sent | sharing the gospel naturally
Sharing the Gospel Naturally: Living Beyond Our Own Kingdom
Author: Joe Marquez
Scripture: Colossians 4:1–6; 1 Peter 3:15–16
Jesus was never in a hurry. While the world around Him was busy, distracted, and focused on the next thing, Jesus was quick to be interrupted. He noticed people others overlooked and gave value to those others passed by.
How often do we miss the people right in front of us because we are so focused on our own lives?
We can become so occupied with building our own kingdom that we miss what God is doing in His Kingdom.
We wait for the next big thing, the newest phone, or the next milestone, and in the process, we miss the contentment and purpose Jesus offers us right now.
In Colossians 4, Paul writes about this kind of life from prison. Even in his circumstances, he points believers toward a better way of living in Christ.
He calls them to be devoted to prayer, watchful, thankful, and intentional about how they live among those who do not yet know Jesus.
Sharing the Gospel naturally begins long before we speak. It begins with a life shaped by Jesus, a heart attentive to His leading, and a willingness to see the people He has placed around us.
1. Pray Beyond Your Kingdom
Paul begins in Colossians 4:2 by calling believers to devote themselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
To be devoted to something means we intentionally set aside time for it. We make room for family time, couple time, and even time for ourselves.
These things can be good, but how often do we approach prayer with the same intentionality?
Prayer reminds us that our time, money, and lives do not ultimately belong to us.
They belong to Jesus.
Our lives are not about building our own kingdom but joining what God is doing in His Kingdom.
When we pray, we also become more watchful.
We begin to recognize the schemes of the enemy and the ways the world pulls our hearts toward self-focus. The more our minds are fixed on the things of God, the more clearly we can recognize the lies that distract us from Him. Prayer helps us pay attention to where Jesus is leading, what He is saying, and what He is doing around us.
Thankfulness also shifts our focus away from ourselves and back toward God.
Consumerism teaches us to keep looking for what we do not have, leaving us dissatisfied and often isolated. But a heart shaped by prayer begins to look beyond personal comfort and toward the needs of others.
Consider this question: If God answered the very best prayer you prayed this week, what would change in your own life? And what would change in the rest of the world?
John Piper describes prayer as “a wartime walkie-talkie, not a domestic intercom.”
Prayer is not simply about asking God to make our lives more comfortable. It is how we participate in what He is doing in the world.
To move forward, what is really required of us is surrender. We must make time for prayer, learn to love it, and allow God to shape our hearts beyond ourselves.
2. Notice the People Around You
When our hearts are focused on God's Kingdom, we begin to see people differently. We recognize that the people around us are not interruptions to our plans; they are people God has placed in our lives for a reason.
We often push meaningful conversations and opportunities to tomorrow.
We tell ourselves we will reach out later, ask the deeper question another time, or share our faith when the moment feels more comfortable. But we are not promised tomorrow. There is an urgency to pursuing people with the love of Jesus.
It is easy to become so caught up in the things of this world that we miss the needs of the people right in front of us.
We can be physically present but mentally somewhere else, thinking about the next task, the next meeting, or the next thing we need to accomplish.
What would change if we became more intentional about slowing down?
What if we paid attention to our kids, our spouses, our coworkers, our friends, and the people we encounter throughout the day?
When we slow down enough to notice people, we begin to see opportunities to listen, serve, encourage, and share the hope we have in Jesus. We cannot love people well if we never make room to see them.
3. Speak With Grace and Courage
In 1 Peter 3:15–16, we are told to always be prepared to give a reason for the hope we have, doing so with gentleness and respect.
This does not mean becoming the person who stands on a soapbox condemning everyone around them. It means living in such a way that people can see the hope of Jesus in us and feel invited to ask questions.
When our lives are shaped by the Kingdom of God, people should have reason to wonder why we live differently. And when those questions come, we should be ready to respond.
Sometimes we stay silent because we are afraid of losing a relationship or making someone uncomfortable.
But the greatest good we have to offer people is Jesus.
He is the source of the hope and life we carry, and we should not allow fear to keep us from sharing Him.
