Hi all,
Paul won many to the Lord - how did he do it?
I've outlined the spread of the gospel among the 5 spheres of relationships through which an average person might bring a person to Jesus:Family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, the person of peace. Paul won people mostly through a person of peace, by going first to synagogues filled with people who already believed in the God of Israel.
In Acts 17:1-2 we are told when Paul left Philippi and came to Thessalonica:"...where there was a synagogue of the Jews, and as his custom was, Paul went to them* and three Sabbath days shared and discussed how Christ needed to have suffered...." *Acts 13:5, 14-15; Acts 14:1; Acts 17:1, 10, 17:Acts 17:4; Acts 18:4-8; Acts 18:19; Acts 19:8.
We see this repeatedly in Paul's ministry
He went first to those who already believed in the God of Israel. WE think evangelism is reaching someone who has never heard of Jesus, and that can be part of it. But that's not what Paul did. He found people of peace - people who accepted him because he was Jewish and also believed in the God of Israel - THEN he shared Jesus.
The one time he went to people who didn't already have a faith in the God of Israel was in Acts 17:15-34 on Mars Hill in Athens, sharing Jesus among the pagan Greeks. He was largely rejected but for a few according to v34. We don't have a letter from Paul to the church at Athens. Consider that.
Our modern version to follow his example, would be to witness to people who perhaps have gone to church all their lives. Perhaps they have never gone to church but have heard of Jesus and accept you - either as an acquaintance worth getting to know better, or maybe a coworker or neighbor. So instead of feeling condemned for not witnessing to complete heathens, consider the person who has a basic understanding of God, doesn't yet know Him, but does know you. Let them observe what He commanded you.
Roman, Greek, and Jewish cultures all had regular communal meals in their homes
They invited family, friends, neighbors and coworkers, and the person of peace. The word 'synagogue' is Hebrew for 'gathering'. For believers Jewish and Gentile alike, these gatherings were the first 'churches'. The true church, the believers, gathered to share as Acts 2:42 says:To share the apostles teaching, in fellowship, food, and prayer. This is how the gospel spread so far so quickly, one family/community meal at a time. This is what we now see the Holy Spirit doing around the world today, for every family gathers for a meal.
Many churches in the home start by that core family or individual inviting family, friends, neighbors and coworkers over for a meal, sharing what the Lord is doing in their lives, perhaps prayer, perhaps Bible study, perhaps worship...'church' becomes a living, breathing, community and family of faith.
A New Testament evangelist
But what about those heathens? In Acts 21:8, Philip is called 'Philip the evangelist'. In Acts 8:1 we are told of the persecution following Steven's execution in chapter 7:"...the persecution against believers was so severe after the death of Steven they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles." And in v5-8:"And Philip went to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them...and seeing and hearing the miracles he did, for unclean spirits crying with a loud voice, came out of people, and many paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in the city."
A casual reader might look at this passage and think Philip was preaching to complete pagans, but let's set the context. First, the Samaritans were a mixed-breed Jewish/Gentile people, and because they were not purely Jews, were greatly hated by the Pharisees and others. Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29-37 plays off this hatred. The Samaritan woman of John 4 asked Jesus theological questions, noting their priests called the mountain of Samaria holy rather than Jerusalem, and asked who was right. This is where Jesus told her the location doesn't matter, for God is a Spirit (v24), and those who worship Him must do so in spirit (out of your heart) and truth (pure motives).
The Samaritans knew of the God of Israel
They were confused as to which priesthood, which mountain, which liturgy was the right one. Additionally, in the opening words of this chapter we are told every believer left Jerusalem and went to Judea (countryside around the city) and Samaria (immediately north of Jerusalem), settling themselves and their families there. It means Philip's preaching was actually to support and explain this sudden influx of people to the area.
The ministry of an evangelist therefore supports the church, but is not found in the church. The many new believers who had been healed, delivered and become not only believers but having received the Holy Spirit in tongues, had immediate local support and spiritual families. These people of peace Philip had brought to the Lord, were able to settle in to these communal meals among their families, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
Signs and wonders
We also see a true evangelist will have signs and wonders in their ministry. We hear of missionaries winning many to Jesus and amazing signs and wonders, but often wonder why WE don't see that in our lives. We do see miracles continuing among the house churches today as well as back then, for in Galatians 3:5 Paul asks if the miracles done among them are done by the Spirit or by the hearing of the Old Testament law of Moses. The region of Galatia is north central Turkey, and he wrote his letter around the year 56 or 58, nearly 30 years after Pentecost, and miracles were still common among the churches.
