Christocentric Evangelism

Scripture Reading: Colossians 4:2-6

This is Our Final Lesson in the Christocentric Series

We’ve Spent the Past 2 Months Looking at the Importance of Being Christ-Centered People

Everything We Think, Say, Do, and Are is to Be Centered Around Jesus

The Final Topic We’re Going to Look at is:

Evangelism (Christocentric Evangelism)

Our Evangelism, Just Like Everything Else in Our Lives, …

Is to Be Done in a Christ-Centered Way

What is Evangelism?

We Get “Evangelism” from the Greek Word euangelion (eh-von-ghel-eon)

This is the Word for “Gospel” in Greek

Evangelism = Announcing/Sharing the Gospel

Those Who Announce/Share the Gospel = Evangelists

Based Off that Simple Definition…

All Christians Should Be Evangelists

We Believe the Great Commission of Making Disciples Through Baptizing and Teaching…

Is for All Christians

But How Should We Go About Doing it?

There are Lots of Books, Programs, Training Courses, etc. Out There

But We’re Just Going to Focus on What Paul has to Say on the Subject

Colossians 4:2 (NASB95)

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;

The Past Few Weeks We’ve Looked at How We Should Live as Christocentric New Creation:

Amongst the Christian Community

At Home

At Work

As Christians, We are Ordinary People Who have Been Called By Jesus…

To Live Our Ordinary Lives in an Extraordinary Way

Being a Christocentric Person is Not Easy

But Paul Tells Us How to Do it:

“Be Devoted to Prayer”

If We Want to Be Christocentric People…

It Starts with Being Devoted to Prayer

And in Our Prayers We Must Be Alert and Thankful

I’ve Found the More Devoted I Am to Prayer…

The More Alert and Thankful I Tend to Be

A Christocentric Person is a Person Who:

Is Deeply Devoted to Conversation with God

Pays Careful Attention to Their Thoughts, Words, and Actions

Is Thankful, Regardless of Their Circumstances

These 3 Things are Foundational to Living a Christ-Centered Life

But, Along with Telling the Colossians to Be Devoted to Prayer…

Paul has a Specific Prayer Request to Make of Them

And this Request is What Leads into the Topic of Evangelism:

Colossians 4:3–4 (NASB95)

3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

Paul’s Prayer Request was:

“Pray that God will Provide Us an Opportunity to Evangelize/Share the Gospel”

Even While Imprisoned for Sharing the Gospel…

Paul was Seeking for Opportunities to Share the Gospel

In Fact, that May Be Why He is Seeking an Opportunity to Evangelize

Being in Prison has Limited His Opportunities

We Have Good Reason to Believe this Prayer was Answered…

Because of What We Read in Philippians…

Which is Another Letter Paul Wrote While in Prison:

Philippians 1:12–14 (NASB95)

12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else,14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

Paul Asks the Colossians to Pray for Him to Have…

Opportunities to Share the Gospel While in Prison

Then We See that His Imprisonment Led to the Further Spreading of the Gospel

God Gave Paul Opportunities to Share the Gospel Even While Imprisoned

And Notice What We Read at the End of Philippians:

Philippians 4:22 (NASB95)

22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

Even Caesar’s Own Household was Reached with the Gospel

The Gospel Can’t Be Stopped

Even if They Lock Us Away, They Can’t Lock Away the Gospel

2 Timothy 2:8–9 (NASB95)

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.

What We See From this is that God can Grant Opportunities Anywhere

He can Open Doors with Your Family, Friends, Coworkers, Acquaintances, and Even Strangers!

But We Need to Be Praying for Open Doors/Opportunities

Pray for God to Grant Opportunities to Evangelize this Week

The First Step to Christocentric Evangelism is to:

Pray to God for Opportunities to Share the Gospel

Paul is Now Going to Transition From His Own Evangelistic Efforts…

To Telling the Colossians How to Conduct Their Evangelistic Efforts

The NKJV is the Most Technically Accurate

Colossians 4:5 (NKJV)

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

The NLT Seems to Explain this Verse Well in Modern Language

Colossians 4:5 (NLT)

5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.

What Does it Mean to Walk in Wisdom/Live Wisely?

Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians Might Help Us Find the Answer

Ephesians 5:15–17 (NASB95)

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

To Walk in Wisdom/Live Wisely = To Understand What Lord Jesus Wants

To Make the Most of Every Opportunity with Unbelievers…

We Need to Live the Way Lord Jesus Wants Us to Live

How Does Lord Jesus Want Us to Live?

We Could Spend All Day Exhausting that Question

But the Good Thing is, Jesus has Already Summed it Up for Us

Love God with Everything You Have

Love Others as You Love Yourself

All the Law and Prophets are Based on These 2 Commands

To Walk in Wisdom Toward Outsiders is to Live in Such a Way…

That They Know Your Love for God and Your Love for Them

People are Never Going to Care About the Message of Jesus…

If They Can’t See Him in Us

Sharing the Gospel Begins Not with Our Words But with Our Actions/Character

This is How We “Redeem the Time” or “Make the Most of Every Opportunity”

Before We can Tell the Gospel to Others…

They Need to See it in Action in the Way We Live

The Old Adage is Still Very Much True:

“People Won’t Care What You Know Until They Know that You Care”

People are Much More Interested in the Love of Jesus…

Once They’ve Seen it in Action

The First 2 Steps to Christocentric Evangelism are:

Pray to God for Opportunities to Share the Gospel

Live Out the Gospel

We Use Every Opportunity God Provides to Show the Love of Jesus

Then Comes the Final Step

Colossians 4:6 (NASB95)

6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

Once Our Lifestyle is in Agreement with the Gospel…

Then We Must Make Sure Our Speech is Too

What Does it Mean to Use Gracious Speech?

