Word Of Mouth
Notes
Transcript
ME:
We have all heard or may have even used the phrase “our reputation precede us?”
The Church’s reputation precede it? BIG “C”
Good or bad, fair or unfair
I read a tweet the other day that said, “You only have to spend 5 minutes scrolling “Christian” twitter to realize why the world thinks the church is full of hypocrites.”
This Church’s reputation precede us?
Our reputation precede us?
You know how a reputation precedes us right? ...... (By people talking to other people: What they have heard about us)
Not talking about Gossip!
Definition: Conversation involving details that are not confirmed as being true. Rumors involving the personal lives of others (Negative and slanderous).
Example:
Parents talking about their kids to other people
Kids talking about their parents to their friends.
Spouses talking about each other to friends
Co-workers talking about each other to friends
Believers talking about other believers
Transition Statement: Since this is the case .... People talk about people .... Have you ever wondered what are people hearing about you?
YOU:
I know some of you are going to say, “I don’t care about what other people say about me.”
YOU SHOULD!
If your a follower of Jesus Christ you SHOULD CARE what people are hearing about you.
Let me ask you .....
What would you hoped people HEARED about you?
What would you hoped people HEARED about this church?
What would you hoped the world HEARED about the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST?
I know that some people are going to think ..... People shouldn’t be talking about other people!
If it’s slanderous, negative gossip ...... I totally agree with you.
I am not talking about gossip!
I am talking about “Word of Mouth” advertisment
Transition Statement: Do you know that people were talking about other people in the Bible?
GOD:
Turn to .....
Colossians 1:1–14 (ESV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,
5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,
6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,
7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf
8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
(Vs 3-4) Paul says, “We always thank God .... when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of (YOU)”
Isn’t it comforting to know someone is praying for you?
Paul says, in a round about way, “I have heard about you!”
Marketing analyst today still believe the best advertisement is by WORD OF MOUTH
Paul goes on to say, “Ever since we have heard about you … We thank God!”
The reputation of this church has preceded it.
Paul has heard of them.
What has he heard?
Heard of their FAITH (4)
Heard of their LOVE (4)
Heard of the HOPE (5)
Where did this church HEAR of .... Faith .... Love .... Hope
Scripture tells us they heard it “Beforehand” in the Word of Truth (The Gospel) The good news. (VS 5)
Who told them of this good news ...... Who taught them the Word of Truth?
Epaphras (Their pastor)
He was in prison with Paul in Rome (Philemon 1:23)
What we see is the Gospel (Good News), the Word of Truth being heard .....
..... by the world (Vs 6)
..... by this church in Colossae
..... by the people!
How did this happen?
By people, telling people, telling people!
What are they telling them? JESUS!
Follow the progression of the message of .......
Paul hears the gospel from Jesus and the disciples.
The disciples and Paul share it with others (Paul shares it with Epaphras)
Epaphras shares this good news with the people of Colossae
The Colossian church is sharing with people who will go out and share it with the world.
How is this going to be done? WORD OF MOUTH!
The world should know what our message is. It should precede the CHURCH!
This community should know what our message is. It should precede OUR CHURCH!
People who know us should know what our message is. It should precede YOU and ME
Transition Statement: So what are people hearing about YOU and ME?
YOU:
What is our reputation that goes before us?
Are they hearing about our FAITH, LOVE, and HOPE!
Have we been telling people where are FAITH, LOVE, and HOPE is found? JESUS!
Are we telling them where they can find this FAITH, LOVE, and HOPE?
We have news that can change their lives forever.
The news that has been shared throughout the ages has now landed in our hands to share to this world we live in.
Transition Statement: What is our reputations that precedes us?
WE:
As a CHURCH
Are we are church that is known for its community presence, loving all people, meeting the needs of those who are less fortunate?
Are we a church that people come to for healing: spiritually, physically, and mentally?
ARE THEY HEARING THIS FROM THIS CHURCH?
As a PERSON
Do people know you are a child of the King, you are royalty, you are a son and daughter of the most High God?
Do they know where your faith, Love, and hope rest in?
ARE THEY HEARING THIS FROM US?
THIS SHOULD PRECEDE US