Category: evangelism

Finding Common Ground

Acts 17:1-18:18

Devotion by Emilee (Ross) Christian

Today’s reading contains one of my favorite stories about Paul’s travels – his time in Athens. I love this story because it teaches us to approach others of varying beliefs with kindness and respect. In Acts 17:22-30 Paul demonstrates how to speak the truth in love.

            Paul begins his discussion with the Athens people by complimenting them. It isn’t false flattery either. While the lifestyle of idol worship is appalling, Paul looks at the heart behind the lifestyle and establishes common ground with the people. He makes the observation that they are “very religious in every way” (v. 22 NLT). He reminds them of their own “‘unknown God’” to whom they have dedicated an altar. Instead of coming to them with radically new ideas, he expounds on one of their own. Instead of creating division between his religion and theirs, Paul seeks unity.

            In his following statements, Paul shows his knowledge of their customs, further establishing his credibility. He isn’t ignorant of their ways of life. He notes how the Greeks put special significance over temples, believing it to be where their gods reside and have power. He explains how the Hebrew God “since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in manmade temples” (v. 24 NLT). He discusses their custom to offer sacrifices and argues that the true God does not require sacrifices from man in order to survive. Finally, Paul quotes some of Athens own poets to prove the existence of God as creator of man. To make all these arguments, Paul needed to have a baseline understanding of the Athens religious beliefs. This means he took the time to understand the people he sought to evangelize.

            It’s also worth noting that Paul initially approaches them with an I statement. I looked it up in the original Greek and sure enough the verb used for seeing/noticing is conjugated first person singular. In relational communication, I statements are key. I statements help the speaker convey ideas without seeming to attack the recipient. I think it is brilliant that Paul does that here with the Athens people.

            The way Paul speaks to the Athens people reminds me of how he explained his teaching style in I Corinthians when he wrote “I have become all things to all people” (9:22 NIV).  Paul humbles himself in sharing the gospel. Rather than teach a doctrine, Paul sought to teach good news. I think today we can learn from Paul. If there is someone in your life who’s lifestyle seems counter to yours or your beliefs, I encourage you to search for common ground like Paul. Find that common ground. Address it, using an I statement. Then, expound on their beliefs by guiding them to the truth. It takes finesse, of course, but it is important to not ostracize people. In a world full of so much division, look for the similarities. Ask God to give you humility. I wonder just how many people we could reach if we paused and looked for our similarities. Despite the many ways we can differ, at the end of the day, we are all a part of God’s creation, groaning and longing for a day free from death and decay. We are more alike than we are different. 

Reflection Questions

  1. Have you worked on using “I statements”? What results have you seen? Have you tried them before when sharing the good news?
  2. How was the good news shared with you? Are there bad ways to share the good news? What might that look like? With what results?
  3. Think of someone different from you who does not currently have the hope of eternal life. What do you have in common? What do you know about them? What “I statements” could you use to start a conversation with them about God?
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Death Threats

Jeremiah 26-29

“You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22).

In chapter 26, Jeremiah experienced hate on account of obedience to God. He was obedient to telling the people God’s message and they wanted to kill him for it. In our current day, the world is trying very hard to normalize certain sins and they spew a lot of vitriol toward Christians for not supporting it and promoting it. We see in certain areas of the world where Christians are even being killed for their beliefs. 

Did Jeremiah crumble under the threat of death? He absolutely did not. In the face of the threat of death, he stood his ground and continued to be obedient to God’s call to warn the people. God wants us to not have a spirit of fear and timidity but to be bold—even in the face of danger. Thankfully, we don’t need to rely on our own limited power, because we have a far greater source of strength. 2 Timothy 1:7 says,  “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

If we are practicing obedience to God’s word, we can be sure that we will receive push back from the world. We need to be resolute like Jeremiah and not conform to the wickedness of the world, but instead call it out so that we can help bring as many people as possible into God’s kingdom.

