Have you ever felt like you were a part of a close-knit team? When?
DIG:
What kind of place was Corinth? How would life in Corinth affect a young church? (See Introduction to 1 Corinthians.)
Paul spent 18 months in Corinth, his second-longest stay with any of the new churches he started. What kind of feelings or emotional connection do you think he had with the people in those churches?
Why would Paul emphasize in 1 Corinthians 1:1 that he is an apostle?
What divides the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:11-12,15)? Who was Apollos (see Acts 18:24-19:1)?
REFLECT
Do you feel like the thanksgiving in 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 describes you? Why or why not?
Have you ever been a part of a church that was divided? What was it like? Have you ever been a part of a church that was single-minded and unified? What was it like?
Have you been baptized? Did your personal relationship with Christ change because of your baptism? Share about that change.
Who has been or is your spiritual hero? Why?
Have you ever put your spiritual hero above Christ? Why or why not?
How well did you keep secrets when you were a child? How about since then?
What person in your circle of family and friends has the most wisdom?
DIG:
From the references to "wisdom" in this passage, what differences do you see between human wisdom and God's?
What is the secret about God's wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:7, 9)?
How do you feel about verse 9? How is your outlook on life affected by the promises in this verse?
Philosophers were respected as people who could search out deep truths; in contrast, how does Paul say the truth of the Gospel is discovered (1 Corinthians 2:10-13)? Why is that significant for the Corinthians' unity?
REFLECT:
The Corinthians were measuring "truth and success" by how powerful, influential and articulate someone was. How is that idea communicated today? How does it square with the Gospel?
What can you do to exercise "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16) more fully in your life?
When actor Sean Connery died, tributes came in from all over. The original “James Bond” actor defined the role so much that the author of the Bond book series, Ian Fleming, later wrote in a Scottish ancestry to account for Connery’s portrayal! Connery starred in many other movies and showed a wonderful talent and discipline in his acting. He was an athlete and, early in the Bond franchise, performed many of his own stunts. He grew to dislike the Bond character, though, partly because people seemed to think that he actually was a suave but deadly secret agent.
In truth, of course, Connery knew he was a pretty ordinary man. He grew up in lean circumstances and had many jobs and a stint in the Royal Navy. He was terrified of spiders, and a scene in “Dr. No” called for a tarantula to crawl up his arm. It took a glass sheet, a stunt look-alike, and several attempts to film the half-minute scene. Connery was also afraid of sharks and had a Plexiglas® cage to protect him in a scene in “Thunderball.” When one eager young shark managed to find his way into the cage, Connery found his way out—quickly! Others saw him as a glamorous hero; he saw himself more realistically. He liked acting, he once said, because “It allows me to be someone interesting.” Often, a public image varies from the real person.
“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:1-3 NIV).
As we read the career of Paul in his missionary journeys, we imagine a fearless preacher, confidently striding across the Near East while delivering the gospel to thrilled audiences. In reality, a closer reading shows us many of the anxieties, frustrations, fears and humiliations Paul suffered in proclaiming the good news of Jesus to a mostly disinterested world. When he arrived in Corinth about AD 50, he had been beaten and jailed in Philippi, driven out of Thessalonica and then Berea, and disdained in Athens. Corinth had a terrible reputation, and he must have imagined he was one step from Sodom and Gomorrah as he walked all alone into that teeming city.
Yet God was with him every step of the way. That’s how Paul was able to preach the gospel there and even plant a church of obedient Christians. First, in fellowship with Priscilla and Aquila there, and then joined by Silas and Timothy, Paul was able to work in that city for a year and a half as the church grew and strengthened. Paul knew he was no hero—he was an ordinary man who put himself fully into the service of Jesus Christ. Jesus, then, did powerful things through the labors of Paul. If we could visit with Paul, he likely would say that his life in Christ not only saved his own soul, it allowed him to become somebody interesting. That same Jesus performs that same work in everyone who will put himself fully into the Lord’s service. In Christ, we can become somebody interesting—and maybe even influential in a world starving for good news.
