Tag: Paul

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The art of the evangelism deal.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul was a working Apostle. Paul’s business was tent making and repair, but really he focused more on disciple-making and soul-repair.

Paul worked a side gig for two reasons:

  1. To not be one of these itinerant preachers who roll through town, spewing heresy and disunity, which was common during ancient times. The Judaizers were especially unhelpful at this way of life. I believe Paul was an excellent businessman! He knew his craft, but more than that he knew people and felt at ease in the open-air markets in every major city. These swap-meet style businesses would line the main streets of the city where thousands of shoppers would buy and sell their goods and services.
  2. Even more impressive, was the fact that Paul knew how to make the art of the deal in evangelism! To “euaggelizó” bring the good news of Jesus to anyone who was seeking God. Paul’s most successful disciples became Pastors, Teachers, Deacons, Deaconess’ and host homes for churches everywhere Paul travelled.

When Paul writes to the churches in Colossae, he did so out of experience, not theory. Paul LIVED these verses well before he taught these practical concepts. When he writes “walk” in wisdom, he uses a very familiar Greek word, “peripateó,” to walk or really to conduct oneself. The New Living Translation captures it well – LIVE wisely.

Then Paul kicks in his real strategy that everyone who has ever shopped to scoop up a bargain, a prime-day, coupon-ish, can’t pass-it-up sale is familiar with. Paul is saying that everywhere people are, where people gather, hang out, just go about living life is the absolute best place for believers to be! Paul knows what we forget, God is at work all-the-time! God is revealing himself to every single person on the planet. The moments where we collide with someone searching isn’t coincidence it’s providence!

Business man Paul says, “Don’t miss this fire-sale moment where God is supernaturally working for us to have conversations about the gospel – the good news!” Paul uses this Greek business word, this swap-meet bargain, grab-it-now word. He says make the most of EVERY OPPORTUNITY. The word opportunity is ​agorázō, “buy-up at the marketplace!” Everyday that Paul showed up at the “agora,” the city’s bazaar, was going to be a hot, flash sale of God rescuing a soul! Another way to say it is that believers need to show up where people work, live and play. Start chatting people up with gracious, kind, authentic conversation! NLT translates it as “attractive,” but Paul’s actual words are “seasoned with salt.” Because, who wants to be a part of a tasteless, dull conversation. Make it spicy, or at the least flavorful!

This is Paul’s secret-sauce to making the art of the evangelism deal. God does 100% of the work and asks us to join Him in the miracle of transforming a life. But how do I do this you ask? What do I say? Well, it’s really important that you begin by just being a normal human being who enjoys people. Come on, it’s not that tough. Quit the nonsense of “but I’m an introvert,” or “I don’t even like people.” You cannot be a part of the Kingdom of God without behaving just a little bit like a citizen of God’s economy. Just being nice is a good start. Practice in the mirror 🤣.

What Paul did next is genius. He would wait, watch and listen for someone to ask him, “so what’s your story?” Or, how’d you become a tent maker guy? At this point Paul and every single believer in Jesus would simply and briefly share their own story, their own testimony – the personal witness of how they met God.

So the next time you see a sale, a bargain, and you feel the need to jump on it before that discount slips through your fingers, just remember – you can also seize these kind of life moments that God customized for you to be a part of the miracle of new life!

Prayer

​Dad,
You know I LOVE this strategy! It is so natural, so easy, so non-threatening. For years I thought evangelism or sharing my faith was a confrontational, three-step method of memorizing Paul’s Roman’s Road or a script I was taught that made me so nervous. What a relief to know that I can’t and don’t save anyone! That’s all You. What a joy to just be normal and enjoy the moments that you have ordained to allow me to be a part of Your story, a true citizen in the Kingdom. Oh, how I wish everyone would follow Paul’s simple way of just being themselves. And when you show up, wow – it is spectacular.

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Demetrius – riot starter.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.” Acts 19‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“At this their anger boiled!” Riots and angry mobs are very much a human response to what is perceived as something or someone is unfair, unjust or touching an issue close to one’s heart. This disturbance was about the loss of money, but one man decided to make his case public, making it about a supposed personal offense made towards the city’s most beloved icon.

Attaching people’s income to a deeply held religious practices is certainly a recipe for explosive behavior. One Greek merchant is specifically mentioned in the Bible for doing so. Demetrius sparked a wickedly successful uprising by tying money to city pride! He blamed Paul for his loss of idol sales.

