Colossians Series Packet

Source: Colossians Series Packet.pdf (Frank Williams, lead evangelist), Apr 22 2026 revision. Converted from PDF via markitdown and reflowed by hand to repair column/bullet artifacts. Content matches the source.

From Frank (cover note)

Brothers,

Here is the packet for our new sermon series, which begins this Sunday.

Thank you for serving Christ and His people. A few things —

1. June 7th, Roger will preach in my stead.
2. Please stick to the text and go verse by verse. Outside of Roger, expository preaching allows God's Word to speak, and for His people to hear His voice clearly. You do not need to supply any other Scriptures beyond the great book of Colossians. Verse by verse.
3. Declare His Gospel that Jesus is First, because He was crucified in love, raised in power, and reigns as King!

In other words, the supremacy of Christ in ALL things.

I love you! Frank

The Supremacy of Christ Our King

Sunday, May 17, 2026, to Sunday, July 26, 2026

Jesus First!

Crucified In Love, Raised In Power, Reigning Forever As King.

An Expository Journey Through the Book of Colossians

Theme of the Book

Jesus Christ is supreme over everything and sufficient for everything. The central, pulsating theme of the book of Colossians is The Preeminence and Sufficiency of Jesus Christ.

In short: Jesus is everything, and Jesus is enough. Paul wrote this letter to a young church in Colossae that was being pressured to "upgrade" their faith. They were being told that Jesus was a great start, but to be truly spiritual, they needed extra rituals, secret knowledge, or strict rules. Paul's response is a theological "mic drop": You don't need to add anything to Jesus, because everything in the universe is already under His feet. The theme can be broken down into three distinct layers:

1. The Supremacy of Christ (Theology)

Paul establishes that Jesus is not just a teacher or a prophet; He is the Cosmic King.

• Creator: He existed before all things and created all things (Colossians 1:16).
• Sustainer: He is the glue holding the atoms of the universe together (Colossians 1:17).
• The Fullness: Paul uses the Greek word pleroma (fullness), stating that the "whole fullness of deity" dwells in Jesus (Colossians 2:9). If you have seen Jesus, you have seen the entirety of God.

2. The Sufficiency of Christ (The Counter-Argument)

Because Jesus is supreme, He is sufficient. This was Paul's weapon against the "Colossian Heresy."

• No Extras Needed: You don't need Christ + legalism, or Christ + mysticism.
• The Completed Work: Our "record of debt" wasn't just reduced; it was nailed to the cross and cancelled (Colossians 2:14).
• The Mystery: The great "secret" of the universe isn't found in a ritual; it is simply "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

3. The Sovereignty of Christ

If Jesus is the head of the universe, He must be the head of your daily life. The theme shifts from the stars to the "street level."

• New Identity: Because Christ is enough, we "put off" our old, dysfunctional ways of living and "put on" His character like new clothes (Colossians 3:12).
• Kingdom Culture: This theme extends into the home and workplace. Whether you are a spouse, a parent, or an employee, the theme remains: "Whatever you do… do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17).

Summary in a Sentence

Since Jesus is the supreme Creator and Sustainer of all things, He is entirely sufficient for our salvation and our daily growth; therefore, we need nothing more than Him.

Key Verse

"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." — Colossians 1:17

Purpose of the Letter

The apostle Paul writes to confront false teaching and remind believers that Christ is not one of many spiritual options — He is everything.

The Call to Action

Because Christ is supreme over everything, disciples must submit every part of life to His rule. In other words, "Christ is over all things; He must be over all of us."

Here are the major calls to action in Colossians:

• Seek the Things Above: Set your hearts on things above… Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. — Colossians 3:1–2
• Put Sin to Death: Put to death therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature. — Colossians 3:5
• Put On the Character of Christ: Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. — Colossians 3:12–14
• Let Christ Rule Your Life. — Colossians 3:15–17
• Live Out Christ in Your Relationships. — Colossians 3:18–4:1
• Devote Yourself to Prayer and Mission: Devote yourselves to prayer… be wise in the way you act toward outsiders. — Colossians 4:2–6

Phase 1: The Preeminence of Christ (Theology)

Week 1 — Sunday, May 17, 2026: Foundations of Faith (Col. 1:1–8)

• Focus: Paul's greeting and his celebration of the Colossians' fruit.
• Key Idea: The Gospel isn't just a gate we walk through once; it's a garden that continues to grow and bear fruit in our lives.
• Preacher: Frank Williams

Week 2 — Sunday, May 24, 2026: The Knowledge of His Will (Col. 1:9–14)

• Focus: Paul's prayer for the church's spiritual wisdom.
• Key Idea: We don't seek God's will just to make better decisions, but to "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord."
• Preacher: Eric Stallworth

Week 3 — Sunday, May 31, 2026: The Cosmic Christ (Col. 1:15–20)

• Focus: The "Christ Hymn." Jesus as Creator and Reconciler.
• Key Idea: If Jesus holds the atoms of the universe together, He can hold your life together.
• Preacher: Josh Braseth

Week 4 — Sunday, June 7, 2026: Reconciled and Resolute (Col. 1:21–29)

• Focus: Our transition from "enemies" to "holy and blameless."
• Key Idea: Christ in you is the only hope of glory. It is His energy that works powerfully within us.
• Preacher: Frank Williams

Phase 2: The Protection of the Faith (Warning)

Week 5 — Sunday, June 14, 2026: Walking in Him (Col. 2:1–7)

• Focus: Being rooted and built up.
• Key Idea: Maturity is simply "walking in Him" the same way we received Him — by faith and gratitude.
• Preacher: (TBD)

Week 6 — Sunday, June 21, 2026: Substance over Shadow (Col. 2:8–19)

• Focus: Guarding against "empty deceit," legalism, and mysticism.
• Key Idea: Don't settle for the "shadows" of religious rules when you have the "substance" which is Christ.
• Preacher: (TBD)

Week 7 — Sunday, June 28, 2026: Dead to the World (Col. 2:20–3:4)

• Focus: Setting our minds on things above.
• Key Idea: Your old life is hidden with Christ. You don't have to keep trying to clean up a dead man; live as someone who is alive in Jesus.
• Preacher: (TBD)

Phase 3: The Practice of the Faith (Application)

Week 8 — Sunday, July 5, 2026: The New Wardrobe (Col. 3:5–17)

• Focus: Putting off the "old self" and putting on "compassion, kindness, and humility."
• Key Idea: We don't just "stop sinning"; we replace the rags of our old nature with the robes of Christ's character.
• Preacher: Frank Williams

Week 9 — Sunday, July 12, 2026: Jesus in the House (Col. 3:18–4:1)

• Focus: Relationships in the home and workplace.
• Key Idea: Submission and leadership are redefined by the Gospel. Whatever you do, work at it as if Jesus is your direct supervisor.

Week 10 — Sunday, July 19, 2026: Kingdom Conversation (Col. 4:2–18)

• Focus: Prayer, witnessing, and the "cloud of witnesses" (Paul's friends).
• Key Idea: Our speech should be "seasoned with salt." The series ends on the necessity of community — we cannot follow the Supreme Christ alone.

Week 11 — Sunday, July 26, 2026: Review of the Supremacy of Christ Our King!

Sermon Text: Colossians 2:6–10

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith… For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him…"

1. The High View: Who is Jesus? (The Supremacy)

Paul wrote this letter because the church was being tempted by "Christ-plus" living. They thought they needed Jesus plus special rules, plus secret knowledge, plus specific rituals.

• The Cosmic Ruler: Paul reminds us that Jesus is the "image of the invisible God" (1:15). He isn't just a historical figure; He is the architect of the universe.
• The Reconciler: We were once alienated, but through the blood of the cross, we are brought home.
• The Point: If Jesus is the "Fullness of God," then there is no room for a "Step 2" to salvation.

2. The Deep Roots: How Do We Grow? (The Sufficiency)

Paul uses the imagery of a tree: "Rooted and built up in Him."

• The Root: Our nourishment comes from the Gospel, not our performance.
• The Warning: Beware of "hollow and deceptive philosophy" (2:8). In our world, this looks like self-help that promises peace without a Savior, or legalism that promises holiness without the Spirit.
• The Point: Spiritual growth isn't about moving away from the Gospel into "deeper" things; it's about driving your roots deeper into the Gospel.

3. The Street Level: How Do We Live? (The Symphony)

A "Main Thing" theology must lead to "Main Thing" living. Paul moves from the stars to the kitchen sink.

• The Wardrobe: We "put off" the old self (anger, greed, lies) and "put on" the new self (mercy, kindness, love).
• The Relationships: When Jesus is Supreme, it changes how we talk to our spouses, how we raise our kids, and how we treat our "bosses" (Col. 3:18–4:1).
• The Point: You can tell how much of the "Fullness of Christ" you have by how you treat the people you live with.

The Big Takeaway

• If you have Jesus, you have everything you need for everywhere you go.
• We often live as if we are "waiting for the other shoe to drop" or waiting for the "secret" to a better life. Paul's message to the Colossians — and to us — is that the secret is already out: "Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Closing Prayer / Call to Response

• Are you tired of trying to "add" things to your life to feel whole? Receive the fullness of Jesus today.
• Are you trying to grow by your own effort? Re-root yourself in the finished work of Christ.

Colossians Scripture Cheat Sheet