How to Reach Our Culture with The Gospel | 6 Things to Consider

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast supported by harvest partners for more ways to deepen and challenge your spiritual walk and roll and pastor breaks free online courses sign up and harvest out alert today for Greg Laurie morning show.

Sometimes believers try to share the gospel with language in the other person doesn't speak you know maybe wash the blood, part of the body by making myself clear. They don't know what you're saying you're speaking it differently to reach culture living in some kind of weird upside down culture right is wrong is down. Send this to be celebrated. We feel disoriented aliens on the strange planet beginning Greg Laurie points out, sometimes people may feel a bit disoriented when they talk to show us ways to find common ground common language to capture their interest our message of hope years ago would go to a little restaurant breakfast. My wife Jonathan. He was very small little toddler, probably around two years old still in a high chair and does a weird order breakfast and there was this one waitress that really ought. Jonathan was just adorable and she was immobile. Jonathan you are you today hello John, the head and hug him and he looked slightly irritated but he didn't say anything. You said this look and he was muttering something under his breath with what is he saying.

Finally she left I said Jonathan what are you saying when that waitress is hugging you and telling you how wonderful she thinks you are. He says I'm saying go bye-bye bye-bye.

I think sometimes we start talking people are thinking go bye-bye we don't want to be that person. So let's take a master class from a master communicator. The apostle Paul. Let's take a page out of his playbook on how to reach our culture with the gospel, by the way, these are principles that I've been personally using for 50 years plus a preaching, though given in the first century there completely relevant to us today in the 21st century because the answers to the problems of humanity are still the same XO acceptor 17 starting in verse 16 we read and I'm reading from the new living translation. When Paul was waiting for them at Athens. He was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. He went to the synagogue debate with the Jews in the Godfrey Gentiles spoke daily in the public square, to all who happen to be there and the other debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Then he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, and they said this babbler has picked up some strange ideas.

Others said he's pushing some foreign religion. Then they took him to the Council of philosophers also known as the Areopagus, and said, tell us more about this new religion you're seen some rather startling things that we want to know what it's all about.

It should be explained that the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seem to spend all of their time discussing the latest ideas I'd underlined.

That's interesting, underlined, so Paul standing before the Council address them as follows. Men of Athens, I noticed your very religious. If you were to give this statement today you would say, the people of America.

I see that your induced spirituality that's effectively what he was saying and I was walking among your many altars and one of them. We had this inscription on it to an on known God you been worshiping him without knowing who is now I wish to tell you about.

So how can we be better communicators in the time in which we live out till we not be the person that comes down the street that people say go bye-bye okay so if you're taking notes here six principles and how to bring the gospel to our culture. Point number one.

Effective communication begins with the burden of effective communication begins with the burden look at verse 16. While Paul was waiting for them in Athens. He was greatly distressed that the city was full of idols. He was just cream to see the absence of the living God and in his place every conceivable substitute and I wonder if you ever feel that way. I know I do you know when when I look at the new site.

I it's so frustrating to me to see the evil in the world, but we need to reach the culture that were in. Paul went into their world. The Areopagus Mars Hill was sort of the town square feet is when right there in the epicenter of everything that hey I was walking around your city is checking things out and I saw the you of all these gods you worship, but there was one altar erected to the unknown God. I think I did was take in case we missed one gobbler just direct us to the God we must strike. I want to talk to you about the God you don't know about me to my second point always culturally relevant. It was culturally relevant. It's called reading the room." One of their secular philosophers to build a bridge to his audience that so important so people know we live in the same world they live in. This is the proper way to start.

Jesus himself did this. Remember the woman at the well. She was ostracized from the community had no friends to speak of. She been married and divorced five times and was living with some guy. If she comes of the well to draw water in the heat of the day and there since Jesus a Jew in Samaria that was pretty unusual and then he asked her a question. Hey, could you give me a drink of water.

She says why would you would you ask for a drink of water from me, a Samaritan woman, don't you know Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. He said you were talking to you would ask him and he would give you living water in the conversation begin what was Jesus doing he was building a bridge to get a start up I saved you a moral woman harlot Khmer was seen a moral woman yes but wanted Jesus to be appealed to her inner surface lady I know why your married and divorced five times a living wasn't guy I know that you're trying to fill a void in your life with men when really what you need is a relationship with God. He says to her. If you drink of this water you'll thirst again. Great way to start.

