Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 27
Monday


THE LINGO

READ:
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
____________________________

I have become all
things to all men, that
I might by all means
save some.
__1 Corinthians 9:22
___________________________

What do teenagers mean when they say they're "chillaxin"? (They're chilling and relaxing.) What if they ask for some "cheddar"? (That's cash.) If a teen likes someone's new clothes, he might just say, "money," meaning cool. Teenagers have their own lingo that some of us might not understand, and it seems to be always changing.

Believers in Jesus have their own lingo as well. We use common jargon that nonbelievers may not comprehend. For instance, we use the words grace, saved, and repentance. These are all good words, but as we're sharing our faith, it might be more helpful to say, "God's gift of unearned forgiveness" instead of grace. Or "rescued from death and given eternal life" for saved. We could say, "to turn away from wrongs" for repentance.

The apostle Paul was willing to be flexible in his ministry in order to reach as many as possible with the gospel of Christ (1 Cor. 9:19-23). That might have even included the words he used as he explained the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection.

Explaining our faith in easy-to-understand terms may help someone to grasp the meaning of being born again__transformed by Jesus' love and forgiveness. __Anne Cetas
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~~~~~~~~~~~~You have called us Lord, to witness__~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~To tell others of Your Son;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Spirit, give us words so simple~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~That they'll reach some seekng one. __D. De Haan~~~~~~
____________________________________________________________

If we have God's Word in our mind,
He can put the right words in our mouth.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Corinthians 9:19-23********

19 For though I am free
from all men, I have made
myself a servant to all, that
I might win the more; 20 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; 21 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;

22 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. 23 Now this I do for
the gospel's sake, that I
may be partaker of it with
you.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The phrase "I have become all things to all men" (v.22) was Paul's
evangelistic strategy to reach out to different groups. When reaching
out to the Jews, he used the Old Testament as his starting point (Acts
13:16-41). With Gentiles, he began with the God of creation
(Acts 14:11-17; 17:22-31). Likewise, Paul chose not to exercise his
right to financial support from the Corinthians so that money would
not get in the way of the message (1 Cor. 9:11-15). Paul adopted the
strategy that he would refrain from any behavior that would hinder
the message of the gospel (1 Cor. 9:12; 10:23-33; 2 Cor. 6:3). __SKT

[kimberly]

Ahhh, what a good reminder to speak the Truth in a universal way! I needed that, thanks, Cimi.