Spreading The New Life Series

Theme: Paul concludes his general call by setting forth the dynamics of life with a mission. He

speaks to them as a partner in ‘manifesting the mystery’ of Christ to those around them. The

dynamics involved include: prayer, sacrifice, seeking opportunities, and sensitivity (i.e. appropriate

conversation.)

Intro – Every life longs for a mission… to be a part of a larger story… something that gives it

meaning.

If we don’t find ourselves part of any compelling drama… we watch Jerry Springer… or 24… or

create drama from what really doesn’t matter..

As we conclude our series entitled The Liberated Life based upon the letter to Colossi… or

what is commonly called the Book of Colossians… Paul brings us into a life filled with

mission.

Paul has spoken of the grand drama… how this new life in manifest in our relationships… and

now he closes his general call to that of how this is manifest in relationship to the larger

world…. the larger community of lives who do not yet know of this new life. Here we hear

something of the great drama and mission of life.

These are the words of one who knew he may be at the end of his earthly life… so what he says

is reflects a desire to convey what matters most. He wants to help every life discover and develop

what matters most.

Colossians 4:2-6 (NLT)

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will

give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am

here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. 5 Live wisely among

those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be

gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Here Paul sets our minds towards the mission that animates his life… and it is that of making

the mystery of this new life known.

Up until now… he’s been explaining the grand drama… now it’s as if he says… so are you

ready to really join it?

Illustration – It makes me think of the famous part of the Mission Impossible show.. when they get

the explanation of what is really going on… and then come the famous closing words of the

instructions…which say, “Jim, should you choose to accept this mission…’. It was a mission. With

the knowledge few others were aware of… came a mission… a mission that had to be accepted…

that one had to choose.

That is how Paul relates to what he has come to know of the work of God to bring new life in

Christ.

Paul has no savior complex… he has gotten over any sense that he is the hero of the story…

and we need to get over that too. He sees his life not as an answer to what others needs… but

as a bridge… a bridge to hope.

• Important… because any assumption that those who claim to receive this life of Christ are

superior will deflate everyone… because we know it’s just not true.

• If you are hear today… perhaps just exploring… I’m sorry for the way you may be made to feel

like you are not as good or smart as those who claim to know Christ.

• Paul held no such pretense… referring to himself as the ‘chief of simmers’ …one who was

simply met in God’s timing and plan.

• God did something to get a hold of him… but also brought people to help him understand

what God was doing.

> It’s his relational emphasis that is important to hear. While programs can serve the personal

nature of relationship… there is no substitute for the relational spreading of this new life.

We become a relational bridge in the grand drama that we are living in… a bridge which can

manifest and make clear the mysteries of Christ.

If we are going to discover and develop this life of mission… there are four elements involved.

(While not listed as some kind of formula… they are the four qualities which we find most

consistently in both Jesus and now taken up by Paul.)

Discovering and developing a life of mission involves…

1. Praying that engages us in the mission

It’s probably only natural that we should be called to begin in prayer.

This mission brings us into the spiritual realm. Paul had come to grasp that we live in the

intersection of two dimensions… and relate to both. This is what the disciples of Jesus had begun

to recognize was at the center of his life. So they ask him.. ‘Lord teach us to pray.’ And his model