Questionable Living – Part 2
(Col 4:2-6)
Intro:
A. When a person hears the word “Christian” they immediately conjure up something in their head – good or bad, they have a preconceived thought of what it means for a person to claim to be a Christian. People call some Christians “hypocrites” for a reason. They have a preconceived thought of how a Christian is supposed to talk, act, be like. And when a “Christian” doesn’t meet that standard, they throw out the word “hypocrite.”
B. How about the word “church.” For some people, they so dislike the idea that they don’t even want to use the word, instead they talk about “organized religion.” They may have had a difficult situation with a church they attended and now, when someone invites them to a worship, they say something like, “I have personal relationships with Jesus. I don’t need some church to tell me how to live.”
C. Sometimes, we as Christians who are part of a church family have an uphill battle to fight because of sins of individual Christians and different church groups. But I want to change the narrative. I want to change the perception and preconceived story about the word “Christian” and “church.” But how do I get a hurt person to hear the good news without feeling I am trying to manipulate them or tell them how bad they are? It can be difficult. So where do we begin?
D. READ Col. 4:2-4.
I. Pray Continuously
A. Christians often feel guilty because they say: (1) I don’t pray enough (2) I don’t study the Bible enough (3) I don’t share my testimony enough.
B. Well, what is “enough?” What does Paul mean by “devote/continue” in prayer? The idea of “devotion” is giving yourself over to or being constantly diligent in. DON’T stop praying when it seems like your prayers are unheard. That’s when you keep on praying.
C. The first step of effective spiritual conversation is prayer. Before the creation of this world the “ultimate communication of God” existed, Jesus, the Word (John 1:1). The Hebrew writer says that Jesus opened the curtain to heaven through flesh.
D. Evangelism doesn’t start with me; it starts with God. Therefore, the first step of being effective is seek God and His will. Prayer transforms me. When I pray, seeking only the will of God, I submit to that will, therefore prayer changes me.
E. The second reason prayer is crucial is because we can only plant the seed. It is God that gives the increase. God opens hearts. God calls people to himself. But God uses us to be his ambassador, making his appeal through us. I pray that others see Jesus in me. I want to be Christian who somehow breaks the negative picture some have of Christians. I want people to ask me why I’m different or why the church I attend is different. Praying for my walk is the first step. But prayer is not just about me sharing Jesus.
II. Pray For Other Workers
A. Paul asked the church to pray that, “God may open to us a door for the word.” I want to ask a favor. I want you to go to someone, hopefully today, and ask them to pray that God would open a door for you to have a spiritual conversation with someone. Paul wasn’t ashamed to ask others to pray for him and neither should we.
B. I know that may not be something you are comfortable doing, but if you ask someone to pray for you the way Paul asked for prayers, it might help you see the person God is placing in your life that you didn’t notice before.
C. When I first moved to Pittsburgh, I visited an older lady who wasn’t in great health. When I went to her home, she told me that even though she could not do much anymore, but she could still pray. She said she prayed for those who had walked away from the Lord. She said she prayed for God to put the right person in their life to help them come home. She was praying for someone else.
III. How Is Your Walk?
A. Paul continues in his letter (Col. 4:5-6). Paul gives a sequence that is important to notice. (1) Walk in wisdom towards outsiders (2) make the best use of your time (3) let your answers be done graciously.
B. The idea of our spiritual life as a walk is common in the NT. We are told to “walk in the Spirit,” “walk by faith,” “walk in newness of life,” “walk in a manner worthy of your calling,” “walk in the light” and other walk phrases. The idea of walking is that of our spiritual journey in this life. It is forward progress, but never fully reaching the end point in this life. So let me ask this question, “How’s your walk?”
C. Paul wants the church to consider their spiritual walk when it comes to how those outside the faith view disciples of Jesus. To walk in wisdom is to be mindful of how you are perceived. It is what I said at the beginning of this sermon, unbelievers have an idea of what they think a believer is supposed to be. Paul says be mindful of that.
D. The second statement is to make the best use of your time, or “making the most of every opportunity.” I can’t make the most of the opportunity if I am not looking for an opportunity to bring Jesus into the conversation.
E. Third, drives home the point of living a questionable life. Paul talks about having gracious words so that “you know how to answer each person.” You cannot answer someone if they never ask you a spiritual question. Living a life that draws others to talk to you is what Paul calls the church to become. I want people to ask Julie why her church gives food to kids they don’t know and may never attend her church. I want people to ask you why come to this church when there may be others closer to your home. I want people to ask questions and when they do, I want us to be ready to answer them with grace of Jesus.
F. The idea of seasoned with salt, is the idea of making something tasty. Our talk about Jesus should be one that attracts the seekers that God is calling, so they hear the good news and want to know even more.
Conclusion:
A. Make prayer the first step in your spiritual walk. Pray that God will use you, open a door for you. Pray for someone else. Again, I encourage you to ask someone to be in prayer for you to see opportunities to let Jesus be seen in you. And walk in such a way that others ask you why you are the way you are or why you attend the church you attend and be ready to answer with grace.
B. What will it take for us to be people of prayer and action? A decision. So I ask, “Have you decided to follow Jesus?”
