that as I'm sure you know, tomorrow is Memorial Day and it's when we celebrate,

remember and honor those who gave their lives serving in the United States Armed Forces.

And those of you who are here today who do serve, we owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude,

and we cannot thank you enough.

I hope that tomorrow on this Memorial Day you will also be mindful of the ultimate sacrifice,

which by the way is the memorial that we celebrate every communion Sunday, which is the first Sunday

of the month. But it is the ultimate sacrifice, pardon me, that Jesus made when he gave his life

and paid in full for the sins of all mankind. All right, let's get started. Colossians chapter 1. Our text will be verses 15 through

23. I'll have you turn there if you're not there already. And once you do, if you're able,

I'll ask you to stand. You can follow along as I read. If not, that's all right where you're

seated is fine.

Beginning in verse 15, the Apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit is writing, and he says,

The sun is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

For in him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,

whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things have been created

through him and for him. He, verse 17, is before all things. in him all things hold together and he is the head of the body

the church he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead so that in everything he might have the supremacy for God was pleased

to have all his fullness dwell in him and through him, verse 20, to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth

or things in heaven by making peace through his blood shed on the cross.

Once, verse 21, you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present

you wholly in his sight without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm.

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