"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty"John 4:24-25

Basic Principles of Communication.

I. Respect.

"To be all thing to all men." The genuine sense of the people's dignity. Acts 26:2: "I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews." Acts 17:22: "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, You, men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious." -- Paul is being genuinely respectful. Col. 4:6: "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." 1 Pet. 3:15: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" Acts 19:23-41: "And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain [man] named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. And when they heard [these sayings], they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great [is] Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring [him] that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great [is] Diana of the Ephesians. And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, [Ye] men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the [image] which fell down from Jupiter? Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly." Ephesus was a major city in Asia Minor. The riot of the blacksmith. Paul did not blaspheme what they believe. If you can't treat people with gentleness and respect you will never be able to communicate the gospel. The woman at the well. Barriers: 1. Race 2. Religion (Samaritan religion was a mixture of Judaism and Paganism) 3. Sex (She was a female) 4. Sin (She was disreputable even among her own people) Jesus comes to her with incredible gentleness, patience and grace, and asks something from her that it totally stunning to her. Lk. 19. Tax collector Zaccheus. Jesus gladly received what people had to give him. There is no favoritism with Jesus. Lk 7:36. A prostitute anoints Jesus' feet. We are called to love sinners just as Jesus did. Lk. 6. Sermon on the Mount. We are to do good to those who hate us, who do evil to us. Respect sinners because: 1. Image of God. Ps. 8. People have been made after the image of God, and that is still true. I honor God by recognizing His image in people. 2. We are all sinner together. When we stand before God we are never in the position of superiority. 3. The love of the gospel itself. The Issue of Respect. The questions of: 1. Imprecatory Psalms (cursing the enemies of God) Ps. 52, 55, 54, 56, 58, 59 -- most of them are written about Saul. There are prayers to God for God's vindication. However, David never attends to get his own vindication. The difference between the cry of despair to God and the vindication itself. 2. Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Israel is a theocracy. There are civil penalties for a false doctrine in Israel by the sword. Today there is no theocracy. In this world the gospel is not to be associated with a certain nation. The weapons for spreading the truth are different from what the OT had. They are the weapons of the Spirit now. There is a weapon of church discipline in church. Love is the context of discipline. If you don't love the person you can't discipline him. There are times appropriate to use imprecatory Psalms. For the sake of the gospel, His people, etc. We also should be praying for mercy of God, and forgiveness of those who sin against God.

II. Building Bridges.

Finding something to approve or commend. Bridge in the synagogue (between Paul and the Jews): 1. The Word of God 2. The expectation of the Messiah 3. Their commitment to obey the Law of Moses Acts 17. Athens. The commendation Paul finds there: 1. Their need to know God and Worship Him 2. Their understanding that God must be greater that the human beings 3. Deep sense that God is a personal divine being 4. The sense of dignity of humans and their likeness to God From "God's Truth View of the World" -- No common ground -- Unbelievers' View of Reality -- to God's/Shared/World's. No one is ever completely separated from the World of God. The unbeliever is always in between the two worlds. Look for where this person is still "in friends" with God. Moral Relativism. There are some areas for every person where they maintain the standard of absolute morality. Sacred Corner. There is an area where a person never lets his cynicism in. We are to find this corner. The suppressed truth of God in an unbeliever. There are the things that matter most to him.