-Kristy Cisneros

Reflection Questions

  1. What might you be thinking and feeling and doing if you were in Jeremiah’s shoes? Is there anything you find particularly admirable about Jeremiah?
  2. What is the purpose behind speaking up (not omitting a word) even when it is not positively received?
  3. Have you ever faced a potentially fearful situation because of your faith? How do you think you (with help from the Spirit of God) might handle it today if you ran into persecution for believing in and speaking for God?
  4. What might you be able to do today to strengthen your faith in order to speak every word from God AND perhaps handle persecution better in the future?
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Not-So-Famous Amos

Amos 1-5

I love a good chocolate chip cookie! I can’t say that vending machine cookies are my favorite thing, but if I need a sugar fix, a bag of Famous Amos cookies can do the trick. However, today’s devotion and scripture contain no chocolate chip cookies (unless you would like to eat one while you’re reading).

I can’t think of any songs or poems proclaiming Amos’ greatness. He wasn’t a king, a priest, or in any elevated position. Amos 1:1 says that this not-so-famous Amos was “Among the sheepherders from Tekoa.” Even the place he was from isn’t famous to our modern-day ears. (I had to cheat a little bit to find out more about Amos by going to chapter 7). In Amos 7:14, he says, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs.” He didn’t speak out so he would gain fame. He spoke out because God called him to.

Once again, God shows us that he can use anyone from any background as a vessel for His word. Amos had powerful things to say, and He was willing to be God’s vessel. Some of his writings might be a little bit difficult to read and understand without knowing about the events of his day so if you need a Cliff Notes version to help you gain clarity, I recommend this video from The Bible Project.

Remember, it doesn’t matter what your age, gender, race, or education is. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been raised in the church or are just starting on your Christian journey. God can use you to further His Kingdom and share his love!

-Lacey Dunn

Reflection:

• What gifts or talents has God given you that you can use for furthering His Kingdom?

• What is one way that someone else has shared God’s word with you? What made it effective, and how can you effectively share God’s word with someone else?

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“Now there was…”

OLD TESTAMENT: Esther 1-2

POETRY: Psalm 140

NEW TESTAMENT: John 13:1-17

Esther 2:5 – “Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish,”

The book of Esther opens up with introducing the reader to the reign of King Xerxes of Persia. His kingdom was vast and wide. His wealth was beyond measure. His wife, Queen Vashti, was one of the most beautiful women in all of the land. He seemed to have it all. Except King Xerxes didn’t have it all. He hadn’t yet conquered Greece. And his wife, well, she wasn’t keen on being paraded around objectified by men in drunken states. And for this, she was punished, dethroned, and for all intents and purposes, exiled. Now, King Xerxes didn’t have a queen.

Chapter two of Esther opens up with the phrase, “Now there was…” introducing us to a new set of characters in the story, Mordecai and Esther, who are the individuals that we should really turn our attention to. These two new characters are Hebrew exiles living in Persia under the reign of King Xerxes. And as we read through the book of Esther, we see that their presence in this kingdom is vital to the survival of Xerxes, but more significantly, the Hebrew population in Persia.

This phrase “Now there was…” has gotten me thinking about the other times it is used in Scripture. Within the NIV translation, it is used eight additional times. (Gen 12:10; 26:1; Nu 20:2; 2 Sam 9:2; 1 Kings 13:11; Luke 2:25; 23:50; and John 3:1) It’s an author’s way of transitioning to something new, maybe even something unexpected. 

As we find ourselves in the middle of Advent season, I’m going to take my devotional-writer prerogative and divert slightly and transition to another, but related, idea. (We’ll come back to Esther tomorrow, I promise.)

I am thinking of key people in the narrative of Jesus’ birth that also deserve a “Now there was” introduction.

Now there was…Mary, the betrothed of Joseph, chosen by God to be the mother of the long awaited Messiah.

Now there was…Joseph, the man selected to raise the Messiah as his own.

