Responsibility in Evangelism: Speech
The Work of the Lord • Sermon • Submitted
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· 108 viewsThe character of our speech must match the content of our speech
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Introduction
Introduction
As you get to know me, you’ll learn that I love Asian food; and I love gathering around Asian food and sharing in it together, but there is a problem in introducing my friends to Asian restaurants. See, most authentic Asian restaurants tend to only focus on the quality of their food, and aesthetics is an avenue for potential.
I learnt this when brought the assistant minister of one of my previous churches to one of my favourite restaurants in Eastwood to try Korean food.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
I’m going to call him George. George is Anglo Australian who grew up in the Shire. He’s never had Korean food before. And just try to imagine us sitting down in this really small restaurant; the dull yellowy-green wallpaper are starting to peel off the walls; the tables and chairs are comfortably underwhelming; and they had these homemade printouts of their menu and pictures of their food blu-taked to the walls.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
After about two minutes of George’s first experience inside a Korean restaurant, he turned to me said, “So Os, is this the look they were going for, or do they just not care?”
I couldn’t help but laugh, because I had never even considered that aesthetics was something you might even consider in an Asian restaurant.
For Asians, the aesthetics of a restaurant doesn’t need to match the quality of the food of a restaurant. As long as the food is excellent, it’s fine—aesthetics is not a big deal.
Most Asian restaurants tend to just focus on the quality of their food, and aesthetics isn’t a big deal. And I had to admit, I had been going to this restaurant for about 15 years and I never even noticed how ugly the restaurant was until then.
I realised this was one of the big cultural differences between Asians and Anglo-Australians when I took my friend to have Korean food for the first time. We sat down in this really small Korean restaurant; the dull yellow-green wallpaper were starting to peel from the walls; they had tissue boxes sitting on every table; and they had these homemade printouts of their menu and pictures of their food just blu-taked to the walls.
Now, if you just reflect on this for a moment, I wonder whether you resonate with this proverb. It’s saying that you will receive good or evil (life or death) according to the way you use your speech.
And after a minute or two, my friend turned to me, looking really confused, and said, “So is this the look they were going for, or do they just don’t care?”
The character of the restaurant doesn’t need to match the content of a restaurant.
But I wonder whether you could say the same with evangelism and Christian speech?
If all Christians are evangelists, as we heard last week, can we say that the character of speech doesn’t need to match the content of our speech?
What is the danger of someone who declares that Jesus is their King, but their speech is ungracious, deceitful or angry at the same time?
What is the danger
It’s saying that you will receive good or evil according to the way you use your speech.
Here at church, we’ve been working through a series thinking about what “the work of the Lord” is. And what we’ve been hearing from the Bible is that the work of the Lord is all about the gospel; the ‘gospel’ being the good news that Jesus is the Lord (which means King). And the work of the Lord is about declaring to all people the message this gospel, and urging them to repent of their sin and to come under the lordship of Jesus but putting their trust in him.
And last week, we thought about how all Christians are involved in the work of the Lord. All Christians are disciple-making disciples of Jesus, who hold out the word of life.
And so, the question we’re asking this week is: if all Christians are evangelists who hold out the word of life, then how should this shape Christian speech?
Should Christian speech be any different? And if so, why? And how?
And for the next 10 minutes or so I’m hoping to convince you that we not only have the
Really, the end point of my talk is really to convince you that we have a responsibility to align all our speech to make Jesus look excellent.
And I want to draw 3 principles for us as we think about this:
Christian speech springs from our identity in Christ
Today we’re
Christian speech ought to express our new character in Christ
Christian speech shapes others’ opinion of the Christ (sorry, there was a bit of a last minute change from the outline you would’ve received)
Christian speech endures in prayer
Why. What. How.
Chr
So why should Christians speak the way they ought to speak? It’s because Christian speech springs from our new identity in Christ.
Repeat: Christian speech springs from our new identity in Christ.
And just so you know what to expect: the ‘why’ is going to be a bit more heavy-going, but after that it’s just going to a glide down the river.
Christian speech springs from our identity in Christ
Christian speech springs from our identity in Christ
They say
So, Christian speech springs from our identity in Christ.
Repeat: “Christian speech springs from our identity in Christ.”
Now, knowing the ‘why’ of an action or instruction really helps us to appreciate it more, doesn’t it?
One of our friends—when she was dating, her now-husband would often say to her, “I love you,” to which she’ll always reply, “But why?”
Knowing the ‘why’ helps us to better understand and appreciate something.
So, as we read from , what is the reason that Paul gives that undergirds verses 5 and 6?
