The Empty Chair: Who is Really Leading?

Ever feel like you’re just running on a treadmill — busy with literally everything but going nowhere?

“So that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.” — Colossians 1:18b

Have you ever stopped to look at the “lead chair” of your life and wondered who’s actually sitting in it?

Is it your career goals, your latest fitness PR, or maybe just the pressure of trying to figure it all out yourself?

In a world obsessed with “main character energy,” it is easy to forget that we weren’t actually designed to be the center of the universe.

We often treat Jesus like a “consultant” we call when life gets messy, but the Bible paints a completely different picture.

The truth is, Jesus is the focal point of everything God is doing in history. He isn’t an afterthought or a “nice-to-have” addition to your life; He is the eternal center of God’s design for creation, nations, and the very cities we live in.

"So that He Himself might come to have first place in everything." — Colossians 1:18b

Connecting the Dots

If you’re just starting to dive into the Bible, it can feel like a lot of random stories. But once you see Jesus as the “lead chair,” it all clicks:

• The Beginning: All things were created through Him and for Him.

• The Middle: From the first pages of Genesis, God promised a Redeemer who would set things right.

• The End: History ends with Jesus reigning over a kingdom where every tribe and city is unified under His love.

He is the anchor.
In a world that feels like it’s falling apart,
He is the one in whom all things hold together.

The Strategy of the Table

You might be wondering, "Okay, but how does this change my Monday morning?"

It starts at the Table. Jesus doesn't lead like a typical boss who lords power over others. He redefined leadership through the Cross and the Table.

At the Table, He takes the lead so that we can learn to lead by serving. When Jesus is truly at the center, we stop seeing our friends and coworkers as people to "get ahead of" and start seeing them as people to love.

Jesus centers us.
He is the center of all things—
not our churches, our ministries, or even our families—but Him."

Call to Action

• READ: Open Colossians 1:15–20. Read it slowly.
  Reflect on what it means for Jesus to have "first place" in your schedule, your ambitions, and your city.

• ACT: This week, practice "Table Leadership".
  Identify one person in your circle who is going through it and find a way to serve them—whether it’s bringing them a coffee or helping them with a task, without making it about yourself.

• SHARE: Forget the "post" button for a second. Instead, invite one person into your space for a real conversation. Whether it's a 1-on-1 coffee or a simple dinner, tell them one thing you’re learning about letting Jesus take the lead. Real life happens face-to-face, not through a screen.

This blog is part of a 7-day series about the Table. It is based on Ian Shelton's "The Table" Bible study materials. Email us at info@oneheart.og.au if you would like to learn more or be part of 6-week Bible discovery groups.