There are
those in the body of Christ who adopt a particular method or approach of sharing the gospel,
and use it exclusively. The problem with this is that the recorded instances of the gospel being preached in the gospels by Jesus Christ and in the book of Acts by Holy Spirit led/empowered
apostles, evangelists, etc., demonstrate many ways of proclaiming it. We find
that the choice of the manner in which the gospel was proclaimed in each
situation was “customized” according to the particular people or people group that
the gospel was being presented to. Although the gospel message is sacred (1 Cor. 15:3-8), the appraoches to proclaiming are not (1 Corinthians 9:22-23). Lets look at two contrasting examples.
The Book of Acts records the Apostle Paul’s
proclamation of the gospel to two groups of religious people, the Greeks at Mars Hill and the Jews at Thessalonica He took a
different approach in presenting the gospel to each group of people.
When Paul preached to the Greeks in Athens at Mars Hill in Acts 17:22-32, he began by meeting them on common ground. Since he observed that they were a religious people, he engaged them in a conversation about their “unknown God”. He then developed the conversation in such a way as to lead them to an understanding of who their “unknown God” is. Paul described the living God to them in a way they were able to relate and understand. The result was that some rejected the message, others wanted to hear more, and some believed and joined Paul.
When Paul preached to the Greeks in Athens at Mars Hill in Acts 17:22-32, he began by meeting them on common ground. Since he observed that they were a religious people, he engaged them in a conversation about their “unknown God”. He then developed the conversation in such a way as to lead them to an understanding of who their “unknown God” is. Paul described the living God to them in a way they were able to relate and understand. The result was that some rejected the message, others wanted to hear more, and some believed and joined Paul.
When Paul preached to the Jews in
Thessalonica in Acts 17:1-3, he was speaking to those who know the Scriptures, so he reasoned
with them from the Scriptures, which is their heritage.
“When Paul and his
companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to
Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the
synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the (Old
Testament) Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer
and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he
said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large
number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.”
(Acts
17 1-3)
In
both accounts above, Paul demonstrates the principle with which he approached
people as he stated in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23: “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to
everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a
Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law
(though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To
those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not
free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having
the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by
all possible means I might save some. I do all this for
the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings” (1
Cor. 9: 22-23). This was Paul’s heart and rule of thumb for
proclaiming the gospel message.
The ultimate goal should be to communicate the gospel so the hearer fully understands the message and a response made (Mark 1:15). When in the midst of an opportunity to share the gospel, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5). It is better to be led by the Spirit with wisdom, than rely on a method. “We are coworkers with Christ” (2 Corinthians 6:1).
This principle is the very basis for the creation of gospel tracts by Seed For The Sower Publications. Each tract is designed to be effective in reaching a particular age group, sub culture, mindset, or worldview.
In coming blog postings, we will examine other examples of different approaches to sharing the gospel as recorded in the New Testament.
The ultimate goal should be to communicate the gospel so the hearer fully understands the message and a response made (Mark 1:15). When in the midst of an opportunity to share the gospel, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5). It is better to be led by the Spirit with wisdom, than rely on a method. “We are coworkers with Christ” (2 Corinthians 6:1).
This principle is the very basis for the creation of gospel tracts by Seed For The Sower Publications. Each tract is designed to be effective in reaching a particular age group, sub culture, mindset, or worldview.
In coming blog postings, we will examine other examples of different approaches to sharing the gospel as recorded in the New Testament.
Until next blog post; “occupy until He comes.”