Fast
“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.”
Why?
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.
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.
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
Paul actually gives us the reason why back in chapter 3, and it talks about our new identity and character in Christ.
When I was learning how to read the Bible I was told that if I didn’t understand something, I should read the chapter beforehand.
Our words are shaped by our ident
Our words are shaped by our identity
Our words ought to be shaped by who we are in Christ
Jesus said in ,
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Paul actually gives us the reason why back in chapter 3, and it talks about our new identity and character in Christ.
Or in other words, our hearts are like a fountain from which our words spring. And so the words we speak reveal to the world what our hearts and character are like. But... if, as God’s word claims, we have been given a new heart—a new identity and character in Christ—then that ought to shape the words that spring out of us.
But... if, as God’s word claims, if we have been given a new identity and character in Christ, then it ought to shape the way we speak.
And if we have been given a new identity and character in Christ, then it is our responsibility to understand it really
This is going to be important as we thinking about our words, because our words reveal our character.
If we always complain and grumble, it says a lot about who we are and what we are like.
But what does it mean to be wise? Or where does this wisdom come from?
And this is all the more important because words reveal our character, doesn’t it?
Words tell people who we are… and if we are in Christ—if we are Christians—it tells people who Christ is.
But if we have a new identity and character in Christ, then it ought to shape the way we use our words.
And because his identity and character shapes the way we speak, it’s important to know what that identity and character looks like.
There is actually a theme of wisdom in this letter to the Colossians—and wisdom always has to do with speech and with Christ.
So in , it says:
“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
Or in :
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom.”
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Or—the verse which is probably the most helpful—in , which talks about Christ:
“in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Col
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Wisdom is recognising who you are in Christ, and living and speaking accordingly.
Ghandi.
James.
The way we use our speech matters. Careless
Christian wisdom is recognising who you are in Christ, and speaking accordingly.
We have actually been given a new character and identity in Christ
So turn with me to , and try and recognise what this new identity look like in verses 1-4:
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
I love these verses because they always remind me of how good the gospel is. It’s saying that if Jesus is your Lord and Saviour, then there is a spiritual reality where you already have the privilege of being raised with Christ and seated with him at the right hand of God. And yet—verse 3—it’s a hidden reality. When we simply look at each other, we look no different to anyone else who is not in Christ. [QUICK] (Verse 4—there will be a time when the hidden reality will be a full reality, which is when Christ returns and we will appear with him in glory.) But until that happens, we set our minds on things above and it ought to shape the way we live and speak.
If Jesus is your Lord and Saviour, then there is a spiritual reality where you are already raised with Christ and seated with him at the right hand of God. And yet—verse 3—it’s a hidden reality. When we simply look at each other, we look no different to anyone else who is not in Christ. [QUICK] (And yet—verse 4—when Christ returns and appears, that is when we will appear with him in glory.) But until that happens, our new life in Christ means that we will set our minds on things above and it ought to shape the way we walk and the way we speak.
Our lives and speech ought be like mirrors on earth that reflect our heavenly identity in Christ to the world.
So in verses 7 and 8:
“In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
And there are ways which should characterise our speech. For example, have a look at verse 12:
“ Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
But even as Christians, both you and I know that we often fall back into the trap of finding our identity by comparing ourselves to one another. So we might say, “He’s so much ruder than I am, therefore I must be a better Christian;” or “She’s so much kinder than I am, therefore I’m not as good a Christian as she is.” That is not right.
One of the things this means for us is that we don’t just look to ourselves or to the world to think about Christian speech.
I have a lot of friends who studied Speech Pathology because I studied and worked at Cumberland College, which was the Health Science faculty of the University of Sydney. And if I wanted to learn about anything from stuttering to speech development, they would be the people I would go to. But Christian speech is as much a spiritual exercise as it is a physical exercise. It is a Christ-impelled exercise.
And so for that, we need look to Jesus and his word. Because it is only by understanding who Jesus is, that we understand who we are, and how we are to speak accordingly.
So have a look at :
Our Christian speech springs from our identity in Christ.
And so, very briefly, the rest of this chapter challenges us to put off characteristics that don’t belong to Christ; and characteristics of Christ-likeness that we we ought to cultivate.
Verses 7 and following:
And it doesn’t matter who you are in church.
Firstly, what this means that we don’t just look to ourselves to think about Christian speech; we look to Jesus and his word. We look to him to learn what Christian speech looks like—and who better to learn how to let our speech always be gracious, than the king of grace himself? An
“In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices and have put on the new self.”
Do you need to put away some of these things? As I was reflecting over my own experience growing up in church, some of the major issues had been things like grumbling and gossiping—these things don’t spring from our identity in Christ. We ought to put these things away.
And then there are characteristics which ought to shape our speech. Have a look at verse 12:
“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
And skipping down to verse 17:
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Speech that is spoken in the name of Jesus ought to be gracious, patient, and kind; full of thanks and full of joy. How can we help one another to cultivate these things in our speech?
Have a look at :
Now, if Christian speech springs from our new identity and character in Christ, then it also follows that Christian speech shapes other’s opinion of Christ and the gospel.
Also, I just want to highlight what a privilege it is to adorn the gospel
:
“In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
“[You] have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
And there are ways which ought to characterise our speech. For example, have a look at verse 12:
“ Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
What is it saying? It’s saying that it doesn’t matter where you came from, what you’ve done, or even what status you have—Christ is all that matters, and his worth lives in all of us. And so, we ought to speak and behave in such a way that reflects that reality.
Words matter because they reveal our identity and character, and our identity and character is found in Christ.
So if you were to reflect on what picture your words would
But both you and I know that even as Christians, we can tend to fall into the trap of finding our identity by comparing ourselves to one another. It’s really subtle, but we judge others and ourselves on the basis of our speech.
What I mean is that we can say, “He grumbles more than me, so I must be a better Christian than he is.”
Or, “I’m not as good an evangelist as she is—so I’m not as good a Christian as her.”
And since our words inevitably reveal our character, our words ought to reveal our new character in Christ.
We don’t have to do this! Because it is not the gospel and it is not what it means to be in Christ. We need to keep reminding ourselves of verses 10 and 11, that it is a privilege to use our speech to adorn the gospel.
“In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
“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.”
Have a look at verses 10 and 11:
Or in verse 12 to 13:
“[You] have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
What is it saying? God is work working in you to become more like him. You’re not aiming for perfection, you’re aiming for progress. And it doesn’t matter where you’re from, what you’ve done, or even what status you have, Christ is everything that matters, and his worth lies in all of us.
And it doesn’t matter where you’re from, what you’ve done, or even what status you have, Christ is everything that matters, and his worth lies in all of us.
Isn’t that so good? And isn’t it such a privilege to be in Christ? That’s a gospel that you’d want to boast about, isn’t it?
We need to keep reminding ourselves that it is a privilege to use our words to adorn the gospel, we have a new
Because, what happens when we don’t
But you might say again, “Why? Why can’t I just speak however I want?”
Our words reveal who Christ is and what he is like
And yet, until that happens, there is a change
But also, if we our identity is in Christ—if we are Christians—our words also tell people who Christ is and what he is like. And the reality is, our words often speak louder about the gospel than the words we use to proclaim it, right?
And often, it’s the character of our speech will often speak louder about the gospel than the words we proclaim.
And the character of our speech will often speak louder about the gospel than the words we use to proclaim to proclaim it.
What I mean is that the way we use our words speaks loudly about the gospel
Often, the character of our speech will speak louder about the gospel than the words we proclaim.
Words tell people who we are… and if we are in Christ—if we are Christians—it tells people who Christ is.
Ghandi, who was the leader of the Indian independence movement, said this:
“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
I think James puts it even more strongly:
“With [our tongues] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
James 3:
Ghandi, the leader of the Indian independence movement, said this:
“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
puts it even more strongly:
“With [our tongues] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
Can you see how our identity is now in Christ, there are ways of using words that do not belong to who we are any more.
So in verses 7 and 8:
“In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
What is being highlighted is that we are to proclaim the message of the Kingship of Jesus, our character must match the message.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
I hope you see why this is so important when it comes to evangelism. What I’m trying to highlight is: if we are going to be people who hold out the word of life, all it takes is one mis-said word or a thoughtless slip of the tongue, and we can undermine everything we are for, including the Christ we proclaim. Our words reveal who Christ is and he is like.
Because if we are going to be people who hold out the word of life, all it takes is one mis-said word or a thoughtless slip of the tongue, and we can undermine the Christ that we proclaim.
So how do you use your words?
Are you ever bitter with your words? Do you complain? Do you grumble?
Or do you tend to be careless in your words—often it’s the careless words we speak (or the jokes we make) that do damage, isn’t it?
You know how kids tend to pick up more than we realise?
In the same way, the incidental things we say actually matter because it shapes others’ opinion of the gospel.
