FEBRUARY 17, 2008 – “WHO ARE YOU INFLUENCING?”
TEXT: Colossians 4:5-6
I.
(v.5) INFLUENCE
OTHERS FOR CHRIST BY YOUR ACTIONS
(I Corinthians 9:22) “To
the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so
that by all possible means I might save some.”
(Herbert Hoover) "Send your children to Sunday School so
they won't end up in reform school!"
(Matthew 28:19-20) “Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age.”
(C.T. Studd) “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”
(Pastor Robert Lewis) “The real gospel is two-sided – it’s
truth and proof!”
(II Corinthians 3:2-3) “You
yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You
show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not
with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on
tablets of human hearts.”
(I Thessalonians 4:11-12) “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business
and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may
win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
(I Timothy 3:7) “He must
also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into
disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”
(Ephesians 5:8-9) “For
you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of
light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and
truth)…”
(James 1:5) “If any of
you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without
finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
(I Thessalonians 1:7-8a) “And
so you became a model to all the believers in
(Ephesians 5:1-2) “Be
imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love,
just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God.”
(Titus 2:7-8) “In
everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show
integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so
that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say
about us.”
(I Corinthians 10:32) “Do
not cause anyone to stumble…”
(II Peter 1:12) “Live
such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong,
they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
(Philippians 2:14-15) “Do
everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and
pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in
which you shine like stars in the universe.”
(Matthew 5:16) “In the
same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds
and praise your Father in heaven.”
(II Peter 3:11) “Since
everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?
You ought to live holy and godly lives…”
(Titus 2:9-10) “Teach
slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not
to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be
fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our
Savior attractive.”
II.
(v.5) INFLUENCE
OTHERS FOR CHRIST BY MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY
(Colossians 4:5) “…Make
the most of every opportunity.”
(Galatians 6:10) “Therefore,
as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
(Ephesians 5:15-16) “Be
very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most
of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
(John 9:4) “As long as
it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one
can work.”
III.
(v.6) INFLUENCE
OTHERS FOR CHRIST BY CHOOSING AND USING YOUR WORDS WISELY
(Colossians 4:6) “Let
your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may
know how to answer everyone.”
(James 3:10) “Out of the same mouth come praise and
cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”
(Proverbs 12:18) “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but
the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
(Ephesians 4:29) “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out
of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to
their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
(Matthew 10:19-20) “But when they arrest you, do not worry
about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through
you.”
(Colossians 3:8) “But now you must rid yourselves of all such
things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your
lips.”
(Colossians 3:12) “Therefore, as God’s chosen people holy and
dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentlenesss and patience.”
(Colossians 3:17) “And
whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
(Colossians 4:6) “Let your
conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know
how to answer everyone.”
(Matthew 5:13) “You are the salt of the earth. But if the
salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good
for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”
(Colossians
4:6) “…so that you may know how to answer
everyone.”
(Colossians 1:9-10) “For this reason, since the day we heard
about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with
the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And
we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may
please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the
knowledge of God.”
(I Peter 3:15) “But in your hearts set apart Christ as
Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”