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How To Reach People
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory
of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the
gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against
my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my
reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel
of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For
though I be free from all men, yet have I made
myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I
became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the
law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To
them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God,
but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all
things to all men, that I might by all means save
some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof
with you.”
I. Paul's compulsion. 9:16 For though I preach the gospel,
I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto
me, if I preach not the gospel!
A. Many people are motivated by
compulsions.
One woman in her 40s spent up to
13 hours a day washing her hands
and
her house.
She described her experience as
"hell" - not such an exaggeration.
As Dr. Michael Jenike
of Mass. Gen. Hosp. reconstructs it:
"Before she could use the
soap, she had to use some bleach on the
soap
to make sure the soap was clean.
Before that, she had to use Ajax
on the bleach bottle.
And this went on and on.
If she happened to bump the edge
of the sink while she was doing
this, it would set off another
hour and a half, two hours of
ritual.
She didn't really think there
were germs there.
It was just a
feeling."
B. Paul's
compulsion was preaching the gospel.
First, he was
Called by God to do it. Not an
option. 9:17
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a
reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed
unto me.
Second, This was
much more than a "preacher's itch."
And third, It was
God's plan for his life.
C. No reward because it was a duty.
(Meaning of KJV
"dispensation")
1) Paul didn't accept pay for his
preaching. 9:12,18
a) (But he does argue it is
justified.) 9:11
b) (Somewhere else he mentions
being worthy of double pay!)
1 Tim 5:17 Let the elders
that rule well be counted worthy of double honour,
especially they who labour in the word and
doctrine.
2) but,
the Reward is preaching without pay.
a) Side benefit - no control
from other people. 9:19 For though I be
free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might
gain the more.
When we look at Paul's freedom we see that
First, He is free and
belongs to no man. 9:19 For though I be free from all
men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
Second, He can
choose to be a slave to all men.
9:20 And unto the
Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under
the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
We see that Paul
was all things to all people. 9:22
1) Some saw this as no backbone, wishy/washy.
a) Paul opposed requirement
for circumcision.
Acts 15, Galatians.
b) No value in circumcision,
yet he circumcised Timothy.
"because of Jews
in area" Acts 16:3
2) Concerns non-essentials, not
doctrine or ethics.
a) We are never free from
God's law. 9:21 To them that
are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under
the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
b) God still sets limits on
us.
3) Paul saw it as getting close
to people to reach them.
III. Jew to Jews,
Gentile to Gentiles.
9:20 And unto the
Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under
the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
A. Not hung up by Kosher/non-Kosher.
1) Jewish/Christian synagogue
movement?
2) Identification of
"weak" with chapter 8?
B. Paul wanted to remove cultural barriers.
1) He followed some of their
practices, but not for their
reasons.
2) He always had a higher goal -
Evangelism. 9:22
To the weak became I as weak, that I might
gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that
I might by all means save some.
("win"
used 4 times, "save" 1 time.)
IV. How much are you willing to change for
the sake of the gospel?
A. Christians have freedom to
live/change for sake of others.
1) Spouse, children, etc.
a) Our expectation is to make
them change (or benefit us).
2) Christian perspective is to
change ourselves.
a) Change essentials through
power of Spirit.
(character, morals)
b) Change non-essentials for sake of
other person.
3) Not a weak doormat, but a
strong person.
B. Are you concerned about the
salvation of those close to you?
1) Are you willing to accommodate
to them?
V. How much is our church willing to
change?
A. Problem with reaching the lost.
1) We are not looking for them.
a) Most Christians know few
non-Christians.
b) Are afraid to explain
gospel.
1> Due to ignorance.
2> Due to fear of rejection.
2) We expect them to fit into our
mold.
a) Non-believers are puzzled,
frightened by much that we do.
1> Invitation.
2> Old-fashioned
songs.
b) We aim our resources at
our own people.
1> Religious language.
2> Non-outreach
activities to build up the saints.
3> Same format
multiplied at each service.
4> Subtle exclusion of
newcomers.
B. Churches that focus on
non-Christians.
1) Examples.
a) Willowbrook. "Unchurched
Harry."
b) California. "Saddleback Sam."
2) Methodology.
a) Find out what unchurched want.
1> Go to them and ask.
b) Give it to them.
c) Soft-sell morning
services.
d) Hard-sell discipling at another service.
VI. The gospel as a marketing strategy.
A. Does the Bible support a marketing
approach to evangelism?
1. Research. Jesus asked people what they wanted.
2. Strategy. Went to where people were.
Met physical and
social needs.
Jesus taught
planning. Luke 14:28-32 28. For which of you, intending to build a
tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have
sufficient to finish it?
29. Lest haply, after he hath laid the
foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock
him,
30. Saying, This man began to build, and was
not able to finish.
31. Or what king, going to make war against
another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able
with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32. Or else, while the other is yet a great
way off, he sendeth an ambassage,
and desireth conditions of peace.
3. Jesus taught Pricing. Jesus taught that price-tag of faith is
steep.
4. Jesus taught
Communication. Jesus sought out
"hot prospects,"
spoke differently to
different groups,
[used parables for vividness].
5. Jesus taught
Distribution. Jesus used franchise
system - disciples.
I once herd
a comment from someone who asked Should church be packaged like a Kentucky
Fried Chicken franchise to get bonus on basis of souls saved?
My response was
that the Gospel itself should not be watered down oe
sugar coated to please anyone.
1) Paul & Jesus adapted some
of their lifestyle, but not
their
message.
2) The gospel is
changeless, but we are free to change.
So ask yourself
this question, What are we doing to "win" (=save) the lost?
Do we Go to be near
them.
(hospitality, neighbor)
Do we Let them
see our life.
Is there 2-way
communication.
Are there Common
activities. Or better still Non-threatening opportunities to share gospel.
It’s time we
start LIVING want we are Giving…
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