at this point
you're a little
skeptical
you're like
yeah I mean
I've believed that
since I was a kid
but I don't feel
like it's ever
kind of
taken hold of me
I don't feel like
it's ever
made the difference
that it was
supposed to
and so I don't know
what's going to be
different this time
I keep failing
to live the way
that I should
that's actually
a good thing
to feel
because there's
there's hope
right there
first there's
bad news
you're likely
to fail again
probably this afternoon
if I had to guess
at considering
Jesus first
in everything
in your life
but there's
really good news
and I want this
to inspire
your heart
in a new way
and in fresh
relationship
with Jesus
Jesus considered
us first
for all the times
that we didn't
consider him first
all of them
look at what
follows this
glorious
Christ hymn
it ends by saying
Jesus' cross
reconciles
everything in the
world to God
and as for you
you who were
once alienated
from God
the Father
who were
hostile to him
in your mind
who were doing
evil deeds
even when you
were doing
the most evil
deed possible
what's that
removing God
from the center
the throne
of your heart
and your life
that's the first
commandment
right
that we confessed
earlier in the service
we've failed
to obey
even then
Jesus has
reconciled you
by his death
so that he presents
you holy
and blameless
and above reproach
to his Father
who has become
now and forever
your Father
what amazing grace
that Jesus
would do that
instead of his
own comfort
Jesus considered
us first
and what we
would need
and how much
he means to us
so that we now
by his very
spirit
given to us
can join in the
journey
the exciting
costly
hard
fulfilling
journey
of considering
him
first place
in
everything
what a gracious
Savior
let's ask for his
help
Jesus
we
renew
even now
our commitment
to relationship
with you
before anything
else
oh Holy
Spirit
we ask
for your
help
because our
hearts
are so
prone
to wander
and even
when
when our
hearts
come to
life
and our
spirits
are willing
you know
our flesh
is weak
so help
us
we pray
that we
would not
just give
lip service
to Jesus
that we
would not
just
grow his
slice of
the pie
but that we
would experience
what it means
that he would
be preeminent
in everything
for his glory
and for our
good we ask
it in his
name
amen
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information
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