JESUS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH

Under New Management #2

Keith O’Connor

Woodland Church

Sunday, June 14, 2026

(Ephesians 1:22-23, NLT) “God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself”

1.  Jesus Has All Authority Over His Church

(Ephesians 1:22, NLT) “God has put all things under the authority of Christ”

a.  His Authority is Grounded in His Victory—His Resurrection and Eexaltation.

(Colossians 2:15, NLT) “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross”

b.  Jesus Has Authority Over All Things

(Matthew 28:18, NLT) “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth”

c.  His Authority Governs the Church

(Ephesian 1:22, NLT) “God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things”

2.  Jesus Provides Life and Direction for His Body

(Ephesians 1:22-23, NLT) “God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body”

a.  The Head Gives Direction

(Colossians 2:19, NLT) “And they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it”

b.  The Head Gives Life

c.  Every Member Has a Role

(1 Corinthians 12:12, NLT) “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ”

(1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT) “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it”

3.  Jesus Continues His Mission through His Church

(Ephesians 1:22-23, NLT) “God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself”

a.  The Church Exists to Display Christ to the World

(Ephesians 3:10, NLT) “God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places”

b.  The Church Has Been Entrusted with Christ’s Mission

(2 Corinthians 5:20, NLT) “So, we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

c.  The Mission of the Church is:

• To Glorify Christ

(Ephesians 1:12, NLT) “To bring praise and glory to God”

• To Build Up the Saints

(1 Corinthians 12:25, NLT) “That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another”

• To Make Disciples

(Matthew 28:19, NLT) “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

d.  The Holy Spirit Empowers the Mission

(Acts 1:8, NLT) “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses”

(Ephesians 1:15-16, NLT) “Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly”

Growthwork

1.  Pray God gives us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of God.

(Ephesians 1:16-17, NLT) “I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God”

2.  Anchor Our Life in the Hope of our Calling.

(Ephesians 1:18, NLT) “I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance”

3.  Depend on God’s Power Not our Own Strength.

(Ephesians 1:19-20, NLT) “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms”