A Telling Way to Tell the Good News

S - “While Paul was waiting in Athens, he was upset to see all the idols in the city.  He went to the synagogue to speak to the Jews and to anyone else who gave homage to God.  Day after day he also spoke to everyone he met in the market.  Some of them were Epicureans and some were Stoics, and they started arguing with him. People were asking, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Some even said, “Paul must be speaking about foreign gods!  That’s what he means when he talks about Jesus and the resurrection.” Acts 17 TS

O -  Before this story concludes Paul will be asked to speak to a gathering called the Areopagus and his address is recorded later in this same account. When compared to how people today are “trained” to present heaven’s intent and invitation there are some striking differences and omissions. Paul will not speak of his initial personal encounter with Jesus. He will not mention sin, going to heaven or hell or quote scripture. He will not rail against the myriad of altars which so deeply upset him. He will not assert the Deity of Jesus nor his identity as God's son. His focus will be on the resurrection of Jesus not his crucifixion. He will quote some Greek poets and affirm that we are all God’s children. He will acknowledge a final judgment but make no judgments against any person. He will affirm that God Almighty cannot only be known personally by humans but that God actually wants to be known personally. All of this is made both possible and believable in a person — the person of Jesus whom God raised from the dead. No appeal is made to join a religion or attend a different meeting. Perhaps we need to change our thinking about our focus and method in telling the good news.

A -  Yes, we should seriously embrace a change in thinking and in aliening our thoughts, words and focus! In fact, most of the differences noted above are clearly seen in the presentations made in all the stories recorded in Acts. As I have been engaging this rethinking the result has been striking in me and in many of those I am privileged to talk with. This is happening in my travels (last year in 13 counties, numerous US locations and 200,000+ air miles) with many amazing encounters where God is made known in and through Jesus raised from the dead.

P - Lord God,

Thank you for loving, wanting and working in the whole world. Since you sent Jesus to clarify your person and purpose it is amazing what happens when he is lifted up. Unlike the Jesus of religion, he is immediately relevant to all people. He really does make it all possible and believable. Am so glad to be known by you and to know you.

All my love,

Steve