Christ, Our Supreme Foundation
Colossians 1:1–14
Introduction:
Imagine building a house on sand. It’s not just foolish—it’s dangerous. The structure may stand for a while, but one hard storm exposes the problem: the foundation cannot hold. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “The house looked fine—until the storm came.”
In August 1992, hurricane Andrew slammed into South Florida with 165 mph winds. Entire neighborhoods were leveled. But in the middle of one devastated community stood a single house, untouched, like a lone lighthouse amid a sea of ruin. When reporters asked the homeowner why his home stood firm, he simply replied: “I built it according to the Florida building code. I was told if I followed the code, it would withstand a storm. I did. And it did.”
He didn’t just build for sunny days—he built for storms.
In life, many build on foundations that cannot bear the weight of suffering, sin, or eternity. For some, it’s success. For others, relationships or reputation. But when the winds of trouble blow—or when the soul grows restless—those foundations crack. And in the collapse, people often wonder, “Where did I go wrong?”
Friend, storms will come. Not just cultural pressure—but personal hardship, spiritual confusion, and emotional fatigue. The question is not if but when—and when it comes, will your life be standing?
Knowing this, the apostle Paul writes to the church at Colossae. Though Paul had never met them personally, he writes as a spiritual father concerned about the integrity of their foundation. Colossae was a young church in a multicultural city, influenced by Greek philosophy, Jewish legalism, and local mysticism. Truth was not only being tested—it was being twisted.
And yet Paul doesn’t begin by rebuking their culture—he begins by reinforcing their foundation. In Colossians 1:1–14, he calls them back to the only secure ground for life and godliness: Jesus Christ.
This morning, as we begin our journey through this powerful letter, I want us to hear Paul’s words not just as history—but as a spiritual blueprint for our lives. We’ll discover what it means to build on Christ, grow in Christ, and endure for Christ.
In Colossians 1:1–14, Paul writes:
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant,[c] who is a faithful minister of Christ on our[d] behalf,8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Build your life on the foundation of Christ by growing in truth, bearing fruit, and remaining faithful in hope.
1. Embrace the Gospel That Transforms (vv. 3–8)
“We always thank God… because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven…” (vv. 3–5)
Paul begins with celebration. He doesn’t rebuke or correct—he rejoices.
Why? Because the Colossians had received a gospel that changed them. Their faith in Christ, love for others, and hope in heaven weren’t the results of self-improvement—but of divine transformation.
Let’s be clear: the gospel is not good advice; it’s good news.
It doesn’t ask us to try harder—it declares that Christ has done for us what we could never do for ourselves.
Paul reminds them that the gospel is bearing fruit and growing all over the world—just as it had in their hearts. That’s still true today.
He notes three markers of genuine Christian faith:
- Faith in Christ – not just belief, but trust in His finished work.
- Love for others – because grace always spills out.
- Hope in heaven – not wishful thinking, but confident assurance.
These virtues—faith, love, and hope—don’t originate from personal resolve. Paul says they spring from the gospel.
The Colossians didn’t improve themselves—they were transformed by the truth. And so are we.
Edward Kimball was a quiet man. He was no celebrity preacher—just a Sunday School teacher in Boston. One day in 1855, he felt burdened to visit a 17-year-old boy working in a shoe store. Nervous but obedient, he walked in, approached the stockroom, and shared the gospel. That young man? Dwight L. Moody. Moody would go on to become one of the most powerful evangelists of the 19th century. His ministry touched millions, and the ripple effect led to Billy Sunday, then Billy Graham. But it all started with one faithful man sharing the gospel with one young man in a back room of a shoe store.
That’s the power of a seed.
Application: Don’t underestimate the power of the gospel in your life or in others. Keep sowing. Keep believing. The same message that saved you will transform those around you.
But gospel transformation isn’t the end—it’s the beginning. Paul now turns to growth.
2. Pursue a Life That Pleases God (vv. 9–10)
“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will… so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way…” (v. 9)
The Christian life isn’t about trying harder—it’s about being filled with God’s will so we can walk in His ways.
It’s possible to be busy for God and still displeasing to God. That’s why Paul prays for discernment—not just activity.
Paul prays for knowledge—but not just head knowledge. He prays they’d be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding. Why? So they can live a life that pleases God.
The phrase “knowledge of His will” doesn’t refer to career choices or circumstantial direction. Paul is asking God to fill them with a deep, spiritual understanding of what pleases Him—an internal compass, not just external behavior.
Paul gives four evidences of a pleasing life:
- Bearing fruit in every good work
- Growing in the knowledge of God
- Being strengthened with all power
- Giving joyful thanks to the Father
Have you ever tried to build a piece of IKEA furniture without the instructions? Maybe you thought, “I’ve got this. How hard can it be?” You get halfway through… only to realize the shelf is upside-down and the screws are in the wrong holes.
That’s life without God’s Word. You may be busy, even productive—but misaligned. Without spiritual understanding, we risk building lives that look right—but can’t hold up.