III. Understanding.

Those to whom we go. Paul quotes Epiminides - Crete Acts 17 -- Tit. 1:12 Aratus -- Silicia Paul quotes to ring the bells for his listeners to find a common ground. Acts 17:25: "Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things." -- Epicureans, Stoics Acts 17:24: "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands." -- Allusion to Plato. Altar to the Unknown God. Epiminides: "Since the gods you worship did not help you build an altar and worship the unknown god." The message is tailored to the understanding. This is the commitment of Paul. Both for mind and for the heart: 1) to understand 2) to help them understand their own hearts Lk. 18:18: "And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Young rich ruler. By saying "Why do you call me good," Jesus is asking "What does it mean to be good?" He is giving the standard of goodness: "God is good." "What am I" if I'm good? Are you good? And the youth replies he is good too. Jesus did not preach the gospel but wants the youth to understand himself. Jesus is trying to let him understand what it really means to love God. 1. All cultures reflect the image of God 2. All cultures reflect the Fall (human sinfulness) 3. All cultures express the religious commitment of the heart. T.S. Elliot: "The people's culture is the incarnation of its religion." 4. We need to challenge culture. Scriptures sit in judgment over culture. Pride and Prejudice (personal pride and cultural prejudice) 1) What are the marks of our culture. In America there is a tremendous emphasis on the freedom of an individual and cultural diversity. 2) Ask a believer from another culture what they see as the marks of your culture. 3) Travel (it broadens the mind) 4) As you read Scripture notice the passages that make you feel uncomfortable (pride, cultural prejudice) 1 Tim. 6:5-10 5. Transformation. Cultures are to be transformed by the faith and obedience of the believers in it. We are to challenge it and to change it. Principles of operation in our culture: 1. Never identify a particular culture as Christian. It isn't right. The firstfruits are substantial, but there is no Christian culture/nation in the world right now. There is nothing human of which we can be unashamed and proud. Don't ever try to excuse that which is inexcusable. 2. The importance of personal humility. Readiness to accept the criticism of our own culture and ourselves with grace. 3. Find your identity first of all in the kingdom of God and your relationship with Christ rather your national heritage. Identity: 1) image of God 2) sinner -- common with all humans 3) Christ -- accepted by God in Jesus Christ 4) Who I am becoming as somebody being made new 4. Be ready to enter into another culture and enjoy it. Seeing the culture's problems pray for it. 5. Work at personally adopting cultural practice. You can't outgive God. When going to a different culture really be there. We must be prepared to imitate the incarnation. 6. Search and pray fro bridges for communication. 7. What patterns of life in a culture must we avoid. 8. God's Word is a sharp sword. It is to be used to oppose and condemn unrighteousness, to uphold righteousness. We must teach God's Word clearly. E.g.: abortion, homosexuality, fornication, corruption. How: 1) we have to be obedient and faithful to the Word of God 2) we have to teach this to the church 3) we need to proclaim the whole council of God to society graciously and respectfully 4) salt and light 9. Recognition of the hardness of people's hearts: 1) what are the issues that we stand on and are committed to change? 2) allow time change the culture slowly 3) proclamation of truth and persuasion of people 4) we make a distinction between what we require from Christians and general culture 5) you will encourage the new believers to discern which issues they ought to be working first 10. Encourage new believers to express their faith in the forms of their culture. If we want to have any impact on society we need to put order in our house. There are always things that you can be taught wherever you go. E.g.: There is nothing wrong with music per se but with what you do with it.

IV. Language.

Act 13 the message in the Antiochian synagogue. Acts 17 the message in Athens. The language is different in the both passages. Paul is speaking in a way so that his hearers could understand him -- the Attic dialect. Acts 24,25 -- the courtroom language. In Synoptics the word is "the Kingdom of God," in the gospel of John it changes into "the eternal life." Why is there this change? It would have been politically inappropriate for the Roman Empire context, liable to be strongly misunderstood. Adaptation of language. 1. The "eternal life" was understood by the Gentiles. The term was familiar, used by the surrounding culture. 2. The language of "adaptation." It was unknown by the Jews, but was widely practiced in the Roman world. 3. "Redemption." The term used for the buying back the POW or slaves. 4. "Immortality." Commonly used in the mystery religions. 5. "Savior." Commonly used in the mystery religions and to refer to the Roman Emperor who ended a 100 year war. 6. "Second Coming" or "Appearance." Mystery religions and the Emperor when he came to visit a city in all his majesty. 7. "Mystery." Mystery religions. Gnosis -- knowledge. Sophia -- wisdom. 8. "Initiates." 2 Pet. 1:16-18: "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount." Peter is using the terms of the mystery religions. Piety, decency, training, serious, etc. Language Paul uses to describe a Christian's life, which was used by Stoics to describe a moral life. Three purposes: 1) to communicate successfully 2) to avoid criticism 3) to help reach out to neighbors, help to communicate their faith. (Not the terms were used but the language of the culture) We are to look for the equivalents in the culture rather than creating a new word. Hebrew Yahweh -- LORD, Adonai -- Lord; Greek Kurio* -- Lord and LORD to communicate LORD -- Lord of Lords, etc. Logo* -- The term was used by the Greek for over 1000 years: 1) as Principle of Order 2) rationality, reason. For the Jew it also rings the bells. The NT is full of this kind of words and phrases that bring about a direct hit both to a Jewish and a Greek heart. Justin Martyr and Clement of Alexandria took Logo* too far and stated that there were two Covenants: Covenant of Law and Covenant of Logo*. Son of Man -- 82 times in the NT (Stephen, Angels at the ascension, the crowds once. The 79 of these are used by Jesus alone. The phrase comes from Da. 7:13-14: "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed." Jesus uses it to communicate: 1) His humanity 2) a title of His divinity The language today. We must be prepared to use the language of people around us. The language problems: 1. There are people who don't understand it. (50%) 2. Familiarity might confuse those who lost the true meaning of the language. (35%) "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" was written specifically to break through the familiarity barrier. They understand it in a different, non-evangelistic way. Breaking down the Christian language barrier by adapting our language to our hearers. Undermine the criticism by our life and service to those who critique. Give yourself patiently to relationships and pray for yourself to have grace and respect. Christ did not treat us how we deserve, so are we not to treat others how they deserve.