But we usually don't see the 'big' miracles as they are signs and wonders confirming the claims of Jesus. That is the highest and best outpouring of God's Spirit in evangelism. Even Mark 16:20 says in the Greek:"And they went forth, the Lord working with and confirming the Word with signs following." (Most English Bibles add 'them', giving the impression the Lord was working with them and confirming the Word with signs following. But it actually says 'the Lord working with and confirming the Word with signs following.' - not working with them, but with the Word. That their faith would be in Him and not a person.)
The ministry of an evangelist is NOT in the church gatherings
Their ministry is outside the church. In Acts 8:14-17 we see Philip got the new believers baptized and then he moved on, instructed by the angel to take the south desert road where he was told by the Holy Spirit to share Jesus with the Ethiopian eunuch. Once the Samaritans were won to the Lord and baptized, Philip's part was complete. Peter and John came and laid hands on people that they would receive the Holy Spirit, and they did.
In I Corinthians 12:27-31 Paul writes this:"You are the body of Christ, and individual parts of that body. And God has set some in the church..." This sets the context. First, he includes everyone in the body of Christ. Then he narrows his focus; And God set some (gifts) in the church. This tells us he is talking about gifts found in the body of Christ in a given city or region.
So we see by context Paul is not saying the following gifts will be found in any one house church, but collectively there may be found 'in the church'. By setting it 'in the church' we know the house churches were overseen by elder couples and individuals, who Paul identified in Acts 20:28 as 'pastors' or 'shepherds', so they are understood to be included. Then he writes:"First apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that power gifts, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversity of tongues..."
With the setting being the collective church we understand again, pastors/elder oversee it, and then he mentions apostles, prophets, teachers and others, but not an evangelist. The reason is as above - the ministry of an evangelist is outside the local church.
This has been a far longer "Thoughts" than normally, but important to know. The Great Commission is about being close enough to people that they may observe (watch and do) in us the things Jesus commanded us. These people will either be family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, or persons of peace. The complete strangers who interact with us through the course of a day, week, month or year, don't fall within those groups. But they are watching us, how we conduct ourselves, they hear what comes out our mouths, as we never know if that complete heathen might become a person of peace who is seeking the answers in life they observe you to have.
New subject next week, until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
Paul won many to the Lord - how did he do it?
I've outlined the spread of the gospel among the 5 spheres of relationships through which an average person might bring a person to Jesus:Family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, the person of peace. Paul won people mostly through a person of peace, by going first to synagogues filled with people who already believed in the God of Israel.
In Acts 17:1-2 we are told when Paul left Philippi and came to Thessalonica:"...where there was a synagogue of the Jews, and as his custom was, Paul went to them* and three Sabbath days shared and discussed how Christ needed to have suffered...." *Acts 13:5, 14-15; Acts 14:1; Acts 17:1, 10, 17:Acts 17:4; Acts 18:4-8; Acts 18:19; Acts 19:8.
We see this repeatedly in Paul's ministry
He went first to those who already believed in the God of Israel. WE think evangelism is reaching someone who has never heard of Jesus, and that can be part of it. But that's not what Paul did. He found people of peace - people who accepted him because he was Jewish and also believed in the God of Israel - THEN he shared Jesus.
The one time he went to people who didn't already have a faith in the God of Israel was in Acts 17:15-34 on Mars Hill in Athens, sharing Jesus among the pagan Greeks. He was largely rejected but for a few according to v34. We don't have a letter from Paul to the church at Athens. Consider that.
Our modern version to follow his example, would be to witness to people who perhaps have gone to church all their lives. Perhaps they have never gone to church but have heard of Jesus and accept you - either as an acquaintance worth getting to know better, or maybe a coworker or neighbor. So instead of feeling condemned for not witnessing to complete heathens, consider the person who has a basic understanding of God, doesn't yet know Him, but does know you. Let them observe what He commanded you.
Roman, Greek, and Jewish cultures all had regular communal meals in their homes
They invited family, friends, neighbors and coworkers, and the person of peace. The word 'synagogue' is Hebrew for 'gathering'. For believers Jewish and Gentile alike, these gatherings were the first 'churches'. The true church, the believers, gathered to share as Acts 2:42 says:To share the apostles teaching, in fellowship, food, and prayer. This is how the gospel spread so far so quickly, one family/community meal at a time. This is what we now see the Holy Spirit doing around the world today, for every family gathers for a meal.
