Making Christ the Centerpiece


  1. Of our FAITH
    1. Romans 1:8 - a faith known throughout the whole WORLD
    2. 1 Cor 2:1-5 - Our faith is to rest in the POWER of God
    3. 1 Cor 1:24 - Christ is the WISDOM & POWER of God
    4. 1 Corinthians 15:12-17
    5. Galatians 2:16 Jesus is the only source of JUSTIFICATION
    6. Galatians 2:20 - 'through faith Christ LIVES in me.'


  2. Of our LIFE
    1. Colossians 3:4 - Christ is our LIFE
    2. Colossians 3:11 - Christ is our ALL in ALL
    3. Philippians 1:21 - for me to LIVE is CHRIST
    4. To do this, we must follow Christ's EXAMPLE - 1 Pet 2:21-23
      1. By THINKING like Christ - Philippians 2:5
      2. By SERVING like Christ - Philippians 2:7 (Gal 5:13)
      3. By HUMBLING ourselves like Christ - Philippians 2:8a
      4. By OBEYING like Christ - Philippians 2:8b (Heb 5:8-9)


  3. Of our HOPE
    1. Acts 2:25-27 - Christ was the center of DAVID'S hope.
    2. Ephesians 2:11-12 - to be w/o CHRIST, is to be w/o HOPE.
    3. In Christ we have the hope of the RESURRECTION
      1. 1 Corinthians 15:19-22 our hope is not only in this LIFE
      2. John 14:1-3 Our hope will be made manifest at His return
      3. Rom 5:1-5 our hope will not bring us shame (9:33, 10:11)
    4. Ephesians 4:4 - this is the only LASTING hope


  4. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 brings the three together in their proper order:
    1. Our WORK of FAITH
    2. Our LABOR of LOVE
    3. Our PATIENCE of HOPE in our Lord Jesus Christ