+Nothing
Week 1: Jesus Over Everything
Text: Colossians 1:1–14
Big Idea: The gospel of Jesus produces real transformation because Jesus is enough.
Key Verse: “The gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world…” — Colossians 1:6
INTRODUCTION
Overview of Colossians
Theme: The Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ
Author: Paul
Audience: The church in Colossae — a small, young congregation facing false teachings.
Purpose: To remind believers that Jesus is enough and warn against adding anything to the gospel.
Structure:
1.Chapters 1–2 — Right Belief
- Who Jesus is
- What He has done
- Why you don’t need anything added to Him
2.Chapters 3–4 — Right Living
- How to live in light of your new identity in Christ
- How the gospel shapes relationships, work, and witness
Key Message:
Jesus is Lord of All — and all you need.
If you have Jesus, you are complete.
Jesus + Nothing = Everything.
1. Gospel Identity (vv.1–2)
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”
Insight: “In Christ” seems to be Paul’s favorite phrase for the believer — used 164x in his letters.
* 2 Corinthians 5:17
* Ephesians 2:10
* Galatians 2:20
2. Gospel Fruit (vv.3–8)
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.”
Greek Insight:
* Elpis (Hope) isn’t wishful thinking — it means confident expectation.
* Pistis (Faith) means loyalty and trust, not just belief.
* Faith — vertical trust in Jesus
* Love — horizontal care for people
* Hope — future confidence grounded in heaven
* John 15:5
* Galatians 5:22–23
* James 2:17
3. Gospel Growth (vv.9–14)
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Key Words in Greek:
* hikanóō (v.12) — Translated here as “Qualified” means: to make sufficient, to make someone fit for a task or role.
* Philippians 1:6
* 2 Peter 3:18
* John 17:3
Let’s not forget:
* You’re already qualified (v.12)
* You’re rescued (v.13)
* You’re redeemed and forgiven (v.14)
Jesus + Nothing = Everything
If it really is all about Jesus…
Then we want to be:
* With Jesus — Spend time in Colossians 1 each day this week.
* Like Jesus — Practice gratitude like Paul does. Thank God for someone every day.
* For Jesus — Share one thing Jesus has done in your life with someone else.
Week 1: Jesus Over Everything
Text: Colossians 1:1–14
Big Idea: The gospel of Jesus produces real transformation because Jesus is enough.
Key Verse: “The gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world…” — Colossians 1:6
INTRODUCTION
Overview of Colossians
Theme: The Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ
Author: Paul
Audience: The church in Colossae — a small, young congregation facing false teachings.
Purpose: To remind believers that Jesus is enough and warn against adding anything to the gospel.
Structure:
1.Chapters 1–2 — Right Belief
- Who Jesus is
- What He has done
- Why you don’t need anything added to Him
2.Chapters 3–4 — Right Living
- How to live in light of your new identity in Christ
- How the gospel shapes relationships, work, and witness
Key Message:
Jesus is Lord of All — and all you need.
If you have Jesus, you are complete.
Jesus + Nothing = Everything.
1. Gospel Identity (vv.1–2)
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”
Insight: “In Christ” seems to be Paul’s favorite phrase for the believer — used 164x in his letters.
* 2 Corinthians 5:17
* Ephesians 2:10
* Galatians 2:20
2. Gospel Fruit (vv.3–8)
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.”
Greek Insight:
* Elpis (Hope) isn’t wishful thinking — it means confident expectation.
* Pistis (Faith) means loyalty and trust, not just belief.
* Faith — vertical trust in Jesus
* Love — horizontal care for people
* Hope — future confidence grounded in heaven
* John 15:5
* Galatians 5:22–23
* James 2:17
3. Gospel Growth (vv.9–14)
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Key Words in Greek:
* hikanóō (v.12) — Translated here as “Qualified” means: to make sufficient, to make someone fit for a task or role.
* Philippians 1:6
* 2 Peter 3:18
* John 17:3
Let’s not forget:
* You’re already qualified (v.12)
* You’re rescued (v.13)
* You’re redeemed and forgiven (v.14)
Jesus + Nothing = Everything
If it really is all about Jesus…
Then we want to be:
* With Jesus — Spend time in Colossians 1 each day this week.
* Like Jesus — Practice gratitude like Paul does. Thank God for someone every day.
* For Jesus — Share one thing Jesus has done in your life with someone else.