If so, perhaps, you might want to be your prayer:
:3__PRAYER
Perhaps, you might want to be your prayer:
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”
Are your words patient, forgiving, kind, full of thanks and joy? How can you fan these things into flame?
But often it’s the careless words we speak (or the jokes we make) that do damage, isn’t it? We tend to use words to make ourselves look good; or to have things our way. Don’t do that.
Put away bitterness, complaining, and grumbling.
I want to stress the privilege that our words have in representing.
:
Rather, use your words to make Jesus look good. And, in fact, to make Jesus look excellent. Think about how you can fan into flame these characteristics of the Christ into your speech.
“Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other.”
What is it saying? It doesn’t matter whether you are a Greek or a Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised. It doesn’t matter what your ethnic background is, what job you do, or what position you hold within a church, Christ is who matters, and he lives in all of us. And so, speak and behave in such a way that reflects that reality.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Privilege of
You know how sometimes people have badges (whether it’s because of their work or for whatever reason) and how it’ll say their name and the entity they represent?
Well, imagine if you're wearing a badge right now and it says your name and, underneath it, it says that you represent Ezekiel Boyd. You are an ambassador for little Zeke. We would all think it’s kind of cute, right?
Now, imagine if, under your name, it says Fire and Rescue NSW. I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of respect for our firefighters.
Now, if you are a follower of Jesus, then your badge says Jesus: king of kings and Lord of Lords. You represent the light of the world, the second person of the trinity, the one through whom all things were created, and for whom all things exist.
It is a privilege to bear his name and his honour. And never lose sight of the privilege that our words have in representing him.
Rather, use your words to make Jesus look excellent.
Think
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
, it is actually our deepest privilege to speak and behave in such a way that reflects his worth in us.
And can I say that this shouldn’t be a burden, but a privilege?
Even as Christians, both you and I know that we often fall back into the trap of finding our identity by comparing ourselves to one another. So we might say, “He’s so much ruder than I am, therefore I must be a better Christian;” or “She’s so much kinder than I am, therefore I’m not as good a Christian as she is.” That is not right.
Have a look at :
“Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
Words tell people who we are… and if we are in Christ—if we are Christians—it tells people who Christ is.
Ghandi, who was the leader of the Indian independence movement, said this:
What is it saying? It’s saying that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, what you’ve done, or even what status you have—Christ is everything that matters, and his worth lives in all of us. And so, it is actually our deepest privilege to speak and behave in such a way that reflects his worth in us.
“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
James.
The way we use our speech matters. Careless
But you know what we’re like. We tend to excuse ourselves by saying.
If you think it’s
But is Christian speech just nice speech? What is the end goal of Christian speech?
Christian speech shapes other’s opinion of the gospel.
Christian speech shapes other’s opinion of Christ
Christian speech shapes other’s opinion of Christ
And we see this very clearly in the passage.
I think this is the very thing that Paul has in the back of his mind as he writes (in the passage that was read out earlier.)
Of all the things that Paul could’ve asked for—look at what he asks for in verse 3:
“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.”
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:
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—
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.
More often than not, when I’m sharing prayer points with someone it’s usually characterised by me asking for relief from suffering and hardship. But not Paul!
Paul’s prayer request is that there may be an opportunity to share the gospel; and to articulate it as clearly as possible; if as it costs him to the point of being in prison!
You know how kids tend to pick up more than we realise?
In the same way, the incidental things we say actually matter because it shapes others’ opinion of the gospel.
Have a look at verse 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.”
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.
What is he saying? Another way of putting it is, “Be wise in the way you live among those who are not Christians; make the most of every opportunity, and speak in such a way that you may be able to bear witness about your faith.”
Paul is highlighting that our words actually matter and, ultimately, words have the privilege of adorning the gospel; and to make Jesus and his gospel look excellent—it opens opportunities to engage favourably with non-believers.
Did you notice that Paul very subtly highlights that our words have the privilege of adorning the gospel; our words carry the privilege of being able to make Christ and his gospel look excellent. Or in other words, we have the privilege of representing the King of kings and the Lord of Lords.
I played a game of basketball last weekend with some college friends. And, as you can see, I’m not very tall but I can still shoot the ball into the hoop.
He’s only asking them to speak in such a way that only reflects their identity in Christ, and he assumes that as they do so, it would somehow lead to opportunities to share the gospel.
You see, he’s not saying, "Be nice Christians, because if you do, people will ask you about your faith and then you can tell them about Jesus.” He’s saying something more serious than that. He’s asking them to speak in such a way that only reflects their identity in Christ, but make your conversations salty, it would somehow lead to opportunities to share the gospel.