First he starts with the truth – the gospel causes people to rethink their beliefs. Ephesus was filled with an extraordinary amount of idol worship attributed to the belief that Diana/Artemis was the god of fertility and the reason for the city’s success. It was world renowned for its citizens flourishing in love, family and wealth. Paul’s message of hope and truth were twisted into a personal vendetta against their way of life. There in Ephesus a 9 foot marble statue of Artemis stood in her massive temple – this temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Paul doesn’t attack their deity, he didn’t demean their little idols or sacrifices to a cold, useless statue. Even the mayor of Ephesus admitted, “You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess.” In other words, you got all worked up about nothing. And then the mayor flat out told Demetrius, “If you’ve got an issue, take it to the courts where evidence can be presented!” A calm sensible leader in a highly volatile situation. Don’t ya wish we had such mayors, governors and leaders today? There are so many better ways to solve things rather than useless protests and riots.

Besides, the best thing Paul did – he just told them the truth. But when facts clash with preferences, opinions and personal truths, there is bound to be high emotions mixed with lawlessness and incivility.

Prayer

​Dad,
It seems like over the past couple of years there has been a tremendous rise in both lawlessness and incivility. Folks in cars running over pedestrians, flying through red lights, and darting in and out of traffic at high speed. That along with brazen smash and grab break-ins on small businesses already struggling to make a living. It’s like we are living another cycle of last days. We ache, we cry and wait for justice Oh Lord. Come and make things right in our city, our state and our nation. May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done!

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I’m in.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Apostle Paul makes a bold and unpopular statement for some in the first century Church (Judaizers). He writes to the Ephesians about their previous status among the Jewish community – they were outsiders. The Jewish males were the “cut ones” as in “cutting a contract.”

Starting with Abraham, God covenanted with him by having him remove the foreskin on his baby-maker. Each and every Jewish male thereafter would do the same. If a non-Jew were to convert to Judaism, the first thing they would do is be circumcised. It was a physical sign of keeping the contract with God. From very far back in history the Jewish people only saw two kinds of humans, those covenanted with God (circumcised) and those outside of His kingdom and His promises (uncircumcised). The uncircumcised were considered to be heathens or pagans (worshipping other gods).

Contracts back in ancient times were often “cut” with some kind of blood involved. Men would often place their hand on the inside of the other’s thigh and recite the promise, but it was sealed or certified by the blood sacrifice of a living animal. God made this kind of contract/covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15. Abraham, at 99 years old was circumcised and also told to make sure that every male from then on would also be circumcised. ”This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant. Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant” Genesis‬ ‭17‬:‭10‬-‭14‬.

We can clearly see how the Jewish people would come to understand only two groups of people – God’s covenanted and those not! What the New Testament Jewish people could not understand, because of their lack of belief in Jesus as the Messiah, is that Jesus’ death was the final and forever blood covering of sin and fulfillment of the contractual obligations for anyone who believes in Him, turning from sin and having faith in God.

Paul is simply reminding the Jews and Gentiles that Jesus has performed a completely different kind of circumcision – one of the heart! Now, as a non-Jewish person I am all in! A heathen, a sinner, saved by grace through faith alone, adopted into the family of God and grafted into the “root of Jesse.”

Prayer

​Dad,
Feeling like an outsider for the early part of my life, I am thrilled to be an insider as a part of Your family. Plus, I get to be TWICE adopted! Once at four years old and then at fifteen years old when was born again 🙌🏼. I love to see your covenant promises made and even more so to see you being faithful to keeping them from then and still today. Your love and faithfulness endure forever!

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Aren’t we all a little truth-anemic?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Are you sitting or standing still right now?

Depending on where you live you are actually moving at an incredible number of miles per hour! 1,038 mph for those who live near the equator. I am spinning in Los Angeles at 860 mph right now! Why aren’t we all nauseously experiencing vertigo? I’m told it’s because wherever you are, everything around you is spinning at exactly the same speed. Like driving fast in a car, but it doesn’t feel like you are moving until you look outside or come to an abrupt stop!

The Apostle Paul tells us that the message of the cross, that the perfect son of God, was falsely charged and put to death. Jesus was completely innocent and was judged as guilty then executed. Even in our limited understanding of justice we know that is wrong! With Jesus, justice was not served. We relish shows and podcasts about such parodies. When it comes to Jesus – justice was not served, but mercy was.