Now there was…Gabriel, the angel who was sent to share the news of parenthood with Mary and Joseph.

Now there were…the shepherds who witnessed a great company of the heavenly hosts praising God upon the birth of Jesus.

Now there were…the Wise Men who traveled from afar to present gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh to the new born child. 

All of these people had a role in introducing Jesus to the world, just as he was born. There are many prophets who foretold Jesus in the Old Testament. There are many apostles and disciples who continued to tell the world about Jesus through the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament. 

Who is telling the world today about Jesus?

Now there was…YOU.

We each have the privilege and responsibility to continue to share the Gospel message to those who do not know it yet. 

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus with family and friends, let us not forget that there might be someone we know who needs to be introduced to the Lord and Savior of the world. They need to hear the message that they are loved, that they can be healed, that there is hope beyond what they experience today. YOU can be the difference for someone else today and give them the greatest gift of all, the Gospel message. 

May God bless you and keep you as you go about your day.

-Bethany Ligon

Reflection Questions

  1. In the first two chapters of Esther what have we learned so far about the main characters: the King of Persia, Mordecai, and Esther? How would you describe each one?
  2. Choose a character from the events of the birth of Jesus. How would you describe him/her?
  3. How would you like to introduce someone to Jesus? Pray about the opportunity, the words, the hearts (yours and theirs) that can make the difference.
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Dear Church in Philadelphia – and You

OLD TESTAMENT: Jeremiah 40-42

POETRY: Psalm 119:65-72

NEW TESTAMENT: Revelation 3:7-13

Rev. 3:7-13 – Letter to Philadelphia

We are nearly through our seven letters!

In today’s passage, we read about the church in Philadelphia, the church that (most people agree) had ZERO correction from Jesus.  What an honor they had earned!!

Jesus comes in with powerful encouragement for this church in “Little Athens”, where it was surrounded by temples to other gods.  This church was the youngest in comparison to the rest of the churches listed here, and experienced many physical challenges, specifically earthquakes, throughout its entire existence.  The city itself was smaller and less populated, but was strategically built as a gateway city for the larger areas around them.  This unique geographical location placed the church in a vital position for supporting the growth of Christianity.  They truly had an open door if you will… 

Most scholars believe that this open door to evangelism is what Jesus is referencing in verse 8 – reminding this church of their opportunity to spread the Gospel to a whole new group of people, that could continue growing and spreading in new cities.  And of course, right before this in verse 7 he introduces himself as one who holds the keys to open what no one else can, and to shut what no one else can.  Some people debate if this was a way that Jesus was correcting this church, by putting them in their place to remember who really was the one to give them such a successful ministry. 

This church received praise for holding fast to Jesus Christ, his teachings and his name.  Jesus acknowledges that he has seen their works, knows they don’t have much strength, and yet they have persevered (v.8).  His encouragement to them was focused on condemnation for their enemies, and validating his love for them to those who may have been persecuting them (v.9).  He also describes how their patient faithfulness will save them from later suffering when the world is experiencing testing and trials (v.10).  Not only would this serve as encouragement for those believers, but it would have also served as a strong reminder of what they needed to continue doing in order to experience those promises!

So, what is this young, tiny, faithful, and weak church to do with the abundant opportunity they have received?  They are to hold on to what they have, knowing that Christ is coming again (v. 11).  

Living in today’s day and age, we all have abundant opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Whether it’s in-person, virtually, maybe even through online devotionals… (I’m sure Marcia would love a few more writers next year – or even next week has a few holes 🙂)  we all have ample chances to tell people about the Kingdom, and to know and uphold the Word.  We are probably just as weak and tiny as the church in Philadelphia felt, and maybe as young!  Yet we have the same chance to claim this same victorious message when we hold firmly to Jesus’ teachings and his name.  

