Read Colossians 3:15-17
If your non-believing family, friends and acquaintances were to see you consistently living out today’s verses, I suspect that they’d be challenged to worship Jesus Christ. When non-believers see the peace of Christ overflowing from our hearts they see their own anxiety and want what we have. Doors for Gospel sharing open. When they see the peace and love in the Christian community they are challenged to seek out what we have. When they experience our consistent thankfulness (to God and to other people) even in the face of antagonism and chaos, they will be desperate to find out what our secret really is. And of course as the Word of God dwells richly in us and overflows into our daily lives, we will have a powerful combination that magnetically draws others to Christ Jesus.
When the peace of Christ dwells in our hearts we become peace-mongers not war-mongers. We seek to forgive and to love rather than to seek revenge and to payback others who have wronged us. As a body of believers we have been called to peace. The world has seen Christian in-fighting and disputes for centuries. When it sees peace it will be severely challenged. Many will want to find the source of our peace. Doors for sharing will open up.
When the world sees thankfulness it will again be challenged. In our anxiety driven world nit-picking, arguing, hatred and even abuse rule the roost. Thankfulness is only given by people when they are personally blessed or served. The Christian who is thankful in all situations will stand out like the proverbial pork chop in a synagogue. Again, people will be challenged and confronted.
As you cultivate the Word of Christ in your heart by memorising Scripture verses, by singing such verses and by developing an attitude of gratitude in your heart, the world will be challenged. The world is used to seeing Christians live in a way contrary to the faith they profess. They are used to Christians swearing and cursing and even slandering the God we profess to worship. But when they see and hear Christ in us they again will be challenged and confronted with the living Lord Jesus Christ.
As people are challenged by the Word and by your witness, some will inevitably be drawn to come to church. As they see and experience Colossians 3:15-17 they will be blown away. Imagine what goes through their mind as they see a church where the Word of God dwells richly, where people come to teach one another, where songs are sung to God with gusto, flowing outwards from the gratitude to God in each heart. That person will no doubt be compelled to bow the knee and to confess Jesus as their own Lord and Saviour.
The Word of Christ and the witness of our lives form a powerful incentive for people to check out Jesus’ claims and ultimately to worship Him as Saviour and Lord.
Prayer:
Using today’s Bible reading and notes spend time praying.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
à Ask the Lord to bring the peace of Christ to the brothers/sisters in your church. Pray particularly for people who are going through a tough situation at present.
à Pray that the Word of God would dwell richly among your congregation as you gather this Lord’s day for worship and adoration.
People in our world aren’t used to thankfulness. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude in your own heart and people will see more of Christ in you.
1. How can you cultivate an attitude of gratitude in your own heart?
2. How can you cultivate an attitude of gratitude in your church?
3. List the items of Col 3:15-17 that your church does well and the ones that need work. How can you improve on these?
Intro: Even though people often say things without thinking and excuse themselves by saying ‘I didn’t really mean that’, God tells us that what comes out of our mouth is a reflection of what is in our heart.
Discuss: a time when you said something you didn’t mean to? What happened? How was the situation resolved? Looking back, can you see how your words reflected your heart?
Read Mark 7:21-22
Where do evil things come from in a person?
What kinds of things does Jesus mention?
How can we grow a good heart?
Pray together that God would be growing a good heart in all of us.
Intro: Even though people often say things without thinking and excuse themselves by saying ‘I didn’t really mean that’, God tells us that what comes out of our mouth is a reflection of what is in our heart.
Discuss: a time when you said something you didn’t mean to? What happened? How was the situation resolved? Looking back, can you see how your words reflected your heart?
Read Mark 7:21-22
Where do evil things come from in a person?
What kinds of things does Jesus mention?
How can we grow a good heart?
Pray together that God would be growing a good heart in all of us.
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