We value innocence so highly that we believe it should be protected, even avenged. For Jesus, there was no such thing. Humans put Jesus on the cross, and God not only “allowed” it, He planned it! I can’t say that Jesus looked forward to being mocked, misrepresented, mutilated and murdered, but He did look forward to the results – true freedom for all creation. We normally hate it when bad guys get away with murder. That makes Good Friday a conundrum, a paradoxical reality. It’s was a sham, a travesty, and injustice at its best! But for those who know, those who believe in the message of the cross, it was the most significant act of love we will ever experience.

Why would the cross and its message of mercy be so foolish to anyone? Especially for those running towards the cliff of their own curiosity and cunningness? Well, it turns out we want something more than justice. We bristle at a mockery of innocence but we boil over something far more precious to us – SELF DETERMINATION! The cross is foolish because it cuts against the grain of our self inflated ego that pretends that we are our own god. And, that we control our own destiny! If we want to follow fake gods, so be it – it is our choice. If we want to make our own gods and worship them, pretending they hear us, heal us and save us – that’s our decision.

The cross is foolish because, if this capital punishment was used to murder God himself just to satisfy the Holy demands of perfection, then we would have to admit the truth.

We are not God!

We cannot fix ourselves, let alone save us from our own self-determined decisions. Or to close our mind and harden our heart to our creator. You can call on orbs or UAP’s all you want, but they cannot, will not, save or satisfy the ache in our soul. We would choose to die, facing eternity without certainty, rather than bend our knee before God upon our final breath. Yep, that’s us!

Hubris humanity all the way to the end.

The truth is, we are all hurling towards eternity at the amazing speed of life. There are plenty of people that do not think about their spiritual soul at all, and rarely, if ever, think about eternity. Believing in annihilation upon death is a little bit like believing that we are standing still on a gigantic ball that’s really spinning hundreds of miles an hour. We’re short on truth and full of ourselves with foolishness. But we that are being saved know and believe that the message of the cross is factually the power of God to save us not to destroy us.

Prayer

​Dad,
I really do NOT like playing the fool! Although I know I’ve dip my toes in the fool-pool way too many times. When it comes to the message of the cross, I not only get it – I am completely banking on it! I know that life is far more than this brief, puff of wispy smoke on planet earth. However, even from grief to great experiences, I am thankful for every minute I’ve spent here because it is so extraordinarily unique. Maybe we are the only fallen planet as C.S. Lewis suggests? I am grateful for every powerful moment that the cross of Christ afforded me to live as your adopted son. I am also thankful to call you Abba!

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Integrity, us in the light of the sun.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul in writing his second letter to the churches in Corinth, gets very real with them. We might use the word authentic, non-hypocritical, where Paul’s words match his life no matter where you find him living it. Paul was the same whether you met him in the open-air marketplace on the streets of Corinth. Or you met him at one of the synagogues. Or you met him in one of the house churches that met on Sundays throughout the city. He was even the same person in prison or house arrest in other cities.

Paul writes how “eilikrineia,” sincere with integrity he has been wherever he goes. Integrity is being the same in character no matter the circumstances. It suggests a state of being free from deceit, hypocrisy, or pretense, embodying genuine and unadulterated motives. In the New Testament, it is often used to describe the purity of one’s intentions and the integrity of one’s actions, especially in relation to faith and conduct. Integrity, “eilikrineia” characterized by honesty and transparency literally means, “judged in the light of the sun.”

Men and women have often struggled with some kind of duality of character, where we are one way at work and completely different at home or at church. Those differences show a lack of integrity and doesn’t allow people to get to know the “real” us. Paul despised these facades, believing that it detracts from the work of Christ showing up consistently in each other. What a powerful testimony Paul maintained, especially in the multi-cultural morality of a city like Corinth! Paul was obsessed with being the same no matter if you dealt with him as a businessman on the street or preaching in one of the churches. This also encouraged the Corinthians to live the same – like they were living in the light of the son!

Prayer

​Dad,
I only have one life to live! And, it is with utmost intention that I live the same way at church as I do at home. That I live the same way when out with friends as I do when I am sermonizing or leading as the pastor. I desire to be consistent in my faith, my walk and my ways no matter where people find me. Help me live as Christ. Help me reflect the integrity and authenticity of my savior. Help me not be pluralistic in the way I conduct my life, but rather singular in being myself. Thank you for your grace to live in the light of Jesus! Amen.