Here’s the thing: we already know how the story ends.  We know who the winner is of this constant war and messed up world. And, we know HE IS COMING SOON!  That message should excite us, energize us, and encourage us daily!  It can be so challenging when we are bogged down by the many woes of this life.  We live in an incredibly imperfect world, full of yucky people, horrific disasters, and overall just depressing moments.  I’m sure the Philadelphians were probably sick of seeing all these pagan gods, constantly rebuilding their homes from earthquakes, and being picked on by everyone around them.  If they can withstand life’s challenges so well that Jesus is shouting their praises, maybe we can too. 

Reflection Questions:

  • How would you feel to receive a letter like this from Jesus?  What things in your life right now do you think Jesus would be praising?  What would he be correcting?
  • In Psalm 119:71, David writes about how his afflictions helped him learn God’s decrees. In Jeremiah 40, we read about Jeremiah finally getting some freedom back after being confined and imprisoned, and continuing to spread God’s messages.  What challenges have you experienced in your life that you have come to see as a blessing or an opportunity to grow in your faith?
  • What is one way you can seize an opportunity to share Christ in your world today? What doors do you see that Christ has opened in your life?

-Sarah Johnson

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Dear Church in Ephesus – and You

OLD TESTAMENT: Jeremiah 27 – 29

POETRY: Psalm 119:25-32

NEW TESTAMENT: Revelation 2:1-7

Rev. 2:1-7 – Letter to Ephesus

Hello all!  Although the other material is just as wonderful, we will be taking a focused look on the Revelation passages, exploring the Letters to the Churches.  Let’s dive in!

Each letter has a general pattern of a greeting and introduction, praise for their behavior, a warning or correction, plus a reminder of what is to come (hint, it’s the Kingdom!)

For some context, the church in Ephesus was visited and established by Paul back in Acts 18 & 19. We know from these passages that the silversmith Demetrius, and his shrines or idols to the goddess Artemis, were popular opposers of the message of Jesus the Messiah.  From the book of Ephesians, we know that Paul believed the Ephesians loved all of God’s people, but still needed guidance on how to daily live out the Christian walk.  Knowing this can impact how we read the letter John transcribed to them in Revelation 2, and how we can take that message and apply it to our own churches and lives.

After greeting the church in Ephesus, through John, Jesus writes to the church of Ephesus and commends them on their hard work, perseverance, and holding fast to doctrinal truths diligently (v.2-3).  But their correction is that they have forsaken the love they had at first (v.4).  Some people debate the exact meaning this has, but personally, when paired with the information we have from Paul’s writing, I believe this means they have lost the love they had for God’s people. 

Back in Paul’s time, they were a church in the middle of a dark, secular, perverse community.  Yet, they were growing and evangelizing in a way that was drawing people away from worshiping other gods, and bringing them to repentance.  Clearly they were doing something right at this time to be so appealing to people in such a community, so much so that those trying to make a profit off of sinful practices started a riot!  And THAT is what I believe they lost.  

This church seems to have swung the pendulum to the side of practicing truth without love.  While we can only speculate, I do think this likely looked like church leaders who were so focused on ensuring their church stood out from the worldly crowds, they lost the compassion for those outside of their own doors.  They lost the zeal and vigor for spreading the gospel, and became too heavily focused on trying to maintain the doctrinal ‘purity’ they had built.  

Notice how Jesus doesn’t say in these verses they should stop holding fast to those important practices, but rather they should do them in combination with what they did at first, loving others in their community so well that they were attracted to the church.  In fact, right after this reminder, he even says that he appreciates that they hate the same detestable practices he does!  Jesus was never saying to disregard the importance of true and accurate teaching of the Gospel message.  But he was challenging a church who had been a beacon of light to their community, to remember how they felt in those early days when they received the Holy Spirit, and go back to the same energy and passion for the people they were surrounded by.

Well-established churches or believers, especially those who hold tightly to doctrinal truths, must be on guard for this same loss of love in their own communities and hearts.  Not compromising on the biblical truths they hold, but never losing sight of the greatest commandment, to LOVE one another.  We all may have a bit more Ephesus in us than we think… which isn’t always a bad thing, but is something we must be cognizant of to make sure we are still remembering the love we must show, in order to have the opportunity to experience the “paradise of God” (v.7).

Reflection Questions:

  • Consider yourself and your church, have you lost your first love?  If you have, what steps can you take to revitalize that passion?  
  • Think of someone you care about deeply.  Have you shared the truth of Jesus Christ with them in a loving way?  If not, how can you start that conversation?
  • Reread Psalms 119:29-32 from today’s reading.  Clearly we see throughout all Scripture the importance of holding fast to God’s commands, just like the church in Ephesus.  Are you truly “setting your heart” on God’s laws as in these Psalms verses?

-Sarah (Blanchard) Johnson

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Furthering the Gospel Message

Old Testament: 2 Kings 23

Poetry: Psalm 88

New Testament: Philippians 1

I sat down several times to work on this devotion today. Every time I distracted myself. I struggle, often, to stay on task, as I’m sure many people do. There are just so many different things I can focus on! I stopped again just now and distracted myself by recounting all the things I did this morning rather than write this. 

Back to the topic at hand: Staying On Topic. The first chapter of Philippians (one of my FAVORITE books) is full of love and encouragement toward people that desperately need it. And Paul (who is imprisoned) gets right to the point: Their focus should be on spreading the gospel message. 

Verses 1- 14: Paul loves these people. Carrying on in ministry is not a job one accomplishes alone. We draw on each other for strength and encouragement. He loves his brothers and sisters in Christ and prays over them. 

Stop for a moment and pray over your brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray blessings over them, particularly the ones who might feel discouraged. Who can you reach out to encourage today as Paul is doing here? 

Paul says his imprisonment is to be celebrated because he has been able to spread the message of Jesus Christ. In this he acknowledges that in all of our circumstances and trials, we are to use our lives as a testimony.

Ask yourself what trials or difficult circumstances you are experiencing at present. How can you use this as a testimony to others? How are you displaying Christ? How can you do it better? 

Verses 15-26: Paul cuts to the heart of the matter, and asks that his friends ignore motives for just a moment. Who can judge the heart but God, after all? Their focus, and ours, should be on one important mission: that the gospel of Jesus Christ be spread. Nothing. Else. Matters. 

Yes, the present life is difficult. Yes there are people out there trying to create harm, trying to make circumstances worse for Paul. But we must keep our focus on spreading the gospel. And any time the Good News is shared in ANY way, we are to rejoice!  

“In every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” 

Do you get sidetracked, sometimes, worrying about the motives of others? I know I do. I’m frequently suspicious. And I must force myself to ask, as Paul does, “What does it matter?” So long as the gospel message is preached, I should rejoice. 

Verses 27-30: Paul encourages the Philippian church to stay on track. No matter what happens, be concerned first that the gospel is preached in your words and in your actions. Don’t be distracted by those who oppose you or by those who may have false intentions. Live a life that glorifies Christ and spreads the message of the kingdom.

Are you distracted by the negative voices and actions in your life? Have you lost focus? The gospel of Christ is first!  Are you conducting yourself “in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”? What adjustments do you need to make in your life to be a better representative of the kingdom? 

As your sister in Christ, I’m praying over you now that you find encouragement in whatever your situation is. I pray that you are able to defend and confirm the gospel in your actions and your words. I pray that you find support in your fellow believers to continue on in your important task of spreading Christ Jesus to others, and that you do so without distraction! Let’s continue to advance the gospel together. I love you!

-Jenn Haynes

Reflection Questions

  1. See above – lots of great questions in Jenn’s devotion
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Lost

Old Testament: Hosea 6-8

Poetry: Psalm 78

New Testament: Luke 15:8-10

It is fairly maddening how quickly I can lose an object. I will set down car keys to load a child into the car and they are gone.  I can be in the middle of a text conversation, get up for a drink, and my phone disappears. Parking passes, debit cards, proof of insurance, checks, grade verifications, etc – there is no limit to what I can lose. My students will even tell you that I don’t collect work directly into my hands because if I touch it, I’ll subconsciously place it near my next conversation. It is infuriating to lose items so important, but each time, I rise to the occasion to search with determination that matches the importance of what is missing.

