Colossians 4:3-6

Home group Questions Read Colossians 4:2-6. From the passage or from the sermon, was there anything that stood out to you—anything you observed, anything that challenged or encouraged you? Before we engage in any church program or evangelistic outreach, why is it so important to be devoted to prayer? What do these passages tell us? Colossians 2:19 (Paul’s explanation of the problem with the false teachers)Acts 16:14John 6:44Matthew 9:35-38Why do you think Paul talks first about our walk around outsiders before he talks about how we speak to outsiders? (See Matthew 5:16; Titus 2:7-8). Why should it be of greatest importance for a believer to live a life consistent with the values and standards of our ‘new life’ in Christ, i.e. living as representatives of Jesus? What does inconsistency in behaviour reveal about a Christian’s belief, and what might it communicate to those who observe it?Why is it so important that we not only live a Christlike life but also make the best use of our time by speaking the gospel truth? What do Romans 1:16 and 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 tell us about how people are brought to salvation, and how is that encouraging for us?Why do many Christians find evangelism difficult? What do you think would help you or other Christians become braver and more urgent in evangelism? Do you think a deeper love for Jesus makes evangelism more natural? Why or why not?Consider this quote from Jeff Vanderstelt regarding a one-size-fits-all approach to evangelism: “We go about ‘preaching’ gospel snippets, thinking we’re speaking the gospel to others, but what people hear is not good news. Oh, it might contain gospel elements, but they don’t hear it as good news because they are not hearing the truths of Jesus applied to their lives and situations. What they get is just a set of phrases and propositions that don’t make much sense to their context, culture, or language.” How does this relate to Colossians 4:6? How might a deeper knowledge and understanding of how Jesus is the answer to all human needs and cravings for satisfaction help us in our evangelism?