Colossians 1-4 – An Introduction to Supremacy

For the sermon this morning I want to introduce our new series “SUPREMACY.” To do so I’m going to do something you may not be used to. I’m going to read Paul’s entire letter to the Colossians. Why? Well, the first reason is that Colossians is the source of this new series, and we’ll be walking through it verse by verse (Lord willing) until 9/20. The second reason is because that’s what the Colossian Church would’ve done upon receiving this letter. The courier would arrive, and being a believer himself the courier would’ve known where the Church met. He would’ve gone there, found the leader, and handed him the letter. The leader (the lead elder) would then assemble the entire church as quickly as he could. Once assembled the leader would announce a letter from Paul had arrived, open the letter before the congregation, and he then would’ve read the entirety of the letter in one sitting. We are going to do this today as well.

I am well aware that the modern research shows that the attention span of an average person today only allows us to hold our attention on a certain thing for a few seconds, but this is the Word of God, and if God says in 1 Timothy 4:13 to give attention to the reading of Scripture when we gather together, we can be sure that God will help us focus on His Word while it’s being read. Reading all 4 chapters of Colossians will probably take 15 minutes or so. Some of you may find it easier to follow along in your Bible, while others of you may find it easier to just sit back and listen to me as I read. Whatever makes this time easier for you to hear the Word of God, do it. After we get done reading the letter I’ll have a few brief comments to make for our new sermon series as we prepare to work through Paul’s letter to the Colossians.