This week on our Bible Study Insights, let’s continue our discussion on sharing the good news with others. See previous posts on this discussion: Would you play your part? ; Philip was ready.
As I continued my reading of the book of Acts, I saw more lessons that we can learn from the apostles’ approach to evangelism.
- We have to be led by the Holy Spirit on where to go and where not to go, whom to speak with, and, of course, the timing matters too.
Acts 16:6,7,9,10 – And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul[c] had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. - We have to meet people where they are. Philip preached to the Ethiopian Eunuch from the passage he was reading (Acts 8:26-40). In Acts 16, Paul preached to the Athenians from their altar/inscription: “To an Unknown God”. We might also need to use different approaches for different people. With some people, the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers, Paul had a debate; with others, he shared from the Jewish scriptures. You need to know your audience so that you know where to meet them.
- We will be persecuted. Paul was persecuted several times. Almost killed, stoned. Oftentimes, the believers in the area had to sneak him out. At some point, they called them ‘babblers’. We need to grow a ‘thick skin’ towards persecution and mockery, as this will happen. When persecuted or looked down upon, we cannot afford to be offended. Like soldiers, we need to move on. Paul and Silas moved on in worship and prayers to God (Acts 16: 25 -40), even while in jail.
Though they were beaten and had wounds, they praised God in their wounds. They got those wounds in the place of serving God, in the place of evangelism, yet they weren’t offended with God. Init, Jesus already warned of persecutions. Alas, there was a miraculous release, and even the jailer and his family were saved and baptised that same night. Even in their pain, because of the right disposition they had, they were able to save an entire household. - Keep moving, don’t stop: The apostles didn’t let setbacks set them back at all; it was always an opportunity to move on to the next city to talk about Jesus. Indeed, they spread the gospel of Jesus without looking back.
- In some spaces, we might need to put down our ‘title’ and level of influence. They were surprised that Paul was a Roman citizen; they didn’t think someone of that calibre, or societal status, would be doing what Paul was doing – going around talking about God (Acts 16:35-38).
- However, at other times, it is that level of influence that we will leverage on to be able to speak the good news with a certain class of people, or within certain quarters.
Here are some of my insights from the Bible chapters I read this week. Did you also read your Bible this week, share your insights with others and in the comments!