So Paul does the same thing look in verse 28.

He quotes one of their "secular poets. Hey, you have a poet that is in him we live and move and have our being and is one of your own poet says we are his offspring secures our problem is we try to talk to a nonbeliever in a cryptic Christian. These language that only we understand what the hey you.

He then let me say something uncircumcised Philistine cemeteries. Your center going to hell. You need to repent.

You need to be washed in the blood, then you need to become a part of the body and be justified and sanctified MI making myself clear. They don't know what your site your speaking a different language. You're just told him to be washed in blood and be a part of a body they don't know what that means that sonic in a creepy grade are you suggesting we don't use biblical terminology know I'm suggesting that you not assume that your listener understands the language or speaking so break it down speak in a way, the lender said that. So Paul is doing.

Paul is a brilliant intellect, the greatest of theologians. He knew Roman philosophy Greek philosophy. He knew it all but he breaks it down in such a simple way. He says I want to talk to you about the unknown God.

So Paul now continues on with this message to these people, telling them how to come into this relationship with God bringing me to point number four. We must preach up biblical message yeah build a bridge to your audience connect to them, but ultimately the power is not in a quote from a secular philosopher.

The power is in the word of God that's with the powerless. So we gotta get to this and we don't get to this we've missed the point. God himself says of Scripture Isaiah 5511 social my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It will not return unto me void, it will accomplish what I please, and prosper in the thing for which I send this book that is given to us from God is sufficient to meet our spiritual needs. Second Timothy 315 says all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable to teach us what is true, make us realize what's wrong in our lives. It straightens us out. It teaches us to do what's right is God's way of preparing us in every way, equipped for every good thing that God wants us to do just what people want to hear biblical preaching today that you want to hear it.

Christianity today ran an article with the headline the hottest thing the church is not your pastor or worship leader article goes on to say what people are looking for when they come to church is preaching centered on the Bible. The conclusion was sermons that teach about Scripture other number one reason Americans go to church. The Bible we want to hear it going.

People will pull recently.

In another article, and they were asked if they wanted longer or shorter sermons. Their answer longer sermons. Okay, not boring sermons they want to hear more of the word of God. Listen, my job is not to make the Bible relevant the Bible is relevant. I just need to let the lion out of the cage and let the word of God. Do what it does best change lives. So Paul's message was Mr. Greg Moore will have the second half of his message just a moment to everybody. What are you doing this weekend. I like to hang out with you at harvest and home services own. It is a time of worship and Bible study exclusively designed for people that are viewing in from all over the place so you can be a part of our extended congregation at Harvest at Home. Join us this weekend Saturday and Sunday for Harvest at Home@harvest.org today. Pastor Greg is offering some important guideline in sharing the message of the gospel effectively. He continues now when you're talking to someone one-on-one and understand the word preached in the work to go to all the world and preach the gospel doesn't mean you have to yell.

I think people yelling when they're talking to someone and she stopped that. Just calm down lower your volume exceeded conversationally.

The word of God is still powerful, even without an elevated volume. Just because there's power in this word and you you build the bridge you connect to the person listen if you want to win some be winsome to be a nice person be a friendly person be a loving person and then tell them what the word of God says and that's with Paul. Point number five. Our message must focus on Christ crucified and risen ghetto. Paul closes the deal verse 31 is appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the many is ordained is given assurance of this to all of us by raising him from the dead.

That's a message okay guys, I built the bridge.

I'm giving you the word of God. Here's the bottom line. Jesus is the answer that was true in the first century.

That's true in the 21st century. That's my message it's Jesus it's Jesus Jesus Christ crucified Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, Jesus Christ ascended coming back again. You need Jesus. That's were telling people that so Paul did so powerfully.

One last point. After preaching Paul trusted God for the results after preaching. He trusted God for the results.

Look at verse 32 of chapter 17 when they heard of the resurrection of the dead.

Some while others said will hear you again on this matter.

