Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk
Notes
Transcript
Have you ever met someone that told fantastical stories? That you absolutely knew were not true?
They talked the talk, but when it came time to back it up, they couldn’t walk the walk?
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—
that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Talking the Talk
Talking the Talk
Talk to God through Prayer
Prayer is an essential part of the Christian’s relationship with God.
Any great movement of God is going to begin with prayer.
Jesus prioritized prayer.
The disciples were praying on the day of Pentecost
Paul starts all his letters with prayer.
How do we pray?
Steadfastly
Watchful in it
With thanksgiving
For those engaged in the ministry of the Gospel.
This is a specific request by Paul, that can be broadly applied into our context.
Talk to People through Sharing the Gospel
Declaring the Mystery of Christ.
Paul talks about it a lot this way in the book of Colossians.
Making it clear
It is simple and doesn’t need to be made more complicated.
"The gospel is so simple that small children can understand it, and it is so profound that studies by the wisest theologians will never exhaust its riches." - Charles Hodge
“The gospel has been described as a pool in which a toddler can wade and yet an elephant can swim. It is both simple enough to tell to a child and profound enough for the greatest minds to explore.” Tim Keller
The problem: When we take those who have never waded into the waters of the Gospel and throw them into the deep end
It unnecessarily complicates things for them.
Do not get me wrong, all Christians should seek to grow in their understanding. We can not be content in the kiddie pool, but we all start small and go from there.
Like we all know our ability to swim, we should be aware of our Gospel fluency.
How humbling the triathlon I did was.
We should seek to know others level as well.
Gracious Speech, Seasoned with Salt
How we have taught Aliza to say no to food that she doesn’t like.
Knowing How to Answer all of the People.
When people have questions about what you believe, or how you live, you should be prepared to answer them.
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
This comes through growth in our knowledge of God.
Seeking answers to our own questions.
There can be a pressure that people feel to never ask questions, as though asking questions lessens your faith. Questions are good! Just seek answers in good places.
Anticipating questions and seeking answers.
Being willing to say “I don’t know”
It isnt just about talking the talk, Paul also mentions that we should be...
Walking the Walk
Walking the Walk
Walk Wisely Toward Outsiders.
You are a witness to Christ in everything that you do.
Your actions proclaim to people what you believe.
Your life is the only Bible some people may read.
This is summed up beautifully in Ephesians 4:1-3
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Live a life worthy of the calling that you have.
Making the Best Use of Time.
Story of my poor use of time when we decided to clean and I run errands and nothing even goes as planned.
Understanding the realities of Christ’s imminent return, what is the best use of our time?
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’
and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards,
the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know
and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This is a dramatic example, I think intentionally so. It emphasizes how foolish it is to shirk our responsibilities in Christ because we don’t anticipate Christ’s return.
A modern retelling might go like this:
Who then is the faithful child, who when his parents asked to clean the house while they were out of town? Blessed is that child whose parents come home to find the house cleaned. Truly, I say to you, they will be blessed. But if that wicked child says to himself, “My parents are delayed,” and begins to throw a raging party and destroy the house, the parents will come home when they do not expect and they will be grounded for all eternity. In that place there will be no friends and no phones.
We must understand that when we divert our focus from the things of God, the things that He has entrusted to us, we are no better than a teenager throwing a party while their parents are our of town.
We should seek to be faithful in all that we do.
There is the saying that is used to sometimes evoke shame in those who missed this, “Is that really what you want to be doing when Christ comes back?”
I want you to think about your worst moments over the past week and think about that. Is that what you want to be doing when Christ comes back?
This does evoke shame in us. But I don’t tell you this for shame’s sake. shame should produce repentance within us.
Godly guilt produces repentance.
It isn’t just about walking the walk either.
Talking the Talk AND Walking the Walk
Talking the Talk AND Walking the Walk
The Importance of having both things in your life.
You can’t just talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.
That is hypocrisy.
Proclaiming God with your lips and denying him with the way you live is a terrible way to live.
You can’t just walk the walk, you have to talk the talk.
That is practiced universalism.
“Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.” is a terrible way to live.
Where are you this morning?
Are you talking the talk?
Praying to God?
Sharing the Gospel?
Speaking in ways that are seasoned with salt?
Ready to give an answer?
Are you walking the walk?
In a way that reflects what you believe?
In a way that makes the best use of time?
On that note, let me encourage you not to put off til tomorrow what God would be calling you to do today.
Have you been saved?
Have you followed in baptism?
Are you needing to join a body of believers?
Are you needing prayer?
Are you needing to pray?
Don’t let anything hold you back from what God is calling you to do.