Over the past few years, the last weekend in February and the first weekend in March have become some of my favorite weekends. The Telling the Story Conference in Dallas and the Affirming the Faith Seminar in Oklahoma City are highlights of the year and are great opportunities to get together with other Christians, enjoy great singing and learn from uplifting messages. This year, their themes combine well for those of us who want to share the message of Jesus with others. Telling the Story always centers on evangelism and the gospel. Affirming the Faith has a theme this year about building bridges to better understand, love and share the gospel with our current culture.

 

As I think about gospel and culture, I am drawn to Paul’s words about sharing the gospel in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”

 

It is a difficult thing to truly listen to and understand others who are different. Paul takes the time to know his audience, because the gospel matters more than their differences. He knows how valuable that connection and relationship can be when telling someone the good news of Jesus. Sharing about Jesus is something that we are called to do. If we begin by listening, it might help people hear His message more clearly. We “do it all for the sake of the gospel.”

 

Brian