So Paul departed from them. However, some men joined them and believed among him beyond the CSC Areopagite, a woman named emeritus, and others with this is really interesting to me.

This is the apostle Paul what happens. He preaches to these people and a handful respond way your Paul I mean don't you always have a lot of people believing no. 3000 of the dependent customer look the responsive people is up to God. It's not up to me.

I don't believe in trying to manipulate people into believing or arguing them in the believing because they can be argued in they can be argued out that they can be manipulated and they can be manipulated out Jesus as no one comes to me unless the father draws so what I do is I share the gospel Alaska person.

Perhaps if I'm feeling prompted by the Lord, would you like to accept Jesus Christ into your life right now and if they say no I don't grab him by the throat. I don't pressure them you got it just to pray this prayer. I leave it in the hands of God and sometimes people believe and sometimes they don't. Sometimes God wants me to so see that's it.

Sometimes God wants me to water is see that someone else so in other times God gives me the privilege of reaping more others have watered and sewn. As Paul said, once those in other waters. God gives the increase.

It's up to God not up to me not up to you but look at how they reacted. Some models was a joke to them. The word used here for mock means they sneered and burst out laughing while that was an indication they were perishing.

The Bible says the preaching of the gospel is to them were perishing bullishness. Some will mock I used to mock Christians. I laughed at them I thought they were stupid and foolish I was in the South. Years ago I drove by a little town. I saw the sign. The town was called Marksville.

I thought I should have been born there because I've always been a mocker, I make fun of things and so I made fun of the Christians, but then I sat down and listened and I stop mocking started believing. So somebody some delay. They said will talk to you about this. Another you meet people like this. I'm interested but not now. I know I don't do it now. I don't want to go to church with you now. I don't pray with you now. Okay, they can have that response but sometimes you need to can oppress on a little bit more and you need the Lord to lead you this was basically my mother's response every time I brought the gospel up to her. She would say I want to talk about it. I want to talk about it. I don't want to talk about when they woke up I felt so led of the Lord to go talk to my mother about her soul and so I got in my car and drove over she was going to surprise what are you doing here mom. I want to talk to you about your soul, your relationship with God.

She said I don't want to talk about it. I said today were to talk about and I'm glad I was persistent because that was the day she recommitted her life to the Lord, and a month later she was in heaven.

So sometimes he will say I don't want to talk about it, but they do want to talk about it.

So you need to be sensitive to the leading of the Lord, and sometimes they say I don't want to talk about it and they don't want to talk about and by continuing to push it. You could actually hurt what you're trying to do. Okay so some delays and some month and finally, some believe one of them was named beyond the CSC Areopagite. He was one of the judges of Athens and intellectual ruler of his day. He became a believer.

Another woman named emeritus. She was disillusioned with the emptiness of the worship of false gods and see to believe. So it wasn't what we would call a great response but hey, it's what I was in it.

We read of the words of Jesus when he says pray that the Lord would send out laborers into his harvest is not Greg's harvest aside your harvest.

It's his harvest so we say Lord you just reach those people. The Bible says as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. So we just say Lord it's in your hands, to proclaim your gospel, to do it lovingly.

I want to do it carefully. I'm going to do it in a way that's understood by the person I'm speaking to the leave the results in your cancel me close with this acronym share SHARE everyone of those letters stand for something and it sort of sums up we just read as stands for sensitive be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Paul's message began with the burden that God gave him to reach the people of Athens will be sensitive age, honor and respect others don't come off as holier than thou.

As I said earlier, the objective is to build a bridge not burn the bridge so honor and respect others say arouse the interest of your listener say something that they might have an interest in talk to them are reveal sin, you know, you come to the point we have set all these things. You build all your bridges you told him God loves them but you gotta tell them there is center and you have to define what is center rents and always include myself when I call someone a sinner of St. your center. I'm a center for all sinners, because sin means to miss the mark you fall short of God's standards so you have to tell them that as well reveal sin. Any explain the way of salvation.

Tell them how to do it. Tell them how to believe in Jesus. Tell them how to come into a relationship with him share SB sensitive age, honor and respect others. A arousing interest of your listener are reveal sin E explain the way of cell patient listen God can use you.

