University Objectives… (Reviewed)
_________ the Word!
___________ the Word!
_________ the Word!
Semper Vivus: __________________ ____________
“This __________ is ___________!”
“University” Defined:
“An institution of ________________ at the highest ____________.”
Principle Three (of 12)
The ___________________ Principle
I can find ultimate purpose in life only by learning the essentials of allowing Christ to be supreme in all I think or do. I must draw from His strength continually to live a life of purity and purpose so that I might bring Him the greatest glory. I hereby resolve to choose this course of action daily, and in God’s power I consider it done.
Primary Passage…
He [Christ] 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 and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. — Colossians 1:17-18 (NIV)
Foundational Premise…
“Premise” Defined:
“A proposition upon which an ___________________ is based or from which a ___________________ is drawn.”
Premise…
The believer’s ability to _____________ to full ____________________ in Christ and to maximize his or her __________________ in Him is proportional to that person’s ________________ and ____________________ of Christ’s supremacy in all aspects of life.
“Supremacy” Defined:
“The quality or condition of being supreme; supreme in _____________ or _________________.”
“Supreme” Defined:
“Greatest in power, authority or rank; paramount or ___________________; __________________; final.
Scripture:
He [Christ] was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. — Colossians 1:18 (MSG)
Understanding and Knowing Christ
(His Centrality and Supremacy)
Timeless Insights
“Christ is all infinite and boundless. That’s the language of supremacy. It is similar to the language of God’s messianic-era promise to Jerusalem in Zechariah 2:5: ‘I…will be a wall of fire around her (circumference) and I will be its glory in her midst (center).’” — E. Stanley Jones, Missionary to India
Centrality and Supremacy
(A Christology of Christ)
Dual Definitions From David Bryant (author of Christ Is All!)
1. ___________________ is about Christ’s right to be kept at the _____________ of who we are, where we are _______________, all we are ___________ and how we are blessed.
2. ____________________ speaks of so much more. It proclaims Christ’s right to keep us at the center of _________ He is, where _______ is headed, what He is ______________________, and how He is blessed.
Timeless Insights
“I must surrender my fascination with myself to a more worthy preoccupation with the character and purposes of Christ. I am not the point. He is. I exist for Him. He does not exist for me. Is there a passion to be consumed with the work of Christ, a passion to know Him as Lord?” — Dr. Larry Crabb, The Centrality and Supremacy of Christ
Biblical Distinctions
1. Distinction One: CHRIST IS… the _________________ and ____________________ of Christianity.
Scripture:
Christ is all [supremacy] and in all [centrality]. — Colossians 3:11 (NIV)
Timeless Insights
“‘Christ is all’ (Colossians 3:11)—These three words are few, short and soon spoken; but they contain great things. These three words are the essence and substance of Christianity. These three words give to Christ His rightful place.” — J. C. Ryle (c. 1870)
2. Distinction Two: CHRIST IS… the _____________________ of God’s _______________________ to all humankind.
Scripture:
…One Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things [supremacy], and we exist through Him [centrality]. — 1 Corinthians 8:6 (NASB)
Timeless Insights
“Jesus is not merely the agent through whom the knowledge of God is communicated. He is himself the very content of the communication. Where Jesus is preached, the very glory of God shines through. Thus God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.” — Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright
3. Distinction Three: CHRIST IS… the _________ of eternal life, not a ______________ to achieve the _____________ of eternal life.
Scripture:
…I press on so that I may lay hold of that [centrality] for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus [supremacy]. — Philippians 3:12 (NASB)
Timeless Insights
“Anyone who reads even a smattering of Paul’s writing recognizes early on that his devotion to Christ was the foremost reality and passion of his life. ‘For me to live is Christ; to die is [to] gain [Christ].’ Christ is the beginning and goal of everything for Paul, and thus is the single great reality along the way.” — Dr. Gordon Fee
4. Distinction Four: CHRIST IS… the One who produces __________ through me, not I the one who produces _______________ through Him.
Scripture:
…He who abides in Me [supremacy] and I in Him [centrality], he bears much fruit… — John 15:5 (NASB)
Timeless Insights
“Jesus is my God, Jesus is my Spouse, Jesus is my Life. Jesus is my only Love, Jesus is my All, Jesus is my Everything. Because of this I am never afraid. I am doing my work with Jesus. I am doing it for Jesus. I am doing it with Jesus; therefore, the results are His, not mine.” — Mother Teresa of Calcutta
5. Distinction Five: CHRIST IS… the divine _________ of the ___________ of all biblical theology.
Scripture:
Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness [centrality], through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence [supremacy]. — 2 Peter 1:3 (NASB)
Timeless Insights
“Christology is the true hub round which the wheel of theology revolves, and to which its separate spokes must each be correctly anchored if the wheel is not to get bent.” — Dr. J. I. Packer
Talk Back Time: (Share what you’ve learned with your small group.)
Discuss what you believe is the difference between the centrality and supremacy of Christ. What are some of the practical steps one might take to make Christ supreme in his or her life?
Pray Back Time: (Pray what you’ve learned in your small group.)
Think of specific circumstances, issues or desires in your life in which you would like to see Christ become “supreme.” Turn those particular items into focuses for these moments of prayer.
