The outline of the book of Colossians can be summarized in three words: Christ's preeminence declared, defended, and demonstrated. In chapter one, the Apostle Paul declares the preeminence of Jesus Christ in all things - the Gospel, the creation, the Church, Christian ministry, and the world to come. In chapter two, he defends the preeminence of Christ against Satan's triple threats of worldly philosophy, legalism, and man-made doctrines. In chapters three and four, Paul sets forth the preeminence of Christ as it is to be demonstrated in the life and thinking of every believer.

In chapters three and four, we shall see that the Christian's conduct, character, home life, work, witness, and service - every aspect of our living and thinking - must be a daily, practical demonstration of the preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ to our fellow believers and the watching world. He must be preeminent in all these things, because He must be preeminent in us.