From: August 15, 2023
“Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23 NLT).
The apostle Paul described his approach to sharing the gospel as becoming “a slave to everyone, in order to win more people” (1 Cor. 9:19). In other words, he sought to find common ground with his hearers when sharing the good news.
When Paul was in Athens, he used their monument to the “unknown god” to help illustrate the gospel to them. When talking to a Jewish audience he quoted the Mosaic Law. When speaking to the Greeks he quoted their Greek philosophers. Paul shared the gospel in the language and culture of his hearer, rather than expecting the hearer to adapt to his culture and language. However, in doing so, he never changed the truth of the gospel. He adapted his methods, but not the gospel message. Paul was a servant both to the hearer and to the Lord Jesus, whose gospel he preached.
Paul’s mindset was the same as the servant mindset of Christ Jesus. For it was the Spirit of Christ that motivated him. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he encouraged believers to have the “same mindset as Christ Jesus.” He said that those who had this mindset would “value others above themselves, not looking to their own interests but each to the interests of others” (Phil 2:3-4).
When we put others interests ahead of our own, really listening to them and caring for them, they are more apt to hear us when we share the gospel with them. And when we listen to them with spiritual ears, asking for the Holy Spirit’s help, we will often hear them express a need that we can meet in the name of Jesus.
PRAYER: Dear Father, it was Your great love that moved You to send Jesus to us. He came not to be served, but to serve and to offer His life as a ransom for us. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit that we might have the mindset of Christ. For we want to live as the body of Christ in this world until You call us home. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 15, 2022
CHRIST, OUR SPIRITUAL FOOD AND DRINK
Paul reminded the Corinthian believers of the Exodus story. He recalled how all the Israelites ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual water, which in both cases, were typical of Christ. For as the manna was daily bread from heaven, so Christ is the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35). And as the water from the rock gushed forth, so Christ is the Rock and the source of the “living water” (John 7:38-39), which fills those who receive Him.
Paul said that this spiritual rock traveled with them, yet not the rock itself, but that which sprang forth from the rock, namely, “spiritual water.” In the same way, it is the Spirit of Christ that “travels with” believers today. For Christ abides in those who receive Him.
Paul recounted the Exodus story to remind the Corinthians that although all the Israelites had received every spiritual benefit, God was “not pleased with most of them” (1 Cor. 10:5). For they continued to “crave evil things” (1 Cor. 10:6).
Therefore, let us look unto Christ in all things. For He is both our Lord and our life. And when we read the Scriptures, whether old or new, let us always look for Christ. For Christ is the Living Word of God.
PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to always turn from our former way of life and to continually depend on the Spirit of Christ as our spiritual food and drink. Strengthen us to always abide in Christ, so that we please You in all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 15, 2016
David’s psalm invites us to worship the Lord with him. This is a wonderful call to worship. Are you part of a fellowship that will answer this call with you? This is a call that you cannot answer alone. You will need brothers and sisters who love the Lord as you do. Private devotions are life-giving, but they create a longing for worshiping together with others. Isn’t this the goal of the gospel? That there would be worshipers called out from every tongue and tribe?
From: August 15, 2015
After the rebuilding of the wall surrounding Jerusalem there was great enthusiasm for God’s Word and for the giving of tithes and offerings. The people willingly and joyfully entered into a covenant to be faithful in these things. Yet, before the walls were rebuilt, the people were filled with doubt and fear, resulting in neglect of God’s house. What was it about the broken down wall that caused their neglect? And what was it about the rebuilt wall that helped them refocus their priorities, putting God first?
From: August 15, 2014
Some have referred to this as the Pauline Principle, the strategy being to adapt methods to the hearer while maintaining the integrity of the message. When Paul was in Athens he used their monument to the “unknown god” to help illustrate the gospel to them. When talking to a Jewish audience he quoted the Mosaic Law. When speaking to the Greeks he quoted their Greek philosophers. Paul shared the gospel in the language and culture of his hearer, rather than expecting the hearer to adapt to his culture and language. The Gospel MESSAGE is never-changing and must be guarded. But Gospel METHODS should be flexible to reach this ever-changing world.
From: August 15, 2012
Like Paul, we preach an unchanging message to an ever-changing world. The message must stay anchored in God’s Word, but the methods may adapt to be culturally relevant. We desire to never add our traditions to the gospel, nor in an attempt to make it more palatable, subtract from its power. We will continually evaluate our methods to make sure everything we do is to spread the Good News!