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[Annoucer] (0:00 - 0:18) Think about the Bible like you never have before. You're listening to Christian Questions. Access more audio, videos, and Bible study resources at ChristianQuestions.com.

Our topic is: "How Can I Best Share the Gospel With Others?" Here's Rick, Jonathan, and Julie.

[Rick] (0:19 - 0:30) Welcome, everyone. I'm Rick, and I'm joined by Jonathan, my co-host for over twenty-five years. Julie, a longtime contributor, is also with us. Jonathan, what is our theme text for this episode?

[Jonathan] (0:31 - 0:39) 1 Corinthians 9:19: "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more."

[Rick] (0:40 - 1:33) Forty days after his resurrection, when Jesus was about to ascend up to the Father, he gave his disciples their great commission. In Matthew 28, he spoke and he said, "...All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the son and the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

This message here was simple, and yet it was daunting. Preach the gospel everywhere. Find disciples throughout the world and then teach them how to truly follow Christ. To accomplish this massive task, we need God's spirit and biblical examples of how to present ourselves.

What are the foundational principles of effectively sharing the gospel?

[Julie] (1:34 - 2:22) I'm reading a book called Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God's Image by Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey. They talk about this term "compliancy" as it relates to this important topic of witnessing, and I was going to read a few quotes during our conversation today, starting with this one: "Bioengineers use the word 'compliancy' to describe a material's capacity to mold to the shape of another surface, and skin exhibits this remarkably well." Their explanation goes on to describe how certain stress areas of our body, like the palm of your hand, there's a special cluster of fat cells and firm collagen fibers that work together in this unique way. It's described under the microscope as looking like fine Belgian lace.

More on this soon.

[Rick] (2:23 - 2:46) "Compliancy"-- sounds interesting. Fibers in your hand, witnessing to the gospel...we have to figure out what the connection is.

We'll see where this leads. To find the principles from scriptures now, let's first look at the drive that the Apostle Paul had to preach to others. We're going to be looking at 1 Corinthians 9, several verses, to put this in order.

Let's start with 1 Corinthians 9:19:

[Jonathan] (2:46 - 2:52) "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more."

[Rick] (2:53 - 3:19) He's saying, I am a slave to all, essentially, so that I can do the job that we were given to preach the gospel. Now in the next verses, there are three specific categories of people to whom he, the Apostle Paul, was drawn to teach. First category, those appreciative of the Jewish nation, and in our case, those who may also be appreciative of Christianity.

1 Corinthians 9:20:

[Jonathan] (3:20 - 3:32) "To the Jews I became a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law."

[Rick] (3:32 - 3:50) He's talking about drawing himself towards those whom he is looking to communicate with. The second group that he was drawn to preach to; those who are non-Christians, who have rejected all of what God's favored people were given. This is 1 Corinthians 9:21:

[Jonathan] (3:50 - 4:00) "To those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law."

[Rick] (4:01 - 4:19) Again, he is putting himself in a category of being in a position where he can just put things in order and draw people because he's coming to them. The third category; those who are weak and struggling, no matter what their background might be. 1 Corinthians 9:22:

[Jonathan] (4:19 - 4:29) "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some."

[Julie] (4:29 - 5:17) The Message Bible paraphrases these verses beautifully. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23: "Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life.

I kept my bearings in Christ--but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all of this because of the Message.

I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!"

[Rick] (5:18 - 6:08) That's pretty descriptive. That really shows you how he sought to enter into the lives of those he was communicating with. It wasn't just about, hey, listen to this.

It was about, let me as a human being connect with you as a human being. Let me show you something of great value to both of us. That's the basis that we want to work with as we go through these examples of how to best share the gospel with others.

Again, we mentioned we're going to be using three examples. In preparation for going through these three examples, we first lay out a few broad principles of sharing the gospel that appear in each and every example. In one way or another, each of these things appears in each of the examples we're talking about through this episode.

The first point is to RECOGNIZE.

[Julie] (6:08 - 6:30) That means to seek to understand who it is you're speaking to; just means know your audience. This means recognizing the values, the background, the expectations, and the level of understanding of the people that you're addressing. When we tailor our message to suit our listeners, we're more likely to engage them, to build trust, and ensure that our ideas are clearly understood.

[Rick] (6:31 - 6:35) We've got Recognize. The next point is to RESPECT.

[Jonathan] (6:35 - 6:51) Establish a common ground of respect, even if it has to be very basic. This might include using relatable language or appropriate examples for our audience's experiences. It will often lead to a more productive and meaningful dialogue.

[Rick] (6:52 - 7:32) Respect is to put things in order where you look to them and you see value. That was a really good way to describe that. Recognize, Respect...

