Break the ice. What was your favorite class in school?

Read Colossians 1:15-20.

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15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers orauthorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and inhim all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning,the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

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Discuss the passage.

- What are you created for?

- What do you think it means that Christ is “the firstborn of all creation” (v. 15)? Why is it

important to know all of these things about Christ?

- Seeing the exalted Christ in this passage, how will you respond?

Discuss the first value of Citizens Church.

- Life in Christ: Life from and with Jesus

- Currently, there are three primary cultural distortions and postures of the church:

1) political not theological,

2) supplemental not essential, and

3) transactional not formational.

Of the three distortions, which one do you see the most?

- When you talk about Citizens Church, do you think of Jesus Christ as being the head of

our church, or is it someone else—maybe a pastor or the elders?

- The good news of the gospel is that Jesus is Lord (v. 18). Where are you at with church?

Are you a member of Citizens Church? Why, or why not?

Close in prayer.

Father, we ask you to change us by empowering us to live under the gracious ruleof Jesus Christ, our king. In Christ, we seek grace for sin. In Christ, we have received a newidentity. In Christ, we are formed into His image. In Christ, we exist together as a united peoplewith a shared love. All of who we are and what we do is defined by life in Christ. Would youremind us of these truths? We ask in Christ’s name and trust in the power of His Spirit. Amen.