Paul Helps Us Understand By Saying Our Speech Ought to Be “Seasoned with Salt”

You Season Food with Salt to Enhance the Flavor and Make it Taste Better

It Makes the Food Much More Enjoyable

It Keeps You Coming Back for More

When We Share the Gospel with Others…

We Ought to Present it in Such a Way that They Keep Coming Back for More

It Shouldn’t Leave a Nasty or Bitter Taste in Their Mouth

There will Be Many Who will Reject the Gospel…

Because They Don’t Want to Submit Themselves to Jesus’ Authority

But May God have Mercy on Us if it’s Our Lack of Grace…

That Turns the Lost Away From Jesus

The Way We Present the Truth of the Gospel Matters

I’ve Known Christians Who Don’t Believe that to Be True

“But Facts Don’t Care About Your Feelings!”

“No, But Christians Should!”

Our Character Ought to Prove the Spirit Lives Within Us

Galatians 5:22–23 (NASB95)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

These are Characteristics of a Christocentric Person

And the Way We Share the Gospel Ought to Match Our Character

The Way We Respond to Outsiders/Unbelievers Must Be with Grace

Paul Seems to Be Assuming that a Large Part of Evangelism “Responsive”

That is, if We Live Out the Gospel, People are Going to Ask Questions

People will Be Interested in Knowing Why We Live the Way We Do

And We Should Expect Many of Our Opportunities for Evangelism…

To Come From These Situations

Often, Our Greatest Fear in Evangelism is Initiating the Conversation

But Paul Seems to Assume that if Christians are Living Like Jesus…

Outsiders will Be the Ones Initiating the Conversations

They May Be Honest Questions…

Favorable Questions…

Or Antagonistic Questions

But Regardless of the Heart/Motive of the Questioner…

We are Told to Respond with Grace and Speech Seasoned with Salt

Peter Tells Us the Same Thing in 1 Peter 3:13-15

1 Peter 3:13–15 (NIV)

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

When Anyone Asks About Our Faith or Our Hope…

We are to Be Ready to Give Them the Answer

We are to Be Ready to Share the Gospel with Them

But When We Share the Gospel…

We Must Do it with Gentleness and Respect

This is Not to Say that We Never have to Be the Ones…

To Initiate the Conversation About the Gospel

But it is a Simple Fact:

If We are Living Like Jesus, While Also Praying for God to Open Doors…

People are Going to Notice and Opportunities will Arise

So We’ve Got to Be Ready to Walk Through Those Doors

The 3 Steps to Christocentric Evangelism are:

Pray to God for Opportunities to Share the Gospel

Live Out the Gospel

Share the Gospel with Grace

Application

Following These 3 Steps will Lead to Christocentric Evangelism

But it’s Not Too Difficult to See Where All of this can Fall Apart

Will God Still Give Us Opportunities to Evangelize if We Don’t Pray for Them?

Sure He Will, Because Sharing the Gospel is His Will for Us

But We will Be Far Less Likely to Recognize Those Opportunities When They Appear

And We’ll Be Far Less Motivated to Make the Most of Them…

Because We Weren’t Asking for Them to Begin with

Another Thing to Think About is:

How can God Open Evangelistic Doors for Us…

To Reach Unbelievers with the Gospel…

If We Refuse to Ever Associate with Unbelievers

Christocentric Evangelism Consists of Associating with the Lost

This is What Jesus Did, and it’s What We Must Do

But, Unbelievers will Never Accept a Gospel that We Refuse to Live Ourselves

God May Open Doors for Us to Evangelize…

But if the Gospel hasn’t Changed the Way We Live…

Then We Shouldn’t Expect Others to Be Interested or Receptive to it

God May Give Us Opportunities and We May Live a Faithful Life…

But if We Don’t Present the Gospel as the Good News that it is…

We’ll Never See the Conversion that Jesus Desires

Our Sharing the Gospel Must Be About Winning Souls, Not Arguments/Debates

And the Gospel We Share Should Give Hope to the Listener, Not Despair

The Only Time the Reaction to the Gospel Should Be Despair…

Is When the Listener Refuses to Accept it

And When that is the Case…

We Should Graciously, Humbly, and Respectfully Move On

This is How We Evangelize in a Christ-Centered Way

Ask for Christ’s Help

Live Like Christ

Talk About Christ

Do You Want this Church to Grow?

Do You Want Jesus’ Kingdom/Reign/Rule to Spread in this World?

Do You Want Your Unbelieving…

Family, Friends, Coworkers, and Neighbors to Obey the Gospel?

Do You Want Them to Be Saved By Jesus?

Have You Prayed for Opportunities to Share the Gospel with Them?

Have You Lived Out the Gospel You Wish to Share with Them?

Has Your Communication with Them Been Gracious, Humble, and Respectful?

If Not, Let’s Start There

God will Provide the Opportunities

We Just Need to Be Ready When He Does