V. A Carefully Reasoned Presentation.

Acts 13 -- a masterful presentation of the reasoning acts 17 -- the reasoning is different. He reasons from their shared experience. 1 Co. 1:17-25: "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after th at in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." The argument of Paul's failure or mistake. Conclusions from that argument: 1. No attempt to persuade people. The gospel is foolish to unbelievers. 2. We should proclaim the basic truths of the gospel by simply announcing it. 3. Any attempt at persuasion dishonors the Holy Spirit. Response: Acts 14:1-3: "And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands." Acts 17:19: "And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?" Synagogue reasoning. Paul is seeking to persuade people by giving them reasons to believe. Acts 19. Ephesus synagogue. Paul stayed there for 3 months. Also Paul before Festus defending the gospel and himself. Recovering Persuasion Today 2 Co. 10:4,5: "For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Paul is attacking: 1. The Greeks' view of wisdom. They believed that human reason alone is the source of truth. Reason is subject to God's revelation -- Ro. 1. 2. Rhetoric or eloquence (of Rhetorics and Stoics) manipulation. Gospels: powerful representation is good question.

VI. Clarification.

A careful definition of Christian truth. Messiah The Nature of God Lord Word -- the Word is God, the Word is personal being, the Word became flesh. A step further toward truth by clearing misunderstanding away. Asking questions. Jesus tell stories that captures imagination. People don't think of themselves as being committed to anything. People don't realize that they are not moral relativists. There is always some area where they are very moral. There are some people who are so cynical and apathetic that it's almost impossible to touch at them. But the more a person is out of touch the more you are important to them, to tell them that there are, after all, some things worth living for. By your life you are clarifying what you believe. "Lord use me to be a communicator of your truth." And He will give you the opportunity. Jn. 3. Necodemus: 1. Ezec. "The valley of dry bones." 2. Ps. 87 Our speaking is always going to be like a razor sharp edge.

VII. Challenge.

To repentance of the mind -- false ideas; of the heart -- rebellion against God, idols in our hearts. Always with humility on our own hearts. Acts 13: Crucified God's Messiah. Law will not justify them. Acts 17: 1. They are not superior 2. The coming judgment 3. The resurrection 4. Idolatry is folly Jn. 9:35: "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" Humility in heart is true knowledge. Seek to humble them with our challenges. Pray for wisdom and challenging words. We are always in the position of always being challenged ourselves. Our task with each person is to discern what are the idols of the heart and mind. The bridge -- the problem Strength -- Weakness. Strengths and weaknesses are like two sides of one coin. Examples: The Jews -- Law Even the Gentiles were attracted by the high morals of the Jews But the Law became the greatest shame for the Jews as well. Barrier to God and other people. Greeks -- Wisdom (Plato) The greatest wisdom the world has ever seen. It became a barrier between them and God and other people. Their pride of wisdom caused it. USA -- Freedom political, economical, religious But today it's destroying the society, because it's no longer the Freedom under the Law of God, it's an autonomous Freedom. Material Prosperity This if not challenged will become a stumbling block for people to become Christians.