Finishing Well: The Call to Be a Witness

This week, we wrapped up our long-running series, Faith Under Pressure, with a powerful deep dive into the closing words of Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Reading from Colossians 4:5-6 and verse 18, we see a dramatic shift from the priority of prayer to the practicality of personal witnessing.

Paul isn’t looking at this from a comfortable distance; he’s writing straight from a prison cell, literally wearing chains. Yet, notice what he doesn’t do. He doesn’t beg for comfort, ease, or even his physical freedom. Instead, his entire focus is on macro-level witnessing—making sure the gospel shines brightly to those on the outside. As followers of Christ, our lives aren’t meant to be lived for ourselves. Everything we do should point “outsiders”—those who don’t yet know Jesus—straight to the family of God.

Behavioral Witness: Two Simple Steps

Our witness can be broken down into two distinct tools of communication: behavioral and verbal. First, let’s look at the behavioral aspect. Paul instructs us to “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders”. Wisdom isn’t just a collection of Bible trivia; it’s the ability to properly apply the knowledge of God’s Word to our everyday lives.

The core challenge for all of us is simple: our walk must correspond with our talk. It should never be said of an ONE Church family member that we have a “high talk but a low walk”. Think about it—walking isn’t overly complicated. Unless there are special needs involved, walking consists of repeating two basic steps over and over: left, right, left, right. In the Christian life, those two steps are your attitude and your action. Step after step, your inner attitude must align with your outward action to reflect the character of Jesus.

When we mess up—and we all do—it’s our responsibility to own it. Pastor Joel shared a raw story about losing his cool during a chaotic school dismissal, only to have the Holy Spirit convict him to go back and sincerely apologize. When that same person ended up sitting in the church seats a couple of weeks later, that humble apology preserved the integrity of the gospel. We have to be careful never to act like a jerk or do anything that makes it harder for someone else to receive the good news.

Redeeming the Time

Life is short. We were starkly reminded of this truth recently with the heavy heartbreak at Pendleton High School. Life is a vapor, and death is no respecter of age. This is exactly why Paul tells us to make the best use of our time.

Wasting time insults the Giver of time. We all get the exact same 24 hours every day, and how we choose to invest those hours is our responsibility. The Christian life isn’t about sitting comfortably in padded, air-conditioned chairs waiting for a perfect retirement plan. We gather in this building to get charged up with the truth, but we are meant to go out into the streets, the offices, the classrooms, and even the Walmart aisles to live out that truth with urgency.

Verbal Witness: Gracious and Seasoned with Salt

The second half of our witness is verbal. Colossians 4:6 tells us, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt…”. Gracious speech means choosing words that build up rather than tear down. Even when we have to stand firm and speak the hard truth, 1 Peter 3:15 reminds us that we must do it with gentleness and respect. Correction may mold us, but encouragement is what truly motivates us.

And what about being “seasoned with salt”? In ancient times, salt was used to preserve things and add flavor. In the original Greek language, “seasoned” means to make ready or prepare. We get seasoned by spending intentional time in God’s Word every morning. When we are prepared, our speech naturally attracts and encourages people instead of driving them away.

A Personal Connection Through Crisis

Finally, Paul tells us that we must know how to answer each person. Your witness can’t be a one-size-fits-all script. Every single person has a unique story, and it takes time to listen, build trust, and invite them in.

The world isn’t watching to see how you celebrate when everything is perfect. What the unchurched world is looking for is how you handle a crisis. How do you walk through the most difficult, painful seasons of your life? When they see your faith hold steady under immense pressure, they will start asking questions—and that is your golden opportunity to point them to the limitless grace of Jesus Christ.

Father,

Thank You for Your Word and for the reminder that my life is not my own. Forgive me for the moments when my talk has been high but my walk has been low. Help me to align my attitude and my actions this week so that they point directly to You. Season my words with grace and salt, and give me the courage to redeem the time You have given me. Open my eyes to the needs of the people around me, and let Your love shine through me even in the middle of life’s pressures.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Take a moment to look at your calendar and your social media feeds today. Is there enough evidence in your daily life to show that you are a follower of Christ? If you are walking through a difficult crisis right now, remember that you don’t have to carry that weight by yourself. Reach out to our ministry team or share this post with someone who needs encouragement this week. Let’s stand together, because at ONE Church, No ONE Walks Alone.

You can watch the full sermon message on YouTube here: