Sermon 12 - Witnessing That Works Series

Introduction:

A. Last week, we talked about relationships that work and today I want us to talk about witnessing that works.

1. In Colossians 4:2-6, Paul shares some instructions about how to be effective as witnesses for Christ.

2. I want to start by suggesting that being a witness for Christ is not so much about something you do, but is about something you are.

a. Jesus said: “You are the salt of the earth…you are the light of the world” (Mt. 5:13-14).

b. Paul wrote: “We are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20).

3. As we will see later in this sermon, one of the keys to effective witnessing is taking advantage of opportunities to share the good news when the opportunity presents itself.

4. I heard about a man who prayed this prayer every morning: “Lord, if you want me to witness to someone today, please give me a sign to show me who it is.”

a. One day he found himself on a bus when a big, burly man sat next to him.

b. The bus was nearly empty, but this guy sat down right next to the praying man.

c. The timid Christian anxiously waited for his stop so that he could exit the bus.

d. But before he could get away, the big guy burst into tears and cried out, “I need to be saved. I’m a lost sinner and I need the Lord. I need somebody to tell me how to be saved.”

e. The praying man immediately bowed his head and prayed, “Lord, is this a sign?”

5. Yes, that’s a sign and we need to learn how to spot the opportunities that present themselves.

B. Here’s how I want to approach our sermon today.

1. First, I want us to work through our text and draw out the principles we can glean.

2. Then, I want to share the results of my little survey of the congregation and share a few conversion stories.

I. Paul’s Instructions

A. So, as we move into the text and examine Paul’s instructions, we will notice that Paul wasn’t offering a 1-2-3 method of evangelism.

1. Rather, we will notice that Paul was talking about the kind of lifestyle that would enable the Colossians and us to be able to reach people for Jesus.

2. I trust that all of us want to be able to have a witness that works. Right?

B. Paul’s instructions began with learning to “Pray with Perseverance.”

1. All of our efforts to reach out to others ought to be done in a spirit of prayer.

2. Paul wrote: 2 Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains, 4 so that I may make it known as I should. (Col. 4:2-4)

3. The first thing that Paul suggests is that we should be faithful in prayer.

a. Prayer is something we should be devoted to doing, meaning it is something we do regularly or continually.

b. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul commanded them to “pray without ceasing” or “pray continually.”

c. This doesn’t mean that we spend every moment of our lives on our knees in prayer, but it does mean that we walk in conscious fellowship with the Father and pray in our heart as needs arise.

4. The second thing that Paul suggests is that we should be watchful in prayer.

a. This suggests that we remain alert to things around us that need our prayer.

b. The phrase “watch and pray” is often used in the Bible.

c. We must remain alert and ready to pray when needs or opportunities present themselves, or when temptations and traps come at us.

5. A third thing that Paul suggests is that we should be thankful in prayer.

a. Thanksgiving is an important ingredient in effective prayer.

b. There are always so many things for which to be thankful and it does us good to be mindful of them and express them.

c. When we remember that Paul was a prisoner when he wrote this letter, it makes his emphasis on thanksgiving even more powerful – he mentions thankfulness seven times.

d. So, whenever we come before God in prayer, we should come in a spirit of thanksgiving.

6. The final thing that Paul suggests about our prayers is that they ought to be purposeful.

a. Sometimes our prayers are vague or general and that’s okay, but how much better and more effective are our prayers when they are specific.

b. Notice how specific were Paul’s prayer requests for himself.

1. He asked that they pray that he might have open door opportunities.