Col. 1:18

                          Thesis:    to urge people to appreciate value of the church
                                          and to inspire them to be faithful, zealous  members.

                          Introduction:
                          1. Our need: "to be filled with a knowledge of God's will'.
                              (Col. 1:9).
                              A. Booker T. Washington, the noted black educator, in
                                  effort to raise funds to support his work, approached
                                  Andrew Carnegie: Carnegie wrote a check for
                                  $5,000-00.  Washington asked for 5 minutes more and
                                  made tender appeal.  Carnegie tore up check - and
                                  wrote one for $500,000.00.
                              B.  When we have a knowledge of God's will about the
                                  church we will stop writing "little check" of: Half-
                                  hearted service rendered from fear; Going through
                                  The motion" of Christian worship - while the heart is
                                  far from God; Classifying the church of Christ as just
                                  a religious denomination.
                          2. We need to see the church in relationship to Christ.

                          Body:
                          1. Christ Is Pre-eminent In The Created Universe. (Col.1:15-17).
                              A. Christ is the "first born of all creation". (Col. 1:15).
                                  1 - Not that He is a created being.
                                  2. He is over everything God has made: He is the
                                     agent of creation. (Heb. 1:1-2).
                              B.  Christ sustains the creation. (Col. 1:17).
                              C.  In the created universe all things function according
                                  to the purpose of their creation - except man and
                                  sinful angles.
                                  1. Man is alienated from God. (Col. 1:21).
                                  2. The need: reconciliation.

                   II. The Significance Of A Conjunction. (Col. 1:18).
                      A. The human body is controlled by the head.
                      B. The church is Christ's body - controlled by the Head.
                      C. The church was begun by Christ.
                      D. The significance of the fact that He is the first born
                         from the dead".
                         1. Foundation of the church. (I Cor. 3:1 1).
                         2. He was declared to be God's Son by the
                           resurrection. (Rom. 1:4).

                   111.  The Church Is The Kingdom. (Col. 1:13).
                      A. In a kingdom the king has the authority.
                      B. God puts people in the kingdom.
                      C. The blessings in the kingdom:
                         1. Appropriate from heaven.
                         2. Delivered from power/control of darkness.
                         3. Redeemed from sin.
                         4. Forgiven of sins.

                   Conclusion:
                   1. What better way to show pre-eminent position of Christ
                      than Body and Kingdom?
                   2. Are you in the Lord's body.7 (Acts 2:47).
                   3. Are you in the Kingdom of Christ. (John 3:5).