A-Z of Boldness
Conversations
"1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom F34 I preach unto you, is Christ. "
"16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)"
We have been looking the last few weeks at being bold as christians. we have begun a series of sermons called the A-Z of Boldness. For the letter A, we talked about being bold in our actions> we saw how Joshua was given a tough task and tough shoes to fill by replacing Moses leading the Israelites into Canaan. You remember how the Lord instructed him three times to be courageous (bold) in what the Lord had for him to do. He was given the promise of the Lord, the presence of the Lord. And after receiving these things he took action and mobilized the people to go into the land of Canaan.
Last week we looked at the letter B and we noted that the christian should take a bold stand against brutallity. We looked at Deuteronomy and saw how Moses warned the people against pagan practices that they would see when they went into Canaan and that they should not follow after them. One of these was the worship of Molech. the worship of Molech involved fornication and promiscuity and during this public display babies were offered up to a burning hot bronze statue. The screams of the infants being burned alive were drowned out by the drums and screams of pleasure. The babies were offered to a god of pleasure. we talked about how thousands of years later in our modern world how we are repulsed at the thought of what they had done. we talked about how today we would never stand for such brutallity aginst a child. Then we talked about abortion and how society today has offered up its children to the god of sexual pleasure and the God of convenience. we talked about some o the brutal methods used. We looked at abortion from the worlds point of view. we saw God's point of view. we decided that the christian should look at abortion from a Biblical stand point and stand up, be Bold against such brutallity!
Today we are on the letter C and we will discuss being bold in our conversations. Our scripture is from acts 17 and it covers a couple of different legs of Paul's journey from Thessalonica to Athens. We see in both of these places Paul reasoning or disputing that Jesus is the Christ and of the resurrection. You will note if your reading from the King James the words reasoned and disputed and when we think of those words we think argue. This is not the case both of these words come from the greek word Dialegomai, which is where we get our english word dialogue or to have a conversation.
So why do we need to be bold in our conversations? Because we should be telling others about the Lord. we are all called to be a witness to others.Some of us like to talk it is our manner or custom. But what we say says alot about who we are. We like to talk about sports and food and work and gardening, and shopping. But do we like to talk about Jesus? If we are christians we should. Now it is easy to talk about Jesus in church. That doesn't take courage or boldness. It takes boldness to talk about Jesus in the Market. Paul did that, V 17 "Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. " The synagogue was easier than the market. In the synagogue they are talking religous stuff. But this was a new doctrine to them. I wonder how Paul started a conversation in the market about Jesus? I think he just looked for an opportunity. I had one of those last week....
We have the opportunity every day to tell someone about Jesus or to invite someone to church but is not our manner or custom. The question is how do we make it our manner?
1.Learn
If you want to talk about gardening you learn about gardening. If you want to talk about football you learn about football. If you want to talk about the stock market you learn about the stock market. If you want to talk about politics you just open your mouth and say whatever you've heard somewhere else! No, seriously if you want to talk about Jesus, then learn about Jesus. phil 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." In other words fill your mind with the things of God, His Word.
2. Experience.
It great to read about gardening but to really share the love of gardening with someone you have to get in the dirt. If you want to be taken seriously about your opinion of the stock market you better have invested in it.
Do you know Jesus as your saviour? Have you experienced the christian life for yourself? People want to know about it. Give your testimony, that's what Paul did.
3. Grow
2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."
You don't know it all, neither do I. Keep learning keep growing in knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The more you learn the more you want to share..
4. Look for an Opportunity
5. Be Bold
You will publicly declare your favorite sports team. Be as bold about the Bible. Be as bold about your Saviour! We don't have to take out our Bibles and thrash people, but we can talk to them.