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The theology of spiritual gifts.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Apostle Paul, in his second of thirteen letters to churches, wrote to the churches in Corinth around 53-54 AD. In his letter to the churches in Galatia, he writes about the “fruit of the Holy Spirit.” As we see here in Paul’s introductory remarks, he begins to lay out this understanding of spiritual gifts, given to individuals to advance the cause of Christ both in the “ecclesia,” the gathering of believers as well as the marketplace among nonbelievers.

Paul tells the church, “you’ve got every spiritual gift you need.” He also encourages them that these gifts and it will help as they eagerly wait for Jesus’ return, the “parousia,” his coming. It’s Paul’s last thought in his introduction that jumps out at me! Paul writes “for he has called or invited us into “koinónia” this deep, intimate fellowship and communal participation.” It always amazes me that God solely and supernaturally provides for us a way back to himself, through the sacrifice of his son.” And yet, God also asks us, calls us, to JOIN him in this process of salvation, of redemption both within the body of Christ (the church) and those who have not yet believed!

The spiritual gifts that Paul introduced to the church for the first time are THE ways God makes us abundantly rich, equipping us to both be disciples and make disciples. The beauty of this idea of spiritual gifts is that everyone who loves and follows Jesus has them and everyone can begin figuring out how, when and where to use them. This is what we do until Jesus returns! We lavish the love of Jesus on those around us, using the gifts he has given to love one another and be the light, mercy and grace to those who do not yet believe in him.

Paul led one of the wildness churches in the New Testament in this theology of Spiritual Gifts to prove that God can and will use anyone who humbles themselves in obedience and wonder. Do you know there are whole denominations that do not even believe these spiritual gifts are for us today? They won’t teach it, or they will spin it to mean something completely opposite of what Paul intended. These gifts are, and have always been for all believers. There were many years that church leaders and the people in the “pew” were taught that only the priests, pastors, bishops of elders could practice these gifts in the body of Christ. Sadly, there were also too many years that folks let it happen! Terms were used to separate the profession class of “clergy” and the “do as your told” class of “laity.” There are no such distinctions in the New Testament Church! We are all one body under Jesus. Those concepts of the separation of professional and common have caused great harm to Christ’s Church, His body. God help us to return to the Biblical theology of Spiritual gifts that Paul wrote about so long ago.

Prayer

​Dad,

What a joy it is to find purpose and charis, grace or gifts that you assign to us! I know the Church has had several resurgences over the past 50 years, but the average believer is still having difficulty understanding their gifts and using them in the Church and the marketplace. Why is that? Your guy Paul wrote this thousands of years ago! Is it still so controversial? Is it intimidating? Would followers of Jesus still rather leave it to “professionals” or “paid” staff to do it all? There is so much we could do if we all used these gifts you have given each of us. Help us Oh Lord! Let your Word come to life through all of Your body. Amen.

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Unexpected stories from extraordinary people.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Luke was not one of Jesus’s original 12 Apostles. So he wasn’t an apostle, but he sure acts like one. It is believed that Luke was most likely one “of the seventy,”. History tells us that Luke was a really smart guy! He was a physician, a theologian and a historian. If you see the trifecta of those skill sets you know why Luke starts his gospel, his account of the life of Jesus with such bravado. “Many people have attempted…” but I also have investigated and decided to write an accurately ordered, successively, one after another account!

According to history, Luke had not been a follower of Jesus before he died. Being biologically Jewish but culturally Greek, he had to have followed the controversial stories of Jesus admitting that He was THE Messiah. Luke became a believer, then a follower of THE WAY (a common phrase used to describe Jesus people). Luke not only journaled, he also journeyed with Paul, eventually writing the book of Acts. Luke was the best of biographers, writing one about the life of Jesus, the other the life of the early Church. It is believed that Luke wrote Acts in such a way that Paul would present the “book” to Caesar himself in Rome. Acts is a full testament of truth about the power of Jesus to transform a religious terrorist into an evangelist while watching the fulfillment of a promise of bringing salvation to the Gentiles as well.

Luke writes to Theophilus, a title given to a person of great wealth and influence. It is not clear whether this man was a High Priest in Jerusalem just after Jesus’ day, or that Theophilus was a high-ranking, influential Gentile official. Most likely the latter. Either way, Luke tells Theophilus, “you can be secure in the truth” of what you have been taught.