But my friend’s son, who was about 3… had no chance of throwing the ball into the hoop.
And his dad—who was more than 6 feet tall—came over, put a ball in his son’s hands, and lifted him up all the way to the hoops so he could have a go shooting it in—it was the cutest thing ever.
And in the same way, weak and sinful though we are, God allows us the privilege to make Jesus look excellent. Do you do that?
However, if we have the privilege of adorning the gospel, we likewise have the capacity to tarnish the gospel.
Now, if this is so, then the implication I want to draw upon, is this: if our end goal is always to share the gospel, how might this shape how we speak as Christians in everyday life? If Christians are to hold out the word of life, does it matter how we speak when we’re not sharing the gospel?
B
Now, we’ve been encouraged in previous weeks to be evangelists, the frontline of evangelism; And if our end goal is to share the gospel, then we want people to be able to trust us. how does this relate to our responsibility as Christians in everyday speech?
And I think, there is an overwhelming ‘yes’.
and if we are careless with our words; or if we gossip about our boss or grumble around our friends and family… all it takes is one mis-said word or a thoughtless slip of the tongue, and we can undermine everything we are for, including the Christ we proclaim.
What opportunities do you have to engage with outsiders?
Because words reveal our character. and if our words are not shaped towards Christ-likeness, all it takes is one mis-said word or a thoughtless slip of the tongue, and we can undermine everything we are for, including the Christ we proclaim.
My hunch is that for most of us, it’s the jokes that we make… or when we’re tired… that we’re careless with our words.
Because if we are going to be people who hold out the word of life, all it takes is one mis-said word or a thoughtless slip of the tongue, and we can undermine everything we are for, including the Christ we proclaim.
You know how kids tend to pick up more than we realise?
In the same way, the incidental things we say actually matter because it shapes others’ opinion of the gospel.
Ghandi, the leader of the Indian independence movement, when he was encouraged to accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour, said this:
“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
You see, how we speak actually matters because it shapes others’ opinion of the gospel—for better and for worse. And unlike Asian restaurants, the character of our speech must match the content of our speech.
“With [our tongues] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs?”
But I suspect for most of us, it’s actually when we’re tired and feeling weak that we’re careless with our words; or we gossip about our boss or grumble around our friends and family… at other times, we use words to make ourselves look good, when we make jokes at others’ expense.
If Paul assumes that speaking graciously, seasoned with salt, would lead to
Jesus said, in Matthew 12:36:
If we are going to be people who hold out the word of life, all it takes is one mis-said word or a thoughtless slip of the tongue, and we can undermine everything we are for, including the Christ we proclaim.
“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.”
All it takes is one mis-said word or a thoughtless slip of the tongue, and we can undermine everything we are for, including the Christ we proclaim.
The people around us
All it takes is one mis-said word or a thoughtless slip of the tongue, and we can undermine everything we are for, including the Christ we proclaim.
all it takes is one mis-said word or a thoughtless slip of the tongue, and we can undermine everything we are for, including the Christ we proclaim.
But you know how kids, even when they’re toddlers, tend to pick up more than we realise?
The incidental things we say actually matter because it shapes others’ opinion of the gospel.
So, the question I want to leave with you is: do your words make Christ look excellent?
Repeat: Do your words make Christ look excellent?
Are you ever bitter with your words? Do you complain? Do you grumble?
Or do you tend to be careless in your words—often it’s the careless words we speak (or the jokes we make) that do damage, isn’t it?
You know how kids tend to pick up more than we realise?
In the same way, the incidental things we say actually matter because it shapes others’ opinion of the gospel.
This is going to be harder with the radical individualism.
Christian speech shapes others’ opinion of the gospel, so use your words to make Christ look excellent.
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”
Some people join a sporting team
But often it’s the careless words we speak (or the jokes we make) that do damage, isn’t it? We tend to use words to make ourselves look good; or to have things our way. Don’t do that.
Rather, use your words to make Jesus look good. And, in fact, to make Jesus look excellent. Think about how you can fan into flame these characteristics of the Christ into your speech.
Work place.
Cherish your friendships with those who don’t yet know Jesus. Spend time with them. Pray for them.
Christian speech endures in prayer.
Not only does Paul instruct us to continue in prayer (as he does in verse 2),
Christian speech endures in prayer
Christian speech endures in prayer
Let me read it again one more time from verse 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—(pray) that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”
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.
If
One of the things that I have been most encouraged by since joining this church family—and I know I haven’t been here long—is prayer; and in particular, evangelism-shaped prayers.
