COLOSSIANS | Week 13 | 4:2-6 | The Gospel Goes Viral
Since then we have been raised with Christ… What does it look like to share the good news? Join us in Colossians 4:2-6 as we see how the call to evangelism begins with praying to God about people FIRST, THEN we go to people and talk to them about God!
It’s all about Jesus!
Date: May 2, 2021
Series: Colossians
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Sermon Extras
THE REST OF THE SERMON | Colossians | Week 13
This week on the Rest of the Sermon we talk about Prayer and Evangelism! How are we called to engage in sharing our faith with others and how should we go about it? We draw some wonderful, practical applications of how we can pray to God about others and how we can talk to them about Christ, right here in this week’s text. So open your bible to Colossians 4:2 and join us for the Rest of the Sermon!
Additional Resources: Evangelism: How the Whole Church Speaks of Jesus | The Soul Winner by Charles Spurgeon | Penn Teller Video | Art of Neighboring
Pastor’s Comment
Thank you so much for listening in here at West Side. We often say that we love the word of God because it points us to the son of God. We hope these messages encourage you and equip you to love Jesus more. We also want you to be apart of a local church, we believe these messages are only supplemental, being apart of a local church is essential. Blessings.
SERMON NOTES
Colossians 4:2-6 “Going Viral with the Gospel”
REVIEW: We are getting to the end of the letter! What a journey this has been! (*Preview Next Sermon Series: “The Bible Doesn’t Say That”)
INTRO> Have you ever heard the phrase, “Going Viral?” A Video, image or link is considered “viral” according to one article when it get’s more than 5 million views in a 3-7 day period. In August of 2020 the Korean boy band BTS set the record for the fastest viral video on Youtube with their music video “Dynamite” getting 101.1 million views in 24hrs!
CONTEXT> We’ve been in this letter for a few months. The origins of the church in Colossea are because the gospel went viral:
- “And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus.” Acts 19:1
- And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. – Acts 19:8
- This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.- Acts 19:10
- So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. – Acts 19:20
- “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” -Colossians 1:5-7
CONTEXT> In these verses today the Apostle Paul shows us how this happens, how the Gospel goes viral:
Big Idea > The Gospel goes viral when we talk to God about people and talk to people about God.
Why we F.A.I.L at sharing the gospel:
- F- Fear. We are afraid of what people will think
- A- Apathy. We don’t really believe that hell is real.
- I- Insecurity.
- L- Lack of Biblical literacy.
“Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies; and if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay, and not madly to destroy themselves. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.” – Charles Spurgeon
- Talk to God about people. v2-3
- “continue steadfastly” some translations will say devote yourselves to prayer. It’s interesting that Paul starts with prayer long before anything else.
- Praying for people:
- Faithful Prayers– not sporadicly. Some people are the product of YEARS of prayer. God’s delay is not his denial!
- Watchful Prayers – This is a military term, there is a difference in watching and worrying.
- Grateful Prayers- This is with joy in your heart!
“If God answered all of your prayers from yesterday, how many people would be saved today?”
- Praying for an Opportunity: “god may open up a door” Salvation comes from the Lord!
APP> Often times what we think is an obstacle in our day is a God given opportunity to share the Gospel! *ILL> Billy Graham, “Just as I am” with JFK at the 1963 Prayer Breakfast “His hesitation at the car door, and his request, haunt me still. What was on his mind? Should I have gone with him? It was an irrecoverable moment.” p 399
2) Talk to people about God. v2-6
- There are two things that are involved in these verses when it comes to talking about God to people, our words and our walk.
- Our Words. “That God may open up a door to declare the mystery of Christ” Paul says that when a door is opened, we say something, we talk!
What we want to put through the door:
- Personality
- Good Works
- Politics
- Life Lessons
APP> God’s word does the work! (*Need help with this, Break it Down series”
How to talk about Jesus:
- Open your mouth “declare” v3
- Use the scriptures “the word” v3
- Get to Jesus “mystery of Christ” v3
- Keep it simple “I may make it clear” v4
- Be ready for opposition “I am in prison” v3
- Our Walk. “conduct yourself wisely”
APP> It’s not about living perfectly, it’s about living authentically!
Big Idea > The Gospel goes viral when we talk to God about people and talk to people about God.
Heavenly Father, I am asking you to:
- Open a door
- Open their heart
- Open my mouth