God will use you but will you say Lord carry him use me let me come back to a point I raised earlier. How do you become a Christian.

You admit to God you're a sinner and US Jesus Christ to come and live in your heart and life as your Savior and Lord, and he can do that right now because he stands at the door of your life in the Knox and he says if you hear his voice and open the door he will come in if you've never asked Jesus to come into your life.

You can do it right here right now. Let's pray father speak to every heart. If there's anyone here if they don't know Jesus yet.

Let this be the moment they believe. If you want Jesus Christ to come of your life forgive you of your sin.

What you did just pray the simple prayer after me is pray these words or Jesus. I know that I'm a center but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for myself, and rose again from the dead. I turn from my sin. Now I choose to follow you from this moment forward as my Savior and Lord; my friend Jesus name I pray they marked the moment when many first became believers in Christ, Pastor Greg Laurie praying a prayer with those were asking Jesus to be their Savior today and if you just pray that prayer and you meant those words sincerely we want to help you begin to live this new life of faith. Pastor Greg wants to send you his new believers grows packet is free of charge. That'll help answer some questions you might have and get you started off right as you walk with the Lord. So ask for it when you call 1-800-821-3300.

We can take your call anytime. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click on know God will test Greg are making available. Your book called Revelation, the book of promises by water a couple of things that would surprise people in a study of Revelation. One thing that occurred to me as you know we think of eternity as being timeless, but a part of God's plan is a timed event, the millennium is a thousand years. So I guess will track time in some form in my long so I think that's accurate because the word millennium actually means a thousand. If the 1000 year reign of Christ, but we are aware of the passing of time. When we enter into eternity. The book of Revelation we read about those who were put to death for their faith and they know that was an unjust thing and they say to God, how long will Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood of those that dwell on the earth, so they're aware of the passing of time. They're aware of the injustice of what happened to them on planet Earth in their praying and asking God to intervene there aware of what has happened and will happen on planet Earth as well. Yeah there's a lot of surprises in the book of Revelation that shatter stereotypical ideas that have been passed on from generation to generation. That, quite honestly, are simply not biblical but I think the more we learn about heaven. The better we will be enabled to live here on earth you don't was CS Lewis who said loose paraphrase those who think the most of the next world to the most in this one. And so Revelation is where the apostle John is found banished on the island of Patmos. He had faithfully preached the gospel. He was the last of the apostles and people and probably never thought they would hear from John again but is he sitting on this island.

Jesus Christ comes to him and takes him into what we might describe as a spiritual time machine if you will. I don't think it was a DeLorean but John is suddenly hurtled into the future. Eddie seeing what is going to come.

He's given an overview of the history of the church. He's taken into the presence of God in heaven.

He's taken over to the great white throne judgment. He's taken back to earth during the millennial reign of Christ. He gives us a front row seed at the battle of Armageddon, the second coming of Christ, and much much more.

The word Revelation means unveiling and so this is an unveiling a revealing of things that aren't to come, God wants us to understand these things because it will affect you in the way that you live so we have a beautiful hardcover book commentary on the book of Revelation, and it simply called Revelation, a book of promises. This will be a resource that you will use in the years to come that you can go to again and again as you study this great book and let it have its impact on your life.

By the way, there's a special promise in Revelation for the person who reads and hears and keeps the words found in this book. So get a copy of this book. Revelation a book of promises that will help you understand this very important book of the Bible, the book of Revelation and we will send this book to you for your gift of any size know some can only give a little will send you a copy. Some can give a little bit more. Of course, will send you a copy.

Whatever you can do don't hesitate. I really want you to have this book because I think it's going to be a blessing to you.

The book of Revelation, a book of promises available from harvest ministries right now.

Yeah that's right.

And we should point out where including a custom bookmark that shows the timeline of last days events so you can see what comes first. What comes next and so on is laid out very clearly the bookmark is included when we send you this significant book hardcover more than 400 pages called Revelation, a book of promises you can call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org will next time we'll see how important it is to run this race of life without high on the prize. Join us next time you're on the new beginning. Pastor and Bible teachers Greg Laurie and everybody thinks her list. Beginning this is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. So for more content can help you know God and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a harvest partner. Just go to harvest.org