Greater Than Words
Colossians 1:15-23 · Kent Keller, Teaching Pastor
Week 2 of GREATER THAN, our study through Colossians. Pastor Kent Keller opens with Coco the gorilla, who — having no vocabulary for an earthquake — signed “darn floor, bad bite.” We are not much better off, he says, when we try to describe who Jesus is. So Paul reaches for the words of an early Christian hymn, and it rises in four movements. The Manifestation of His Glory: Jesus is “the image of the invisible God” — the Greek word is icon, an exact representation. People wondered for centuries what God is like; God’s answer was, look at Jesus. “Firstborn” means first in honor, not first in time — He is uncreated, the agent of creation, one person with two natures, as Chalcedon put it in 451, “without mixture, confusion, separation, or division.” The Magnitude of His Reign: every throne, dominion, ruler and authority was created through Him and for Him. Angels are real, but secondary — don’t fixate on second things. As Abraham Kuyper said, “there is not one molecule in the universe over which Jesus does not cry, ‘Mine.’” The Majesty of His Lordship: “in him all things hold together” — the unity in a diverse universe springs from the mind of the Son of God. And then the hymn lands somewhere stunning — the Magnificence of His Sacrifice: those once alienated and hostile have been reconciled by His death. The One who breathed the world into existence one day also breathed His last on a Roman cross, so that we might be saved. Come to Him broken, crushed, guilty, ashamed — any way at all, except dishonestly. His grace is greater than your sin.
Watch
Continue This Week
Daily Devotionals
Five short readings drawn from this Sunday's sermon — one for each weekday. Each day includes a verse, a 200-word reflection, a prayer, and a question to take into your day.
Sermon Resources
The full Scripture passage, the watch link, downloadable Bible Studies, and curated next-step links for going deeper into this week's message.
Small Group Material
A 5-question discussion guide for community groups, family-table study, or solo reflection. Includes an icebreaker, the scripture passage, group questions, prayer prompt, and leader notes.
Colossians 1:15-23: Who Jesus Really Is
A long-form written companion to this Sunday's sermon — the same biblical truth, expanded for someone reading slowly with a notebook in hand.
Devotionals This Week
Five short readings drawn from this Sunday's sermon. New devotional drops each weekday at 12:05 AM ET.
Look at Jesus
Colossians 1:15 (ESV) · What have you assumed God is like — based on your past, your family, or your fears? How does it change things to know that the truest pictur…
Not One Molecule
Colossians 1:16 (ESV) · Is there an area of your life you've quietly assumed is outside God's reach or care? What would change if you truly believed Jesus says "Min…
He Holds It Together
Colossians 1:17 (ESV) · Where in your life do you feel like things are coming apart? What would it look like to trust that Christ — not your own effort — is the one…
Greater Than Your Sin
Colossians 1:21–22 (ESV) · What part of your life have you been keeping back from God — the thing you assume is too far gone? What would it mean to bring it to Him hon…
Give Him First Place
Colossians 1:18 (ESV) — drops friday morning at 12:05 AM ET.
Downloads
Always Open
Bible
Reading Plan
2026 Bible Reading Plan
A whole-church plan to read through the Bible in 2026 — one chapter a day, ESV, with deep links to Bible.com so you can read on any device. Free, no signup required.
Today's Devotional
The current weekday's devotional, automatically rotated each morning at 12:05am ET. Bookmark this URL and you'll always land on today's reading.
From the Blog · Past 14 Days
Is the Bible One Story
The Bible is one story, and covenant is the key that unlocks it. From Adam to Jeremiah 31 to a cup on the cross, every promise points to Jesus.
Colossians 1:1–14: Where Faith, Hope & Love Come From
Where do faith, hope, and love come from in Colossians 1:1–14? They're gifts of God's grace, not things you grind out — a pastoral guide to growing in Christ.
Recent Sermons
Greater Than Our Circumstances
Colossians 1:1-14 · Jay Reynardus
But What About Christian Nationalism?
Acts 17:1-7 · Kent Keller
But What About Eternity?
Revelation 21:1-5 · Kent Keller
What About Manhood?
1 Samuel 17:25-49 · James Drake
What About Hypocrisy?
Luke 18:9-14 · Rick Closius
What About Success?
Ephesians 2:8-10 · Jeff Sullivan
Is the Bible Really Reliable?
2 Peter 1:16-18 · Kent Keller
But What About Suffering?
1 Peter 4:12-19 · Kent Keller
How Do You Pass Faith to Your Kids?
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 · James Drake
Did Faith and Reason Really Get a Divorce?
Genesis 1:1-2 · Kent Keller
Don't All Religions Lead to God?
John 14:6 · Edwin Martinez
From Anxiety to Peace
Philippians 4:6-7 · David McCloud
You Are Salt and Light
Matthew 5:13-16 · Kent Keller
Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 · James Drake
Christchurch Miami · 8485 SW 112th Street, Miami, FL 33156 · Sundays at 11 AM
christchurchmiami.org · Plan a Visit