Sermon Tone Analysis

Imagine If

Introduction: As your turning to Colossians 4:5-6 - listen to the following horrendous news story and imagine if - September 29, 2010, In Rural Tenn. a 911 call comes into volunteer fire station about a trash fire about to engulf a house nearby.

The firefighters on duty remain in the station, polish their boots and hats, cook big elaborate meals and sit down to eat, brag about time of service to see who has seniority, check the thermostat to ensure comfort, entertain themselves, talk about how bad the homeowner in distress is because they didn’t pay $75 fee, listen to the homeowner beg to have them come, tell the homeowner it was his own fault, and finally come only to watch the house burn down.

Only the parts about the polishing, eating and entertaining were embellished, the rest is true story.

If you imagine that as bad, then consider similar true story in rural Canada except instead of dogs and cats dying two infants died.

President of Firefighters Association: “Professional, Career firefighters shouldn’t check a list before leaving the station.

They just get in a firetruck and go.”

We hear those stories and shutter, yet many Christians bristle (or take on an aggressively defensive attitude) over text like the one we are about to read.

Read Text and Prayer - Colossians 4:5-6

The text in the previous sermon from Colossians Paul insists that, to be Committed Christ Followers, Christians must stay in constant contact with the Savior about others.

In this scripture read today, Paul insists that, to be Committed Christ Followers, Christians must stay in constant contact with others about the Savior.

From these 2 verses we Paul’s 2 Critical Expectations of everyone claiming to be Committed Christ Followers are 1) Ethical Conduct and 2) Evangelical Conversations

Ethical - from the Greek Word ethos meaning “moral character” or “conforming to accepted standards of conduct” - emanating from moral principals in the case of Christianity are gathered from God’s Holy Word the Bible.

Evangelical - from Greek Word evangelion meaning “the good news” or “the gospel.”

Evangelical has the connotation that everything is done or said according to the teaching of the gospel and the Christian religion based on the belief of Biblical authority, belief that a Christian is one transformed or “born again” through faith in the sacrificial atonement of Christ but also lives committed to following Him for life.

V. 5 simply reiterates this command from Colossians 1:9-10 and Colossians 2:6-7

V. 6 simply reiterates the purpose of Paul’s life seen in Colossians 1:28-29

which he declares should be every Christian’s purpose

So let’s break these verses down:

“Walk” - RSV translates this verse to say, “conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.”

The entirety of this letter of Colossians has been leading in this direction.

Everything he has written up until this point has been to direct the reader to this understanding.

Specifically seen in Ch. 3, and now with laser like focus Paul finishes with the most important emphasis of the letter.

Christ is meant to be before all else in the life of the Christian, so for the one proclaiming that He is, Paul declares then Don’t just talk the talk, but first walk the walk.

The walk is a biblical and ethical walk.

“Wisdom” - The wisdom of which Paul speaks, and prayed God to fill them with, is not worldly wisdom of course, rather it is Biblical yet also pragmatic, being sensible and realistic in daily living out of your faith.

Having this type of wisdom means having the right kind of perceptions so as to know the will of God and how to fulfill His will faithfully.

How does one gain such wisdom?

Pray for it with faith.

James 1:5-6

Search for it with intensity Proverbs 4:5 and Colossians 3:16

Receive it willingly Colossians 1:28 and Colossians 2:2-3

Paul stressed that wisdom in, of and from Christ should be evident in the life of a Committed Christ follower.

He warned them that many self-proclaimed Christians think they are wise but only have the appearance of wisdom.

Look at Colossians 2:23

There is no value in this false wisdom for themselves, for the community, but especially for Christ.

These supposed Christians withdraw into a narrow minded, closed off clique (What Thom Rainer calls the country club church).

They become inward focused instead of outward focused thinking that everything should be done for the people inside the building rather than for those outside the building.

Illustration: In a survey of 1,000 church attenders, respondents were asked, "Why does the church exist?"

According to 89 percent, the church's purpose was "to take care of my family's and my spiritual needs."

Only 11 percent said the purpose of the church is "to win the world for Jesus Christ."

Which leads to Paul’s next phrase in v.5 - Paul is saying the purpose of ethical conduct with wisdom is for“those who are outside” or non-Christians.

Outside is the Greek word "exo" meaning without.

KJV - “them who are without”

What are non-Christians without?

