YEARS: Goodbook 06-04-13

Goodbook messages arrive every Tuesday and Friday with a Scripture reading and ideas for how to apply the reading in our lives. We are reading through the book of Acts. For additional Scripture reading, you can follow the Advanced Track.

Reading: Acts 19:8-10

8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.  9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.  10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

Application:

I am struck by how much time Paul spent in Ephesus.  He spent days, months and years ministering with the people of Ephesus.

First, Paul spent months in the synagogues.  He did his best to explain the Gospel message to the Jewish people.  When some people in the synagogue became stubborn and rejected his message, Paul moved on to a lecture hall.  Such halls were used in the morning for teaching philosophy, but they were empty during the hot part of the day (from about 11am to 4pm).  Because many people did not work during those hours, they would come to hear Paul’s preaching.  Paul held discussions there every day for TWO YEARS.  His daily commitment to discussion over several years led to the entire province of Asia hearing the word of the Lord!

I find this model of evangelism, or sharing the Good News, encouraging.  I think we often imagine evangelism as a onetime push.  We share everything we know about God, Jesus, forgiveness, and salvation, and then we hope people respond.  If they do, we succeeded.  If they don’t, we failed.  But Paul did not take a one-and-done approach here.  He had discussions every day for two years.  Discussion by discussion the word was shared, hearts were transformed, and the Good News spread throughout the area.

What if we saw evangelism as a long-term discussion rather than a onetime push?  We could engage in discussions every day with the people in our circles – getting to know their thoughts and struggles and questions; sharing our discoveries and experiences.  We could plant little seeds every day through the love we extend and the Good News we explain.  We could hang with people for the long haul, building trust and credibility.  We could pray every day for God to water the seeds and make them grow.  This kind of daily investment yields great dividends over time.

1) Identify opportunities you have for daily discussions – work, school, neighborhood, etc.
2) Utilize discussions to learn where others are at and how you can share the Good News with them.
3) Give it time.

Share your comments and application ideas…