At the same time, how we speak matters.
Peter reminds us to respond with gentleness and respect, even when we are misunderstood or treated unfairly. We are called to reflect the character of Jesus, trusting that even in suffering, God can be glorified through our response.
Colossians 4:6 tells us to let our conversation be gracious and seasoned with salt. Our words should be thoughtful, life-giving, and appropriate to the people and situations in front of us.
That kind of speech grows out of a life that has been lived, not simply opinions that have been shared.
We should be people who put our faith into action, not just people who talk about how the world ought to change.
When we serve, love, forgive, and live with integrity, our lives create opportunities for honest conversations about Jesus.
We do not need to force every conversation into a Gospel presentation. We do need to be ready when God opens a door.
What Rhythms Can Help Us Live This Way?
Pray daily.
We grow in prayer by actually praying. Start your day with God's Word and prayer rather than immediately filling your mind with social media or the news. Devote time to being with Jesus and asking Him to shape your heart. The seasoning comes through repetition over time.
Make room to notice others.
Pay attention to the people already in your life. Who is around you? What needs are you overlooking? Where might God be inviting you to slow down, listen, or offer encouragement?
Prepare a three-minute testimony.
If we live with a visible hope in Jesus, people may begin to ask questions. Be ready to share your story simply by asking three questions: Who was I before Christ? How did I encounter Christ? Who am I now because of Christ? You do not need to have a dramatic story or perfect words. You simply need to be able to share what Jesus has done in your life.
We are not only sent to live and speak for Jesus; we are empowered by Him. And prayer is one of the ways God prepares us to see people, recognize opportunities, and respond with courage and grace.
Sharing the Gospel naturally is not about adding one more task to an already busy life.
It is about surrendering our lives to Jesus, allowing Him to redirect our attention beyond ourselves, and becoming available to the people He places in front of us.
The question is not simply whether we are willing to share the Gospel someday.
The question is whether we are paying attention to what God is doing today.
Will we be so occupied with building our own kingdom that we miss the people God is inviting us to love? Or will we slow down, pray beyond ourselves, notice those around us, and be ready to share the hope we have in Jesus?
Author: Joe Marquez
Scripture: Colossians 4:1–6; 1 Peter 3:15–16
Jesus was never in a hurry. While the world around Him was busy, distracted, and focused on the next thing, Jesus was quick to be interrupted. He noticed people others overlooked and gave value to those others passed by.
How often do we miss the people right in front of us because we are so focused on our own lives?
We can become so occupied with building our own kingdom that we miss what God is doing in His Kingdom.
We wait for the next big thing, the newest phone, or the next milestone, and in the process, we miss the contentment and purpose Jesus offers us right now.
In Colossians 4, Paul writes about this kind of life from prison. Even in his circumstances, he points believers toward a better way of living in Christ.
He calls them to be devoted to prayer, watchful, thankful, and intentional about how they live among those who do not yet know Jesus.
Sharing the Gospel naturally begins long before we speak. It begins with a life shaped by Jesus, a heart attentive to His leading, and a willingness to see the people He has placed around us.
1. Pray Beyond Your Kingdom
Paul begins in Colossians 4:2 by calling believers to devote themselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
To be devoted to something means we intentionally set aside time for it. We make room for family time, couple time, and even time for ourselves.
These things can be good, but how often do we approach prayer with the same intentionality?
Prayer reminds us that our time, money, and lives do not ultimately belong to us.
They belong to Jesus.
Our lives are not about building our own kingdom but joining what God is doing in His Kingdom.
When we pray, we also become more watchful.
We begin to recognize the schemes of the enemy and the ways the world pulls our hearts toward self-focus. The more our minds are fixed on the things of God, the more clearly we can recognize the lies that distract us from Him. Prayer helps us pay attention to where Jesus is leading, what He is saying, and what He is doing around us.
Thankfulness also shifts our focus away from ourselves and back toward God.
Consumerism teaches us to keep looking for what we do not have, leaving us dissatisfied and often isolated. But a heart shaped by prayer begins to look beyond personal comfort and toward the needs of others.
