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“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For lit is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:14-17, ESV)

Paster Abel’s sermon on this passage is titled, “How Do I Talk About Jesus?”

After Jesus rose from the dead, and after he gave the disciples the Great Commission, he ascended into heaven. The book of Acts recounts the history of what happened next as the followers of Christ took the good news about the forgiveness of sins that can be found in Jesus first to the people of Israel, and then to the rest of the gentile world.

What did the disciples say when they shared the gospel? Think about it, their work in the book of Acts laid the foundation on which Christianity exploded and became a massive world religion that shaped all of Western Civilization? What was their method?

The book of Acts tells us: They spoke the word of God:

  • “Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.” Acts 11:1
  • “When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews…” Acts 13:5
  • “But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers qin every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”” Acts 15:35-36

There are many more verses like this scattered throughout the book of Acts. Sometime, if you are reading it, try to notice all of them!

The point is the power of the gospel message is not in the wise words of humans. It lies in the word of God. Paul said this directly many times as well. For example, in 2 Corinthians 2:17 he says, “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.” Paul’s whole ministry was founded on preaching the word of God and letting God’s power flow out to bring people to faith in Jesus. He wasn’t interested in peddling the Bible as a means to grow a ministry or to make money.

So, in our efforts to pray, love and share this summer, let us not forget that the power of the gospel lies in the word of God, shared with boldness, trusting that God will save.

 

For Further Study