Then comes the third point, which is LISTEN. For us to be heard, we should be willing to listen with attentive conviction. When you read what the Apostle Paul said in those verses we started out this podcast with, what you see is an attentive conviction to be in the same place his listeners were.

We need to first listen attentively with the conviction that these individuals are important. We've got Recognize, Respect, Listen; next is AWAKEN.

[Julie] (7:33 - 7:55) Try and awaken the listener from their normal pattern to an interest in the gospel. Surprising your listener with something that they didn't expect can be a powerful way to engage them. When someone's caught off guard in a good way, it forces them to pause, pay closer attention, and process the message more deeply.

It often signals that there's something really important or unique worth noticing.

[Rick] (7:56 - 8:16) I like that. Catch them off guard in a good way. People are really good at catching others off guard in a bad way.

This is a whole different approach. Once we work on awakening, helping them to see something perhaps differently and surprisingly, then we want to either TEACH, PRAY, REASON AND ENCOURAGE or any combination of all of the above.

[Jonathan] (8:17 - 8:32) Deliver the Good News with heart! We won't necessarily do all four of these things in the same witnessing conversation. We should think about delivering at least one of them.

We are lights in the dark world and our message of real hope is comforting.

[Rick] (8:32 - 8:45) Teach, Preach, Reason, and Encourage. Those are the results that we want to get to. Like you said, Jonathan, maybe all of them, maybe one of them, but we want to be a positive influence.

That's really where we're going here.

[Julie] (8:45 - 9:23) Back to the surprising your listener with something they didn't expect...that's what I found in this Fearfully and Wonderfully book. Further on "compliancy;" the book talks about how the fat and collagen in your palm redistribute to conform to the objects it grasps. They quote: "firm enough to hold a hammer without discomfort, yet gentle enough to cradle delicate items like a crystal goblet or a kitten.

Engineers nearly shout in awe when they analyze this amazing property, for they cannot design a material that so perfectly balances strength and pliability."

[Rick] (9:24 - 9:34) Really what you're saying is that you've got this sense of godliness that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. That's what the name of the book is.

[Julie] (9:34 - 9:34) Indeed.

[Rick] (9:34 - 9:43) Showing you the incredible connections, and I'm beginning to see how this "compliancy" is going to fit into this whole experience here.

[Jonathan] (9:43 - 10:06) In Acts 23, a plot to assassinate Paul is uncovered, and Roman authorities transfer him to Caesarea for safety. Acts 24 sees Paul standing trial before Governor Felix, where he refutes accusations from Jewish leaders and speaks about righteousness and judgment. Felix keeps Paul imprisoned for two years.

[Julie] (10:07 - 10:43) Moving on to Acts 25, Paul is brought before Governor Festus. He wants to send him back to Jerusalem, but Paul, because he's a Roman citizen, asks for an appeal to Caesar, who's in Rome. King Agrippa, a Jewish king under Roman rule, is visiting Caesarea at this time.

He wants to listen to Paul's case. Paul is unwavering in his commitment to spread the gospel despite opposition. Now, here in Acts 26, this is going to be our example where he's granted an audience with this King Agrippa about the accusations against him, and he's given permission to defend himself.

[Rick] (10:44 - 11:17) This is self-defense, but it becomes a witness--a planned witness--by the Apostle Paul after being in prison for two years. You'd think he'd just want to say what he's got to say and get out of there--but no, no, that's not what the Apostle Paul does. He's actually going to apply both steps one and two.

He's going to RECOGNIZE King Agrippa, recognize him as king, and have great RESPECT for him as he begins. By putting those things in place, it opens the door for this great witness. Let's look at Acts 26 now.

Let's begin with Acts 26:2-3:

[Jonathan] (11:17 - 11:56) "In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently." Paul humbly asked for permission to explain.

He will tell his dramatic story from his early life as a Pharisee and then his conversion. He RECOGNIZED and RESPECTED his audience in King Agrippa, which would enhance the gospel message he was about to explain.

[Julie] (11:56 - 12:16) Incidentally, I had to look this up. There are two rulers named Herod Agrippa who were closely tied to Roman politics. This one is Herod Agrippa II.

He was the last ruler of the Herodian dynasty. As we go through these examples, we want to be thinking: How can WE enhance OUR message to others as Paul did?

[Rick] (12:16 - 13:40) The question of enhancing the message...let's start with those steps one and two, the concepts of RECOGNIZING and RESPECTING. The way we can truly enhance our ability--the introduction to being able to give the gospel to someone--is to take time to know who you're talking to and then to respect who they are. As the apostle said, I become "a slave to all."

What he's basically saying is, I am identifying on a human level with those that I am speaking to because Jesus died for them like he died for me. I'm putting them on a level of respect. That's what we want to strive for here;

those first two pieces that were put in place before King Agrippa. The third piece was the LISTENING. For us to be heard, we should be willing to listen with attentive conviction.

Again, listen carefully. Now you think, Paul's been in prison for two years, he's not there to listen, he's there to talk. How does that get all put in place?

Well, here's what would happen. He would continue his defense, which would inevitably be a witness for the gospel by citing his past, by going through what his life had been like. In so doing, he was identifying with his accusers, showing them that he had been one of them previously.

He already knew their perspective from his own life experience. He had already listened to his accusers. Let's continue in Acts 26:4-7:

[Jonathan] (13:40 - 14:15) "So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews."

[Julie] (14:15 - 15:04) Do you hear what he's doing? Paul's making a legal and theological argument before King Agrippa. He begins by establishing his credibility, reminding Agrippa that Paul has lived as a devout Jew from his youth.

He's well known among his people. This serves as evidence that his faith and actions aren't new. They're not radical.

They're actually rooted in Jewish tradition. He then shifts to the hope of the promise made by God to Israel, referring to the resurrection. By framing his trial around this shared belief, he argues that his faith in Christ aligns with Jewish teaching rather than contradicting them.

This is a strategic approach, appealing to Agrippa's knowledge of Jewish customs while subtly challenging the legitimacy of these accusations that are before him. It's brilliant!

[Jonathan] (15:05 - 15:21) By identifying with his accusers, Paul brought the important realities of his history and motivation before the king. Here's another Practical Question: Do WE listen and find common ground when we communicate with those of somewhat similar backgrounds?

[Rick] (15:22 - 16:00) Do I listen enough to pause and to consider and to react and respond to and respect where somebody's coming from so that you can have a common ground? He's establishing before King Agrippa--as he's defending his life-- he's saying, I have this incredible common ground with these people who are accusing me.

We believe in the same things, and this is why they're putting me on trial. Find that commonality to build upon. This is how we can open the door for witnessing.

What this all comes down to is Stepping Up to Speaking Up:

[Jonathan] (16:00 - 16:16) Because our responsibility to share the gospel is both serious and glorious, we want to take a step back and consider how to approach it. Following scriptural examples as a "how to" is a good place for us to check our approach and motivation.

[Rick] (16:17 - 16:33) This is important. We want to use the examples that are put forth in scripture, and they will teach us what to do. It's remarkable to think about the privilege we're given to know about Jesus and to represent him as well.

Let's pay attention.

[Jonathan] (16:34 - 16:41) As we further uncover Paul's preaching approach, the question is, how willing are we to follow his example?

[Rick] (16:41 - 17:29) On the surface, we may look at this and think, well look, it's all pretty basic. You make a connection with your audience, then you tell them what you're going to tell them. The key point here is how focused we are on actually proclaiming the precious word of God versus saying something good that also focuses on us looking good!

It should always, always, always be all about the gospel! This is what we're going to watch the Apostle Paul do. He's going to really lay things out, and he's going to let the gospel be the centerpiece that rises out of these experiences.

Let's continue with the Apostle Paul speaking before King Agrippa. We've gone through those first three steps; now we're on to fourth, the AWAKENING step.

[Julie] (17:30 - 17:56) Remember, try and awaken the listener from their normal pattern to an interest in the gospel. Paul goes on to awaken King Agrippa to the reality of the power of the gospel. Listen as we hear how Paul's going to be very blunt about who he was and what he did.

One thing I really appreciate is how the Bible shows the flaws and the failures of the faithful, which sets it apart from other historical records. Okay, so on to Paul...

JONATHAN:

Acts 26:9-11: "So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities."

[Rick] (18:31 - 19:11) You can kind of imagine King Agrippa seeing Paul, who's been in prison for two years, being a representative of this man, Christ Jesus, and he's talking about how he treated Christians. I imagine King Agrippa would have been sitting there going, what?! How did this happen?

See, this "awakening" to his own past is telling. King Agrippa would have seen Paul's history unfold, and then he would be able to understand the magnitude of the absolute transformation of the Apostle Paul's life. Paul is giving him the foundation to see, you wait to see what's next.

This is how remarkable what's "next" will be!

[Julie] (19:11 - 19:31) When we look at Paul's example, we want to ask: How can we apply this honest vulnerability to our own witnessing efforts? We want to reach out, we want to form authentic connections with those who are searching. We want to share how God's grace has transformed us.

People relate to real stories rather than abstract theological concepts.

[Rick] (19:32 - 19:58) You're right. Sometimes when we make mistakes, when we have errant judgments, to be able to talk about those things is a really important aspect of the awakening. Yeah, I've been there, too--

that kind of setup here. We've got this "awakening," this dramatic turn of events that King Agrippa would not have expected. That, of course, is going to bring the Apostle Paul to the fifth point, the TEACH, PREACH, REASON AND ENCOURAGE perspective of what he's there to do.

