Colossians 4:6

- today, we're going to move into verse 6
- in this verse, Paul comes back around to the topic of our speech.
- remember, we said before that all of these verses are in the general
context of the way we use our tongues.

- of course the transition between verses 5 and 6 is that, the way we
walk wisely before those who don't know the Lord, and the way we make
the most of opportunities...is often in the way we speak.

- verse 6 tells us some very important things about this:
- READ

I. Your Speech Should Be Gracious

- "Let your speech be always with grace"

- let's talk about:
A. What that means

- INPUT - what words or phrases come to mind when you think about
someone speaking graciously, or speaking with grace?

- saying what is spiritual, wholesome, fitting, kind,
sensitive, purposeful, complementary, gentle,
truthful, loving, and thoughtful.

- cf. Eph. 4:29 - let no corrupt communication...

- one writer defined this concept as "the language that
results from the operation of God's grace in the
heart."

- let me ask you this morning -- how does the way you
communicate measure up to this phrase?

- now let's add something to this:
- INPUT - how often are we to do this? (always)
- any loopholes?
- any possible excuses?
- any reasons not to?

- INPUT - So we're to do this always. When is this hardest
to do? What are the kind of times in which we
really struggle with speaking graciously?

- INPUT - With whom is this hardest to do?

(Auto-works story)

B. Who that’s like

- our Lord - Luke 4:22

- INPUT - what about the person here this morning who would say,
- "I just can't change in this area--people are going to have
to accept me the way I am" (please tie that together with
Luke 4:22)

- that doesn't square with Romans 8:29 -- we must be changing to
become more like Christ.

- INPUT - how does this concept of "always speaking graciously" fit into
the theme of the book? (a person would have to view Christ as
"preeminent" in order to be willing to put all the work
necessary change in this area)

- cf. James 3:2-10

II. Your Speech Should Always Have A Positive Effect On Others

"seasoned with salt"

- this metaphor can be taken different ways:

A. Stings when rubbed in a wound

Prov. 27:6 - faithful are the wounds of a friend

- most of us have gotten salt in a wound at one time or another--
we know how that can sting.

- sometimes our words have to be directed at a way someone else
needs to change.
- of course that’s always done in love (Eph. 4:15), but
there still might be some sting to it because of the
nature of the conversation.
- but that’s part of what it means to speak words that
are seasoned with salt.

B. Prevents corruption

- of course, in Bible times before modern means of
refrigeration, salt was well known as a preservative.
- they used salt to prevent the corruption of their food.

- undoubtedly, that’s part of what the Colossians would have
thought of when they heard this metaphor applied to their
speech.

- we are to speak in a way that has a positive spiritual effect
on others.
- unfortunately, many people use their tongues for just the
opposite.
- they tear down other people's faith
- tear down other people's marriages
- their words make it harder for that person to live
for God.

INPUT - Let me ask you this - what kind of speech do you hear around the
workplace?

- What questions do you think we should ask next?
1) Is yours different?

2) Are you letting theirs rub off on you?

- Paul wanted these folks to ask themselves -- does the way you
talk to others make it easier for them to come to Christ, and
easier for them to grow?

- another thing we could say about salt is that:

C. Has a purifying effect

- one writer said of this phrase, "our speech should rescue
conversation from the filth that so often engulfs it."

- the overall point is that our speech is to be seasoned with salt--it is
to have a positive spiritual effect on others.
- you may want to think about the various conversations you've had this
week.
- some undoubtedly were with people you know well, and whom you talk
to often.
- others may have been conversations with practical strangers.

- a good question to ask is -- What effect did your speech have on
them?
- did it have a positive spiritual effect?

- the verse also says:

III. Your Speech Should Be Timely

- we should know how to respond to each person.

- that’s part of the challenge--what is appropriate with one person in
one situation may not be appropriate with someone else.
- cf. I Thes. 5:14

- Prov. 15:23, 25:11

- I Peter 3:15

- we're talking about learning to speak the right word at the right
time to the right person.

Conclusion

- this is surely a subject that shows whether we want Jesus Christ to
be preeminent. (cf. Col. 1:18)

- contrast Psalm 12:4 (speech of ungodly) with Psalm 141:3 (speech of
godly)