In the previous post (here), we saw that Paul was intentional and bold enough to interfere with people in Athens with the Gospel even though he didn’t know them. He was provoked by the idols that he saw in the city and was compelled to preach Christ to the lost souls, in the Synagogues and in the marketplace.
Our day is not very different considering that the culture in which we live is rapidly becoming a place like those cities of antiquity in the glorification of sin and idolatry. In our day and age, Christ is an after thought if a thought at all and sin has become something that is normal and even glamorized or glorified.
We live among a lost people who are finding pleasure, as fleeting as it is, in anything but the creator of their souls. So how do we engage in such a culture, when many of these people that we will encounter we will not have a relational context by which to engage?
I think we get some help from the Apostle Paul in how he handled himself in Acts 17. Acts 17:22-31 is Paul’s evangelistic sermon to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.
Finding Common Ground
One thing that is very insightful is to notice how Paul navigated his situation. He doesn’t come in with a shaking fist or pointing a finger yelling out hell, fire, and brimstone condemnation nor does he jump to the felt need of love and value. Instead of building a wall or a manipulative connection, Paul builds an authentic bridge.
He stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said,
“Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.
Acts 17:22-23
Seeing that the city was full of idols, Paul could have railed them about their idolatry, but instead he found a connection to start with which was the idol to an unknown God. This is helpful when we engage with people in cold evangelism because when we find a starting point of agreement, we then can lead from the place of agreement and begin to press in with the Gospel.
When I lived in Southern California, some friends and I would go into the downtown areas and share Christ with anyone who would be willing to listen. And many times what got us a way into a Gospel conversation with people was a common point of agreement.
I remember talking with a gentlemen around Christmas time and just by asking him what he thought was the meaning of Christmas, and listening to his answer, gave me an open door into his world to share Christ. He focused on lights and how Christmas was a time to rejoice in the light of life (some eastern philosophy). It didn’t take much from there to get to the true Light of the World being Christ Jesus.
Another thing that I do to find a common element is to comment on something that I notice about the person, such as a saying on a shirt, style, or something in their hand or kids that they are with. I look for anything that I could capitalize on that would break through into their world. Once the conversation begins, I will ask them if they go to church. From that more questions follow until I have either shared the Gospel or the conversation dies.
So seek to find a common ground to build on and you will find an easy way to share Christ with people. You begin building a temporary relationship with people that way and in that moment you may have won a friend, or at least an opportunity.
Understand Their Context
Paul was a master at relating to the people he was engaging with. And he didn’t have a one size fits all approach but sought to understand his audience.
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
We see that when Paul was in Athens, he was very observant. He noticed that they worshiped a multitude of idols. He was picking up clues to where these people were and what their context was in relation to their knowledge of the One True God. He even acknowledged that they were very religious. This insight would prove valuable because it informed Paul of what he was going to share.
The flow of Paul’s evangelistic sermon starts with creation and the One True God, who does not dwell in things made with hands and is not in need of anything since He Himself is the life giver. And he leads into God’s authority over all man, man’s separation from God, and then he calls them to repentance and warns them of the judgment to come. And then he puts the capstone on it by pointing to the resurrection of Jesus as proof.
Since Paul knew that these Greek philosophers did not have a background in the Hebrew Scriptures, he had to start all the way back at creation. If the audience had been Jewish, he would have proven that Jesus was the messiah from the Hebrew Scriptures.
So knowing the context of the one you are sharing with will give you insight on what you need to share and how it should be shared. There are many today that only know Jesus because of His name being used in the media or as a curse word. But they do not know the Jesus the Bible. There are so many differing worldviews but they don’t know the Risen Savior.
Seek to understand what someone knows or doesn’t know. This requires you to ask strategic questions and forces you to listen to understand and not listen simply to reply. Learn the person as you are engaging them, don’t just “preach” at them, reason with them.
Utilize the Law
Ray Comfort and The Way of the Master crew have been utilizing the law as a means to get into Gospel conversations with people and it has been a helpful resource. Simply put, Ray Comfort will ask people if they have ever, lied, stolen, looked with lust and by their own admission he will point out that they are guilty sinners deserving God’s wrath on the day of judgment.
But then he leads to the good news of the Gospel in that Jesus lived a perfect life, died a sinners death, and was raised on the third defeating death for all who would believe.
I commend his resources to you as you seek to expand and learn how to engage with people.
Kindness and Love
I have been told that if someone knows that you love them, they will follow you. There is some truth to that. Proverbs 3:3 says, “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.”
There is never a reason to be unkind and unkindness is the quickest way to build a wall instead of a bridge. Kindness will be a wonderful currency for you as you engage with one’s you are seeking to win to Christ. May you head the words of the Apostle.
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
Notice the terms kind, patient, and gentleness. Those are the attributes of one’s that God uses.
Conclusion
Since Paul serves as a great example for us, study Acts 17:16-32 and learn his method. Build a bridge by finding common ground and seek to understand their context in relation to what they about Christ. Always be kind since the Gospel itself will offend many.
Be bold.
Do you have any stories of cold evangelism and lessons learned that you would share? Comment below.