Living Missionally

Introduction

Motivational speech

Miracle on Ice 2004 Movie about the 1980 US men’s olympic hockey team

Kurt Russel

Be Devoted to Prayer v.2-3

Paul is finishing his letter to his church and he gives them two imperatives as he goes. First He tells them, in order to be missional you must be devoted to prayer.

He tells them to be devoted much like the early church had a devotion to this act. This is not something that comes quickly, without being learned, nor without intention.

Paul instructs us and them to be alert in prayer.

Remember back in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus gave the same instruction to his disciples (Mark 14:38) sit here, stay awake, be alert , so that you may not enter into temptation.

Do we see prayer as an essential tool for our mission? Paul says, look stay alert, and also pray. He says in order to stay alert, pray!

Paul, much like Jesus’s request in Mark 14 has a desire for people to pray and stay alert so that they not fall into sin during our mission.

Sin is the number one detractor to our mission. We see it all the time, pastors who lose their mission field because of moral failure. Teachers who lose their ministry because of moral failure, parents who break their realationships with their children because of sinful actions.

Remain alert in prayer so that we do not fall into temptation so that you and I can carry out the mission that has been laid before us.

Are we thankful in our prayers?

Look at what Paul covets from their prayer, “that a door may be opened for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ”.

Hey guys, I need need prayer the food stinks in here I have to get out!

Pray for me it’s cold in here!

Pray for us, we are so bored in here the conditions stink!

NO! Paul’s prayer is, pray for that door to open so that I can share Christ with more people. Pray that I can live on mission!

Look, we could spend a whole sermon on this verse alone

Be Determined to Act Wisely v.5-6

Paul goes on to tell us that in order to go forward in mission we must act wisely specifically toward “outsiders” those who have not put their faith and belief in Jesus Christ. He focuses these wise actions specifically on our words.

He tells the church here to speak graciously, seasoned with salt, and informative.

Imagine with me for a second the culture in which Paul is writing to. They were minorities in their region, yet they believed and rightfully so that they “have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority” as we spoke about a couple of weeks ago.

This led them to see those around them who were not a part of the body as aliens to the kingdom of God.

This is a correct view point if it spurs them toward evangelism, you aren’t apart but man do I desire for you to be included in this community.

However, as you can imagine, this led them and church I am afraid can lead us to an incorrect and dangerous boastful theology. So what is Paul’s instruction for moving forward?

Speak with grace. So often we speak to non-beleivers in ungracious manner. Almost as if they should think like we do, the lost should not act like the found, THEY ARE LOST! Approach and speak with grace. Remember who you were when you were lost, put yourself in their shoes. Speak with grace.

Speak salty. Speak in a way that won’t be ignored! Don’t be robotic! If I were to ask a non-believer has someone shared the message of Jesus with you? Then asked, why didn’t you follow, I give a good guess their answer would be, “It was like I was being sold on something. When we talk with “outsiders” be lively, share experiences, relate, don’t be robotic!

Have answers. We don’t have answers because we don’t have experiences. Any good salesman will tell you in order to be great at sales, you have to believe in what you are selling.

Be Diligent to Multiply v. 7-18

Paul ends his letter with a portion that you and I ought not to skip over thinking this is merely his goodbye and “thank you speech”

Multiplication extends you (the geographical location of these disciples)

Multiplication builds community

Multiplication diversifies us.

This is the mission

We cannot live missionally unless we are willing to multiply ourselves AND be a part of a multiplication (a team)

SHARE THE GOSPEL! It is vital that do we life with other people. We can’t live missionally unless we first follow the one who has given the mission.