Many churches in the home start by that core family or individual inviting family, friends, neighbors and coworkers over for a meal, sharing what the Lord is doing in their lives, perhaps prayer, perhaps Bible study, perhaps worship...'church' becomes a living, breathing, community and family of faith.
A New Testament evangelist
But what about those heathens? In Acts 21:8, Philip is called 'Philip the evangelist'. In Acts 8:1 we are told of the persecution following Steven's execution in chapter 7:"...the persecution against believers was so severe after the death of Steven they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles." And in v5-8:"And Philip went to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them...and seeing and hearing the miracles he did, for unclean spirits crying with a loud voice, came out of people, and many paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in the city."
A casual reader might look at this passage and think Philip was preaching to complete pagans, but let's set the context. First, the Samaritans were a mixed-breed Jewish/Gentile people, and because they were not purely Jews, were greatly hated by the Pharisees and others. Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29-37 plays off this hatred. The Samaritan woman of John 4 asked Jesus theological questions, noting their priests called the mountain of Samaria holy rather than Jerusalem, and asked who was right. This is where Jesus told her the location doesn't matter, for God is a Spirit (v24), and those who worship Him must do so in spirit (out of your heart) and truth (pure motives).
The Samaritans knew of the God of Israel
They were confused as to which priesthood, which mountain, which liturgy was the right one. Additionally, in the opening words of this chapter we are told every believer left Jerusalem and went to Judea (countryside around the city) and Samaria (immediately north of Jerusalem), settling themselves and their families there. It means Philip's preaching was actually to support and explain this sudden influx of people to the area.
The ministry of an evangelist therefore supports the church, but is not found in the church. The many new believers who had been healed, delivered and become not only believers but having received the Holy Spirit in tongues, had immediate local support and spiritual families. These people of peace Philip had brought to the Lord, were able to settle in to these communal meals among their families, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
Signs and wonders
We also see a true evangelist will have signs and wonders in their ministry. We hear of missionaries winning many to Jesus and amazing signs and wonders, but often wonder why WE don't see that in our lives. We do see miracles continuing among the house churches today as well as back then, for in Galatians 3:5 Paul asks if the miracles done among them are done by the Spirit or by the hearing of the Old Testament law of Moses. The region of Galatia is north central Turkey, and he wrote his letter around the year 56 or 58, nearly 30 years after Pentecost, and miracles were still common among the churches.
But we usually don't see the 'big' miracles as they are signs and wonders confirming the claims of Jesus. That is the highest and best outpouring of God's Spirit in evangelism. Even Mark 16:20 says in the Greek:"And they went forth, the Lord working with and confirming the Word with signs following." (Most English Bibles add 'them', giving the impression the Lord was working with them and confirming the Word with signs following. But it actually says 'the Lord working with and confirming the Word with signs following.' - not working with them, but with the Word. That their faith would be in Him and not a person.)
The ministry of an evangelist is NOT in the church gatherings
Their ministry is outside the church. In Acts 8:14-17 we see Philip got the new believers baptized and then he moved on, instructed by the angel to take the south desert road where he was told by the Holy Spirit to share Jesus with the Ethiopian eunuch. Once the Samaritans were won to the Lord and baptized, Philip's part was complete. Peter and John came and laid hands on people that they would receive the Holy Spirit, and they did.
In I Corinthians 12:27-31 Paul writes this:"You are the body of Christ, and individual parts of that body. And God has set some in the church..." This sets the context. First, he includes everyone in the body of Christ. Then he narrows his focus; And God set some (gifts) in the church. This tells us he is talking about gifts found in the body of Christ in a given city or region.
So we see by context Paul is not saying the following gifts will be found in any one house church, but collectively there may be found 'in the church'. By setting it 'in the church' we know the house churches were overseen by elder couples and individuals, who Paul identified in Acts 20:28 as 'pastors' or 'shepherds', so they are understood to be included. Then he writes:"First apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that power gifts, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversity of tongues..."
With the setting being the collective church we understand again, pastors/elder oversee it, and then he mentions apostles, prophets, teachers and others, but not an evangelist. The reason is as above - the ministry of an evangelist is outside the local church.
This has been a far longer "Thoughts" than normally, but important to know. The Great Commission is about being close enough to people that they may observe (watch and do) in us the things Jesus commanded us. These people will either be family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, or persons of peace. The complete strangers who interact with us through the course of a day, week, month or year, don't fall within those groups. But they are watching us, how we conduct ourselves, they hear what comes out our mouths, as we never know if that complete heathen might become a person of peace who is seeking the answers in life they observe you to have.
New subject next week, until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]
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