Title: Evangelism: Known to Unknown
Memorize: for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: Acts 17:23 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: Acts 17:22-28 (Nkjv)
[22] Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;
[23] for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:
[24] God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
[25] Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
[26] And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
[27] so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
[28] for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
Message:
In today’s Bible reading, Paul wanted to win a community for God. He noticed that the people had already set up an altar dedicated to an ‘unknown God,’ so he decided to start from there.
When you want to catch a fish, you need a bait to attract it into your net or hook; this is similar to evangelism.
To approach people with the message of the gospel, find a possible point of interest, and they will warm up to you.
I remember a colleague of mine at the University of Lagos who had an academic challenge.
One day, I approached him and told him how I was helped with my Ph.D. thesis. Then he asked, “Who helped you?” I replied, “Professor Emmanuel.
He told me to separate my theories, solve them independently and bring the answers together to finalise the equation.”
My colleague was very curious about meeting this knowledgeable Professor, and that was how I got his attention.
By the time I was done explaining that Jesus showed me the answer to my thesis through the parting of the Red Sea in the book of Exodus, he already understood who Professor Emmanuel was.
Today, by the grace of God, my colleague is born again.
Key Point:
Approach a new convert from the area of his interest, and then the Holy Spirit will do the rest.
HYMN 16 – BREATHE ON ME, BREATH OF GOD
1. Breathe on me, Breath of God;
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.
2. Breathe on me, Breath of God:
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.
3. Breathe on me, Breath of God
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.
4. Breathe on me, Breath of God;
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.
Bible In One Year: Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19 Luke 10:13-37
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE