Opportunity with Outsiders Colossians 4:5-6

Colossians 4:5-6 5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Outsider – one who does not believe in Christ

Conduct Yourselves with Wisdom Do the following rather than avoiding outsiders: Show outstanding conduct (Matt. 5:16; 1Pet. 2:12). Exemplify the standard you profess (Rom. 2:24; 1Tim. 5:14). Make the most of the opportunity, redeem the time Encounters with outsiders are valuable. Seize a chance to preach Christ to those who have not heard. Seize a chance to defend Christ to those who reject Him (1Pet. 3:15).

Let Your Speech Always Be with Grace “With grace” – with a favorable, kindly spirit Ephesians 4:29 – Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. “Seasoned with salt” – palatable, pleasant, preserving (Matt. 5:13) Ephesians 4:31 – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Ephesians 5:4 – …and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

Let Your Speech Always Be with Grace 2Timothy 2:24-26 – 24The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

Know How Your Should Respond to Each Person Every person is different. Example: The apostle Paul Taught Jews with the Scriptures (Acts 17:1-3) Taught Gentiles without the Scriptures (Acts 17:16-31) Corrected disciples who were in error (Acts 19:1-7) The only way to know what is needed by each person is by seizing the opportunity and communicating with that person.

Consider the Lord’s Example His life was blameless. He did not recoil from sinners, but He did make His disapproval of their sin clearly known. He spoke with boldness but also with grace. He made the most of every opportunity with “outsiders.” Colossians 4:5-6 5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.