You are Called to Bring Others into God’s Family
By Jeff Cranston
God never intended for us to simply be objects of His love. We are also called to be the instruments of that love in the lives of others. God wants you to share the good news with others—how to have the past forgiven, how to have a purpose for living, how to have a home in heaven. You have been called to bring others into God’s family.
Read Acts 17:16-32. In this passage, the apostle Paul finds himself in the Greek city of Athens—the intellectual capital of all history, the city of Aristotle, Plato and Socrates. In this city, there were more than 3,000 altars and temples to various deities, and this stirred up Paul’s emotions. But he didn’t organize politically and march on Athens to campaign against idolatry nor gather a group of people to take a cultural stand. What did he do?
Paul reasoned with those following God and with those not following God. He disputed, he dialogued, he discussed. As you read this story, you see Paul setting an example of how to share the gospel with others. He was:
1. Courteous
Paul started right where his listeners were. He didn’t denounce them or attack their idolatry. In fact, he paid them a compliment. He basically said, “As I’ve been walking around your city, I’ve noticed one thing about you: You are a very religious people.”
Are you courteous when you spend time with people who are not Christians yet? Or, are you secretly angry with them because of some of the things they do? If so, you need to remember that you shouldn’t be surprised when non-Christians act like non-Christians. Are you kind and gracious or are you abrasive?
2. Contemporary
When Paul was courteous, he broke down barriers; when he was contemporary, he built bridges to the heart of his audience.
Notice verse 23: For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.”
As Paul walked around, he looked for connectors—or bridges—from their world to the gospel. In missions, these are called redemptive analogies: cultural or traditional beliefs that the missionary can use as a springboard to explain the gospel message.
Are you spending enough time with non-Christians? Do you know what their interests are? Do you know what they are concerned about? Do you know what makes them happy and what makes them cry? Have you discovered any idols in their hearts? Be contemporary: Be up-to-date with your neighbors, co-workers and extended family members.
3. Courageous
Look at the last part of verse 23: “Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.” He is saying, “You admit there is a God you don’t know. Very well, then. I happen to know that God, and I will tell you about Him. I will begin where you end.”
And in verse 32 we see how the people responded: “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, ‘We shall hear you again concerning this.’”
Don’t shrink from speaking about Jesus. He is the only way to peace with God, and people have to believe in Him in order to be saved. As God gives you the opportunity, speak boldly for Christ. Tell people about His death, so they understand that Jesus died in their place and that they can be forgiven for all the sins they have committed. Tell them about His resurrection so that that they can have hope for eternity. Tell them about the love and peace and joy that will be theirs once they surrender to Christ.
Jeff Cranston is lead pastor of LowCountry Community Church in Bluffton, S.C.
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