INTRODUCTION:

A. As we have discussed, evangelism isn’t the easiest thing for us to put into practice:

1. There are many ideas as to how we can be more competent, and therefore confident and effective at communicating the good news to others

a) Lots of books and tapes, lots of good information

2. First place we need to look is God’s Word

BODY:

I. CONTEXT:

A. Our passage is found in an interesting context

1. Have a look back over what we had read from Ch. 3

a) What is being discussed here

b) Main points?

2. It is Paul’s habit in his letters to as R.C. Lucas writes,

...to follow an exposition of Christ and the gospel with an explanation of what it means to live in the world consistently with such truth. He refuses to teach the doctrines of the faith without insisting that they be translated into corresponding behaviour and conduct.

Nor does the apostle call his hearers to a new way of life until they have understood what it means to be new persons in Christ. Paul is no mere moralist. 1

... In an ordered sequence Paul sets out five concentrated blocks of teaching, to demonstrate how the rule of Christ will shape our various relationships.2

B. outline: Ch 3 & 4

1. 3:1-8 The Christian and Christ

2. 3:9-17 The Christian and the local church

3. 3:18-21 The Christian and their family

4. 3:22-4:1 The Christian and their daily work

5. 4:2-6 The Christian and the outsider

C. Chapter 4:2-6

1. In these 5 sections we can see the UPWARDS, INWARDS and OUTWARDS focuses of the Christian life under the leadership of Jesus.

2. The 5^th section is plainly OUTWARDS

a) It discusses the responsibility of those who are led by Jesus to take the good news to the people outside the Church

3. Lucas writes;

It is not a loose sequence of a few additional admonitions, but a tightly constructed section giving basic outlines of Christian duty to spread the Word. It answers realistically the question, What can an ordinary group of believing people do to make sure that outsiders hear of Christ? It assumes that the church is committed by lip as well as by life to witness to the saving message...3

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

D. Passage has two sections;

1. Prayer (v 2-4)

2. Evangelism (v 5-6)

a) Or

3. Speaking to God about people

4. Speaking to people about God

 

II. (v 2-4) PRAYER -- SPEAKING TO GOD ABOUT PEOPLE

A. Where should we start in evangelism?

1. Prayer

verse 2     Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

a) Devote yourselves to prayer, or "continue steadfastly in prayer" RSV

(1) Gk: to attend constantly

(2) to continue to do something with intense effort, with the possible implication of despite difficulty - ‘to devote oneself to, to keep on, to persist in.’ 4

b) "watchful and thankful"

(1) "watchful" not letting down or going to sleep at your post

(a) like a night watchman, not getting inattentive, neglecting to keep at the task over a long period of time

(b) We need to continue to pray, because it is a vital part of our evangelistic efforts

(c) As has been said, the church moves forwards on its knees

(2) "thankful"

(a) Besides praying for others, we need to give thanks and praise to God for the gospel, and all the good things he has done for us

2. What are we to pray about?

verse 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

a) Paul asked them to pray for him

(1) He was in chains, in prison

(2) But what did he ask them to pray about

(a) Not that God would open the prison doors and free them, but

(i) "that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains."

(3) How would he proclaim the message when he is in chains?

(a) What does that teach us?

(i) To pray for opportunities for the gospel to be proclaimed

(ii) To make the most of every opportunity, be optimistic, pray, and look for opportunities even where there don’t seem to be any, because God can open doors

(iii) See the bright side of difficult situations, the opportunities that even the greatest trials can avail

b) What is the message they are to pray that he is able to proclaim, and that he has been imprisoned for?

(1) The mystery of Christ

(2) Why a "mystery"

(a) Because it isn’t known, people are ignorant

(b) God uses us to reveal salvation, the good news to those who don’t know or understand

verse 4    Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

c) Importance of the truth being presented clearly, or as the original is getting at, reveal and make manifest the truth that has been hidden to people

(1) See the importance of seeking God’s help, and relying on him to help us do our part

d) Besides prayer, we learn from these verses we learn that our part is to stick our necks out and present clearly the truth that people are ignorant of

(1) God draws, God convicts, converts and saves

(a) But he chooses to use us as his messengers, communicators and explainers

e) BUT, we might say, this is talking about our duty to pray for the pros, for the evangelists and ministers like Paul

(1) Then let’s hear what Paul has to say next!

