May 10, 2009: “Gospeling in a City of Gods” from Acts 17:16–34

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How do we share the gospel in a pluralistic society where truth is relative? We must avoid changing the gospel to make it more palatable, and we must be willing to change our approach in order to better communicate the gospel.

Athens was a city of gods, with shrines, temples, and altars to nearly 30,000 idols. There are idols all around us—an idol being a substitute for God, or anything that we worship or look to for security and satisfaction outside of God.

Paul observed Athens as a city full of idols and was provoked in spirit with a holy jealously that the true God was not being worshipped. Do we have such a passion for God’s glory that, when we see idols being worshipped all around us, we are provoked to a holy jealousy that constrains us to give the gospel?

Paul spoke both in the synagogue and in the marketplace. His verbal interaction with unbelievers was respectful, insightful, truthful, and Christological. Our lives are not the gospel, but are the vehicle by which to communicate it. What modern-day marketplaces are we “gospeling” in?

April 26, 2009: “Grace Alone” from Acts 15:1-35

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As Paul’s first missionary journey came to a close, the unstoppable advance of the gospel was threatened by this question: Is faith in Jesus really enough? Certain Jews were teaching that, in order to be saved, it was necessary to be circumcised and to keep the law of Moses.

Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem to discuss the question with the apostles and elders. Both Peter and James defended salvation by grace alone, and the church determined to send a letter to the Gentiles who had been troubled by this issue.

The letter reassured the Gentiles and admonished them to refrain from certain behaviors. Far from teaching a works salvation, these recommendations were meant to teach the Gentiles to be sensitive to the cultural mores of the unbelieving Jews that they were trying to reach with the gospel, and also to remind the Gentiles to live in the reality of the grace they had experienced by not returning to the immorality that was prevalent in their culture.

We must proclaim grace alone by not taking away from scripture or adding to it; guard grace alone by keeping legalistic, extra-biblical standards out of justification and sanctification; and marvel over grace alone, rejoicing in the grace we have received in spite of our sin.