“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul took great joy in bringing people to Christ Jesus. He strove to save all. And while he knew such an aspiration was unrealistic, Paul pursued it vigorously nonetheless. He pursued it with the Jews. He pursued with the Greeks. He pursued it with Christians whose nascent faith was vulnerable to worldly temptations and false teaching.

Just how did Paul seek to lead such diverse communities to the Lord? He did so by “becoming all things to all people” so that he might save some. Some might characterize this as disingenuous. Baptist pastor Elliott Cooke, however, aptly calls it “finding that point of connection.”

Continue reading “Building Connections: Evangelism Through Empathy and Love” →