I’m often packing chairs in the morning on Sundays, or else preparing for kids church, but on the morning that I was able to join the prayer meeting—WOW!—we were praying that God would give us opportunities to proclaim the gospel in the community, through Scripture, through Music Time, through the Moore College mission team.
joined the prayer meeting
And then, in the service, we prayed for one of the churches that we partner with. We were giving thanks for a youth group camp where teenagers who didn’t belong to a church got to hear about Jesus. And we prayed for one of their events, for family and friends to meet Jesus, and we prayed that there would be a faithful and clear presentation of the gospel and that those attending would trust in Jesus.
I was so encouraged by the prayers that God would give us opportunities to proclaim the gospel in the community, through Scripture, through Music Time.
How fantastic is that? Because if what God is doing in the world is drawing all people to himself through the gospel of his Son Jesus, then there’s nothing more exciting than to see than churches partnering and praying for the same thing.
And so, keep doing it—the challenge of God’s word is to “continue steadfastly in prayer.”
So I would like to suggest that you pray not just when we gather at church, but even privately on your own, just between you and God—that you would pray for the gospel would bear fruit and many souls would trust in Jesus.
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
And not just in church, but in our own private prayers as well—“Pray steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
I always grew up in a family of 3—my mother, my older sister and myself. My dad had always lived in Hong Kong from my earliest memory, so from my childhood, my experience of family is that I never really got to understand what true fatherhood is like.
And in my uni years I read a biography that was written by a man about his father. Both the father and son were pastors. And he praised his father for his genuine Christian character—his dad always carved out 40 minutes each day for prayer; and, as a child and to his mother’s annoyance, he would often stumble into his dad’s study and he would find him on his knees praying. He always spoke kindly to people. He would rather avoid controversy than to stir things up. What I really appreciated about this man (through his son’s biography) was his genuine Christian character than matched the gospel he boasted in.
Introduction
Introduction
As it makes me wonder whether one day, if I have the blessing of children, my own children might be able to boast that my life and speech matched the gospel that I would boast in. Not by any means as a perfect man, but as forgiven man wanting to here the master’s voice say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Well, what do you think?
Opening illustration—soldiers, missionaries being prepped
Does the character of your speech match the content of your speech?
What does it look like to be wise with our words?
If we are to be disciple-making disciples of Jesus, if every disciple of Jesus is an evangelist—how shall we ought to speak?
If we are all evangelists who hold out the word of life to the world, how are we to speak and how are we to live? That’s what we’re looking at these two weeks.
Today, in particular,
In short, God’s word challenges us to use words in such a way to make the gospel of Jesus look excellent. Or in other words, God’s word challenges us that the character (or the quality) of our speech must match the message of our speech.
3 principles
Beware the power of words
Our words have the privilege of being heard by God
Christian speech springs from our identity in Christ
One of the popular quotes in film history is from the movie Spider-Man:
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that words have the immense power for good as well as destruction.
The teacher of Proverbs talks about the tongue like this:
It always seeks for opportunities to proclaim Jesus.
Christian speech shapes others’ opinion of the gospel
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits”
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
What is it saying? It’s saying that you will receive good or evil according to the way you use your speech.
For good
For good
And I wonder whether your life and speech might be able to do the same.
You see, on the one hand, God created the world by simply speaking it into reality; words have the power to raise morale and to inspire people; to impart knowledge and wisdom; to comfort one another in times of grief and suffering; to express love and affection and commitment. And, I think, most importantly, words have the power to move people from death to life as they hear and respond to the good news about the kingship of Jesus.
It is extraordinary how powerful words can be for good.
For destruction
For destruction
And yet, on the other hand, words can be phenomenally destructive, can’t it? It has power to debilitate people; to cause doubt and despair; to burn bridges between friends and family; to twist people into doing things or believing things that are not right. In fact, words can be so powerful that it can even ruin their speaker—and I’m not just speaking about those who are always saying one thing and doing another, and everything that comes out of their mouth is always negative. Sometimes it’s the careless words that we let slip; where all it takes is one mis-said word, or a word taken the wrong way, to undermine our name and everything we stand for—even to undermine the gospel.
I obviously don’t have children yet.
Words can be powerful for destruction.
A need to be handled with care
A need to be handled with care
Think of kids. You know
the scary thing about careless words is that one mis-said word or a thoughtless slip of the tongue can undermine your reputation or everything that you stand for.
Words can be powerful for destruction.
