Big Idea Of The Series: As we begin this new year, we recommit to the same mission God has given us: to be living proof of a loving God to a watching world.
The mission never changes, but the methods do.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NLT Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
Acts of the Apostles 17:1-4 NLT Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people.He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.”Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.
Acts of the Apostles 17:16-34 NLT While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city.He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said.“You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.”(It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every wayfor as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made templesand human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.”That ended Paul’s discussion with thembut some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
The mission never changes, but the methods do.