Throughout the course, there is an emphasis on “knowing your audience.”
The Apostle Paul spent years on his missionary journeys, going from one very different cultural area to another. If he had “canned” messages, he would not have been nearly as effective at spreading the Gospel and leading the fledgling New Testament Church. But he knew better. He had gone to Athens to spread the gospel and found himself awash in idols and statues, probably around 30,000, according to one ancient writer. Here is the beginning of Paul’s speech on Mars Hill as found in Acts 17:
22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
What an attention getter! Paul is talking directly to the “university culture” that was Athens at that time. He gives them value as devout people who don’t want to leave any deity out. Paul says, I am going to tell you all about this unknown God . . . and off he goes to proclaim Jesus, arguing in the manner of the Greek philosophers of the day.
Contrast that to his “speeches” to the church in Corinth. Paul’s letters were meant to be publically read out loud with the gathered believers. In Corinth, there is a completely different tone, with Paul often treating the congregation like a father speaking to his large family.
What comes to your mind as we consider together how Paul reached out to his various audiences?
Reflect on the above devotional for this week.
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