“Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” Colossians 1:22

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In this Sunday’s message, Pastor James Murray unpacked the supremacy of Christ. Every human knows what it feels like to be broken. We’ve been broken, we’ve caused brokenness, and we live in a broken world. The question is: what do you do with your brokenness? Many try to mask it, ignore it, or just live with it, but all of these lead to a shallow or defeated life.

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Jesus Changes Who You Are

• Encountering Jesus is never neutral.
• He steps into our mess and begins a radical transformation.
• Paul reminds us in Colossians 1:4 that the gospel bears fruit and produces radical repercussions: internal faith develops, external love pours onto others.
• Even if someone believes Jesus is true but it doesn’t change their life, the gospel is incomplete for them.
• Sin no longer feels comfortable, and this discomfort is proof of new life.
• When sin feels wrong, celebrate, it’s evidence that you are a new creation, saved and transformed.

You’ll Grow in the Desire to Honor and Please God

• Righteousness is both passive and active.
• Passive righteousness comes from Christ’s imputed righteousness, He covers our sins.
• Active righteousness is lived out (Colossians 1:10): a growing desire to honor God in thoughts, words, and actions.
• Cheap grace tempts us to excuse sin, but true grace produces a life that seeks God’s pleasure.
• As Jesus changes who we are, our hearts increasingly desire to glorify Him not out of obligation, but from love and awe.

Jesus Changes the Way You See God

• Colossians 1:15 calls Christ the visible image of the invisible God.
• How we see Jesus shapes our entire understanding of God.
• “What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” - A.W. Tozer
• Encountering Jesus clarifies God’s character, love, and holiness.
• Resurrection assures us that peace begins now through Christ and will fully invade creation when He returns.

Jesus Doesn’t Leave Us the Way He Found Us

• Jesus meets us at the bottom.
• Colossians 1:13 and 1:21–22 show that He rescues us from condemnation, redeems us from sin, and restores what was broken.
• He transforms lives completely, not partially.
• From brokenness to forgiveness, shame to righteousness, He restores dignity, hope, and wholeness.

Anakephalaioō (ana-kefa-lie-oo) = to gather up, put together

• God’s plan is bigger than individual transformation.
• Anakephalaioō (Ephesians 1:9–10) means to gather, put together, and bring unity through all things.
• Jesus doesn’t just patch brokenness; He reconciles and restores what was shattered, bringing peace and wholeness across creation.
• “Jesus doesn’t just offer a way out of brokenness, but a radical love that transforms from the inside out.” - Tim Keller

Discussion Questions

• How has Jesus begun to change who you are, even in small ways?
• In what areas do you feel a growing desire to honor and please God?
• How has your view of God shifted after encountering Christ?
• Where has Jesus met you in brokenness and brought restoration?
• How does understanding Anakephalaioō change the way you live in light of God’s plan for unity and wholeness?

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