The Sword of the Spirit (5)

“Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you…” Acts 17.23

A great proposal
Christians can sometimes “clam up” about the truth they find in the Bible because they think others will regard them as trying to “cram religion down their throats.” That might especially be the case if we’re making bold to say to people that their views or lifestyles are wrong for being out of sync with the Word of truth in Scripture.

We won’t get very far in knowing or sharing the joy of the Lord if this is the case.

Much of this feeling of being bullied or preached at comes not so much from what we say to people as how we say it. Christianity – the truth of God, revealed in Scripture – is not like some bad-tasting medicine we have to force people to take because it’s good for what ails them. Christianity is the truth, the very truth of God. It offers life and hope and blessing and joy through the Good News about Jesus and His Kingdom. But before people can make an informed decision about whether to embrace that truth, they need to have opportunities to hear it clearly.

Part of our calling in wielding the Sword of the Spirit, therefore, is in setting before the people around us the grand, overall story of the Bible – the story of Jesus and the coming of the Kingdom of God – and in doing so in a way that is conversational, personal, patient, and engaging. We have learned that this story is true, and if others are going to learn this as well, someone needs to put it before them – to propose the Gospel and the Word of truth as being worthy of consideration.

As we grow in God’s Word, and the joy and rejoicing it brings to our soul, we will naturally want to share the Good News of that Word with others.

Take it easy
Communicating the Gospel has a kind of urgency attached to it. Lives and eternal destinies are at stake. We know this, but those to whom we would propose the Gospel do not. We need to be patient, loving, and conversational with people, asking questions and being ready to answer theirs, as we work our way through the Bible’s teaching about Jesus and His Kingdom. This may require more than one conversation, and we need to be willing for that to be the case.

When such opportunities arise – perhaps growing out of a previous conversation on some issue or topic of the day – guard against becoming too emotional or emphatic, seeking to overwhelm people with passion. The Gospel is true and the Bible is true, and we know it. We can rest in the power of the Word and Spirit of God to do the work for which God sends it out through us; but we need to make sure, like Paul in Athens, that we are considerate, gracious, and patient, as well as clear.

Make it relevant
People are more likely to listen to the truth of God if they see how it impacts their lives. Like Paul in Athens, affirming the religious intensity of the philosophers, and even their faulty worship of God, we can always find something to affirm in others, something which even God would approve, and which could be a kind of starting-point for deeper conversations about truth.

Is our friend particularly diligent in his work? We can commend him for this, and let him know that God approves of his work ethic as well, since it reflects His original purpose for human beings. Does our friend seem to appreciate nice things? Beautiful things? This too, we might point out, is an indication of God’s blessing, since God loves beauty as well.

The point is simply that, in proposing the truth of Scripture so people will listen and engage with us, we need to start where they are, and show them how the Word of God is relevant to their interests, concerns, or situation in life. Think of Jesus with Nicodemus or the woman at the well (Jn. 3, 4). What can you learn about the people around you that might serve as a starting-point for affirmation and conversation, so that you can propose the truth of Scripture for their further consideration?

Take the initiative
We don’t have to wait around for people to seek us out on the Word of God. Jesus came, He said, to seek the lost people of Palestine. He didn’t just go to Jerusalem, rent a facility, and hang out a sign reading, “Religion at 11.” He went to people; He engaged them; He listened; He did good to them; and He proposed and proclaimed the truth of God as the answer to their emptiness and sin.

Jesus said that, as the Father had sent Him into the world, so He has sent us. Are you ready to wield the Sword of the Spirit in proposing the truth of God to the people around you? Let the Word of God dwell in you richly, basking fully in its joy and rejoicing, and you’ll find it fairly flows out from you as situations and opportunities allow (Jn. 7.37-39).

For reflection
1.  What’s the difference between proposing the Gospel and “cramming it down someone’s throat”?

2.  What would you suggest as a good approach to proposing the Good News of Jesus and His Kingdom to someone you’ve known for quite some time?

3.  Think of the people you see each week. What would it mean if you were to become more active in seeking them, like Jesus did?

Next steps – Preparation: Make a short list of the people you see each week. Beside each one, jot down some things you know about them – interests, hobbies, observations. Then, see if you can come up with a few Biblical ideas, truths, stories, or examples they might find interesting. Write a “conversation starter” for each person, and begin working to get the conversations going right away.

T. M. Moore

You can learn more about God’s covenant and why it’s so important by ordering T. M.’s book, I Will Be Your God, from our online store (click here). For a deeper study of God’s covenant, order the workbook, God’s Covenant, from our online store (click here).

To learn how God’s covenant defines the shape of Scripture, and guides our approach to understanding and using the Bible, enroll in the course, Introduction to Biblical Theology. It’s free and online, and you can study at your own pace or with friends. To learn more and to register, click here. This week’s study is Part 2 of a series on The Word of God, and is available as a free download by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.