Secure in the truth – oh how I wish this generation would anchor themselves to the faith they were raised in, knowing that it is not a truth, it is THE truth. These facts about Jesus aren’t “my” truth nor “our” truth – it is God’s truth. These two books (Luke and Acts), written by Luke, were used to bring many people to faith in Jesus Christ, and to believe in His death and resurrection! Then help guide them to follow Jesus, obeying what he taught, doing what he did for the rest of their lives. Luke’s book are more than just stories about Jesus, they are also systems of how to live our life being a disciple and making disciples. Thank God for His living Word inspired, directed and recorded by men like Dr. Luke!

Prayer

​Dad,
The consistency and wonder of your Word just continually amazes me. Most of the men and women recorded in the Bible were just normal, if not ordinary people. However, then comes these really unique and driven people like Doctor Luke and the Apostle Paul. Thank you for working in and through all of us, making wise the simple and using the weak to speak to powerful rulers. Amen.

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In, but not of.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” ‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Apostle Paul, writing to “young” Titus, gives Pastoral instruction of how to guide the flock in the faith. “Young” Titus does not mean that Titus was a young man, just that he was younger than Paul. Titus had served with Paul before Timothy and long after Barnabas. Titus was such a devoted and trusted Pastor that Paul sent him to one of the most difficult cultures to become Bishop over several churches that had been planted.

Titus was Bishop of the island Crete. The Bible Project talks about the Crete culture and just how throughly worldly they were. The Cretans were proud and known for being deceitful liars! Titus’ first task as Bishop was to kick out the compromised pastors and install true godly men. Here in chapter two, Paul makes the point that is crucial when living under extremely wild cultural influences. The gospel must prove itself in the public square! “The gospel has got to work in the worst of the worst cultures. Christianity is compelling when it looks culturally similar but is based on a different value system and devoted to a different God,” (Bible Project).

The churches in Crete were failing because the people and their pastors mimicked the culture so the word of God was discredited and the message wasn’t compelling. Paul’s words to Titus was to have high, holy standards, but be culturally relevant on the island. Not an easy task when Cretan culture was corrupt. One of their own philosophers, Epimendes, said, “Cretans are always liars, vicious beasts and lazy gluttons.” This is why it was so critical for the Pastors and their families to be different, but not so different that it made them unapproachable. The church’s elders were to set examples of marriage fidelity, not sleeping around. It was important for the elders to actually have children instead of being just a hip and cool childless couple. The kids would have an active role in also setting an example of godliness without judgment in the community. We’re not talking about some kind of super fake “holiness,” caricatured kids. It just means they were not lying, conniving, rebellious, drunken, and sexually loose teenagers! Sometimes it just takes someone who’s not a potty-mouth, crass, trash-talking gossip who just happens to go to church. It’s really NOT that hard to be “different” from the popular culture of the day – to be IN the world but not OF it. Paul basically wanted Titus, the elders and their families to not drink the immoral cultural-punch of society and be susceptible to every social virus that sweeps through town. So, Paul instructed Titus in a solid gameplay – to live IN this evil world WITH wisdom, righteousness and devotion to God, yet not be disconnected and disengaged from the people.

This is tough. It means we have to keep our own heart and mind clean – free of “sinful pleasures,” constantly attending to our own disordered desires, submitting them to the power of Holy Spirit to free us from every kind of sin. That alone should keep us humble and busy, realizing we’ve got our own battles to face. We cannot hide behind a false righteousness, like we are better than the culture, better than the liars, vicious beasts and lazy gluttons of Crete. May Jesus be revealed IN us and THROUGH us.

Prayer

Dad,
I get it. If I had not been raised in a totally non-christian household, this would be more difficult to understand. I knew the culture, the ways of our family and the their friends. For a while, I felt the need to pull away from all of it – just for my sake of sanity! I realized this was not good as a witness and had to humbly reengage, proving that I was still myself, but changed because of Jesus 👏🏼. Now, I clearly see how tough it is for those who are being changed by your grace, to see ourselves as sinners, still needy, humble and hungry for You. I completely agree with Paul’s words to Titus – they are true, but oh so difficult to live out. Help us live authentically, yet self aware of our own struggles. Amen.

