“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.” (1 Corinthians 9:19–23, NKJV)
Evangelism is the God directed and Spirit empowered effort of lovingly conveying the gospel of grace to people with the intention of leading them to faith in Jesus Christ.
A writer for Christianity Today wrote:
“Evangelism always involves a bloody cross and an empty tomb. It always involves Jesus’ death on the cross for our sin and in our place. Those facts are a constant. Without that message, there is no evangelism since there is no good news. Evangelism is transcultural and universal, and it goes throughout every era of time.” Evangelism is every follower of the Lord Jesus Christ inviting others to trust, follow and believe in the risen Lord.
But the “how” concerning our approach to people is varied because people are not all cut from the same cultural cloth – even in America. Not only that but “different personalities communicate differently” such is true not only for the hearer but for the speaker as well.
The Apostle Paul certainly varied his approach – he took the approach of the Intellectual approach with the “Epicureans and Stoics” of Athens in (Acts 17); he took the Testimonial Approach with King Agrippa in (Acts 26:1-23) as well as with his own countrymen in (Acts 22:1-21) and often in his teaching and preaching he took a Direct and confrontational approach in communicating the gospel.
In the passage of (1 Cor. 9:19-23) we encounter Paul mid discussion begun in (chapter 8) concerning the consuming of meat offered to idols. His point was that even though believers were free to eat such meat because they understood that the Lord God was the provider of all such food and that an idol has no power not all believers had such an understanding; thus the more mature believers were to deny themselves of such meat for the sake of the weaker brother. He declared in (v.8) that their liberty might become a stumbling block to the weaker brother – a lack of concern over this issue was declared to be sin against Christ (v.12). In [v.13] we read,
“Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”
The principal of self denial concerning food which Paul taught in that section led to a personal illustration concerning self denial in his ministry for the sake of those he was trying to reach. The attitude he details in the following verses should be our approach to everything we do in our lives – esteeming others as better than ourselves requires self-denial.
In (Chapter 9) Paul reflects on his “rights” as an apostle to share in the material blessing of those to whom he ministers (v.11-12) declaring in the second half of (v.12):
“Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.”
Paul had the right to compensation for his service as an Apostle, He had the right to expect to be cared for by the people to whom he ministered but for their sake and the gospel he refused to demand those rights. Instead he who was already a doulos (bondservant) of the Lord became a dŏulŏō (a servant) to all men. He saw himself as a “debtor to all men, to Greeks and Barbarians, to the wise and the unwise” (Romans 1:15); he was eager to share the gospel with everyone. His purpose in denying himself was to lead more people to a life saving and changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Paul did not give up His freedom in Christ to become a slave to those he was trying to reach but in his freedom he gave up His rights for their sake and the gospel.
A Missional Mentality…
(v. 22) “I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.”
In his missionary journeys, Paul met many people from many different backgrounds – but he found common ground with them. He made it his effort not to deliberately insult them in his efforts to reach them but that does not mean he compromised his beliefs, forsook his moral convictions or sacrificed a biblical doctrine in his efforts to bring them to Jesus.
Paul met people where they were just like Jesus did; this needs to be more than something we say and nod our heads at today – it needs to be something believers practice in their efforts to reach people for Christ.
Four groups are listed in the previous verses:
- Jews in general (His Countrymen). (v.20a)
The word translated “Jew” in (v.20) referred to the national distinction of being from the region of the Jews. I think that to a point Paul, in trying to reach the Jews drew from the undeniable fact that he was one of them. He had things in common with them, in (Philippians 3:4-6) we read that Paul was “circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin and a Hebrew of the Hebrews.”
Beyond the commonality of nationality Paul, in his effort to gain a hearing among the Jews he allowed Timothy to be circumcised in [Acts 16:1-3] “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.” Had Timothy not been circumcised the Jews in the region where they were going would have been insulted and likely would never have listened to Paul’s gospel message.
- Those “Under the Law.” (The Religious) (v.20b)
Not every Jew was a practicing believer thus the distinction between “Jew” in (v.20) and “those under the Law” in (v.21). Paul was formerly a well trained Pharisee and blameless with regard to keeping the Law of Moses (Phil. 3:6) so in his efforts to reach those of this group he was careful – he did nothing to compromise the truth that justification came through Jesus Christ.
Even so, when among them, Paul “behaved as a Jew in matters of moral indifference. For instance, he ate the foods which the Jewish people ate and refrained from eating such things as pork which were forbidden to them (see I Cor. 8). Perhaps Paul also refrained from working on the Sabbath day, realizing that if he did this, the gospel might gain a more ready hearing from the people.” [i]
- Those “Without the Law.” (The Irreligious) (v.21)
Those without the law is not a reference to “outlaws” – Paul didn’t become a bank robber so that he could reach bank robbers; “those without the law” is a reference to gentiles or simply those who were not Jews or Jewish proselytes. In true missionary fashion Paul, when he was with this group of people adapted to the culture and customs to the degree that the Lord would allow. Paul specified a caveat or limitation to how far he would go in honoring and keeping the customs of the people with the words in parenthesis in (v.21): “(not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ).” He recognized a responsibility to honor, serve and obey the Lord Jesus before the gentiles – because of His love for the Savior.
