CHRIST, THE CENTER

OUR VISION

Our vision is to make Christ the center of all things in order to see God’s people mature and be transformed in their hearts, homes, and everyday life.

center of all things

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.  

Colossians 1:15-20

In this key passage, we find the clear end-goal of everything that pertains to life: the preeminence of Jesus over all things. According to Colossians 1:15-20:

According to Colossians 1:15-20:

  • He is God (Col 1:15a)

  • The unique Son of God (Col 1:15b)

  • He is the Creator of all things (Col 1:16)

  • He holds all things together (Col 1:17)

  • He is the head of the Church (Col 1:18)

  • He is the fullness of God (Col 1:19)

  • He the reconciler of all things (Col 1:20)

center in all we do

The same eternal God (John 1:1) who “became flesh” (John 1:14) and “humbled Himself” (Phil. 2:8) is now “exalted” by God the Father “to the highest place” and has been given “the name that is above every name” (Phil. 2:9). There is no vision without placing Christ at the center of our vision. All of Scripture points to Him  as the center of all that we are and what we pray for this church. In other words, Christ is first in everything and this extends his “firstness” to as wide a scope as is conceivable and beyond:

First in our families 

First-place in our marriages.

First-place in our professions.

First-place in our mission and ministry.

First-place in matters of the intellect.

First-place in time.

First-place in love.

First-place in conversation.

First-place in pleasures.

First in eating.

First in play.

First in athletics.

First in what we watch.

First-place in art.

• First-place in music.

• First-place in worship.


At Garwood Church, we believe that two things take place when we make Christ the center of all things: we see maturation and transformation. As our intimacy and love for Christ grows all that we are also mature into his likeness. Our vision is not novel but it is intentional. We aim to remove idols from our hearts and open ourselves to the person of Christ, his affections, and his desire for us.   

If you’d like to learn more, come visit on a Sunday morning or contact us.