Sermon Tone Analysis

What is the mission of Redeemer Church?

The Bible tells us what the mission is:

the church’s mission is to display the glory of God by declaring the gospel to all peoples, by gathering churches in every place, and by filling them with disciples who obey God and will praise him forever for his grace (; ; ; ; ).

The Bible tells us how the mission will go forward: through prayerful dependence, gospel proclamation, biblical discipling, and church planting (; ; ; ).

The Bible tells us what kind of missionaries we should support: biblically faithful, methodologically patient, gospel-proclaiming, church-loving missionaries (; ; ; ; ).

The Bible tells us what the end goal of missions should be: transformed individuals in biblical churches who will ultimately join a heavenly multitude praising the Lamb of God forever (; ; ).

Johnson, A., & Platt, D. (2017).

Missions: how the local church goes global (pp.

28–29).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

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Here in chapter 4, the Apostle Paul still has some very important things to say as he closes his letter to the Colossians.

Up till now, from 3:1-4:1 almost all the material has been inward-looking, focusing on relationships withing the Christian community.

Our passage, (4:2-6) looks outward, with a focus on Paul’s evangelistic work and the communities relationships with other missionaries & non-Christians.

It is not surprising that, having spoken about the word (3:16), the apostle now stresses the importance of prayer,

for word and prayer belong together: in the word - God speaks to us, in the prayer - we to him.

SO Paul says, "Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.”

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The word, “Devote” means to continue to do something with intense effort, despite any difficulties.

They are being called to be devoted to is because prayer is a

divinely appointed weapon against the sinister attack of the devil and his angels, the

vehicle for confession of sin, and

the instrument whereby the grateful soul pours out its spontaneous adoration

before the throne of God on high.

This is what we’re supposed to be devoted to.

This was one way those in the Colossian church could set their minds on and “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” ().

As an example, Paul held up Epaphras, who was “always struggling on your behalf in his prayers” ().

In view of the temptations, dangers, and needs of the Christian life,

the healthy church member heeds God’s command for constancy in prayer.

Then Paul indicates the manner in which we are to pray (in v2).

Then Paul indicates the manner in which we are to pray (in v2).

“stay alert in it”.

This has the idea of being watchful and awake!

Are you alert enough to know how to pray for the needs of your own family?

Church, country, world.

Are you alert enough to know the dangers that threaten the American Church?

Are you alert enough to know the will of God?

We are to pray with intense effort.

"Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I never stopped warning each one of you with tears.”

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"Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.”

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"So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled.”

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"Be sober-minded, be alert.

Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.”

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"Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before my God.

"Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent.

If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you.”

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Then, when one is deeply and humbly conscious of blessings received and promised he will express his gratitude to God.

So, Paul continues: with thanksgiving.

"Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” ()

"give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

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A true appreciation of the believer’s status, “dead” to the world and its powers, “alive” to God in Christ

with all one’s sins forgiven, and

destined for glory,

will inevitably produce thanksgiving.

And such an attitude of thanks will serve well as a powerful stimulus to pray.

So how might we cultivate a thankful heart?

Foundationally, thankfulness comes in a life lived in fellowship with Christ.

This was one way those in the Colossian church could set their minds on and “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col.

3:1–2).

As an example, Paul held up Epaphras, who was “always struggling on your behalf in his prayers” (Col.

4:12).

In view of the temptations, dangers, and needs of the Christian life, the healthy church member heeds God’s command for constancy in prayer.

"So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, "being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.”

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Gratitude, or thankfulness is the over flow of being rooted and built up in Christ!

Moo, D. J. (2008).

The letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (p.

321).

Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub.

Co.

As we abide in Him, as we see His power at work in us and through us, as we call upon Him for our needs and experience His provision,

our response will be thanksgiving.

Like any other trait of godly character, thankfulness is a result of the Holy Spirit’s ministry in our hearts.

He gives us a thankful spirit, but He does this through our fellowship with Christ.

But though an attitude of thankfulness is the work of the Holy Spirit, it also comes as a result of personal effort on our part.

We must cultivate the habit of always giving thanks for everything ().

One way we can do this is to expand our mealtime expression of thanks to include other blessings beyond the food before us.

Another way is to begin and end the day with a time of thanksgiving.

says,

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High, "to declare your faithful love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,”

As we arise in the morning we can thank God for His love, which is assured to us throughout the day.

As we retire we can thank Him for specific demonstrations of His faithfulness during the day.

Bridges, J. (1983).

The practice of godliness (p.

105).

Colorado Springs, CO: Navpress.

Then at the same time, Paul asks for something else:

"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, "so that I may make it known as I should.”

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We are to be devoted for praying for the evangelistic momentum and advance of the gospel!

Paul was also concerned that the prayers of the church should be mission-minded (v3-4), that they should have an evangelistic thrust.

Paul isn’t beyond the need for prayer.

And in a particular request “for us that God may open a door to us for the word”.

Paul, writing from prison, did not so much want the Lord to open doors to get him out as to open up a way for the Christian message.

Sometimes the phrase ‘open door’ suggests a priceless, not-to-be-missed opportunity.

Something of this sort prompted Paul to stay in Ephesus longer than he had originally intended: ‘For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries’ ().

Another dimension deserves to be considered.

This is very graphic language.

The apostle is suggesting that, until God changes things, the human personality is bolted and barred against the gospel.

John Bunyan, in his book The Holy War, he portrayed man as a city under siege, with all the senses like massive gates stubbornly holding the truth at bay.

But we remember that the Lord opened Lydia’s heart (), and

He can open hearts in first-century prisons or anywhere in the cynical postmodern West.

Do you feel that, when you try to share the gospel with others, it is as though steel shutters with huge ‘no entry’ signs bar the minds of your friends?

We must pray for one another so that God would clothe our words and witness with the kind of power that will penetrate these barriers of the mind.

Paul certainly wanted prayer so that he might become an increasingly effective communicator.

It was his calling to ‘speak the mystery of Christ’ (4:3)—

that is, to explain a message that is completely beyond human understanding unless God breaks into otherwise closed minds.

He needed God’s help in two important areas.

The first concerned his longing to make his message ‘known’ (4:4), or plain and obvious.