READ: Acts 13-14
The
12th century Italian Catholic St Francis of Assisi is credited with
saying “Preach the Gospel at all times.
Use words if necessary.”
While
potent, it implies that words and deeds are an either/or dichotomy. Paul demonstrated that both are critical.
Paul’s
first road trip (a.k.a. “missionary journey”) included one partner, one
helper, nine cities, and three regions
of the Roman Empire. It lasted three
years.
Early
in his adventure, Paul developed his capacity to communicate God’s good news in
various environments. Three stand out.
1.
Synagogue:
His synagogue “talk” recounted God’s
epic liberation of God’s people and promised forgiveness of sins, which yielded
a whole new kind of life. He assured his
hearers of God’s favor. The whole city
gathered to hear that three minute sermon again. v44 The Gentiles overheard, and rejoiced. The word of the Lord spread throughout
the region.
v49
2.
Crowd:
To the curious bystander, Paul shared a 30 second version of God’s good news,
encouraging hearers to refocus their lives from a worthless rat race to the
living God who created beauty and freedom and food and joy. 14:14-17
People threw money in grateful response.
3.
Jesus-followers: To his fellow “church friends,” Paul started
with this: It is through many persecutions that we must enter the
kingdom of God.
This
encouraged and strengthened their questioning souls.
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What
might happen when someone else hears your story?
Invitation:
Ponder
Paul’s own question about proclaiming good news.
And how are they to believe in
one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to
proclaim him?
Romans 10:14
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