Sunday, October 26, 2025

The Preeminence of Christ, Part II

Colossians 1:1-15

Scripture Reading: Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is in your midst, a Mighty One, who will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will renew you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (MEV)

“Preeminent: There is no one like Him. He is First; He is the Highest in rank; He surpasses all others; and He has a supreme position of honor and leadership.”

Genesis 1:26 & 27—Man was created in the image of God. But……

Created in God’s image: able to reason and make choices; an inherent sense of right and wrong; the capacity to love and be in relationship with one another and with God.

God is invisible. He has no limitations. Any image of God would fall short of representing who God is and what He is able to do.

Colossians 1:15 “Christ is the unmarred image of the invisible God.”

Christ came for two reasons:

#1—To become the ultimate once and for all sacrifice.

#2—To show us God.

John 14:7-9 “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.”

John 2—Water to Wine.

John 5—Healing the nobleman’s son.

John 6—Feeding the 5,000.

John 6—Walking on the water.

John 9—Healing a man born bind.

John 11—Raising Lazarus from the dead.

The more we know Jesus, the better we know God.

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Colossians 1:15-20

Scripture Reading: Psalm 145:1-3 “I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.” (NLT)

Preeminent– The word “preeminent” means that He stands alone. There is no one like Him. He is First; He is the Highest in rank; He surpasses all others; and He has a supreme position of honor and leadership.

#1—Man was created in the image of God.

Because we are created in the image of God, it means we share God’s intellect along with the ability to reason and choose.

Because we are created in the image of God, we bear a sense of right and wrong and are responsible to God.

Because we are created in the image of God, we have a capacity to love and for relationships.

Because we are created in the image of God, our souls reflect the value of God’s image and are made for eternity.

#2—As the image of God, man is the dwelling place of God.

1 Corinthians 3:16

#3—The “image” of God indicates ownership.

Matthew 22:15-20

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 12, 2025

Mark 12:28-29

Scripture Reading: Psalm 37:3, 4 & 5 “Trust in the Lord and do good. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” (NLT)

#1–Mark 12:28-29—Loving God with all our mind.

Mind: more than our intellect. It’s our mental, emotional, and spiritual faculties. Our mind also includes our attitude, our perception, and our will.

Joshua 5:13-14–God wants all of us. No compartments.

Romans 12:2—the “continual renewing of our mind.

Happens when we pray, when we read the Word, when we hear the Word/truth preached, and when we fellowship with others who choose to believe God’s Word.

#2–Mark 12:28-29—Loving God with all our strength.

Strength: our physical abilities, our places of influence, our resources, our God given talents whether it’s at our workplace, school, our homes, our communities, and even in our church.

Matthew 5:13 & 14—Salt & Light

John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Mark 12:28-29

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 31:6 “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (NLT)

Deuteronomy 6:4-9—The Shema

Soul: In the Bible, the “soul” refers primarily to the entire living person rather than a separate, immortal part of a human. It is the “living being” or “life force” that God breathed into man, encompassing their consciousness, emotions, desires, and physical vitality. The Hebrew word for soul, nephesh, and the Greek word, psyche, both signify a living, breathing creature.

Mark 12:28-29–A revolutionary statement from Jesus.

Scribes, Sadducees, & Pharisees

Our Soul—

          Our life—who we are when no one is looking.

Loving God with all our soul:

          No higher priority.

          Willing to give up our own dreams and plans.

          Willing to give our resources for His Kingdom.

Romans 12:1—to become a “living sacrifice.”

A “reasonable service.”

A “God centered life.”

Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or imagine, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (MEV)