Application: Ask God to fill your mind with His Word. Don’t just seek information—seek transformation. God wants us to know Him so deeply that His will becomes our instinct, not just our emergency plan.
But to live for Christ, we must also endure with strength. Let’s look at the next verses.
3. Rely on the Strength That God Provides (vv. 11–12)
“Being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…” (v. 11)
The Christian life isn’t a sprint—it’s a marathon. And marathons require more than passion—they require endurance.
Paul doesn’t pray that they’ll be spared from hardship—but that they’ll be strengthened in it. The word “strengthened” here is in the passive voice—it’s not something you manufacture. It’s something you receive.
God doesn’t give us a trickle of strength. He supplies “according to His glorious might”—not from a limited supply, but from the infinite storehouse of His power.
And what does that strength produce?
- Endurance – the ability to withstand hard seasons.
- Patience – the grace to deal with people and problems without snapping.
Corrie Ten Boom, who survived the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp, said this: “When I was a little girl, I was afraid that I would never be strong enough to suffer for Christ. My father wisely said, ‘Corrie, when we go on a train, when do I give you your ticket? Just before we get on the train. So will your Heavenly Father give you strength in the moment you need it.’”
Corrie lived through unspeakable darkness. But she testified again and again: “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”
Application: You don’t have to manufacture strength. You have access to it. God’s Spirit is within you, and His power enables you to keep going even when everything in you wants to stop.
Finally, Paul brings us back to the foundation—our inheritance in Christ.
4. Rest in the Rescue That Christ Secured (vv. 13–14)
“For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves…” (vv. 13–14)
Paul ends where every Christian life begins—with the cross.
We weren’t just floundering—we were trapped in darkness. And God didn’t just give us a map. He came for us. He rescued us. He delivered us. He redeemed us.
This is not a metaphor—it’s a transfer of citizenship. We’ve been moved from one kingdom to another. From guilt to grace. From shame to sonship.This is our story: rescued, redeemed, and relocated.We were trapped in darkness, but God didn’t leave us there. He rescued us—not by our good deeds but by the blood of Jesus.
- He delivered us from Satan’s domain.
- He transferred us into Christ’s Kingdom.
- He forgave our sins through the cross.
Imagine a prisoner, shackled in a dungeon, awaiting execution. Suddenly, the cell door opens. The warden steps in and says, “Someone else has taken your place. You’re free to go.”
You stumble out, stunned, blinking in the sunlight. You can hardly believe it. And then you see Him—the One who took your place—bearing your punishment so you could go free.
That’s not just a story—that’s your story. That’s the gospel.
Application: Don’t live like a prisoner when you’ve been set free. Stop trying to earn what’s already yours. Your identity is in Christ—rescued, redeemed, and loved.
Conclusion:
Let me ask you: What is your foundation? Is your life built on Christ? Is it growing through His Word? Is it being strengthened by His Spirit?
Where do you find yourself today? Are you standing confidently on the unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ? Or have you—maybe without realizing it—begun to build on something less?
It doesn’t always happen suddenly. Sometimes it’s subtle. We start relying on our routines instead of our Redeemer. We replace our pursuit of God’s will with the pursuit of comfort. We substitute religious activity for spiritual vitality. We say Christ is first—but we live like He’s optional.
But friend, hear me: the foundation you choose determines the future you experience.
Paul knew this. That’s why he opens this letter not with theological speculation or lofty commands—but with a heartfelt prayer. It’s as if he’s saying, “Before I tell you what to guard against, let me show you what to grow into.”
He doesn’t begin with defense—he begins with depth.
And what does he pray for?
He prays that we would be filled—not with fear, not with confusion, not with man’s philosophies—but with the knowledge of God’s will. He prays that we would bear fruit—not out of duty, but out of gospel transformation. He prays that we would be strengthened—not with natural energy, but with supernatural endurance. And he reminds us that we already stand rescued, redeemed, and relocated—plucked out of darkness and planted in the kingdom of His beloved Son.
So if you’re weary today…
If your foundation feels like it’s cracking…
If you’ve been running on empty, or building with the wrong materials…
This is your invitation to come back to the cornerstone.
Don’t just visit Christ on Sundays—build your life on Him every day.
Let His gospel shape how you see yourself.
Let His Word guide how you walk.
Let His Spirit empower how you endure.
And let His grace remind you—you’ve already been rescued.
This isn’t a call to religion. It’s a call to rest in redemption.
It’s time to stop building sandcastles and start building on the Rock.
Final Challenge:
So I urge you today—build your life on Christ.
Not on titles, not on talent, not on tradition.
Not on what culture says is right.
Not on what your emotions say you need.
Build on the only foundation that will never crack under pressure, never erode in storms, and never collapse beneath the weight of real life.
Jesus Christ—our supreme foundation. Amen.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You that You are our foundation. Forgive us for the times we’ve built on sand. Ground us in truth. Grow us in love. Strengthen us with power. And keep us anchored in the gospel. In Your mighty name we pray—Amen.