Jesus Is Lord: His Supremacy and Sufficiency

Fifteen below on some thermometers this morning, but we're a hearty breed in the Northland and Pastor Brad welcomed us warmly. "Good morning! Or in the vernacular of the day, 'Top o’ the morning to you.'" His theme, he said, would address the gap between who we are and who we wish we were… drawn once more from Paul's letter to the Colossians.

Announcements
~ Brad noted the upcoming Easter Week services to look forward to. Next Sunday we will celebrate Palm Sunday… There will be a Good Friday Service, as has been a tradition we're inviting congregational members to bring Easter Lilies on Easter Sunday.
~ There will be a Breakfast Banquet Easter Sunday and we need help with setup and cleanup. There is a sign up sheet in the back. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt, also.
~ The Leadership Council will be meeting Tuesday.
~ Girls Art Club will be next Sunday. Bring a bag lunch.
~ More information will be coming about the Capital Campaign. Brad shared that he is excited not just what we are doing but the manner in which it is being done.

Drake led the worship time this morning. The offering was taken afterward followed by a time of prayer.

Jesus Is Lord: His Supremacy and Sufficiency

Brad began by reading Colossians 1:15-22. Often when we talk about Jesus as Lord we only think of our sins being forgiven. But His Lordship is so much more.

In the a number of stories were used to illustrate the brokenness of our world, from a Darwin observation to a scene in the film Grand Canyon. Ultimately, all of these examples add up to the obvious observation that the world is a mess. Darwin drew the conclusion that he was unable to see the goodness of God in His creation.

Why is the world such a mess? How could God be good and things be so awry?

Verse 22 of the Colossians passage speaks of a reconciliation. Reconciling, however, is an acknowledgement that something is broken. All of creation will be reconciled… Romans 8:19ff states that the whole creation is groaning, longing for that day of reconciliation when all will be made right.

As Danny Glover states in Grand Canyon, “The world ain’t supposed to work like this…”

Bible has a name for all the brokenness in the world and it is the word sin. Everything is part of the cycle of sin and death. There is too much misery in the world… because this ain’t the world it’s supposed to be. We’ve been made for a different world, a better world. There will be no more death or crying or pain.

We get to decide… to be part of God’s work of reconciliation.

How do we get from brokenness to restoration? Three parts to this.

Resurrection  Christ is the beginning… Jesus is the first-born to break out of the cycle of sin and death

Incarnation  For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him

Crucifixion  God made peace through His blood, on the cross.

Blood: death by violence
Cross: humiliation

In verse 21 & 22 it is written, "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[a] your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— " Paul goes from the big story to make it personal for you and me…

What happens when you give your heart?
1. Forgiven
2. Share in the resurrected life
3. New community… I belong to something bigger than myself
4. End "You"… You become one of God’s instruments to become active in restoring this broken world.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 2:17)