First obviously they are without Christ

If so, then they are without Hope

Without Peace with God

Without Forgiveness

Without Salvation and Eternal Life

Those things alone should cause us to do all we can to make sure they are no longer without them.

This urging is not just about a Christian’s behavior in church or in the home or in private, Paul is once again urging them to translated it over into their relations with non-Christian neighbors and friends at work and in the market place.

Paul’s primary concern is that every Christian see it as their purpose to go through each day seeking ways to present the gospel (not forcing but with wisdom recognizing them) and people to whom to present it.

Illustration: I want everyone to write this on your worship guide (bulletin).

First write your birthday.

Me: 05/21/1973 Then I want you to write the next just like this ------ _ _/_ _/20??

I am sure you don’t no your date of death yet.

See God is responsible for the two dates on your headstone, but God in His Sovereignty, has given you responsibility for the dash in between.

The reasoning for which Paul urges then to make the most of every opportunity - the literal meaning of “time” here in v.5.

Paul’s mindset was - Jesus will return any minute now and every Christian ought to be living well so non-Christians will give them an open door to speak well about Christ.

Illustration: You know we are always looking for better programs and methods to entice and enable Christians to share the gospel with non-Christians.

After much consideration and much prayer, we have developed an incentive program for the members of JFBC.

The church will write 10 checks for $1,000 each, and the first 10 members checking in the office by 4 PM tomorrow having told a non-Christian about the gospel will receive one.

I am eager to see who those 10 will be and how fast it happens.

Now that is not really true is it - but I wonder what would happen if it were true.

Here in v.6 Paul assures us that if Christians live well and speak well on a consistent basis then they will not have to hunt down people to tell the gospel.

Those non-Christians whom believers interact with will ask questions about Christianity because of what they see.

“Grace” - Paul means that a Christian should have a winsome disposition in his/her conversations.

The speech should be pleasant and not similar to that of non-Christians, which is Paul’s point in Colossians 3:8-9 and Ephesians 5:4

A Christian’s talk should be pure and wholesome making it easy to turn it toward Jesus when the opportunity presents itself.

It should be grace filled also.

Illustration: This pastor, after preaching on the parable of the buried talent, had one of the little ladies, long time member, come up and share with him saying, “pastor I just wanted to tell you what my talent is.”

The pastor inquisitively asked what it is.

She replied, “My talent is speaking my mind.”

The pastor quickly responded saying, “I am sure God wouldn’t mind if you buried that one.”

Many Christians, myself included have no problem speaking the truth of God’s Word or about a situation.

The problem we do have is speaking it with grace, love and compassion.

One thing God has convicted me most about is Facebook debates that are always turning out worse than I intended.

There are not too many people who have ever been argued into being a Christian.

The wisdom Paul speaks of gives us boldness but should also give us tact.

“seasoned with salt” - There is nothing more unappealing or disappointing than a big juicy ribeye with no seasoning.

Who likes bland food.

That wisdom is also seen in the ability to choose the right words at the appropriate time and to make the conversation an interesting one.

I am also sure there are not too many people who have ever been bored into Christianity.

Christianity is exciting and joyful, full of life and peace.

How will they believe it if they don’t see it in you.

Illustration: If you ask me about my wife, you will soon become jealous that she is married to me and unavailable because of the way I will talk about her and my love for her.

It should be the same when we talk to non-Christian about Jesus.

Conclusion: Paul’s vision here and my vision is one of a church - group of Committed Christ followers - who are actively talking with and caring for its community with positive relationships filled with love and compassion so that gospel conversations flow naturally from those relationships.

These Christians will not be fearful in speaking openly about Christ, nor wrongly zealous as to drive people away, nor judgmental but open to its community and responsive to the needs and questions of its community.

How then must you apply these 2 verses?

How must you be in this community?

Illustration: I love it when spring time comes with less rain and more sunshine, so I can have a clean and shiny truck.

But, I don’t think I have ever seen someone like it as much as Jimmy Ralls - He can make a car shine like nobody’s business.

He puts some real work into making cars and trucks look good.

As my dad used to say, he puts some real elbow grease into it.

That is the kind of idea Paul is giving us here in relation to our life as a Christian.

Manage your life and behaviors.

Live from a Biblical perspective.

Talk in a consistently tasteful, pleasing and righteous manner.