- The spiritually weak. (V.22)
Paul was also patient with immature believers such as those he mentions may have been offended by the food that more spiritually mature believers understand they are free to eat. The goal with regards to the weaker brother was not justification – Paul was most likely not trying to “win” them in the sense of salvation but rather the goal was the sanctification and maturing of the weaker brother or sister.
In each instance Paul spent his effort doing whatever he could to gain some for Jesus – that is what a good witness does: “A good witness tries to build bridges, not walls” [ii]towards those he or she is trying to reach. In the past many efforts have been made to reach people for the Lord – radio evangelism used to be popular and still has its place, the “bus ministry” of the seventies was another as was meeting based evangelism such as tent revivals and the large meetings like those of Billy Graham but today the trend is toward home based evangelism but as important as these strategies are for large group evangelism souls are still reached one at a time. Every believer carries the personal responsibility to by all means strive to gain people for Jesus.
This responsibility causes certain fear and anxiety in the hearts of some believers today so as I conclude today I would like to briefly direct your attention to Six Approaches to Evangelism taken from a book by Bill Hybels titled “Becoming a contagious Christian:”
1. Direct Approach (Confrontational)
This is the Apostle Peter’s approach in Acts 2, boldly proclaiming the Gospel to whoever would hear. Evangelists who use the direct approach are often equipped with Gospel tracts and ask questions like, “If you were to die tonight, are you 100% sure that you would go to heaven?”
Direct evangelists get straight to the point, preach Christ, and seek a response.
2. Intellectual Approach
The intellectual approach to evangelism is what Paul modeled in Acts 17 when he reasoned with philosophers and the deep thinkers of Athens and is today practiced by apologists and other logical thinkers.
If you are a person who likes ideas, evidence, logical thinking, and Christian Apologetics, you might be an intellectual evangelist.
3. Testimonial Approach
Personal stories of transformation carry a unique weight and often do things that facts alone cannot do. Evangelists who thrive with the testimonial approach tell powerful stories of Christ’s saving work in their lives.
This is clearly seen in the blind man of (John 9) who was healed by Jesus and then testified about Christ, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see!”
4. Interpersonal Approach
Not everybody is drawn to knowing apologetics or sharing their Christian testimony. For those who have the natural ability to relate to people and love being with others, the interpersonal approach to evangelism is a natural way to share Christ. You know you can be effective with the interpersonal approach when you are able to share your faith with others out of a growing friendship.
5. Invitational Approach
The invitational approach is similar to the interpersonal approach, but as its name suggests, thrives on inviting people to events like a church service, a retreat, or a Bible study. This is one of the most natural ways newer believers are able to reach out to others even if they may not have the right words to say.
(ex) The Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well in John 4.
6. Service Approach
If you naturally notice the needs of others and enjoy serving them, you might prefer the service approach to evangelism. People who prefer this approach often enjoy sharing the love of Christ through deed over word. People with the gift of hospitality often fall into this approach.
The biblical example of this approach is Tabitha (also known as Dorcas) in Acts 9:36-42. She is described as “full of good works and acts of charity,” which used her gift of making clothing for God’s glory.
I suggest that none of these is based so much on your comfort in the moment as it is on the situation in which you find yourself.
This morning I mentioned that because people are different, we can “be as creative as the Lord leads us to be in reaching them.” What works for one may not work for the next one but there is nevertheless a common thread running through whatever way you attempt to “win” a person to Christ and that thread is the word of God.
We should never forget that “the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to ALL who believe!” (Romans 1:16) and that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) However you begin your effort to reach an unbeliever it MUST involve the word of God about the Word of God – the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Intervention is necessary to reach others for Christ. Unless a Christian cares enough to take a chance in sharing the Gospel of Christ, the lost will likely die without hope, separated from God. There is always risk involved when you share Jesus. But agape love and trust in the Holy Spirit will enable the Christian to exercise the intervention of personal witnessing.
I’ll never forget what an emergency nurse told me one day: “I want to thank you for teaching me how to share Jesus. Reaching those who don’t know Christ reminds me of doing CPR in the emergency room. My ER training tells me that when they bring in a patient who’s not breathing and whose heart isn’t beating, Do something! Even if you don’t know what to do. Do something! If you don’t, they’re gone.”
Even when we’re not sure of what to do, we must trust the Holy Spirit and love enough to intervene. Sharing Christ is vital to those around us.” Darrell W. Robinson, People Sharing Jesus, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995), pp. 86-8[iii]
[i] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1778). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[ii] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 601). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[iii] Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.
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