Overview:
Pilots need them. Doctors need them. Moms need them. Checklists are valuable! Lists order our thoughts and ensure we accomplish what we mean to—without leaving something out. Even Paul took a few minutes, before he closed his letter to the Colossian church, to give a brief checklist on prayer, evangelism, and salt-seasoned living. In his sermon on Colossians 4:2–6, Pastor Chuck Swindoll helps you make this divine checklist your own.
Message Summary:
In this practical and remarkably relevant message, Chuck Swindoll explores an “interlude” in the book of Colossians—the five verses that sit between Paul’s heavy theological instruction and his final personal farewells. Chuck begins by reminding us of the “chained” reality of the author. While Paul is writing some of the most soaring truths in the New Testament, he is doing so while under house arrest, physically chained to a Roman soldier. Chuck argues that even in our own “locked-down” seasons of life—whether they are physical, emotional, or financial—the Spirit’s “Resident Dynamic” is not constrained. This study serves as a spiritual checklist for the believer, moving us away from a life of self-pity and toward a life of “quiet and consistent obedience” characterized by devoted prayer, wise conduct, and gracious speech.
The core of the teaching focuses on five specific “checks” for the Christian life found in Colossians 4:2–6. Chuck observes that many believers live on “spiritual empty,” disconnected from the source of their power. By examining the imperatives of prayer and witness, Chuck reveals that the Holy Spirit acts as the ultimate “Harbor Pilot,” navigating us through the complexities of our relationships with “outsiders.” The goal of this message is to stabilize the believer’s faith, providing an “inner filter” for our conversations and ensuring that our lives are seasoned with the “salt” of grace. Chuck asserts that when we follow this divine checklist, our lives become an attractive, living testimony to a world that has “long since lost its way.”
Message Key Facts:
- The Perspective of the Chains: Chuck highlights the incredible lack of self-pity in Paul’s writing. Despite being a prisoner, Paul does not ask the Colossians to pray for his release or for the “removal of his thorns.” Instead, he asks for a “door for the word.” Chuck uses this to show that the “Resident Dynamic” of the Spirit prioritizes the opportunity for the Gospel over the comfort of the messenger. He challenges the listener to stop praying for an easy exit from their “wilderness” and start praying for an open door within it.
- The Discipline of Devoted Prayer: A major highlight is Chuck’s analysis of the command to “devote yourselves to prayer.” He notes that prayer is not a religious add-on but the vital “fuel” for the Christian walk. He distinguishes between “saying prayers” and being “devoted” to them, arguing that prayer is the place where the “battle for the soul” is won. It provides the “quiet calm” needed to face the “rattling tests” of a demanding week.
- The Alertness and Gratitude Check: Chuck unpacks the two specific “moods” of prayer: being “alert” and “thankful.” He warns against a “drowsy” faith that has been lulled to sleep by the routines of life. Furthermore, he identifies gratitude as the “essential glue” that keeps our requests from becoming a list of demands. He posits that a grumbling spirit is a sure sign of a heart that is not “under the influence” of the Spirit.
- Wisdom Toward Outsiders: Chuck dives into the strategy of the “open door.” He argues that “outsiders”—those who do not know Christ—are watching the believer’s conduct more closely than their words. He emphasizes that the Holy Spirit acts as the “inner filter” of our behavior, helping us “make the most of every opportunity.” This requires a level of “wise conduct” that is authentic, attractive, and seasoned by the “Air Conditioner” of the Word.
- The Salt and Grace of Speech: A significant highlight is the instruction on speech: “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt.” Chuck explains that “salt” in the ancient world was a preservative and a flavor enhancer. He suggests that our conversations should not be bland, boring, or bitter, but should be “ready to answer” everyone with a grace that points to the Savior.
- The Simplicity of Grace: The sermon concludes with a powerful reminder of the “Simplicity of knowing Jesus.” Chuck reflects on the fact that salvation is not a “voodoo” mystery or a work of “fleshly effort,” but a simple act of trusting in the finished work of Christ. He encourages the listener to “relax” and take the Savior at His word, recognizing that “Grace” is the reason we have hope beyond the grave.
Message References:
- Colossians 4:2–6: The primary text for the study. Chuck walks through the commands for prayer, alertness, gratitude, praying for open doors, wise conduct, and gracious speech.
- Colossians 4:18: Paul’s “signature” reminder: “Remember my chains.” Chuck uses this to ground the entire message in the context of suffering and endurance.
- Ephesians 6:19–20: A parallel request for prayer. Chuck highlights Paul’s desire to “speak boldly” even as an “ambassador in chains.”
- John 14:6: Reaffirming the exclusivity of Christ. Chuck links the “Mystery of Christ” mentioned in Colossians to the “Way, the Truth, and the Life” of John’s Gospel.
- Psalm 139:23–24: The “Search Me” prayer. Chuck encourages the believer to invite the Spirit to “check” their heart against the Colossian list, ensuring their motives are pure.
- Romans 15:4: The foundational doctrine of relevance. Chuck notes that the “patience and comfort” found in Paul’s prison letter provides hope for believers in every century.
- 2 Timothy 3:16–17: The promise of “transformation.” Chuck uses this to support the goal of the “Checklist”—that we might be “perfect and complete,” equipped for every good work.