The teacher of Proverbs talks about the tongue like this:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits”
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
And what God’s word continually upholds
What is it saying? It’s saying that you will receive good or evil according to the way you use your speech. And at the same time, speech can be precious for the life that it brings, yet it can also be evil for the death it causes.
When I first got my license, my dad decided to have a father-son talk with me. And so he took me for a drive, and he said, “Son, just always remember that
Another way of putting it is:
Or another way of putting it—words are like a sharp knife. It is simple enough to wield, thoroughly effective for however you choose to use it, yet profoundly dangerous to yourself and others if you’re not careful.
Or another way of putting it—words are like a sharp knife. It is simple enough to wield, thoroughly effective for however you choose to use it, yet profoundly dangerous to yourself and others if you’re not careful.
Pause.
Respect the power of words
Respect the power of words
For shaping other’s opinion of the gospel
For shaping other’s opinion of the gospel
So if words are so powerful, how should we be wise with our words? I have two things I want to highlight.
As we respect the sharpness of knives in the kitchen—we ought to respect the power of words. We ought to have a high view of its power to do good as much as to do harm. And I think one of the ways to do this is to recognise that there is a time to speak and a time to hold our tongues. says this:
And especially in a society where we tend to have a low view of words and therefore many words,
That is why they need to be handled with care.
Paul the apostle responds to this
The unit that we currently live in has these two benches on either side of the kitchen. And every time I need to move the knife from one bench to the other, I always get this adrenaline kick to make sure that I hurt any one.
Rather, we ought to recognise its power to give hope and life to people. We ought to recognise the foolishness of careless words, of gossiping about our neighbours, or of grumbling about our bosses. We ought to recognise a time to speak and a time to hold our tongues.
As we recognise its power to give new life to people in the gospel of Jesus, we also ought to recognise the foolishness of careless words, of gossiping about our neighbours, or of grumbling about our bosses.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
says this:
The first is to recognise that there is a time to speak and a time to hold our tongues. says this:
The first is simply to “think before you speak.” puts it like this:
puts it like this:
A need to be handled with care
A need to be handled with care
Followers of Jesus are to have a high view of words. Words are precious because they bring life. and not for evil. They should be used to
“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”
And just as we always have an awareness of the sharpness of knives in the kitchen, we ought to have a high regard for the power of words. Words are precious.
3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
One mis-said word can undermine everything that you are for; one thoughtless slip of the tongue—a single lie, or a single occasion of gossip, or grumbling, or letting secrets slip—can betray what you are for.
I obviously don’t have children yet.
the scary thing about careless words is that one mis-said word or a thoughtless slip of the tongue can undermine your reputation or everything that you stand for.
Listen to how James puts it:
It means we don’t want to have a habit of careless words, gossiping about people, or grumbling about our boss in our speech.
“The tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” –
Wow! This is an intense image.
Or, heed the wisdom in this proverb:
“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” –
If our goal is always to share the gospel, people to need to trust us.
Is what I’m going to say necessary? Am I saying it to build others up or am I saying it to build myself up?
Secondly, and building off the first, we ought to recognise that our words matter because it shapes others’ opinion of the gospel.
Repeat: Our words matter because it shapes other’s opinion of the gospel.
As Christians, we bear the name of Jesus.
As we recognise its power to give new life to people in the gospel of Jesus, we also ought to recognise the foolishness of careless words, of gossiping about our neighbours, or of grumbling about our bosses.
Words are powerful, so think before you speak.
And so, if we are to be people who hold out the word of life, we must recognise the power of words.
If our goal is always to share the gospel, people to need to trust us.
Think before you speak.
17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The character of our speech must match the message of our speech because words are powerful.
Secondly, and building off the first, is that we ought to recognise that our words shape others’ opinion of the gospel.
Repeat: Our words matter because it shapes others’ opinion of the gospel.
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.”
The character of our words must match the message of our words because words are powerful.
6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Another reason watch the character of our words is that words reveal our character.
Words reveal our (new) character
Words reveal our (new) character
It endures in prayer and shaped by mission.
Christian speech endures in prayer
Gift something new that you want to show the world.
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
But the emphasis of the new testament is that we have been given new hearts.
In the same way, words reveal our character.
But the emphasis of the new testament is that we have been given new hearts.
Colossians describes our identity as having died, and we have a new life. And this shapes the say we speak.
Words matter because it shapes people’s opinion
Colossians 3:
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
THis character is one where we want to make Jesus look wexcellent.
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” –
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
And so, if we are to be people who hold out the word of life, we must recognise the power of words.
If our goal is always to share the gospel, people to need to trust us.
But where does Paul’s confidence come from? If our tongues our a “restless evil” and “full of deadly poison”?
Do your words reveal your new character in Christ?
Prayer is a privilege
Prayer is a privilege
One of the ways to respond rightly to mission is to pray.
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.
Of all the things that Paul could’ve asked for—look at what he asks for in verse 3:
And so, there are ways of speaking that don’t belong to us anymore. Have a look at verses 7 and 8:
God:
opens doors to the message of Christ
brings clarity to the words spoken in evangelism
is the one we thank
Conclusion
Conclusion
“In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
“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.”
More often than not, when I’m sharing prayer points with someone it’s usually characterised by me asking for relief from suffering and hardship. But not Paul!
Paul’s prayer request is that there may be an opportunity to share the gospel; and to articulate it as clearly as possible; if as it costs him to the point of being in prison!
And there are ways which should characterise our speech. For example, have a look at verse 12:
“In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
“ Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
I always grew up going to Chinese churches and one of the things that plagued
This is highly practical, isn’t it? Do you grumble? Does your speech tend to be bitter? If it is, put these things away.
And there are characteristics which ought to shape our speech. For example, have a look at verse 12:
“ Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
Christian speech ought to be gracious, patient, and kind; full of thanks and joy. Cultivate these things in your speech.
But even as Christians, both you and I know that we often fall back into the trap of finding our identity by comparing ourselves to one another. So we might say, “He’s so much ruder than I am, therefore I must be a better Christian;” or “She’s so much kinder than I am, therefore I’m not as good a Christian as she is.” That is not right.
Have a look at :
But both you and I know that even as Christians, we can tend to fall into the trap of finding our identity by comparing ourselves to one another. It’s really subtle, but we judge others and ourselves on the basis of our speech.
“Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
What I mean is that we can say, “He grumbles more than me, so I must be a better Christian than he is.”
What is it saying? It’s saying that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, what you’ve done, or even what status you have—Christ is everything that matters, and his worth lives in all of us. And so, it is actually our deepest privilege to speak and behave in such a way that reflects his worth in us.
Or, “I’m not as good an evangelist as she is—so I’m not as good a Christian as her.”
We don’t have to do this! Because it is not the gospel and it is not what it means to be in Christ. We need to keep reminding ourselves of verses 10 and 11, that it is a privilege to use our speech to adorn the gospel.
Have a look at verses 10 and 11:
“[You] have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
What is it saying? God is work working in you to become more like him. You’re not aiming for perfection, you’re aiming for progress. And it doesn’t matter where you’re from, what you’ve done, or even what status you have, Christ is everything that matters, and his worth lies in all of us already.
Isn’t that so good? And isn’t it such a privilege to be in Christ? That’s a gospel that you’d want to boast about, isn’t it?
We need to keep reminding ourselves that it is a privilege to use our words to adorn the gospel, we have a new
But you might say again, “Why? Why can’t I just speak however I want?”
Our words reveal who Christ is and what he is like
And so,
Now, knowing the ‘why’ of an action or instruction really helps us to appreciate it more, doesn’t it?
Ghandi, the leader of the Indian independence movement, said this:
One of our friends—when she was dating, her now-husband would often say to her, “I love you,” to which she’ll always reply, “But why?”
“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
His impression of Christianity was marred by Christians.
Knowing the ‘why’ helps us to better understand and appreciate something.
puts it even more strongly:
“With [our tongues] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
So, as we read from , what is the reason that Paul gives that undergirds verses 5 and 6?
“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.”
I hope you see why this is so important when it comes to evangelism. What I’m trying to highlight is: if we are going to be people who hold out the word of life, all it takes is one mis-said word or a thoughtless slip of the tongue, and we can undermine everything we are for, including the Christ we proclaim. Our words reveal who Christ is and he is like.
Paul actually gives us the reason why back in chapter 3, and it talks about our new identity and character in Christ.
So how do you use your words?
Are you ever bitter with your words? Do you complain? Do you grumble?
Or do you tend to be careless in your words—often it’s the careless words we speak (or the jokes we make) that do damage, isn’t it?
You know how kids tend to pick up more than we realise?
In the same way, the incidental things we say actually matter because it shapes others’ opinion of the gospel.
If so, perhaps, you might want to be your prayer:
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”
But often it’s the careless words we speak (or the jokes we make) that do damage, isn’t it? We tend to use words to make ourselves look good; or to have things our way. Don’t do that.
Rather, use your words to make Jesus look good. And, in fact, to make Jesus look excellent. Think about how you can fan into flame these characteristics of the Christ into your speech.