SERMON OUTLINE:
TALKING TO GOD ABOUT PEOPLE
Be faithful (vs 2a)
Be watchful (vs 2b)
Be thankful (vs 2c)
Be specific (vs 3)
TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT GOD
By lips (vs 4)
By life (vs 5-6)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• I am not sure who counts these things, but multiple sources suggest,
• That the average human speaks between 18,000 and 25,000 words.
• That means that each of us speak about a 54-page book every day.
• And it’s not just the words we say,
• Without adding up the words we write in e-mails, tweets and social media etc.
Ill:
• Never underestimate the power of words:
• A judge speaks, and a man is condemned or set free.
• A physician speaks, and a person has surgery, or he goes home from the hospital.
• A government official speaks, and millions of dollars can be spent or withheld.
• A preacher speaks and an individual can move from spiritual death to life!
Ill:
• In our own personal lives, we know the power of words.
• Words that can bless us or depress us.
• Words of encouragement.
• e.g., “I like your shirt or your dress” or “You are looking well”
• And words that can cut us and hurt or discourage us.
• e.g., “You’ve put on a lot of weight” or “you are looking old!”
• TRANSITION:
• Our Bible passage is about words and how we should use words,
• And focussing in on using our words in mission, in evangelism.
• Verses 2-3: Prayer: Speaking to God about people.
• Verses 4-6: Evangelism: Speaking to people about God.
(1). Speaking to God about people - Praying (vs 2-3).
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message”.
• This ties in nicely with our last session on prayer,
• The apostle Paul brings to our attention some further advice regarding prayer,
• But this time prayer is in the context of mission, in evangelism.
(1). be faithful (vs 2a)
• “Devote yourselves to prayer”
• "Continue in prayer"
Ill:
• In his book ‘God Came Near’, Max Lucado tells this story:
• Norman Geisler, as a child, went to a certain Church.
• Because he was invited by some neighbourhood children.
• He went back to the same church for Sunday School classes for 400 Sundays.
• Each week he was faithfully picked up by a bus driver.
• Week after week he attended church,
• But never made a commitment to Christ.
• Finally, during his senior year in High School,
• After being picked up for church over 400 times, he did commit his life to Christ.
• Max Lucado then makes the point:
• What if that bus driver had given up on Geisler at 395?
• What if the bus driver had said?
• “This kid is going nowhere spiritually, why waste any more time on him?”
• Well, I think we know the answer!
In verse 2 the apostle Paul is saying when it comes to prayer:
• “Devote yourselves to prayer”
• "Continue in prayer"
• “Constant in prayer”
• “Faithful in prayer.”
• In even simpler language the apostle is saying, “keep on keep on keeping on.”
• In other words, “don't quit!”
Ill:
• This is one of the New Testaments repeated phrases, five times we encounter this phrase.
• (Greek word: ‘proskartere’)
e.g., Acts chapter 1 verse 14,
• While the disciples were waiting in Jerusalem for the outpouring of the Spirit).
• “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer.”
e.g., Acts chapter 2 verse 42 the very first Christians met together daily,
“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
e.g., Acts chapter 6 verse 4.
• The apostles when they needed to get their priorities sorted, decided to:
• “…devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
e.g., Romans chapter 12 verse 12
• The apostle Paul’s advice to the Christians in Rome.
• “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
e.g., Colossians chapter 4 verse 2
• And again, the apostle instructs the Church to,
• “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”
Ill:
• That does not mean that prayer is all a Christian should do,
• We see that in other areas of life.
• e.g., Some people are devoted to their football teams,
• They may spend a lot of time watching and supporting them,
• But no one thinks about their team 24hours a day
• e.g., Some people are devoted to their music,
• They like to listen, practice and play at every opportunity,
• But again, no-one plays an instrument 24hours a day.
• e.g., Husbands should be devoted to their wife (and vice-versa),
• They may spend a lot of time together,
• But no husband hangs out with his wife all the time!
• TRANSITION:
• The idea here is that a man’s devotion to his wife affects everything in his life,
• It causes him to give himself to her in many different ways.
• And we are to be devoted in prayer in such a way that it affects everything in his life,
• Prayer is not just for set times and in a set way,
• We need to let prayer permeates all areas of our lives.
(2). be watchful (vs 2b).
• “Being watchful”
• "Watch and pray!"
ill:
• You might not know this, and don’t tell her I told you.
• But I have started calling my wife Penny, “The Computer.”
• The reason being if left alone for 10mins she goes to sleep!
• TRANSITION: Watching means sleeplessness.
• When a person is asleep, they are unaware of their surrounding circumstances.
• But watchfulness means to be awake and aware of immediate experiences.
Ill:
• Consider the difference between two soldiers.
• One is patrolling the fence in Odiham (a very quiet small countryside army base).
• The other is on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq.
• Which one is probably going to be more attentive?
• Which one who is naturally more watchful?
