Proclaim the Gospel!

For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 1 Cor. 1:22-23

What Paul wrote some two thousand years ago still applies today. Paul was writing about the two primary cultures of his day. He writes that the Jews demand signs. Paul knew that the Jewish people of his era wanted to be convinced by miracles and not by faith. Matthew 12:38-39 records a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees,

“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered and said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation eagerly seeks for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of

Jonah the prophet;.”

The Greeks, non-Jews, cherished wisdom over any other virtue. The Greeks placed enormous value on human knowledge and a life dedicated to gaining earthly wisdom. Therefore Paul knew that the Gospel was, “to Jews a stumbling block and       to Gentiles foolishness,” he would preach Christ and Him  crucified to both Jew and Greek.

In many evangelism circles, they encourage you to identify with to whom you are witnessing. I agree to a certain degree. Paul’s calling was to preach to the Gentiles (Galatians 2:8), which required him to adapt when needed.

“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 And to the    Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews. To those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law. 21 To       those who are without law, as without law, though   not being without the law of God but under the law  of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that   I may by all means save some. 23 So I do all things for the sake of the Gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” (1 Corinthians 9:19–23).

I strongly disagree that we must become like the world to reach people with the Gospel. At Grace Harvest, you won’t see the men’s group meeting at the local bar and grill drinking beer so we can share the Gospel. You won’t see smoke machines, windows blacked out, lights turned off, a laser show, or music so loud you can’t hear the lyrics being sung.

Hopefully you have shared the Gospel with everyone that God    has put in your circle of influence. We all know family, friends, and co-workers who are not Christians. You don’t need gimmicks or tricks to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You need to share your faith and tell them what Jesus did for them. And remember that it does not depend on you to convince them to come to saving faith; that is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark