Ben Dishman, Student Minister at Bridgeway Church, delves into Colossians 1:15-20, exploring the supremacy of Christ and combating heresies that diminish Jesus' divinity and importance.

Key points:

1. Jesus' Divinity: "He is the image of the invisible God" (Col 1:15). Dishman emphasizes, "In Him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (Col 1:19), affirming Jesus' complete deity.

2. Creator of All: "For by him all things were created" (Col 1:16). Christ is the origin, sustainer, and purpose of all creation.

3. Firstborn: Not about chronology, but rank. Jesus is "the firstborn of all creation" (Col 1:15), meaning He has preeminence over everything.

4. Head of the Church: Christ leads the new creation as "the head of the body, the church" (Col 1:18).

5. Reconciler: Through His death, Jesus reconciles "all things to himself" (Col 1:20).

Dishman addresses common heresies:

• Legalism: Salvation through law-keeping

• Aestheticism: Self-punishment for righteousness

• Gnosticism: Salvation through secret knowledge

He quotes C.S. Lewis' famous "trilemma" from Mere Christianity: Jesus is either "a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord." Dishman asserts, "Don't fall for anything that would minimize the greatness of Jesus and his divinity."

The sermon emphasizes our need for awe in worship. Quoting Paul Tripp: "I came to see that I was wired for awe, that awe of something sits at the bottom of everything that I say and do. But I wasn't just wired for awe. I was wired for the awe of God."

Dishman challenges listeners: "You cannot think too big about Jesus." He encourages a maximized view of Christ, stating, "You cannot go too big when talking about Jesus, and any view that would seek to make him just a bit smaller, throw it away."

The message concludes with a call to worship: "Everything that we covered today is meant to inspire awe, worship, and the glory of Christ, to not minimize him in any way, but to remind us that he is the firstborn in all things, and to worship him as if he is."

Keywords: Supremacy of Christ, Colossians 1:15-20, Jesus' divinity, Creator, Firstborn, Head of the Church, Reconciler, heresies, C.S. Lewis trilemma, awe in worship, Paul Tripp, Bridgeway Church, Ben Dishman

This sermon is essential for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of Christ's nature and role in creation, the church, and personal faith. It challenges believers to elevate their view of Jesus and resist any teaching that diminishes His supremacy.

Date: 7.7.24

Website: https://bwchurch.org/

Interested in Baptism? https://bwchurch.org/baptism/

Wanting to know what it looks like to follow Christ? https://bwchurch.org/salvation/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BWChurch

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwchurchtx/

Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bridgeway-church-tx

Want to reach out? You can email us at hello@bwchurch.org