• The one who realises he's in a real battle.
• The one who realises his situation is a matter of life and death.
• Friends, because we're in a spiritual battle, we need to stay on high alert at all times.
(3). be thankful (vs 2c):
• “Being watchful and thankful”.
• "Watch in the same with thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is an important ingredient in successful praying:
• We need to count our blessings!
• And remember the goodness and generosity of God to us.
Ill:
• When Paul wrote this letter (Colossians),
• Remember that he was a prisoner.
• He had lost his freedom and was constantly watched by four soldiers.
• Yet through out the letter he is never bitter, only thankful.
• Just scan through book and see how the word ‘thankfulness’ comes again and again.
• i.e., Chapter 1 verses 3:
• “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,”
• i.e., Chapter 1 verses 12: “Giving thanks to the father, who has qualified you to share in
• the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”
• i.e., Chapter 2 verses 7: “Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were
• taught, and overflowing with thankfulness”
• i.e., Chapter 3 verses 15: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of
• one body you were called to peace. And be thankful”.
• i.e., Chapter 3 verses 17; “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the
• name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”
• i.e., Chapter 4 verses 2:
• “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful”.
• Thankfulness does not have to wait for prosperity and peace.
• It’s always a good time to praise God for the “wondrous things” He has done.
(4). be specific (vs 3).
• “And pray for us,”
• "Praying also for us".
The apostle Paul was not ashamed to ask his friends to pray for him:
• Even though he was an apostle,
• He too needed prayer support for himself and his ministry.
• Now if a great Christian like Paul felt the need for prayer support,
• How much more do you and I need this kind of spiritual help!
Ill:
• I am really privileged in this aspect.
• e.g., We have a number of people who tell us they pray for us & the work regularly.
• e.g., One reason we produced a friends and members list,
• Was so we can pray for each other often (pray for someone in the Church daily)
Ill:
• Chapter 4 verse 12 a few verses down.
• We have the example of Epaphras who prayed for the Church members individually.
“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”
• I guess the question is: Who am I praying specifically for?
• In my Church, among my friends, in my family?
(2). Speaking to people about God (vs 3b-4).
“That God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should”.
Note: The word ‘mystery’ found in verse 3 and elsewhere in the New Testament:
• Does not mean something we cannot understand.
• In fact, the very opposite.
• It means something that was hidden but has now been revealed.
• e.g., Christ was hidden in the Old Testament.
• They had types and shadows and prophies etc but no clear vision.
• But now he has been revealed!
• We see him clearly in the gospels and the other New Testament books.
• And therefore, we who see are responsible for sharing Christ,
• We who can spiritually see must share Christ with those who are spiritually blind!
• The apostle Paul gives us some good advice regarding witnessing.
(1). By lips (vs 5):
“Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should”.
Ill:
• Christine Chapman tells the story of the time when she took mother-in-law to the doctor,
• Trouble is as they left the house the mother-in-law to stop to talk to the neighbour.
• Despite Christine’s attempts to subtly move her towards the car,
• She would not budge.
• Eventually Christine grabbed her mother-in-law by the arm and pulled her away,
• When they got into the car.
• Her mother-in-law said,
• “Sorry, but I didn’t know what to do. The woman wouldn’t stop listening to me.”
• TRANSITION: The apostle Paul’s desire is that we might speak to our neighbour,
• I use neighbour in its broadest possible sense.
• From our literal neighbours but for family, friends etc.
• To those who come to our homes, the milkman, the postman the bailiffs!
Note: I know there are reasons we don’t share the gospel often enough.
• Fear or embarrassment (often we are too concerned about our comfort zones)
• I don't have all the answers (you never will)
• I don't know my Bible well enough (swat up)
• Apathy (I'm alright)
• I never learned how (books & courses but in the end just do it!)
Paul’s desire, his ambition, his goal and purpose in life is to proclaim this gospel:
• And for this desire he ended up in prison!
• In the book of Acts chapter 21-22 tells us the very reason he was in prison,
• Because Paul wanted to share this great news with Gentiles.
• And his ministry among Gentiles that put him in prison.
Remember that the apostle Paul could have played safe:
• He could have just preached to the Jewish people.
• But Paul knew his orders were more widespread than that!
• As is ours!
• His message was to the Jew first and also the Gentile.
• His message was not for the select few, but the whosoever!
Now you might think being in prison would hinder Paul from sharing the gospel:
• Another part of the Bible Philippians chapters 1&4.
• Gives us some clues as to what happened whilst he was in chains.
Ill:
• Paul was assigned a Roman guard to watch over him.
• That meant according to the experts a guard of four Roman soldiers.
• Who would change shift every few hours?
• So, Paul the evangelist always had a captive audience to hear his message.
• Some of these soldiers were converted.
• As were some of those who came to visit him during his time of incarceration.
• Philippians chapters 1&4 tell us not just soldiers were converted.
