Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Paul was a very balanced Christian
- He had a great concern for God's people
- He was concerned for people outside of the Church
- He was a pastor and evangelist
- He preached inside and outside buildings
- He didn't want to put a stumbling block in front of any Christian - 8:13
- He didn't want to put a stumbling block in front of any person – 9:19-20
- He would be sensitive to people
- He would become all things to all people so he might save some (v20)
- His burdens was to save souls
- Taking away barriers
- What barriers are there in our life that need to be taken away? - examples
- Do I build bridges or construct walls?
- Paul/Scripture is very clear about pleasing God and not men
- He was willing to change his personal lifestyle but not the message
- Overview:
- Removing barriers for religious people - e.g. Judeo-Catholic
- Removing barriers for pagan people
- Removing barriers for weak people
- Paul is free from all men (v19a)
- He is free from the dictates of men and women
- But under the Lordship of Christ
- He has made himself a servant/salve of all (v19b)
- He will not cause offense - examples
- We can act wrongly
- Paul did not, he sought to win all - his one goal was salvation
- Example of Roger Carswell
- We are called to be evangelists, share the gospel and shine our light
Removing barriers for religious people (v20)
- To the Jews I became a Jew
- Ever there was a Jew - it was Paul
- When he became a Christian:
- He renounced self-righteousness
- He realised that the law no longer needed to be fulfilled
- He realised the Mishnah laws no longer applied (those established by Jewish Rabbi's) - examples
- However, he restricted/restrained himself to win the religious
- He attended religious festivals
- How does this apply to us?
- How do we reach a religious person?
- Starting by listening to them
- Building bridges and not walls
Removing barriers for pagan people (v21)
- They have conscience but they can have very little knowledge
- The UK society is a pagan society without restraint
- How do we reach them?
- Not to live in a different time but to people of this era
- Consider our language
- When Paul went to Acts (chapter 17) - he sought to find common ground
- Example of football
- Example of Paul - the statues of the idols, a quote from a poet
- Example of Hudson Taylor, Paul Daniels
- Not to abandon the standards of the Bible (v21b-c)
- We will always be counter cultural in our holiness and morality
- But we will meet people
Removing barriers for weak people (v22)
- Those who were weak - had a weak conscience - 1 Cor 8
- To these Paul will be gentle and patient - Examples
- There are different types of people - 1 Thess 5:14
- Some are unruly and need discipline
- Some are faint hearted
- Some are weak
- It is not about learning a formula for Evangelism
- We need to change where we need to change
- We need to bring a word that is right for that person
- We need to treat people as people
- Example of Jesus with the Samaritan woman
- Are we being all things to all men?
- Paul went in faith and really loved the sinner
- If we really love them - there will be change in us
Closing Remarks