A man named Jack was walking along a steep cliff one day when he accidentally got too close to the edge and fell. On the way down, he grabbed a branch, which temporarily stopped his fall. He looked down and, to his horror, saw that the canyon fell straight down for more than a thousand feet. He couldn't hang onto the branch forever, and there was no way for him to climb up the steep wall of the cliff.
So Jack began yelling for help, hoping that someone passing by would hear him and lower a rope or something. HELP! HELP! Is anyone up there? "HELP!" He yelled for a long time, but no one heard him. He was about to give up when he heard a voice.
"Jack, Jack. Can you hear me?"
"Yes, yes! I can hear you. I'm down here!"
"I can see you, Jack. Are you all right?"
"Yes, but who are you, and where are you?
"I am the Lord, Jack. I'm everywhere."
"The Lord? You mean, GOD?"
"That's Me."
"God, please help me! I promise if, you'll get me down from here, I'll stop sinning. I'll be a really good person. I'll serve You for the rest of my life."
Easy on the promises, Jack. Let's get you out from there; then we can talk." "Now, here's what I want you to do. Listen carefully."
"I'll do anything, Lord. Just tell me what to do."
"Okay. Let go of the branch."
"What?"
"I said, let go of the branch." Just trust Me. Let go."
There was a long silence. Finally, Jack yelled, "HELP! HELP! IS ANYONE ELSE UP THERE?"
Have you ever felt like Jack? We say that we want to know the will of God, but when we find out what it is, we can't handle it. Sounds too scary--too difficult. We decide to look elsewhere. When He says, "Let go of the things that stand between you and Me, and trust Me with your life," it sounds pretty scary. But when we let go, we find freedom and safety in His hands."
Thank you. Have a Blessed Day . . . and remember that Jesus Loves You and so do I--and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it, except to pass it on . . . and GOD BLESS YOU!
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)
-- Author Unknown
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Act differently, Think differently
on April 30, 2019 by Paul Adams
When we begin to know Jesus better our lives can begin to be transformed more and more into His likeness. Our very being will be changed – we will act differently and treat people differently – we will think differently.
Paul ends the 2nd chapter of 1st Corinthians with these words…. But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16 CSB)
That means you have a self-emptying mind - in other words you put others before self, like Jesus did.
Remember, some of the best prayers are simple prayers – maybe just one or two sentences... that can be a good place to start.
Too many times we pray just when we want something or we’re scared about something… but we need to remember to always give thanks and pray for others. We need to give thanks to God on a daily basis… Think about it for a minute – maybe the greatest gift we have as followers of Jesus is the peaceful presence of God – we need be thankful for that on a daily basis.
Here's a simple, but caring prayer to help you get started (insert the name of whoever is on your mind):
Dear Father, thank you for loving us and for always being there for us. Please be with _______________ today because I know they are struggling.
In Jesus' name, amen.
17 Pray constantly. 18 Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 CSB)
Reminder: Pray to God to set your heart right as you engage His word. The text you are about to study was not written to you but is written for you. So, before applying we must ask the following questions:
What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
READ THE SCRIPTURE (Multiple times & translations and notice the words that standout)
Biblegateway (NIV) (My choice of all-round site. Great app, better on computers or on a cellphone)
StepBible (ESV) (Great on phone or computer with good resources.)
What personality trait or strength did you get from your father? Your mother?
This chapter opens with John warning his readers not to believe every spirit, but to test the spirits to see if they are from God. He goes on to say that many false prophets have gone out into the world, and that we can know them by their fruit. We know that we are in God and He is in us, by the Spirit that He has given us. Whoever does not have the Spirit of God does not belong to Him. We love because He first loved us. If we say that we love God but hate our brother, we are liars. Whoever loves God must also love their brother.
ESV Text with Highlights
#God = #People= John, the Apostle, God, Jesus Christ, False Prophets #Time = #Place = The world (in a general sense as it refers to earthly, ungodly influences), God's dwelling (also in a spiritual sense) #Obedient faith = #Sin = #Key Idea =
1 John 4:7-21 ESV
God Is Love
7 Beloved, let us love one
another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and
knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know
God, because God is love. 9 In this the love
of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the
world, so that we might live through him. 10 In
this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and
sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved,
if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No
one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his
love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in
him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we
have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior
of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus
is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we
have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is
love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By
this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for
the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There
is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do
with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We
love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says,
“I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not
love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not
seen. 21 And this commandment we have from
him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
OBSERVATIONS(Reflect on the topic and build the concept the writer is trying to communicate to the original audience)
ebible (NLT) (Best for having Bible sections divided by "pericope" or sections by thought)
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
What is the source of human love? How can God's love be expressed through humans? In our motives? Our actions? Why is it a lie to say you love God but do not show love to your brother (v. 19)?
What do you learn from verses 8-15 about the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? About their relationship to us?
How does the message that God's love drives out fear (v. 18) relate to the teaching that God is light (1:5)?
Loving others as God loves us is not merely a command but a manifestation of the truth that God abides in us and we in him.
Introduction: We explore today how the act of loving others is the expression of God's own presence in our lives. 1. Understanding Divine Love Through Loving Others (1 John 4:7-8) A. God's nature as love sets a model for us to emulate. B. Obeying God's command to love affirms his living presence within us. 2. Love as Evidence of Fellowship with God (1 John 4:12-13) A. The unseen God is made visible through our acts of love. B. The indwelling of his Spirit is confirmed by our love for one another. 3. Perfect Love Drives Out Fear (1 John 4:18) A. Living in God's love liberates us from fear, including the fear of judgment. B. This freedom enables us to love others without restraint or hesitation. As we live out the command to love, we visibly manifest God’s presence, fulfilling his divine plan and reflecting his nature. Let us strive to embody this love in all our relationships.
Is the love discussed here an action or a feeling? What does this tell you about love?
In your life, when has "love" held too much fear? When has God's love cast out fear?
If you want to do a better job of loving others, how should you go about it? What is the only way to improve (see vv. 15-16)?
How do you want to love sacrificially this week? At home? At work? A difficult relationship? In how you plan your time? Your budget?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
What transformative move needs to be made?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
At one point during a game, the coach said to one of his young players, "Do you understand
what cooperation is and what teamwork is all about?"
The little boy nodded in the affirmative.
"Do you understand that what really matters is not whether we win or lose, but that we play together as a team?"
The little boy nodded yes.
"Good," the coach continued. "And, when a strike is called, or you're thrown out at first, you don't argue, curse, attack the umpire with a bat, or throw dirt in the opposing team members' faces. Do you understand all that?"
Again the little boy nodded, "Well, sure, coach. That's what you taught us."
"Good," said the coach. "Now, please go over there and explain all that to your mother."
As Christians, we get to go into the world and explain, and live the love of God.
"The heart that loves is always young." – Greek proverb
Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who
receives them, and they bless you, the giver. -Barbara De Angelis
We Love Because God Loves Us
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
God created us to be like him - to love. The only reason we're able to love is because God loves us: "Love comes from God ... because God is love" (1 John 4:7-8 NIV).
We were created in God's image to do two things on earth:
*Learn to love God
*Learn to love other people; life is all about love.
But love all started with God. He loved us first and that gives us the ability to love others (1 John 4:19).
We need to reach a day when we finally, fully understand how God loves us completely and unconditionally. We'll be more patient. We'll be more forgiving. We'll be more merciful. We'll give others grace.
But you cannot give to others what you have not received yourself, and so my hope is that, as you learn how much God loves you, you'll also let him heal your heart so that his love can flow freely through you. It's impossible to love others until you really feel loved yourself.
Love Is a Choice
Today we've bought into this myth that love is uncontrollable, that it's something that just happens to us; it's not something we control. In fact, even the language we use implies the uncontrollability of love. We say, "I fell in love," as if love is some kind of a ditch. It's like I'm walking along one day and bam! - I fell in love. I couldn't help myself.
But I have to tell you the truth - that's not love. Love doesn't just happen to you. Love is a choice and it represents a commitment.
And this same principle is true about your relationships: you can choose to love others, but God won't force you to love anyone.
Love is an Action
Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions. 1 John 3:18 (NLT)
Because love is an action; love is a behavior.
Over and over again, in the Bible, God commands us to love each other. And you can't command an emotion.
If love were just an emotion, then God couldn't command it. But love is something you do. It can produce emotion, but love is an action.
The Bible Says Love Is a Skill
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 (NLT)
Love is a skill that can be learned. In other words, it's something you can get good at and that means you get better at love by practicing love.
Love Is a Habit
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them." Luke 6:32 (NIV)
Love must become your lifestyle, the habit of your life. But it starts with a decision. Are you ready?
My prayer for you is "that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love ..." (Philippians 1:9 NCV).
=============
The World’s Greatest Hero
“Who saves one life saves the world entire,” according to some readings of the Talmud. Tyra Winters is a 17-year-old cheerleader in Rockwall, Texas, who was riding a float in the homecoming parade last month. As the float glided down the street, Tyra noticed a young mother, Nicole Hornback, screaming for help. Two-year-old Clark Hornback was choking on a piece of candy and Nicole didn’t know what to do. Tyra leapt off the float, snatched up Clark, turned him upside down and gave him three hard whacks on the back. The candy burst out of his mouth and the boy was saved. “My mom told me that’s the best way for the smallest kids,” Tyra nonchalantly commented.
Kenneth O’Brien is a Tech Sergeant in the U. S. Air Force and was one of 12 named 2019 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. He was the only one surprised that he received the honor. He had served on the President’s security team, he saved another diver during the rescue of the Thai soccer players, and he pulled people from a burning car. On the flight from Guam to Dallas to receive the award, a one-year-old began to choke. O’Brien stepped in, cleared the airway and administered CPR to save the baby. Then he returned to his seat for the rest of the flight. His judgment: “I’m thankful that the child is OK and that I was able to help when the family needed support.”
“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us” (1 John 4:14-16 NIV).
We rightly honor those who step forward and intervene to save lives. Police and firemen, EMTs, doctors, nurses and even coincidental bystanders gain our gratitude and devoted respect for their critical actions. Yet consider this: what if we knew somebody who deliberately, knowingly sacrificed his own life so that many, many others might be saved? Think of the passengers of Flight 93 who assaulted the cockpit to thwart the designs of the terrorists. They are properly honored and memorialized for their selflessness and heroism.
Yet the greatest hero of all time and of all places is undeniably Jesus of Nazareth. The sinless Son of God knowingly gave up His position in the heavenly realms to become one of us—and then accepted an agonizing death in order to make it possible for all humans to be saved. If one saved life amounts to saving the world, what does a saved world equal? If we rightly honor and praise ordinary people who intervene to rescue the defenseless, what honor should come to the Author of all creation who gave Himself to restore His rebellious creatures? Beyond any question or argument, Jesus Christ is the greatest hero of all time, responsible for the rescue and salvation of uncounted millions who were doomed without Him—including me. The only fitting honor I can give to Him is to live for Him and His agenda. He’s my hero. Yours, too?
Who was your hero when you were 10? A movie star? An athlete? A comic book character? What ability did they have that you wanted for yourself?
Text Graphic
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
What happened to the Jerusalem church after Stevens death? Who led the anti-Christian propaganda and persecution? What irony do you see in this?
What tends to happen when the church is persecuted? What happened in this case?
Imagine you are Phillip. What feelings come over you as you begin to preach among the Samaritans? Do you know of situations in the world today where Christians are suffering for their faith?
What did Simon and Phillip have in common in Acts 8:5-11? How were they different? How did the crowd respond to both men?
Summarize the background of the Samaritans. What was the relationship between the Samaritans and Jews in the 1st century?
How did the Holy Spirit affirm Phillips' actions?
To what degree is superstition still entrenched in our culture? What superstitious practices did you once observe? When and how did you break free of them? What is the spiritual danger of horoscopes, tarot cards, and the like?
What was Simon's history when he met Phillip? Do you think Simon's conversion was genuine? Explain. What is the fundamental difference between a true and false conversion claim?
What did he learn from watching Phillips activity? What was Simon’ sin before Peter? How did Peter react?
Given that the Samaritans were considered outcast by the Jews (John 4), why would Peter and John come to them? What steps did Jesus take towards breaking down the barriers with the Samaritans?
Why would the Father delay pouring out his Spirit until Peter and John were on the scene? Do you think this was a lesson for the Samaritans or for the apostles?
In what ways does Simon's reaction to the apostles in Acts 8:18-19 show his deep misunderstanding about the gospel?
What problems might Philip’s ministry have created among the early Christians? What initiative to prevent these problems did the apostles take? The Holy Spirit?
Why do you think it was important for God to use the apostles to demonstrate officially that Samaritans were true participants in the Church? Why wasn’t Philip’s confirmation enough?
Why did the baptism of Philip lack the gift of the Spirit? Is this gift the same as the Acts 2:38 gift of the Spirit? Explain. Why do you think Luke included the episode with Simon? What does it add to the story of Acts?
Do you think that Simon's words in Acts 8:24 reveal a change in his heart?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
Pray for the boldness of modern-day Christians facing persecution today.
What prejudices were you brought up with? How is the gospel breaking through those prejudices in your life?
What was your primary motivation in first receiving Jesus Christ as savior? What is your primary motivation for continuing in the faith?
How has jealousy of other Christians affected your faith?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Never let us think evil of men who do not see as we do. From the bottom of our hearts let us pity them, and let us take them by the hand and spend time and thought over them, and try to lead them to the true light.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about the story told in the book of Acts is that from a beginning with only 120 disciples, the news about Jesus spreads throughout Judea, Samaria, Syria, Asia, and into Europe and Africa. In Jerusalem alone there were over ten thousand Christians in the first years. By the early centuries, Christians number in the millions.
Without modern mass media, without armies, without power or prestige, without much money, the gospel was spread more rapidly than it has ever been since. But how did this happen?
The Book of Acts not only details the spread, it gives clear indication of the principal means by which it was accomplished. There was public proclamation. There were discussions in synagogues. But the primary means of the spread was "talk." Acts 8:4 says those scattered by persecution "went about preaching the word." But this proclamation was not primarily from pulpits. These ordinary Christians simply shared their faith wherever they went. Further insight comes from Acts 11:19-21 which says those scattered by the persecution came as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, "speaking the word. . . . And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord."
When Paul and Silas were in jail in Philippi, they gave their testimony in song and prayer at midnight, "and the prisoners were listening to them" (Acts 16:25). In Acts 17:17 Paul went to the marketplace in Athens where he spoke "every day with those who happened to be present." When Paul is taken from the temple courts by Roman soldiers, he shares his faith; when he is on trial, he shares his faith; when he speaks to a king, he shares his faith; when he is on board a sinking ship, he shares his faith; when he is under house arrest in Rome, he shares his faith, even with his guards.
One of the major factors in the early spread of the gospel, then, is simply the talking Christians do wherever they go. This was "conversation evangelism." Wherever they were, whoever they met, whatever their circumstances, they found a way to turn the conversation to Christ and His church.
If making conversation about their faith worked in those early years, it will work now. And it happens every day. Just this week I learned of a member of my congregation who had been letting waitresses in a cafe where he often ate lunch know that he was a Christian. He had talking with them about his beliefs and had invited them to church. For two years, none of them had come. But when one of them learned she had cancer, they wanted to talk with someone with spiritual values. So they turned to him. He arranged for a minister to study with them and the four were baptized. Also this week a Christian couple baptized a family they had studied with. The initial contact? The woman in the family had been the Christian woman’s hair dresser and they had talked. It also happened in a university library where a Christian woman laid her Bible on the table with her other books. A Chinese woman saw the Bible and asked if the Christian would tell her about this book she had heard about but never read. After a time she and a number of her friends were converted.
