Jesus-First Family

JESUS SHOWS US WHAT GOD IS LIKE (15a)

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

Illustration - my photo and Brooks

When you see Jesus you see God.

Not physically — God does not have a body.

We see God’s character - His actions, His ways

ILLUST - best impressions

of a famous person

mannerisms of your parents

*What does Jesus show us about God?

Jesus is holy

Jesus is wise

Jesus is loving

Jesus is powerful

JESUS SHOWS US WHAT GOD IS LIKE. . . BECAUSE HE IS GOD. (19)

While my sons may be able to show you what I am like physically and even how I act, they don’t look EXACTLY like me or act EXACTLY like me.

Jesus, however, acts exactly like God. . . because HE IS GOD!

Jesus is the only one who is 100% God and 100% man

19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,

*How do we know Jesus is God?

The Bible tells us Jesus is God

Jesus routinely told people to look to Scripture to confirm who he is.

Through prophecy

There are over 300 prophecies about Christ given in the Old Testament. All were given at least 400 years before he was born—some thousands of years before his birth. Thirty-three of these prophecies were fulfilled on the day of his crucifixion

In his book, Science Speaks, Peter Stoner applies the modern science of probability to just eight prophecies regarding Christ. He says, “The chance that any man might have ...fulfilled all eight prophecies is one in 10 to the 17th. That would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000.” (one hundred quadrillion).

Stoner suggests that “we take 10 to the 17th silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state 2 feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly... Blindfold a man and tell him he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up [that one marked silver dollar.] What chance would he have of getting the right one?”

Because of miracles

When John the Baptist asked Jesus if he was the Messiah (God), Jesus gave this answer:

Matthew 11:4–5 (NLT) — 4 Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”

The resurrection

Jesus prophesied that he would die and rise again as proof of who he was.

He lived, died, and ROSE back to life - know of anyone else that did that?

*When did Jesus begin?

15b He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

17 He existed before anything else,

JESUS HAS ALWAYS EXISTED (15b, 17a)

JESUS HAS ALWAYS EXISTED . . . AND HE MADE EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS. (16)

15b He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

Things we see

If Jesus created everything, name one thing he did NOT create. . .

If Jesus created everything, name one thing that is more powerful than him. . .

Things may be out of your control, but they are never out of Jesus’ control

ILLUST - great theology - Veggie Tales - “God is bigger than the boogie-man”

Kids, what are you afraid of? Does it contain something that Jesus created? Then it is not more powerful than him.

Things we do not see

There is a world around us that we do not see and Jesus is in control of that as well.

JESUS LEADS THE CHURCH (18a) . . . BECAUSE HE IS ALIVE. (18b)

18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.

Kids, moms, dads, everyone: Your faith does not rest

on this church

or the faith of your parents

or your favorite preacher

or me!

All of these can (and very well may) fail. Jesus leads the church - your faith.

Jesus never fails your faith because he is first - in resurrection.

Some churches have proven to be false.

Some preachers have proven to be false.

Some parents have proven to be false.

Some spouse have proven to be false.

Jesus is true though every man be a liar - the resurrection is proof.

1 Corinthians 15:17–20 (NLT) — 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. . . 20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.

Because of this, the church that follows Jesus’ lead (through the Spirit) moves and does what he would do.

Are we following Jesus?!

JESUS CAN FIX EVERY BROKEN THING (20a). . . BECAUSE HE WAS BROKEN FOR YOU. (20b)

20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

Kids, how many of your dads are “fixers?”

How many of you dads have fixed (keep your hand up):

a toaster

flat tire

lawnmower

a scary room

broken toy

How many of you moms have fixed (keep your hand up):

a wound

a broken heart

a broken toy

a toaster

dinner

We lean on moms and dads to fix things - and that is great! Moms and dads can fix many things - but only Jesus saves!!!

Mom and dad can give advice, but only Jesus can heal your heart.

Mom and dad can love you, but only Jesus loves you perfectly.

Mom and dad can do many things for you, but only Jesus has done EVERYTHING for you.

Mom and dad are not your Savior - only Jesus is your Savior - moms and dads are not perfect - only Jesus is perfect.

Same is true for husbands and wives.

Your husband is not your Savior - Jesus is.

Your wife is not your Savior - Jesus is.

Don’t put that burden on them:

- to make your life ‘complete’

- to make you happy

- to never fail you or disappoint you

It was a weight they were never meant to bear - it is too heavy for them and too precarious for you.

Your spouse will disappoint you. He will fail you at some point / she will fail you at some point / I will fail you at some point.

Jesus never fails and he took our failures

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

Jesus never fails and he took our failures so that when I /you / he / she fails, there is someone we can run to to find healing and there is a way for I / you / him / her to be restored.

Jesus is the FIRST, and He loves you the MOST, so we follow Him FIRST.

Because of this, make:

Jesus FIRST in your decisions

How will your decisions tomorrow be different because you are putting Jesus first? What he wants for you, what he is calling you toward, away from?

What needs to be removed from first place so you can choose Jesus first?

a person

a sport

yourself?

Jesus FIRST in your family

What does it look like to have a Jesus-first family?

Jesus is talked about at home just as much as at church

Jesus is the ultimate authority in the family

Mom and dad model a Jesus-first life

Mom and dad give wisdom from Jesus’ Word

Jesus FIRST at school

How will Jesus be first at school this year?

What choices will you make?

How will Jesus be first in the way you talk?

Friends you choose?