[Jonathan] (19:59 - 20:57) This is deliver the Good News with heart! Paul then went on to teach. His teaching began with his own transformational experience. Acts 26:12-16:

"While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me ?... And I said, Who are you Lord?

And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you."

[Julie] (20:57 - 21:12) How dramatic! This was an appearance, of course, of the resurrected Jesus as a spirit being--an eyewitness proof that he had been raised from the dead. This was important because all the apostles saw Jesus, but Jesus was killed before Paul could physically meet him.

[Rick] (21:12 - 22:06) You have this dramatic turn of events. He tells King Agrippa how against Christianity he is and all the things that he does. Then he tells him this dramatic turnaround in which he literally, on his way to do more persecution, stopped dead in his tracks and continued on that road--now converted to doing the work that Jesus would give him to do.

He didn't hide any of his misguided past, so that he could clearly reveal his Christ-guided present. That helps us understand, that's the drama of being able to witness, to be able to share the gospel with others, to show the dramatic change that happened. He continued explaining this transformation, and he reveals the mission of his new life now.

Continuing in Acts 26:19-20:

[Jonathan] (22:07 - 22:25) "So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance."

[Rick] (22:26 - 23:25) Now let's look at the similarity and the difference. The similarity is: Paul doesn't stop. Remember when he was talking about his persecution?

He didn't stop. This is what...I locked them up, and I chased them down, and I punished them, and I tried to force it. He was full of activity.

Now he's been converted, and he said, I didn't prove disobedient. I kept declaring in Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and through Judea, and even the Gentiles. I just wouldn't keep quiet!

God, through Christ, took his (Paul's) natural abilities and turned them into godliness. This is what the king, King Agrippa, is seeing--that darkness turned to this incredible, incredible light. Paul then brings everything back to the present circumstances of, what is he there for?

He has to defend himself. That's what he now begins to focus on, now that he's told the story. You can see the preaching, and the reasoning, and the encouraging going on here.

Acts 26:21-23:

[Jonathan] (23:26 - 23:52) "For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death. So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of his resurrection from the dead he would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

[Rick] (23:52 - 24:07) There you have this wonderful, wonderful sharing of the gospel message as he's defending his very life. He has been able to tell a gripping true story and showing God's leadings and God's plan all at once.

[Julie] (24:07 - 24:16) Using Paul's example, you've got to look at ourselves and think: How often do I think about using my own story to show God's leading and His plan?

[Rick] (24:17 - 24:51) We have to be aware of what we were, where we came from, so that we can use our own fallibility, use our own wrongness, use our own bad decisions to say, Glory can come to God as we learn to walk away from those things. That's what the Apostle Paul did, and it was an incredibly effective way for him to show King Agrippa the gospel. But now here, he's still got to continue defending himself.

Here's what he does next. Talk about brilliance, okay? Acts 26:27-29:

[Jonathan] (24:52 - 24:56) "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do."

[Julie] (24:57 - 25:12) Okay, hold on. This was a strategic question, because remember, Herod Agrippa II is Jewish. If Agrippa answers "yes" to "do you believe in the prophets"

then he has to consider the possibility that Jesus fulfills those prophecies and that Paul is right.

[Jonathan] (25:13 - 25:30) Continuing with Acts 26:28-29: "Agrippa replied to Paul, In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian. And Paul said, I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains."

[Julie] (25:30 - 25:45) What a beautiful response, and boy, Paul's quick, isn't he? He wanted Agrippa--and everyone--to be like him and embrace his faith in Christ. Well, except for the chain part about being a prisoner--that's not so great, but the rest of it is beautiful.

[Rick] (25:46 - 26:16) He masterfully showed us how to teach, preach, reason, and encourage. He's got King Agrippa now in the throngs of his story. He's pulled him in, he's reeled him in, and the king understands who he is and what he's about.

This was a wonderful sharing of the gospel as he defended his very life. The question for us is: Do we realize the magnitude of the privilege and hope that sharing this gospel brings? Let's look at Matthew 5:14-16:

[Jonathan] (26:16 - 26:43) "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." We are to let our light shine in such a way as to draw others to who we are and what we stand for.

[Julie] (26:43 - 27:46) Back to my Fearfully and Wonderfully book, here's a quote: "'Compliancy' (remember we were talking about compliancy), a word with special meaning to my engineering colleagues, is a meaningful word for both the physical body and the spiritual Body. Compliant tissues covering my bones assume the shape--awkward or smooth--of whatever I'm grasping.

I do not demand that the object fit the shape of my hand; my hand adapts, distributing the pressures. The art of Christian living, I believe, can be glimpsed in this concept of compliancy.