Yes, it is happening, but not nearly enough. All of us could do so much more of this informal, conversational sharing. Most Christians long to be more evangelistic and are frustrated because they don’t do more. They know they should be reaching others but are uncomfortable in making a direct approach, knocking on a door, or starting a Bible study in their home. These are certainly important evangelistic methods and we need to use them.
There is a way, however, that every Christian can have a major impact on the spread of the gospel. A way that is biblical, simple, inexpensive, and effective. And that way is "conversation evangelism." All of us can inject more talk about spiritual things into conversations we are already having. It takes no more time than we now spend because we already are talking with people. We just need to share more about the good things happening at our congregation, about how our faith is helping us meet life’s problems, about special events at church ,about a sermon we have heard or a song we have sung, or about the story of someone whose life has been changed.
Where can we do this? We are already talking to people at meals, at ball games, at the gym, at work, at play, in the neighborhood, in clubs and organizations we attend, at political meetings, at the hospital, as we shop, riding to work, on the phone, when workers come to our homes, at school, at parties, at the barber shop or beauty salon, as we jog, on trips. This approach can work for our children, too, as they make contact with other young people and with their parents at school and at play and as they visit in other’s homes. We can all simply include more about Christ and His church and His people into these existing conversations.
Our goals, over an appropriate length of time, would be to let people know we are religious, that we believe in Jesus, that Christ has been a major factor for good in our lives, that we are glad we follow Jesus and His teachings, that we find lots of good things where we go to church, and that we want others to enjoy what we do.
More specifically, we would use our normal conversations in the following ways.
Share more in our family and among church members about the role of Christ in our lives and about good things happening at church. We are more likely to talk to those outside the church if we have practiced doing this among those close to us. We should freely talk about what the Lord means to us, how we have benefited from Christ and the church, and what God has done in our lives.
Share with our non-Christians friends that we believe in Christ. We can mention in conversations that we go to church, that we read the Bible, that we make moral decisions. These things will come naturally if we look for openings.
Share with others good things that happen at church. We can tell of one the church has helped, of missionaries being sent and what they are doing, of youth activities, of Bible classes and sermons that help our lives. To our friends, church should sound like a place where people have friends, learn important things, and receive strength, acceptance, assurance, and help--because it is.
Share opportunities available at church. There all ages learn about God, make friends, have joy in serving, and get encouragement. We discuss important matters about how to live life well and how to prepare for eternity. We work together in raising our children and have support when problems come.
Sharing Bible passages that guide our conduct and how these have helped. As we talk about decisions all of us are making, we can sometimes refer to passages of scripture that have helped us deal with such decisions.
Answering questions from friends about the Bible and religious topics. Once those around us learn we know about the Bible, they will often ask questions that give us good opportunities. If we don’t know answers, we can ask for help from those who do. A preacher recently told me he has calls every week from members who need help with a conversation they are having.
Advising the troubled who seek us because we they know us to be spiritually minded. As people see our well ordered lives and know it results from our faith, they will ask us for help in their troubled times. This will give us many opportunities.
Inviting to church events. Sometimes it will seem natural to invite those we are visiting with to such events as Sunday classes, Wednesday classes, VBS, seminars on special topics, home Bible studies, a new class just starting, special events such as "Friend Day," or a seasonal service. Again, this is natural conversation, not something forced. As we are occasionally mentioning our faith and our church activities, it will feel natural to share with others about coming to class with us or to some other special event.
The objective of "conversation evangelism" is build relationships, to open doors, to stir interest, to cast the net to locate those who are seeking and interested in spiritual things. We are not confronting anyone or making anyone uncomfortable. We are not becoming so "one-eyed" that our friends go the other way when they see us coming. We are not arguing religion. We are just seeking to inform people of what interests us and of where we are finding something helpful. We are seeking to create opportunities. After someone shows interest, after there is a positive response, then we will want to move to another level. This level may be to bring someone with us to a class, a service, a special event. This level may be to start a Bible study with someone. This might be a home study, a series of self-study lessons, a videotape, or just an open Bible study. We may need help with this step and will want to ask someone more experienced in teaching and encouraging obedience to assist.