When we consider those who have not yet heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, what responsibility do we have to recover the lost?  If it is gauged upon the importance of the object, and we are searching for those who were paid for with the blood of Christ, then it requires all the strength we can muster.  We do not sit patiently in our homes and churches, waiting for our doors to be darkened by their presence. If we do this, then the searching is being done by the wrong party. We are to turn on the light, get our butts moving, and carefully search each room where our feet land.

Fallen out and forgotten, lost in the shuffle, moved out of place, and never properly cared for are the people of God we are looking for. They are every bit as equal in value, but they need to be found with the Gospel in hand. It is possible that they choose to remain wherever they are.  Unlike lost coins and keys, there very well may be a struggle. Like a teenager who slips back under the covers on a school morning, they too may crawl back into the couch cushion or make a home with the dust bunnies.  No matter, our role is the same in the search, to find them and expose them to the Light.

God remains steadfast in his desire to continue the search despite Israel’s determination to commit to being unfaithful. While Israel acknowledges guilt and recognizes revival is needed, their actions do not yet match their lips,“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.” They continue to reject what is good and are forced to deal with the consequences of a rebelling nation.

“We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done” – Psalm 78:4

Whether it is with a coworker, an acquaintance, a straying brother or sister in Christ, or our own children, we do not simply wait patiently, but continue to pursue the lost coin.  We share our own experiences of feeling lost.  We share the consequences of our own rebellion against God.  We share our testimony and the promises of God, not hiding our faith for the sake of relationship.  We cannot simply pick them up and place them in our pocket, but we can surround them in love and prayer.  We extend the love of God to them determinedly and unconditionally. No one is less valuable in the eyes of God. Ultimately, we hope to rejoice and reap a return, giving praise to our gracious God who has searched for all of us with salvation’s plan.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Hosea, the woman searching for her lost coin, the writer of Psalm 78, and the heart of God have in common?
  2. Do you most often sit and wait for the lost to come find you and the gospel message – or do you spend time and effort seeking out the lost?
  3. “No one is less valuable in the eyes of God.” Do you believe this? Can you find Scriptural evidence to support it? Do you live like this is true?
  4. What lost coin can you pursue this week? Why? When, where and how? Pray for God’s heart, guidance, wisdom, words, and love.
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A Hope that Makes You Bold

OlD Testament: Ruth 3

Poetry: Psalms 62

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 3

A major theme in 2 Corinthians 3 is boldness. 2 Corinthians 3:12 states:

“Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.”

In this verse we also see the word hope. Hope is different in the Bible than it is in the English language. Hope as an English word often conveys doubt, but almost always in the New Testament the word hope is the Greek elpis/elpizo. There is no doubt attached to this word. This means that when we see the word hope in the Bible, we know it means confidence and security.

So, if there is no doubt in this type of hope, let me ask you a question. What would change in your demeanor if you knew… I mean really knew that the hope you have is assured? If you already knew you won the game or aced the test, you would be bold and confident in what you are trying to do. Biblical hope is a reality, not just a feeling. It’s a sure foundation that we can build our lives on.

Kirk Cameron once asked the question, if you had the cure for cancer would you keep it to yourself, or would you share it? If you knew you could save someone’s life you would be more bold. As Christians we have the opportunity to save people by being bold with our faith. We are called to give an answer to anyone that would ask.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

When was the last time you were bold enough to share your faith?