As my shape moves into contact with other, foreign shapes, how does my skin respond? Whose personality adapts? Do I, as the grasping hand, become square to those things that are square, round to those things that are round?"

I mean, Rick and Jonathan, this is 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, right here on the palm of my hand! To the Jew, Paul was Jewish. To those not under the Law, he wasn't under the Law.

To the weak, he was weak. He became all things to all men for the sake of the gospel. He demonstrated compliancy in his witnessing.

[Rick] (27:47 - 28:03) The physicality of this compliancy works in relation to how we present ourselves to others. You become the shape necessary to get the job done. That's really what it means in Stepping Up to Speaking Up:

[Jonathan] (28:03 - 28:23) The Apostle Paul shared his astounding story to make the hope of the gospel come alive. While our personal stories may not be as sensational, let us remember that the gospel we proclaim has precisely the same impact on those who hear it now as it did as those who heard it from the Apostle Paul.

[Rick] (28:23 - 28:45) It's the same gospel. It's the same drama. We just don't have the same story.

It doesn't matter. You have the same message, and that's what this really is all about. It really is remarkable to read, think about, and apply all that we're given so we can be better representatives of God's plan.

[Jonathan] (28:46 - 28:55) We have just walked through a great example of preaching to those who may have a similar basis as us. What about those who are totally opposite?

[Rick] (28:56 - 29:44) As we move forward, it's important to note that those same five steps we saw unfold will still apply, but now they will be built in a very different way. In our next example, our efforts to expand another's thinking without offending them will require a large measure of self-restraint and wisdom. That's one of the key things to pay attention in this next example, is the self-restraint and wisdom in applying these five steps as we look to share the gospel.

We're going to continue with our second example. We've had Paul before King Agrippa. Now we're going to those who are non-Christian, who have rejected all of what God's favored people were given.

This is a very, very dramatically different environment.

[Jonathan] (29:44 - 29:58) Let's reread 1 Corinthians 9:21: "To those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law."

[Julie] (29:58 - 30:18) Compliancy; he's going to seek common ground in order for the gospel message to be heard. It's important to note that he would do this without violating his conscience.

I'm going to witness to a drug dealer. I'm not going to do drugs with her in order to get her to identify with me. Paul didn't worship idols in order for these lifelong idol worshipers to listen to him.

[Rick] (30:18 - 30:49) That's an important point. We don't become compliant to the point of becoming that individual, but become compliant to the point of being able to reason with that individual, entering far enough into those things. Let's look at how this works.

As Paul traveled and preached, he came into the city of Athens, which happened to be a focal point of deep and abiding idolatry. The question is: How would he meet this massive and very serious challenge? First step is to RECOGNIZE.

[Julie] (30:50 - 30:59) Understand who it is that you're speaking to. Remember, know your audience. Let's read about the Apostle Paul and his experience leading up to and at Mars Hill.

[Jonathan] (30:59 - 31:20) Acts 17:16-17: "Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present."

[Rick] (31:20 - 32:02) The scripture really describes that his spirit was being provoked within him as he observed this city full of idols, as the passion for truth burned within him. He's walking down the street saying, this is heretical, this is heresy, this is blasphemy. He's in this place that's completely foreign to what he's all about.

What he did is, he would go to the marketplace and he would speak to those who would listen. That's how he started. Others heard and said, hmm, this is interesting.

They invited him to be more broadly present before them so he could give them, he can present to them the spiritual doctrine which he was teaching. Now he was going to move on to (go to) Mars Hill where he was invited to speak about these things.

[Julie] (32:03 - 32:20) Mars Hill is also known as the Areopagus. It's a rocky hill in Athens, Greece. Today it's a real popular tourist site,

but historically it served as a court and a meeting place for legal and philosophical discussions. To be invited to this area to speak to everybody--this is a big opportunity for Paul.

[Rick] (32:20 - 32:29) It is. He RECOGNIZED who it is he needs to be speaking to, and now he's going to show that second point, which is RESPECT.

[Jonathan] (32:30 - 32:56) Establish a common ground of respect, even if it has to be very basic. Acts 17:22-23: "So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, Men of Athens, I observe you are very religious in all respects.

For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD..."

[Rick] (32:56 - 33:58) The Apostle Paul didn't introduce by saying, You guys are all fools because your idols are all nonsense. He didn't do that. What he said was, I see that you're religious.

I see that you take your objects of worship very seriously. And I noticed one of those many, many, many, many, many objects of worship that says "TO AN UNKNOWN GOD." He's showing respect.

He's showing the fact that he's observed how they live. He's identifying with them. That brings him to this LISTENING point.

Okay, now it's this listening point. For us to be heard, we should be willing to listen with attentive conviction. Here's how he expresses his ability to listen to them.

It's in Acts 17:23b. He says: "...Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you." He's connecting the dots.

