The Prayer and Preaching of the Church. Colossians 4:2-6

Transcription

1 The Prayer and Preaching of the Church Colossians 4:2-6

2 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

3 It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand. Mark Twain

4 Outline 4:2-4 Prayer 4:5, 6 Preach

5 Upward Communication (1) steadfast prayer Luke 18:1 a parable (a widow) to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. being watchful Matthew 26:40: watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion Joshua 4 Gilgal and the 12 stones thanksgiving Read Philippians: 16 times Paul uses joy, e.g. 1:4 πάντοτε (always) ἐν (in) πάσῃ (every) δεήσει (prayer) μου (of mine) ὑπὲρ (for) πάντων (all) ὑμῶν (you) μετὰ (with) χαρᾶς (joy) τὴν - δέησιν (my prayer) ποιούμενος (making) intercessory ( for us )

6 Upward Communication (2) The content of Paul s prayer request God may open to us a door for the word Freedom (release?) 1 Corinthians 16:9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. Ability to preach (words?) Ephesians 6:19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel to declare the mystery of Christ v I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. steadfast prayer being watchful thanksgiving intercessory (for us)

7 Upward Communication (3) Christ said, Feed my sheep Feed my lambs. However, some preachers put the food so high that neither sheep nor lambs can reach it. They seem to have read the text, Feed my giraffes. ~ C H Spurgeon steadfast prayer being watchful thanksgiving intercessory (for us) God may open to us a door for the word to declare the mystery of Christ I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak

8 Upward Communication (3) Jesus said to them, Who do you say that I am? And they replied, You are the eschatological manifestation of the ground of our being, the kerygma in which we find ultimate meaning of our interpersonal relationships. And Jesus said, What? steadfast prayer being watchful thanksgiving God may open to us a door for the word to declare the mystery of Christ I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak Christ said, Feed my sheep Feed my lambs. However, some preachers put the food so high that neither sheep nor lambs can reach it. They seem to have read the text, Feed my giraffes. ~ C H Spurgeon intercessory (for us)

9 Horizontal Communication: walk the walk Walk in wisdom (contrary to gnostic teachers) Colossians 2:2, 3 full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. making the best use of time exagorazō: to buy up, i.e. ransom (also in Ephesians 5:16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Consistency in life must be followed by the witness of the spoken word

10 Horizontal Communication - talk the talk speech be gracious en chariti - in grace: out of the experience that we have received as believers, the Grace of God, it becomes the atmosphere in which we speak it affects the actual words and the manner in which we speak seasoned with salt in order to make it appetising and free from corruption in Greek, it was interpreted as joyful, even witty you may know how you ought to answer each person interesting, contextualised Of Becky Pippert ( Out of the Saltshaker ): She s really devout but she s so interesting!

11 Fulness in communication