Putting Jesus First

Jesus must be preeminent in the church.

If He isn’t first, something else will be.

The Text That Sets the Center

Colossians 1:18 says, “And He is the head of the body, the church… that in all things He may have the preeminence.” That is not poetic language. It is a declaration of authority and a warning against drift. Jesus is not a consultant to the church. He is not a mascot for our mission. He is not a name we add to our plans. He is the Head. He is the source of life, the giver of direction, and the One with the right to command.

When Paul says Christ must have the preeminence, he is saying Jesus must have first place in every category. Not first place in a worship set only. Not first place in a doctrinal statement only. First place in the way we think, the way we decide, the way we love, the way we serve, and the way we witness.

The Danger of a Busy but Off-Center Church

A church can be active and still be misaligned. We can schedule events, recruit volunteers, create programs, and even grow attendance, yet quietly shift from being Christ-led to preference-led. The church becomes a place where people shop for what they like instead of a people who submit to what Jesus says. That shift may feel small, but it is spiritually deadly.

When Christ is not preeminent, the church loses its spiritual clarity. Unity becomes fragile because it is built on agreement instead of lordship. Discipleship becomes shallow because it is built on comfort instead of surrender. Outreach becomes optional because it is built on convenience instead of obedience.

What Takes the Throne When Jesus Is Not First

If Jesus is not first, something else will be. The human heart always crowns something. In churches, that “something” often looks respectable. It can be personality, where loyalty to a leader becomes stronger than loyalty to Christ. It can be preference, where style becomes more important than Scripture. It can be comfort, where conviction is avoided because it might offend. It can be tradition, where the past is honored more than the present voice of God. It can be image, where looking successful becomes more important than being faithful.

None of those things can carry the weight of the church. Only Jesus can.

What a Christ-First Church Actually Looks Like

A Christ-first church is not perfect, but it is ordered. It is anchored. It is steady. It does not measure success by applause but by obedience. It does not ask first, “What will people think?” It asks, “What does the Lord say?”

In a Christ-first church, worship is not performance; it is exaltation. Preaching is not self-help; it is truth that confronts and heals. Community is not merely social; it is discipleship that shapes character. Outreach is not branding; it is witness that makes Jesus known.

Christ’s Preeminence Begins in You

Here is the hard truth: the church will never be more surrendered than its people. If Jesus is not first in the individual, He will not be first in the congregation. So ask it plainly. Is Jesus first in your schedule, or does He get what is left? Is Jesus first in your decisions, or do you consult Him after you have already chosen? Is Jesus first in your relationships, or do you obey culture more than Christ?

If Jesus is Lord, He is Lord of all. And if He is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are the Head of the church. Forgive us for the ways we have made church about ourselves. Take first place again—first in our worship, first in our decisions, first in our priorities. Make us a people who love Your Word, follow Your Spirit, and live for Your glory. Amen.

Call to Action

If you know Jesus has been second place, repent today. Not with shame, but with surrender. Then take one step of obedience that proves He is first.

This week, choose one area where you have been holding the reins. Bring it into the light. Place it under the authority of Scripture. Then obey immediately. Do not negotiate with God. Do not delay obedience until it feels easier. Put Christ first by doing what He says.