 

III. (v 5-6) EVANGELISM – Speaking to people about God

verse 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

A. Plainly what is said about Paul and his companions in the previous verses does apply to us

1. We too are to make the most of every opportunity

a) Greek lit. "buying up" the time

(1) Means "simply that every opportunity be snapped up like a bargain."5

verse 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

2. First of all our walk must be wise

a) Our lives need to reflect what we believe and proclaim

(1) This has been spelled out in Chapter 3

3. Particularly we are to be wise in making the most of every opportunity that comes our way to communicate Christ

a) Instead of shying away, trying to avoid opportunities we are told to make the most of them

b) There is a balance here then between being wise and not being too preachy or overbearing and using this as an excuse to never say anything

(1) We are to be BOTH wise AND make the most of every opportunity

4. There is an interesting difference between the way evangelists like Paul present the Gospel, and the "rest of us" are to do it

verse 6   Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

a) Paul proclaimed, preached directly to crowds, to leaders etc.

(1) He prayed that he would be given such opportunities, and handle them well

b) Paul’s admonition to the members was to look for opportunities to respond to everyone

(1) This is responsive, or relational evangelism. Sometimes called Lifestyle or friendship evangelism

c) We don’t go preaching on street corners, or hitting people over the head with the gospel

(1) But we do build relationships with people, demonstrate the fruits of a christian life

(2) We do respond to their needs, to their concerns

(3) We are prepared to discuss their questions about life, and answer them appropriately

James Engel writes;

.. people will not listen to the gospel message and respond unless it speaks to felt needs. 6

R.C. Lucas;

Paul evidently believes that opportunities for response and explanation are to be found everywhere, for everyone is looking to discover answers about life and its meaning. And Paul evidently things that believing Christians would be found everywhere too, ready to take up these frequent opportunities. ... we go to the office to work, not to evangelize. But by being ready and willing to respond the way is opened to a more serene, and successful, approach to each day’s opportunities. It opens the way, too, for a greater dependence on God’s leading as well as for a more relevant and sensitive witness, suited to each individual.7

Joseph Aldrich writes similarly;

.... Christians need to think through what the gospel can mean to a searching heart. Besides deliverance from a literal hell, it may put his marriage back together, it may end his overpowering guilt, it may free him from a burdensome habit, it may bring peace, it may bring financial stability, it may solve many of his interpersonal problems, it may be the key to coping with illness, it may be the solution to a tragedy or some great loss, it may be the key to resources for living. Possibly it will be all of the above. That’s good news! Every basic human need or motive is matched by some facet of the gospel.8

B. How do WE answer people’s questions, and address their needs?

verse 6   Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

1. TWO things are mentioned about our the manner of our conversation: it should be

a) "always full of grace"

b) "seasoned with salt"

2. "always full of grace"

a) What does this tell us about how we should talk to others?

(1) Not rude, not quick to argue or jump on people

(2) Peacemakers, gentle, forgiving, patient, kind

(a) Fruits of the Spirit

b) We need to demonstrate real love, God’s love, his care, sensitivity, mercy and interest

3. "seasoned with salt"

a) "grace" is talking about the manner in which we evangelise

b) "salt" is referring to the content

c) R.C. Lucas puts it nicely;

But gracious words can be insipid and dull, so the apostle asks for some seasoning as well.. It is too much to equate salt with wit, but it is not too much to say that our answers should compel interest and attention.9

4. "so that you may know how to answer everyone."

a) The basic need for being able to answer people’s questions is our walk with God

(1) Having his grace, and thus being gracious

(2) Having the salt, the essence of the true gospel in our minds and hearts

b) We can learn, and should, to be better at communicating the truth, at answering the basic questions of life that people have and the gospel answers

(1) We can and should, and hopefully will learn more and more about the Bible, and what it says about various matters

(2) But the most important thing is to believe and live the message, so that what we say has credibility

 

CONCLUSION:

A. R.C. LUCAS sums up our passage wonderfully

Perhaps the abiding impression left by this most practical section is that there is never a time, according to Paul, when our responsibilities to the outsider (verse 5) can be out of mind. Always we must be praying that opportunities for the gospel to be preached to them will be given by God. Always we must gladly take those opportunities, however unpropitious our circumstances. Always we must use the fleeting moments for Christian response when people give us opportunities. And always, however far off in understanding the questioner may be, we must seek the wisdom and grace to answer with words that will awaken his appetite for the things of Christ.10

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

B. To be effectIve at evangelism, Let’s hear AND OBEY God’s word on the matter;

1. Let’s both walk the walk, and talk the talk

a) Let’s live the gospel

b) Let’s talk to God about people

c) And talk to people about God

 

ENDNOTES:

10 Lucas

[ Up ] [ Knowing The Truth ] [ Revised Common Lectionary ] [ Parables of Jesus ] [ Statement of Beliefs ] [ Articles & Papers ] [ Table of Contents ]

  Send mail to wcg3ph@wcg.org.au with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1999 Phillip Hopwood, Hobart, Australia
Last modified:  January 29, 2008