“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins … “(Ephesians 2:1)
Pastor Doug spoke from Ephesians 2 a while back and highlighted verse 1 where Paul reminds the Christians at Ephesus of their past:
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins …”
And his challenge to us was this:
“We need to learn how to speak to the dead in such a way that they will understand.”
How easy it is to disregard the audience when our only consideration is whether we are ‘preaching the truth!’ Have you ever asked a ministry worker: ‘How did the lesson (or sermon) go?’ And have you received a reply similar to this: ‘Well there were three good points with a nice illustration and I ended with a tear-jerker of a story so it seemed like things went well.’ But the real question is this: “Have the people heard?”
Think of it. When a missionary immerses himself in an unfamiliar society, he will spend time learning the cultural intricacies, the language, and the value system and world view of the host culture. And why does the missionary do this? He does so in order to effectively communicate the truth of the gospel in a way that can be understood and received by those who don’t yet know Jesus. He wants to know the audience with whom he is speaking. And he wants to know how to connect with them in a way that develops trust and merits being heard.
How different things would be as I interact with the men and the women at the mission if I understood what they value, how they communicate, what their priorities are, and how they view the world! What would a ‘dead man’ want to hear and how could I communicate with him in a way so that he could receive the gospel for real?
“Lord, help me to listen well.”
- Steve Brubaker, Residential Ministries
Pastor Doug spoke from Ephesians 2 a while back and highlighted verse 1 where Paul reminds the Christians at Ephesus of their past:
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins …”
And his challenge to us was this:
“We need to learn how to speak to the dead in such a way that they will understand.”
How easy it is to disregard the audience when our only consideration is whether we are ‘preaching the truth!’ Have you ever asked a ministry worker: ‘How did the lesson (or sermon) go?’ And have you received a reply similar to this: ‘Well there were three good points with a nice illustration and I ended with a tear-jerker of a story so it seemed like things went well.’ But the real question is this: “Have the people heard?”
Think of it. When a missionary immerses himself in an unfamiliar society, he will spend time learning the cultural intricacies, the language, and the value system and world view of the host culture. And why does the missionary do this? He does so in order to effectively communicate the truth of the gospel in a way that can be understood and received by those who don’t yet know Jesus. He wants to know the audience with whom he is speaking. And he wants to know how to connect with them in a way that develops trust and merits being heard.
How different things would be as I interact with the men and the women at the mission if I understood what they value, how they communicate, what their priorities are, and how they view the world! What would a ‘dead man’ want to hear and how could I communicate with him in a way so that he could receive the gospel for real?
“Lord, help me to listen well.”
- Steve Brubaker, Residential Ministries
1 comment:
Steve,
It is Nicole from the Lydia Center. I have read a few of your articles now and I just wanted to tell you how much I appriciate them. One could learn very much from your writing style.
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