You're religious. You have all of these objects of worship, and there's this one that's called "to the Unknown God."

I want to proclaim this to you because obviously, by definition, you're not sure about this one.

[Julie] (33:58 - 33:59) He found a way in.

[Rick] (33:59 - 34:19) He did.

He did. Now here's the thing: He found a way in, but the space between respect and perceived insult can be very, very, very small.

Wisdom and grace must be applied. It would have been very easy to be insulting to them, but he phrased it in such a way that he was actually showing them respect. He was about to expand their thinking.

[Julie] (34:19 - 34:48) For a practical understanding in our day, this is something to remember when we share comments online. Christians should be the most respectful, the most kind, and sadly this isn't always the case. I've noticed a distinct pattern when reviewing comments on our own channels.

Those who identify as pagan are almost always respectful and kind in sharing dialogue. I can't say that as with other Christians. Just something to keep in mind.

Be respectful and listen.

[Rick] (34:48 - 35:04) It goes a long way, the concept of being respectful and listening. We've got this being respectful to who he was speaking and listening, understanding where they were coming from, and now he's going to go to the fourth point, and that is to AWAKEN, to do something different.

[Julie] (35:04 - 35:10) This was the surprise. Try and awaken the listener from their normal pattern to an interest in the gospel.

[Jonathan] (35:10 - 35:30) Continuing in Acts 17:24-25: "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things."

[Rick] (35:31 - 35:50) What's he doing here? He's explaining this unknown God. He's gently stretching their spiritual intellect, and he's doing this while he's respecting their beliefs.

He's putting things in perspective and saying, here's this unknown God. Let me expand this unknown God to you.

[Julie] (35:51 - 36:06) But I have a question. Jonathan, you read, "since he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, nor is He served by human hands..." God was dwelling in the temple in Jerusalem.

He WAS served by human hands. There was a whole priest and high priest arrangement. What did Paul mean?

[Jonathan] (36:06 - 36:29) He was speaking to a Greek audience who worshiped gods confined to physical temples and idols. Paul emphasized that the true God is sovereign over all creation, not limited to a single location or dependent on human rituals. The Temple in Jerusalem was a symbol of God's presence among the people.

Worship of God isn't restricted to a physical structure.

[Julie] (36:30 - 36:30) That makes sense.

[Rick] (36:31 - 36:45) That was so important. Again, he's gently stretching their spiritual intellect to expand to something else. Now he's got their attention.

Here's where the fifth step, the TEACH, PREACH, REASON AND ENCOURAGE all begins to come into play.

[Jonathan] (36:45 - 37:13) Deliver the Good News with heart. Acts 17:26-28: "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth...that they would seek God,

if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, For we also are His children."

[Rick] (37:13 - 37:40) He's expanding his explanation of God. As he goes along with this, he throws in a quote from somebody that they know. Again, he keeps their attention by quoting one of their own writers while weaving this beautiful tapestry of truth;

here's this unknown God. This is what you worship in ignorance. I'm explaining the magnitude of this God.

Let's continue in Acts 17:29-31:

[Jonathan] (37:41 - 38:11) "Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising him from the dead."

[Rick] (38:12 - 38:51) Now you have this dramatic conclusion. This unknown God has put this plan in place, and it's shown to be proven because of the resurrection of Jesus. He's introducing something that is way beyond anything they would have ever thought.

His conclusions put the fundamental truths of the gospel right before them. This is a big lesson for us. We need to understand that we want to get the fundamentals out, and that's what the apostle did here in this limited opportunity.

What are some of our basic gospel truth fundamentals that we want to put in place?

[Julie] (38:51 - 39:05) God's plan was always in place. We know this because of Revelation 13:8: "All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the lamb who has been slain."

[Jonathan] (39:06 - 39:18) Jesus died for all, 1 John 2:2: "And he himself is the propitiation (meaning satisfaction) for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."

[Julie] (39:18 - 39:30) God's kingdom will come to earth. Isaiah 11:9 assures us of this: "They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea."

[Jonathan] (39:31 - 39:51) The gospel needs to be preached. 2 Timothy 4:2: "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction."

Rick and Julie, if it's convenient, be ready. If it's inconvenient, be ready. It doesn't matter.

This is our job.

[Rick] (39:51 - 40:26) Yeah. These fundamentals: God's plan was always in place, Jesus died for all, God's kingdom is coming on earth.

These are sound scriptural teachings. If nothing else, we want to leave some of these fundamentals out there when we are working on giving the opportunity for others to hear the good news. But you don't get them to hear unless they are in a position to want to hear.

