Opening Prayer: Almighty God, You are my only King. Teach me to be obedient in service and devotion to You, that I will please you with all that I am. Amen

Read: Colossians 1:11-20

Reflect: How does Paul use the truth about Jesus to encourage his readers? How does Jesus’ exaltation help us to live as better Christians? What does Jesus’ true identity mean for our hope as his followers?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”
Tell me the stories of Jesus
I love to hear,
Things I would ask Him to tell me
If He were here:
Scenes by the wayside,
Tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus-
Tell them to me.

Into the city I’d follow
The children’s band,
Waving a branch of the palm tree
High in my hand.
One of His heralds,
Yes, I would sing
Loudest hosannas!
Jesus is King!

Tell me, in accents of wonder,
How rolled the sea,
Tossing the boat in a tempest
On Galilee;
And how the Master,
Ready and kind,
Chided the billows,
And hushed the wind.

Closing Prayer: Loving God, do not hide your face from us or we will be lost. Speak to our longing spirits with your sustaining Spirit. Show us through the scriptures how we are to live, for we lift our attentive souls to you. Instruct us in the way of your will, and lead us as only your Spirit can lead. In Jesus’ name. Amen.