Bismarck Community Church Sermon Podcast · Jim Ellis

Declare the Mystery | Colossians: Joy In the Mystery (Mar 8, 2026)

·31 min·3 clips

Why are followers of Jesus often afraid to declare the mystery of Christ like children spoiling a surprise?

The episode begins with announcements about daylight savings time, community potlucks, and the church's values of gospel, community, mission, and discipleship. The speaker opens with a prayer addressing global and personal struggles, asking for trust in God's sovereignty. He then reviews the previous weeks in the Colossians series, covering topics like Jesus as cosmic supreme, union with Christ, walking in Christ, love above all things, and Paul's household order. The main text is Colossians 4:2-6, read twice, emphasizing prayer, declaring the mystery of Christ, and gracious speech. The speaker uses an analogy of children spoiling surprises to contrast with adult hesitancy in sharing faith. He explains that Paul, writing from prison, models persistence in prayer as communication with God, restoring the relationship ruptured by sin. Walking in wisdom toward outsiders involves gracious speech and making the best use of time, tied to loving others. The speaker connects these actions to the greatest commandment: loving God and loving others. He shares a personal story of praying for specific people and witnessing God's saving work in their lives. The sermon challenges listeners to read Colossians, practice spiritual reflection, and contemplate union with Christ. It concludes with a prayer asking God to move listeners closer to people who need to move closer to God, reinforcing that faith is something we get to do, not have to do.

As heard by us

Prayer, witness, and gracious speech hold the sermon together.

This sermon settles into Colossians and keeps prayer, wisdom toward outsiders, and gracious speech in the same frame, which gives the passage a clear communal shape. The theme holds best when those parts stay linked rather than treated as separate duties.

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Why you'd press play

For a Colossians sermon that starts with persistent prayer and lands on wise, gracious speech.

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