Jesus is Greater Series: Everyday Disciple-Making | Colossians 4:2-6

Sermon Guide for April 19, 2026

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How to Use This Guide:

These guides are designed to help you engage more deeply with my weekly sermon. Use this guide to prepare your heart to receive God's Word before worship, or to reflect on God's Word the week following worship.

Parents, use the information in this guide (especially in the "Family Practice" section) to have meaningful conversations with your kids that nurture their faith and help them grow in God’s love.

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Big Idea (Colossians 4:2-6)

A disciple of Jesus not only grows personally but also helps others follow Christ. God uses ordinary believers to make more disciples through two simple practices: prayer and wise speech.

Main Points

1. Pray for Open Doors (vv. 2–4)

• Paul calls believers to be devoted to prayer. He specifically urges them to pray for opportunities for the gospel to be shared.

• Even as Paul sits in prison, he does not focus on asking people to pray for his escape. He asks them to pray for open doors for the message of Jesus to spread. This shows his priority: he cares more about gospel impact than personal comfort.

• Prayer is not just for making our lives easier; it is for God's mission. When we pray, God often opens doors in conversations, relationships, and everyday moments.

Key Insight: If you begin praying daily for opportunities to share Jesus, you will start to notice them.

2. Speak with Wisdom and Grace (vv. 5–6)

• When God opens doors, we must be ready to speak. Two things matter when it comes to sharing our faith: What we say, and how we say it.

• Paul emphasizes wisdom, grace, and speech that is “seasoned with salt.” This means knowing the right moment, speaking with kindness, and communicating in a way that is engaging and thoughtful.

• This does not mean avoiding hard truths. It means speaking truth in a way that fits the person and the moment.

Personal Reflection and Practice

Questions:

• When you think of what it means to be a disciple, do you naturally think about making disciples? Why or why not?

• How often do you intentionally pray for opportunities to share your faith?

• Are you more likely to miss opportunities because of fear, or because you are not paying attention?

• How would you describe the tone of your spiritual conversations: Harsh? Passive? Gracious and engaging?

Practices for This Week:

1. Each morning, ask God to open at least one door to share Jesus.

2. Pay attention to signs of people's spiritual thirst, such as stress, guilt, struggle, or longing.

3. When a moment comes, take a step. Ask a question, share your story, or offer to pray.

Family Practice

Read Together: Colossians 4:2–6

Discuss:

• What does it mean to make disciples?

• What are some ways people around us show they are hurting?

• How can we talk about Jesus in a way that fits the person and the moment?

Do This Together:

• As a family, pray each day for one opportunity to encourage or talk to someone about Jesus.

• At dinner, share if anyone noticed an open door that day.

• Practice simple phrases like:

  • “Can I pray for you?”

  • “That reminds me of something Jesus taught…”

Closing Thought

God does not call us to complicated strategies, but to faithful obedience. Pray for open doors. Watch for spiritual thirst. Point people to Jesus.