Session #16 — What if someone is from a different church or religion, should I still share the gospel with them?

Paul presenting the good news of Jesus on Mars Hill (Acts 17:16-34)

If the good news of Jesus is a part of our lives we naturally talk about the gospel with all who will allow us a moment in their lives. If someone is from the same church and religion, we talk about Jesus and what he's done. If someone is from a different church and religion, we talk about Jesus and what he's done. If someone has no church or religion, we talk about Jesus and what he's done. We're Jesus people around everyone.

Of course, we adjust the way that we talk about Jesus so we can communicate with our audience. I've been leading a Bible study overview of the book of Acts in the community in which we live. Lots of different kinds of people come to this Bible study—people from different churches, Jewish people, people who have no religious background at all. It works well because we have some insightful and gracious participants. This morning, one of them made an observation about how Paul presents the gospel in the book of Acts. She said, "He does it in so many different ways, depending on who he is talking to."

She was right on target. When Paul went to Jewish synagogues, he started his presentations with the history of the Hebrew people, then showed how Jesus is the Jewish messiah, and then invited people to trust Jesus as such. In Acts 14:8-10 Paul heals a crippled man as a part of his preaching because that helped the man experience the good news. In Acts 17:16-34 Paul gets in a discussion with the Greeks in Athens and talks about how religious they are, with so many idols. He then explains that there is one God, who is the creator of all, before talking about Jesus being raised from the dead. Paul adjusted his presentation to the needs of his audience. 

We should do likewise. We share the gospel with everyone—believer or non-believer because Jesus is at the center of our lives. But we trust the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and the words appropriate for the moment.

In this assignment, I'd like you to briefly tell me about a conversation you've had with someone who believes differently about spiritual matters. Were you able to talk about Jesus? What do you remember about the conversation? Send me an email at bboydston@piu.edu. (25 points possible.)