How do you get them there? You go through the steps of RECOGNIZING who they are and RESPECTING and AWAKENING and then putting things in place so they can be drawn to it. We've got to Step Up so we can Speak Up:

[Jonathan] (40:26 - 40:42) Paul found a way to speak about the gospel to the crowd at Mars Hill because he was looking for a way to preach the gospel effectively. Do we have the same desire to look for ways that we can deliver the hope of God's kingdom to others?

[Rick] (40:43 - 41:03) Am I focused on working the way the apostle worked, using the principles that he used, so I can be an effective witness to the truth? Paul's absolutely inspiring, to say the least. Reviewing what he did and how he did it is a great exercise to sharpen our awareness and our skills.

[Jonathan] (41:04 - 41:14) In both of our examples, Paul's tenacity was key in delivering the needed good news. How should we respond when our hearers are weak and struggling?

[Rick] (41:14 - 41:56) This still requires tenacity, but here it needs to be applied in a very different way. At Mars Hill, it was all about being respectful and giving a truthful presentation. When dealing with those who are weak and struggling, it's all about having a base of deep compassion and patience upon which we can give that truthful presentation.

It's going to be the same steps, but applied in a different way. We'll continue with our third example of audiences to preach to, and this third example is those who are weak and struggling. No matter what their background may be, whether they are already Christians or they have not yet come to Christ, the principles here will apply.

[Jonathan] (41:56 - 42:14) Let's go back again to review 1 Corinthians 9:22:

JONATHAN:

"To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some."

[Julie] (42:14 - 42:20) Again, Paul was compliant and he was adaptable but never compromising. He was willing to meet people where they were in order to be more effective, but he didn't need to get down into the slime with them.

[Rick] (42:21 - 43:11) Sometimes the gospel needs to be revived in those who already believe. This was the case with Jesus reviving the faith of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus on the day of his resurrection. You might think, okay, we're talking about sharing the gospel with others.

What has this got to do with sharing the gospel with others? They already knew it. Yeah, they did, but what state of mind were they in?

They were confused. They were afraid. They didn't know what to do, they didn't know where to go, they didn't know how to act, because Jesus is crucified and, all of a sudden, they are thrown into this whirlwind of doubt and a lack of understanding. Jesus witnessed the gospel to them. Principles he used with them work with those who don't have the gospel yet.

Same principles, same kind of approach. As always, we start with that first step, and that's RECOGNIZE.

[Julie] (43:12 - 43:22) Seek to understand who it is that you're speaking to. Know your audience. Here we have two disciples discussing the events surrounding Jesus's crucifixion, and they're devastated.

[Jonathan] (43:23 - 43:46) Let's go to Luke 24:13-16: "And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.

While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing him."

[Rick] (43:47 - 44:05) Now, it's easy to see that Jesus recognized them. It says "their eyes were prevented from recognizing him," but he came to them. He made himself available.

That was the recognition part. He made himself available to them. You've got that beginning.

Now we go to the second step, the RESPECT.

[Jonathan] (44:05 - 44:25) Establish a common ground of respect, even if it has to be very basic. Luke 24:17: "And he said to them, What are these words that you're exchanging with one another as you are walking?..."

Jesus asked a simple question. He opened the door for them to vent their confusion and frustration.

[Rick] (44:26 - 45:13) He knew it was there, and he gave them the opportunity to let it out. They were probably talking amongst themselves with no conclusion, with no answer, with no direction. Here this stranger comes up and says, hey, what are you talking about?

It gives them this opportunity. You've got RECOGNIZE and RESPECT. Very, very straightforward.

Obviously, he asked a question, which means he's going to get an answer, which means Jesus is going to LISTEN. For us to be heard, we should be willing to listen with attentive conviction. Folks, as you listen to this explanation of Jesus listening, think about how he listened and absorbed all of the frustration that they talked about.

Let's look at Luke 24:17-21:

[Jonathan] (45:14 - 45:47) "... And they stood still, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to him, Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days? And he said to them, What things?

And they said to him, The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to the sentence of death, and crucified him. But we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem Israel..."

[Julie] (45:48 - 45:59) They were heartbroken. They thought he was the Messiah they'd been waiting for. They invested their lives into this man, the one who would lead them to this glorious new kingdom for Israel, and it was all over.

[Rick] (46:00 - 46:30) They thought they had no explanation. They're pouring their hearts out and they continued their explanation when they talked about the women that came to them and said, wait, the tomb is empty. He's been raised and they're just confused.

They're just utterly confused. Jesus LISTENS to them. They don't know it's Jesus, but he just listens and he listens and he listens.

Then he comes to the point where now he can begin to AWAKEN them because he's let them trust him with their troubles. Here comes the awakening.