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Let the adoptions begin.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,” ‭‭Acts ‭28‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Apostle Paul, formerly Rabbi Saul, trained and certified under the well known and respected Gamaliel, has made his case before his peers, the religious leaders. At first they were curious, “But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere”‭‭ (Acts 28‬:‭22‬). Paul did an excellent job presenting the gospel through the Law and the prophets. Some were even convinced, but others would not believe. Then he quoted a long and sad truth spoken by Isaiah: They would hear but not understand, see but not comprehend. Their hearts were hard and closed. Thus, they cannot turn to God and let Him heal them! All this time, all the cycles of grief and glee, they refused to listen to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And… it was necessary!

Their resistance to the Messiah was part of God’s plan. This is the moment that Paul made the formal announcement to most of the official Sanhedrin – “So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it” ‭‭(Acts 28‬:‭28). It had also been the plan before time began. It was told to the leaders of Israel, demonstrated by many of the stories and prophets’ behaviors that were confusing to the religious leaders of that day. The plan of salvation was for ALL human beings. Israel was to be mentors, teachers and examples to the nations! Before there would be converts to Judaism, in what the Jewish people call a “righteous convert.” But now, millions upon millions would become converts to Jesus Christ, adopted by God and grafted into the Jewish tree! Their righteousness would not be in the fulfillment of the Law, but in the fulfillment of faith in the work of Christ to repair the breach between God and humankind, permanently eradicating sin for those who would repent and believe.

Paul became God’s first missionary carrying the message of hope and inviting all to be adopted and come into the family of God!

Prayer

​Dad,
It is so rare to see the simple moments that shift the future so profoundly. This moment that Luke recorded about Paul is subtle but powerful- I have, we have, been grafted into this beautiful tree, this root of Jesse. I am so thankful salvation and redemption has come to all! Amen.

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Young pastor, old people.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband. She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Apostle Paul spends a lot of written real estate on how to treat each other – especially here in Timothy concerning elders and widows. Paul gets very specific, even detailing a special care list for those who qualify. The Jewish culture always had a strong family-oriented system of care even though some of the religious leaders created a loophole and were able to put money into a special temple account (Corban) rather than going towards their own elderly parents. Jesus shamed that idea in Matthew 15.

What does senior or widow care have to do with pastoring a church? It’s actually a huge part of pastoral responsibility, unless you’re dodgy as a startup church 😇. It is interesting that this area of specific ministry has exploded with the extraordinary extension of life expectancy over the past 50 years. Now, seniors are living well into their 90’s and beyond! Multi-generational churches are struggling to meet the tension of both geriatric pastoral care alongside early childhood care for couples in their thirties. Retirement and funerals along with baby deductions and birthdays are happening almost every month!

Back to widows – Paul has the hutzpah to write about the qualities and qualifications on getting on the widow list! And, it is obviously only for widows, not widowers. A widow has to be at least 60 (extreme life expectancy of that day). She had to seen as faithful to her husband. Well respected by everyone – because of the good she has done! Paul completely expected every godly widow to have a calling of serving, even through loss, grief and complete change of life status. Has had to raise her children well, kind to strangers and served believers in all humility. Helped those in trouble. And, always been ready to do good. This sounds like a full time job with no pay, but massive benefits from God! Paul writes to Timothy as though this was a widow’s, “job portfolio.” And you can bet that when Timothy was sent to pastor the Ephesian’s church, this was a huge part of his job and calling.

Timothy pastored that church until his death at 80 years old! Paul’s letters to Timothy are remarkable because he is writing about a young pastor’s own confidence in their calling as well as giving him the tools for leading a church that had gone through conflict, resulting in disunity. This idea of leading in a multigenerational church can and should happen. Yet, the caveat seems to be the willingness for the elderly to be led by a young pastor AND the willingness for the young pastor to be patient and caring for those who have experienced life and gone through trying times. Church plants are fantastic, but rarely have the elderly, the seniors or super-seniors in the body of Christ. Old churches, who were once a startup, have struggled to change and reinvent themselves to the point where they are purposely bridging and building into the lives of littles, youth and young families. Paul mentored Timothy when he was likely a young adult. That allowed Timothy to become a Bishop and to stay in one local church to give his life for the sake of the gospel in Ephesus.

Prayer

​Dad,
I believe in Your Church! I believe in life-long commitments in relationships within the local church. My heart has always been towards both loving and honoring the elderly as well as nurturing and mentoring young children, youth, singles and families. I believe that I am called to help bridge generational gaps that have become more divisive than they should be. As we see enormous change and uncertainty in the Church, help us keep our eyes on you, not on the past. Keep our hearts tender and our minds sharp, open and obedient to Your will, not our own. Amen.