Christ-Centered Mission - Colossians 4:2-6
Christ must be the center of every aspect of our lives and church. Throughout our series in Colossians, we have considered Christ-centered prayer, the supremacy of Christ, Christ-centered suffering, Christ-centered growth, Christ-centered family, Christ-centered work, and most recently, Christ-centered mission.
What exactly does it mean to have Christ at the center of our mission? When we consider Colossians 2:6-7 and 4:2-6, we see that a Christ-centered mission has four aspects:
We must receive Christ by faith
We must walk in Christ
We must pray for opportunities to share the gospel
We must share the good news that we have received
A Christ-centered mission is lived out by Christ-centered people through the power of God’s Spirit. If we have received Christ by faith, our lives should revolve around him. We should daily delight in the gospel and be transformed by it. The gospel transforms us to love and care for others because of Christ’s love for us. The gospel compels us to use our time wisely and be more intentional in our relationships. As we seek to love others and use our time wisely, we must also work to share the gospel with others.
Have you ever been discouraged when sharing the gospel? Have you ever felt like you missed your opportunity or blown your presentation? We can be encouraged by Paul’s request for prayer as he attempted to share the gospel. Paul humbly asked the Colossians to pray for opportunities to share the gospel and for clarity as he declared it. Paul knew that God advances the gospel through the prayers of his people. May we follow Paul’s example by humbling ourselves to pray and ask for prayer as we seek to declare the gospel.
Resources:
Before You Share Your Faith: Five Ways To Be Evangelism Ready - Matt Smethurst
Lord, Help Me See Their Destiny: Four Prayers for Personal Evangelism- Garrett Kell
3 Circles Evangelism Training- North American Missions Board (NAMB)
Reflection Questions:
How is the gospel transforming you?
Who’s your one? Who is one person you are seeking to share the gospel with in your spheres of influence?
What is one thing you can do this week to be more intentional about sharing the gospel?