Sermons in Rosedale Network of Churches
Continuing a multi-year theme of hearing how God is at work in our churches, the 2025 Feature Beacon articles focus on preaching within Rosedale Network of Churches. Each article features a recent sermon by a Rosedale Network pastor. May we all be encouraged by the faithful teaching of God’s Word.
You’ve just been given the news—your days on this earth are numbered, and soon you will be seeing Jesus face-to-face. You sit down with pen in hand to leave a final note to your loved ones. What would you say? This is the situation in which Paul finds himself. A prisoner in Rome, he probably suspects that he doesn’t have long to live, and in Colossians 4, we read his final words to believers whom he has never met! In these words, we discover some of his deepest longings for his spiritual children.
If we don’t seek God for wisdom to respond in the right way toward those who are not “like us,” how will we ever overcome our fear and suspicion and be able to engage with people from different backgrounds and cultures?
Paul’s first words in verse 2 are to “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2 ESV). Pray steadfastly with watchfulness and with thanksgiving. In other words, let your life be centered around prayer, which does not waver! This echoes the heart of Jesus who once told a parable to teach His disciples “that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). While you are praying steadfastly, be watchful because you have an adversary who understands too well that the steady prayers of believers will wreak havoc to his plans! And remember to be thankful. How often are my prayers whiny “gimme” prayers, instead of choosing to thank and praise God for who He is and what He has done?
Also on Paul’s heart is the desire for the Colossians to “walk in wisdom toward outsiders” (Col. 4:5a). My goodness, is this needed today? In these days of partisan rhetoric, fear, and suspicion, even the church can be unsure of how to respond to “outsiders.” Whether Paul is talking about unbelievers or about those who are from outside our normal social circles, the challenge is the same. We are in desperate need of wisdom to know how to walk with these folks! Why? Because at stake is the very commission of Jesus to make disciples of all nations. If we don’t seek God for wisdom to respond in the right way toward those who are not “like us,” how will we ever overcome our fear and suspicion and be able to engage with people from different backgrounds and cultures? Included with this instruction to walk in wisdom are Paul’s words, “making the best use of the time” (Col. 4:5b). Do I use my time in a way that is me-focused or others-focused?
And finally, Paul tells his loved ones, “Let your speech be gracious, always seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6a). This is such a needed reminder as we engage, not only with the world around us, but as we speak to each other in church! Just as salt brings life and flavor to food, so should our words bring life and flavor to every conversation we are in. We can probably think of people who always seem to have the right thing to say. They seem to speak directly from the heart of God, and we come away feeling encouraged, strengthened, and like we have been brought closer to Jesus, the Giver of life. I am challenged as I read Paul’s words. Would people describe my words like this? Would they say I speak graciously and know how to flavor my words just right? Salt also has healing and purifying properties. How many relationships in the church could be healed if we understood better how to salt our words in just the right way?
Do you hear the Holy Spirit’s message flowing through Paul’s pen to these young believers? Does your heart connect with God’s heart expressed here? With the help of the Spirit, I want my life to be defined by prayer. I want to walk in wisdom towards those who enter my world, and I want my speech to be gracious and life-giving. May it be so.
Photo credit: Heidi Hertzler