Consider this question: If God answered the very best prayer you prayed this week, what would change in your own life? And what would change in the rest of the world?
John Piper describes prayer as “a wartime walkie-talkie, not a domestic intercom.”
Prayer is not simply about asking God to make our lives more comfortable. It is how we participate in what He is doing in the world.
To move forward, what is really required of us is surrender. We must make time for prayer, learn to love it, and allow God to shape our hearts beyond ourselves.
2. Notice the People Around You
When our hearts are focused on God's Kingdom, we begin to see people differently. We recognize that the people around us are not interruptions to our plans; they are people God has placed in our lives for a reason.
We often push meaningful conversations and opportunities to tomorrow.
We tell ourselves we will reach out later, ask the deeper question another time, or share our faith when the moment feels more comfortable. But we are not promised tomorrow. There is an urgency to pursuing people with the love of Jesus.
It is easy to become so caught up in the things of this world that we miss the needs of the people right in front of us.
We can be physically present but mentally somewhere else, thinking about the next task, the next meeting, or the next thing we need to accomplish.
What would change if we became more intentional about slowing down?
What if we paid attention to our kids, our spouses, our coworkers, our friends, and the people we encounter throughout the day?
When we slow down enough to notice people, we begin to see opportunities to listen, serve, encourage, and share the hope we have in Jesus. We cannot love people well if we never make room to see them.
3. Speak With Grace and Courage
In 1 Peter 3:15–16, we are told to always be prepared to give a reason for the hope we have, doing so with gentleness and respect.
This does not mean becoming the person who stands on a soapbox condemning everyone around them. It means living in such a way that people can see the hope of Jesus in us and feel invited to ask questions.
When our lives are shaped by the Kingdom of God, people should have reason to wonder why we live differently. And when those questions come, we should be ready to respond.
Sometimes we stay silent because we are afraid of losing a relationship or making someone uncomfortable.
But the greatest good we have to offer people is Jesus.
He is the source of the hope and life we carry, and we should not allow fear to keep us from sharing Him.
At the same time, how we speak matters.
Peter reminds us to respond with gentleness and respect, even when we are misunderstood or treated unfairly. We are called to reflect the character of Jesus, trusting that even in suffering, God can be glorified through our response.
Colossians 4:6 tells us to let our conversation be gracious and seasoned with salt. Our words should be thoughtful, life-giving, and appropriate to the people and situations in front of us.
That kind of speech grows out of a life that has been lived, not simply opinions that have been shared.
We should be people who put our faith into action, not just people who talk about how the world ought to change.
When we serve, love, forgive, and live with integrity, our lives create opportunities for honest conversations about Jesus.
We do not need to force every conversation into a Gospel presentation. We do need to be ready when God opens a door.
What Rhythms Can Help Us Live This Way?
Pray daily.
We grow in prayer by actually praying. Start your day with God's Word and prayer rather than immediately filling your mind with social media or the news. Devote time to being with Jesus and asking Him to shape your heart. The seasoning comes through repetition over time.
Make room to notice others.
Pay attention to the people already in your life. Who is around you? What needs are you overlooking? Where might God be inviting you to slow down, listen, or offer encouragement?
Prepare a three-minute testimony.
If we live with a visible hope in Jesus, people may begin to ask questions. Be ready to share your story simply by asking three questions: Who was I before Christ? How did I encounter Christ? Who am I now because of Christ? You do not need to have a dramatic story or perfect words. You simply need to be able to share what Jesus has done in your life.
We are not only sent to live and speak for Jesus; we are empowered by Him. And prayer is one of the ways God prepares us to see people, recognize opportunities, and respond with courage and grace.
Sharing the Gospel naturally is not about adding one more task to an already busy life.
It is about surrendering our lives to Jesus, allowing Him to redirect our attention beyond ourselves, and becoming available to the people He places in front of us.
The question is not simply whether we are willing to share the Gospel someday.
The question is whether we are paying attention to what God is doing today.
Will we be so occupied with building our own kingdom that we miss the people God is inviting us to love? Or will we slow down, pray beyond ourselves, notice those around us, and be ready to share the hope we have in Jesus?
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