2/11/26 Mid Week Service

Prayer Service

Colossians 1:15–23

This past Sunday, we began our new series, The Church: Core Values, by focusing on what it means to be a gospel-centered church.

Before we can talk about ministry, mission, or methods, we must begin where everything begins — with Jesus Christ.

In Colossians 1, Paul gives us a breathtaking picture of who Jesus is. He reminds us that Jesus is not merely a good teacher or religious figure. Jesus is “the image of the invisible God.” He fully reveals God to us. He is the Creator of all things, the One by whom and for whom everything exists.

From this passage, we anchored ourselves in three foundational truths:

Jesus Alone Reveals the Father. Jesus is not created; He is eternal. All the fullness of God dwells in Him. He stands in a category by Himself.

Jesus Alone Reveals the Father – Colossians 1:15–17

Paul begins with Jesus. “He is the image of the invisible God.” That word image means exact representation. If you want to know God, you look to Christ. He doesn’t reflect God — He reveals Him.

Colossians 2:9 confirms it: “In Him the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily.” Jesus alone makes the Father known. As He says in Matthew 11:27, no one truly knows the Father except the Son.

Yes, that is narrow. But truth is always narrow.

Paul continues: “By Him all things were created.” Jesus is not part of creation — He is Lord over it. If all things were created by Him, He cannot be created. Jesus is God.

“Firstborn” speaks of supremacy, not origin. Christ is preeminent — the One for whom all things exist.

Which includes you.

Jesus is not part of your life. He is the point of your life.

You were created by Him and for Him. True purpose and true freedom are found only in Christ.

Jesus alone is the Head of the church. Paul continues by saying, “He is the head of the body, the church.”

That word head is important. Jesus is not merely an influence or a symbol for the church. He is its authority, its source of life, and its direction.

Jesus is not simply one priority among many. He is the One who gives shape and meaning to every priority.

You were created by Him and for Him. Which means Christ can never be just an important part of life. Scripture describes Him as preeminent — not only first in order, but first in significance.

Paul then points us to the heart of the gospel: Christ reconciled us through the blood of His cross.

The church, therefore, is not built on shared preferences, but on sinners reconciled to God by grace. And if reconciliation is central to what Jesus has done for us, it should also mark how we live with one another.

This raises a necessary question for us:

Does Jesus truly hold that central place in our lives, or has He become simply important?

Over time, churches can drift. The focus can subtly move from mission to maintenance, from sacrifice to comfort.

This is not merely a structural concern — it is a spiritual one. When Jesus is truly recognized as head, the church remains oriented outward, shaped by obedience and trust.

Everything we benefit from today exists because of the faith of those who came before us. But we cannot live on borrowed faith.

Like Joshua, we must walk forward in our own obedience.

The calling before us remains the same: to live with courage, dependence, and faithfulness to Christ.

Christ alone is our Reconciliation. Though we were once alienated from God because of sin, Jesus reconciled us through the blood of His cross. Forgiveness and restoration are found in Him alone.

We were reminded that the gospel is not simply the starting point of the Christian life — it is the center of it. A church can be busy, active, and even successful by worldly standards, yet drift from the very message that gives it life. But when the gospel remains central, everything else finds its proper place.

Let me briefly remind you of what Paul has been showing us.

We said that Christianity is never merely theological; it is personal. Paul reminds believers that we were once alienated from God. Not simply imperfect, but separated. The issue was not that we needed to try harder, but that we needed to be reconciled.

And Paul gives us that beautiful contrast: “But now…”

“He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh by His death.”

We talked about how reconciliation means restoration — a broken relationship made whole. And this did not happen through ideas or intentions, but through the actual, physical death of Jesus.

Because of Christ, our standing before God has changed. Paul says we are presented holy and blameless — not because we never struggle, but because grace has rewritten our status.

Then we saw Paul’s encouragement: “Continue in the faith, stable and steadfast.”

The Christian life is not about graduating from the gospel, but remaining anchored in it.

And finally, we reflected on the wonder of the cross.

The Creator spoke the world into existence — yet redemption required His sacrifice.

Creation cost Him a word. Reconciliation cost Him His life.

God does not overlook sin. At Calvary, Christ willingly took on what we could not.

He alone bridges the gap between sinful people and a holy God.

That is reconciliation. That is grace. That is the gospel.

The message concluded with a challenge toward obedience.

How would you describe the difference between knowing about Jesus and truly knowing Him?

The sermon emphasized Jesus as Creator, Lord, and Savior. Which of those roles do you think people are most comfortable with? Which feels most challenging?

Why do you think people are often okay with Jesus being important but struggle with Him being first?

How does remembering who we were before Christ shape how we live now?

What part of your walk with Christ feels most alive right now?

Where do you sense God stretching, refining, or challenging you?

Upward → Downward → Inward → Outward, with three prayer buckets inside the Outward section, including the prayer list.

Calm, Scripture-fed, and ready to read aloud.

Worship-Based Prayer from Colossians 1:15–23 “Christ Above All”

Good evening, church family. Tonight, we come together to do something simple, yet profound:

We lift our eyes to Christ. We align our hearts with His truth. We bring our needs before Him. And we carry others to His throne of grace.

We’re going to let Colossians 1:15–23 shape our prayers, and we’ll follow a biblical prayer rhythm:

Upward. Downward. Inward. Outward.

Let’s begin where Scripture begins — with Christ Himself.

UPWARD — REVERENCE: WORSHIPING CHRIST

Colossians 1:15–17 (ESV) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created… And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Church, before we bring requests, we fix our attention on Jesus.

He is not merely a helper. He is not merely a teacher.

He is the image of the invisible God. Creator of all things. Sustainer of all things.

Everything that exists is held together by Him — including us.

Let’s worship Him.

OUT-LOUD PRAYER (short sentences): As you feel led, pray one sentence out loud praising Christ for who He is.

(Allow multiple voices.)

Jesus, You are supreme over all things.

DOWNWARD — RESPONSE: SURRENDERING TO HIS LORDSHIP

Colossians 1:18 (ESV) “And he is the head of the body, the church… that in everything he might be preeminent.”

Church, this verse confronts us with a question:

Is Christ truly preeminent in our lives?

Not just important. Not just present. But first.

This is where prayer becomes surrender.

SILENT PRAYER: Yield areas of your life where Christ has not been first. Surrender your plans, priorities, fears, and control.

(Pause for silence.)

Lord, we submit ourselves to Your authority and rule.

INWARD — DEPENDENCE: TRUSTING HIS RECONCILING WORK

Colossians 1:21–22 (ESV) “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind… he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death…”

Church, we pray from a place of grace.

We were once alienated. Separated. Hostile.

But through Christ’s death, we have been reconciled.

This is where we bring our needs before Him — not as strangers, but as redeemed children.

SILENT PRAYER: Bring your burdens, anxieties, struggles, and needs before the Lord. Ask Him for strength, endurance, peace, and faith.

(Pause for silence.)

Father, thank You that we approach You through Christ’s finished work.

OUTWARD — READINESS: PRAYING IN LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL

(Three Prayer Buckets)

Colossians 1:23 (ESV) “…not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard…”

Church, because Christ is supreme, because reconciliation is real, because the gospel is our hope —

we now turn outward.

Tonight we pray outward using three prayer buckets.

BUCKET ONE — THE PRAYER LIST (NEEDS & SUFFERING)

This bucket is for those who are walking through hardship — physical struggles, grief, uncertainty, burdens, trials.

We pray that they would not shift from the hope of the gospel.

OUT-LOUD PRAYER: I’ll read names or situations from our prayer list. After each one, pray briefly out loud.

(Pray through prayer list.)

Lord, anchor them in the hope of Christ.

BUCKET TWO — OUR CHURCH (FAITHFUL TO CHRIST)

This bucket is for Cedar Bay Baptist Church.

We pray that Christ would remain preeminent here. That the gospel would remain central. That unity, faithfulness, and spiritual maturity would grow.

OUT-LOUD PRAYER: Pray briefly for our church, its leaders, and its mission.

(Allow several voices.)

Father, keep Christ supreme in this body.

BUCKET THREE — THE LOST & THE GOSPEL’S ADVANCE

Finally, we pray outward for those who do not yet know Christ.

For our neighbors. Our community. Our families. Our world.

SILENT PRAYER: Pray quietly for someone who needs Jesus. Ask God to draw them, save them, and use us as faithful witnesses.

(Pause for silence.)

Lord, advance Your gospel through us.

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord Jesus, You are before all things. You hold all things together. You are head of the church. You are our reconciliation.

Keep our hearts steady. Keep our church faithful. Keep us anchored in the hope of the gospel.

We pray this in the name above every name — Jesus Christ.

Amen.