[Julie] (46:30 - 47:09) Remember, awakening is, try to awaken the listener from their normal pattern to an interest in the gospel. At this point, these men, Cleopas and this unnamed man, are in a pattern of disbelief, confusion, fear. Luke 24:25-26 is how Jesus responds:

"And he says to them, O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?" He rebukes them, gently, for not believing the testimony of scripture.

Once they were done, Jesus got their attention with this dramatic statement and a question.

[Rick] (47:10 - 47:34) He rebukes them and he rebukes them with scripture. He doesn't say, hey, it's me. Don't you remember what's been written for ages and ages and generations?

That's where he's going to bring them, this awakening. They're like, what?! Now the doors open.

Now he can TEACH them. Now he can PREACH to them. Now he can REASON with them.

That will bring him to ENCOURAGING them.

[Jonathan] (47:35 - 48:16) Deliver the Good News with heart! Luke 24:27-33: "Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, he explained to them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.

And they approached the village where they were going, and he acted as though he were going farther. But they urged him, saying, Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over. So he went in to stay with them. When he had reclined at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it,

he began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to one another, Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking to us on the road, while he was explaining the Scriptures to us?

And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem..."

[Rick] (48:17 - 48:48) What you have is this incredible transformation. They're listening, they're listening, they're listening. It gets late.

They want him to stay because there's something about this man that is feeding the healing of their emotional wounds. Then they recognize him and he vanishes, and it's like, okay, it's him.

They get up and they walk seven miles back to Jerusalem. They don't stay. They walk because it moved them.

That's the encouragement he gave them.

[Julie] (48:48 - 49:23) Can we imagine, just for a second, Jesus himself teaching us all the connections in the scriptures--how amazing that would be! To quote from my Fearfully and Wonderfully book that I'm reading: "Though we live among others who may not share our beliefs and values, we have the clear example of Jesus, who found acceptance among physical and moral outcasts as well as despised minorities and Roman officers. Somehow he moved compliantly among diverse groups without compromising his good-news message of love and forgiveness."

[Rick] (49:23 - 50:10) You can see that in action. The witnessing, the sharing of the gospel, was to those who are already believers. The same steps are just as effective with those who are not believers. To enter into their difficulty and their struggle and their strife and their trauma, and to walk with them and become trustworthy, and then to give them something to rely upon.

That's what this is. The power of the gospel truth to reset our troubled minds is immeasurable! It's beyond anything we can imagine.

Look, the truth, encouragement, and hope of the gospel, needs to be shared. That's the message here. That's the simple, straightforward, clear message.

We'll finish with one final scripture, Matthew 9:35-38:

[Jonathan] (50:11 - 50:39) "Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest."

[Rick] (50:40 - 51:16) "Send out workers into his harvest." What does that mean? That means, pick me! Pick me!

Let's go share the gospel. Not only are we told to go share the gospel, but we're told how to do it. We're told about the methodology.

We're told about the concept of compliancy, of gathering ourselves into a position where we can be molded toward the individuals so we have something in common and we can build upon and show something to them that is utterly remarkable. Again, Stepping Up so we can be Speaking Up:

[Jonathan] (51:16 - 51:39) Jesus' approach on the road to Emmaus was profound. We need to open our hearts to representing gospel principles before everyone and at all times. Let us realize the necessity of sharing the gospel hope with those who already believe, using the same energy and passion we would use with those who may know about the gospel and those who simply don't believe.

[Julie] (51:39 - 51:57) We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Now every time I look at the palm of my hand, I will think of this "sharing the gospel" lesson. It's that combination of strength and pliability.

Conforming without strength is weak. Strength without conforming destroys.

[Rick] (51:58 - 53:01) That's where we sit when we ask the question, "How do we share the gospel with others?" What do we do? How do we act?

How do we think? Where do we go? It really comes down to these simple five steps:

RECOGNIZE who it is that you have the opportunity to speak to. RESPECT them. Find that common ground and respect them.

Be able, be willing to LISTEN with that attentiveness that says, I want to know who you are and where you're coming from. AWAKEN them to something, Hey, here's something you may not have ever thought of. Then TEACH or PREACH or REASON or ENCOURAGE.

Open their hearts, open their minds, because the gospel news is for everyone. Good news for all people, because Jesus died for every human being. That's the gospel, that's what we need to share.

Think about it. Folks, we love hearing from our listeners, we welcome your feedback and questions from this episode and other episodes at ChristianQuestions.com. Coming up in our next episode: "How Do I Reconnect with God?"

Final Notes: copyright @2025 Christian Questions. In addition to this transcript, we provide comprehensive CQ Rewind Show Notes for every episode. They include every scripture quoted during the podcast, as well as graphics, illustrations and bonus material. Click the "CQ Rewind Show Notes" button near the audio player or sign up to receive these weekly at ChristianQuestions.com. This transcript was created using artificial intelligence. While we believe it to be accurate, we apologize for any errors that may exist.