QUESTION: Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die?
ANSWER: Since death is the punishment for sin, Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God. By his substitutionary atoning death, he alone redeems us from hell and gains for us forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and everlasting life.
ANSWER: Since death is the punishment for sin, Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God. By his substitutionary atoning death, he alone redeems us from hell and gains for us forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and everlasting life.
WARM-UP
Have you ever had a piece of technology or even had a relationship with a person, only to later discover that you never really appreciated or tapped into their full potential? If so, what happened?
WORD
BIG IDEA
READ
Have you ever had a piece of technology or even had a relationship with a person, only to later discover that you never really appreciated or tapped into their full potential? If so, what happened?
WORD
BIG IDEA
- The whole creation is fundamentally relational.
- Death is the fruit of the broken relationship between Christ and the entire creation.
- The death of Jesus is the unique power to reconcile all things back to God and to each other.
- Discipleship is learning to see all of life through the death of Jesus.
READ
Colossians 1:15-23
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.
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
WATCH/LISTEN
OLD SELF
NEW SELF
WORLD
Jesus’ death has the power to reconcile all things. This week take particular notice of how all things in life are connected and impact each other. Imagine what it would look like if they were reconciled to God. Imagine how life would be different if through that reconciliation, they were reconciled to each other?
PRAYER
Atoning Savior, thank you that you didn’t turn back, but endured all the way to death, the cross, and beyond. Because of your death, we can live eternally. With this knowledge help us face our own deaths with courage, faith, and hope. Amen.
- Conventional human wisdom can often draw us away from the original gospel of Jesus to something else. Have you seen this impact your church community?
- What are ways that conventional wisdom is tempting you to trust in something beyond the gospel?
NEW SELF
- The reconciling power of the cross is inexhaustible. Maturity occurs when we ask how we need the reconciling work of the cross of Jesus for us today.
- What are ways the reconciliation of the cross impacts your understanding of God? How does it affect your relationship with your family, friends, co-works, and the workplace?
WORLD
Jesus’ death has the power to reconcile all things. This week take particular notice of how all things in life are connected and impact each other. Imagine what it would look like if they were reconciled to God. Imagine how life would be different if through that reconciliation, they were reconciled to each other?
PRAYER
Atoning Savior, thank you that you didn’t turn back, but endured all the way to death, the cross, and beyond. Because of your death, we can live eternally. With this knowledge help us face our own deaths with courage, faith, and hope. Amen.