-Brooke Cisneros

Reflection Questions

  1. What would change in your demeanor if you knew… I mean really knew that the hope you have is assured? How would you explain your hope – and how it is different from a hope with doubt?
  2. When was the last time you were bold enough to share your faith?
  3. How can you boldly share your faith today? Will you?
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Go and Tell

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 11 & 12

Poetry: Job 33

New Testament: Romans 1

He is risen indeed!  I write this devotion to you on the heels of celebrating Resurrection Sunday with our church family.  What a joyous celebration, as we celebrate the victory that Jesus had over death and what that means for us today.  The first people who heard that Jesus has risen from the grave were the ladies present when the angel rolled the stone away.  The angel told them that Jesus “is not here, for he has risen” (ESV Matthew 28:6).  The angel then gave the ladies simple instructions: “go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead” (Matthew 28:7). Go and tell.  That’s what the ladies were to do; they were to go and tell others that Jesus is alive.  If there has ever been a bona fide star of someone who simply goes and tells others about Jesus, it would have to be the apostle Paul.

From the moment that Paul placed his faith in Christ Jesus, his whole life seemed to revolve around spreading the gospel message of the king and the kingdom.  He took a few missionary journeys and wrote many letters seeking to advance the gospel message of the king and the kingdom.  What we have here in Romans is another example of Paul’s innate desire to go and tell others about Jesus and what was important to him.

Romans 1:1 identifies Paul as the author of this letter: “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.”  I would say that is a pretty good summary of who Paul is.  Paul served Jesus from the moment that Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, and Paul was sent off to advance the gospel message of God.  Romans 1:7 identifies the target audience of this letter: “To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.”  Paul was writing to all of the saints in the city of Rome.  A saint is simply someone who, like Paul, is set apart from the world around them.  Paul is writing to those in Rome who have set themselves apart from the world by putting their faith in Christ Jesus.

It is believed that Paul wrote this letter around 56-58 AD – less than 30 years after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  The Roman Empire is nearing its peak in power.  In 49 AD, the Roman emperor Claudius banished all Jews from the city of Rome.  This decree lasted until Claudius’ death 5 years later.  Thus, at the time of the writing, the Jews were just able to reenter the city of Rome.  Around 56-58 AD, Nero would have just become the emperor.  He would eventually wreak havoc on the Christians in the city of Rome, but this would not have come until after Paul’s letter to the saints in Rome.  The saints in Rome would have consisted of both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians.  I am sure they experienced similar tension that other groups of Christians experienced as well.

Paul would eventually find his way to the city of Rome in chains, but at the time of his writing, he had not yet been to Rome.  Verses 8-15 detail Paul’s desire to go to Rome.  We learn that Paul was “eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome,” (Romans 1:15).  Paul wanted to go preach the gospel to them in person, but in the meantime, he would write a unifying letter to them about the gospel message.  That is largely what the letter of Romans is – Paul’s presentation of the gospel message.  I like to break down Paul’s presentation of the gospel message in Romans into three parts: 1. Our sin and need of salvation. 2. God’s plan of salvation for us. 3. How to live a Christian life.

After Paul’s introduction in the first 17 verses or so, Paul transitions into the topic of our sin and our need of salvation.  It is not a fun section to read though, but it is needed to get to the fun sections.  Why talk about salvation if we have no need of being saved?  There would be no point!  However, as we will see in the next couple of chapters, Paul does a pretty stand-up job of expressing mankind’s desperate need of salvation.

I look forward to progressing through this letter with you.  In the meantime, I encourage you to consider Paul’s task and desire of going and telling others about the risen savior. Just as the ladies present at the tomb of Jesus and the apostle Paul himself, I implore you to go and tell!

-Kyle McClain

Reflection Questions

  1. Where and to whom might God be directing you to Go and Tell? Paul used both letters and visits to tell the gospel message of the king and kingdom. How could you share the message with those you know – and those you have yet to meet?
  2. What is the importance of each part of Paul’s message: 1. Our sin and need of salvation. 2. God’s plan of salvation for us. 3. How to live a Christian life? What happens when any one of those are not shared and taught?
  3. Pray for the God’s wisdom, words and direction as you follow Paul’s example. Then Go and Tell!
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