The goal of conversation evangelism, however, is to get the start: to let people know we believe in Christ, that we are glad we do, and that we would be glad for them to share what we have found. We want them to know we are available if they want to talk about spiritual, personal, or family needs. In short, we want to "let our light shine, so they may see our good works and glorify God." Of course, our lives will have to match our talk if this approach is to be effective.
How can we do better in making our conversations have more spiritual impact? A congregation should develop both an initial thrust to encourage all members to talk more about Christ and the church and have a continuing effort to keep the initial good intentions building. We should accumulate some good examples of those in our congregation and elsewhere who have done this very thing and share these with the entire congregation. Sermons and classes can explain and encourage conversation evangelism. We can have a study of the book of John which presents case after case of people who used this method to spread the word about Christ: John the Baptist, Andrew, the woman at the well, the man healed at the pool, the people after the feeding of the five thousand, the multitude in John 7:31, the man born blind in John 9:9, 17, and Mary by her anointing,
We can have role-playing in our classes to practice saying more about Christ and the church in our conversation. We can make booklets or audio and video tapes demonstrating how to inject more spiritual talk into our conversations. We can have continuing reminders of what to be talking about and, both through written and oral means, we must keep the congregation well informed about all aspects of the church so they will have an arsenal of good things to share. We can have seminars on special topics to give an occasion for something new to tell about and we can use our small group meetings as a special time to encourage and share.
The impact of doubling or tripling our talk about the church and Christ could be astounding. It costs nothing, it is not threatening, it is God’s way to spread the gospel, as evidenced in Acts. Let us make a commitment to "turn up" talk about Christ and the church in our natural conversations. As a result, we will eventually bring more to be taught by classes, home Bible study, sermons, and private teaching. Our aim is to spread the gospel and conversation evangelism is a biblical, simple, inexpensive, effective method to achieve this end.
============ The Gospel is for All!!!
By Edd Sterchi
One thing that impresses me more and more every time I go to Ghana is the fact that the gospel is for all. I did a lot of studying in the book of Acts for my teaching on this trip. In the book of Acts alone, we can clearly see the principle of the gospel being for literally everybody. Note the different classes of people to whom the gospel was taken in the early church:
- The Jews (Acts 2:37-47)
- "Both men and women" (Acts 5:14)
- The Samaritans (Acts 8:5ff)
- An African (Ethiopian) office holder (Acts 8:27-39)
- An educated, fanatical, religious leader (Paul - Acts 9:17; 22:1-16)
- A good, decent, God-fearing man who also was a soldier (Acts 10:1-4; 34-48)
- A politician (proconsul - Acts 13:12)
- A businesswoman (Lydia - Acts 16:13-15)
- A heathen jailer (Acts 16:25-34)
- "Prominent" people (Acts 17:12)
- Some people with who had prejudged reputations (the Corinthians - Acts 18:7-8; "to be a Corinthian became synonymous with living a licentious life" - Barnes Commentary)
- Religious people mistaken as to the plan of salvation (Acts 19:1-5)
- Folks who practiced occult (Acts 19:18)
- On and on we could go, but you get the idea!
There are no classes excluded in the gospel of God. It is good for the young and the old. There is no barrier between gender, race, or social status (see Gal. 3:28).
Friends, we need to take the gospel to all, for the gospel is for all. As the song so aptly states:
"Of one the Lord has made the race, Thro' one has come the fall; Where sin has gone must go His grace: The Gospel is for all.
Say not the heathen are at home, Beyond we have no call; For why should we be blest alone? The Gospel is for all.
Received ye freely, freely give, From every land they call; Unless they hear they cannot live: The Gospel is for all."
- Edd Sterchi is the minister of the Harrisburg church of Christ in Harrisburg, Illinois. He may be contacted at sterchi@midwest.net
