24 The people of Colossae embraced the Gospel because they not only heard it—they truly understood it.
"...the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth."
—Colossians 1:5c-6
We’ve been entrusted with sharing the Gospel, not just speaking it, but communicating it in a way that the listener can both hear and understand.
Jesus emphasized this truth in the climax of the parable of the four soils:
"As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it."
—Matthew 13:23
For the missionary, that often means learning a new language.
For someone talking to kids, it means keeping the message simple and engaging.
For those speaking to teens, the challenge is connecting with their world and vibe.
For all of us, it means avoiding Christian jargon like, "the eternal ramification of sin is unquenchable fire."
Let’s make the Gospel clear and accessible—so that it can bear fruit wherever it's heard.