• But even some in Caesar’s household (Philippians chapter 4 verse 22).
• Through Paul’s witness in prison, the Gospel was carried into parts of Rome.
• That would have been inaccessible to Paul had he been a free man.
(2). By life (vs 5-6):
“Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone”.
Note the expression, “outsiders.”
• If you are a ‘born again’ Christian, then you are on the inside,
• If you have yet to come to saving faith, you are on the outside.
Ill:
• Next Sunday morning I will be in Moldova,
• I will be preaching in a Church where they all speak Russian.
• You might be surprised to know that I do not speak Russian!
• But I am glad to say I will have my interrupter / I mean interpreter with me.
• I have been left alone in a room full of Russians or Moldovans,
• Who don’t speak English and so I have no idea what is going on?
• Because I will be an ‘outsider.’
• But when my translator enters the room, things start to change,
• And with her help I am able to move from the ‘outside’ to the ‘inside!’
• TRANSITION: We live surrounded by people on the ‘outside’ to God.
• Unless we connect with them and make clear the message of Jesus Christ,
• They will never be on the ‘inside!’
Notice: the little phrase ‘Making the most of every opportunity’.
• This phrase is a commercial term and means to "buy up."
• It's the picture of finding something on sale that is so cheap.
• That you buy as much as you can, because you know it will not be this cheap again!
• Likewise, we're to buy up every opportunity to speak for Christ when we see one,
• Because we or they might not have that opportunity again!
• Notice that the apostle Paul,
• Gives to us two insights on how to buy up those opportunities:
FIRST: Walk wisely (vs 5).
• “Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders”
• “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without”
The word ‘walk’ in the New Testament refers to the way we live:
• Paul reminds us that non-Christians are not stupid.
• They watch how we live and act and take notice.
Ill:
• A Christian was witnessing to his neighbour about Jesus Christ,
• To his surprise the man said to the Christian.
“I am not a believer, in fact I would love to be an atheist, and I would if it wasn’t for Mrs Williams”.
• TRANSITION: In other words, he would love to say there is no God,
• But he cannot because he sees the reality for God in the life of Mrs Williams,
• The way she acts and reacts, the life she lives.
SECOND: Talk wisely (vs 6).
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how to answer everyone”.
• That phrase: "Season your words with salt" is a great expression:
• In the ancient world it was an expression that could mean using some form of wit.
• As well as wisdom.
Quote: Jerusalem Bible translates it this way:
“Talk to them agreeably, and with a flavour of wit,
and try to fit your answers to the needs of each one”.
Ill:
• Perfect example was Jesus,
• Who was the perfect embodiment of both truth and grace, wit and wisdom?
• Just read through the synoptic gospels and you will see!
• Although Jewish humour is exaggerated humour does not joke telling,
• i.e., “A man with a plank in his eye telling off a man with a speck in his eye”.
• (Matthew chapter 7 verse 5)
• We would say it is more like the humour of Monty Python (exaggerated humour),
• Focussing on things absurd rather than telling funny stories.
• Last week in ‘explorers’ (Sunday School).
• The children looked at last week’s passage on prayer (Luke chapter 11 verses 1-13).
• When Penny was teaching them and read the words of Jesus,
• “Which dad would give their children a scorpion if they asked for a fish,
• Or a stone of they asked for bread,
• They all started giggling because they saw the humour, the silliness in it.
• TRANSITION:
• The apostle Paul is telling the Colossian Christian’s to be appetizing:
• Our conversations need to be seasoned with salt.
• Salt enhances flavour and makes food appetizing.
• "Salty speech" in Paul's day referred to witty and clever discussion.
• It was the opposite of being boring or dull.
• When we talk about our faith how can we not be interesting?
• We have the greatest message that has ever been given to mankind!
• Remember salty speech makes people thirsty for more.
• We should be talking about Christ in such a way that we make someone's mouth water!
ILL:
A little girl was on the way home from church, turned to her mother and said,
• "Mommy, the Preacher’s sermon this morning confused me."
• The mother said, "Oh! Why is that?”
• The girl replied, "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?"
• "Yes, that’s true," the mother replied.
• "He also said that God lives within us. Is that true too?"
• Again, the mother replied, "Yes."
• "Well," said the girl.
• "If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?"
• TRANSITION:
• God wants to show through our conversations with those on the ‘outside’:
• Our aim as Christians is not to win arguments.
• But to communicate and demonstrate Jesus Christ.
• Quote: “You can have a hot head and win an argument”
• Or you can have a hot heart and win a soul!”
• The Christian's walk and talk must be in harmony with each other.
• Nothing will silence the lips like a careless life.
• But when character, conduct, and conversation are all working together,
• It makes for a powerful witness.
AUDIO SERMON LINK:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=OFmYrEyBeG0tK4JKh9kypfGhFQojZiJA
VIDEO SERMON LINK:
https://youtu.be/LenT0DOzC-U
