My Dream Question and a Seeker Sensitive Pastor
In Acts 16 we read about the ministry of Paul in Philippi.
While in Philippi a demon possessed slave girl became a hindrance to the ministry. Finally, “...Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour” (Acts 16:18 ESV).
This was a great blessing for the slave girl, but “her owners” were not pleased because the demon was a “spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling” (Acts 16:16 ESV). “They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers” (Acts 16:19 ESV). They falsely accused Paul and Sillas before the magistrates who had them beaten with rods and thrown in prison. After Paul and Silas were beaten they were placed in stocks in the deepest part of the prison.
The next verse records, in the words of the Philippian jailer, my dream question.
Having said all that, let me tell you a story.
A few days ago I was with my family at a farmer’s market/street fair passing out tracts and talking to people about the gospel. Occupying one of the booths at the street fair was a church that is a new plant from a local seeker sensitive mega church. So I decided to see what they were all about. I asked them what kind of church they were. They said, “We are a Christian church...evangelical Christian. Our pastor preaches messages that are relevant to life and they come from the Bible. We are not a seeker church.”
As we talked they introduced themselves. One of them was the children’s ministry director, one was the worship pastor, and the other two were also involved in the ministry. They said that they were half of the leadership of the church.
That’s when I decided to ask my dream question. What must I do to be saved? Only I wanted to ask it in a way that was still a question about their church.
So I looked at the worship pastor (after all he’s a pastor) and said, “What does your church teach about the nature of the gospel?”
His mouth opened as he visibly inhaled. He looked at the children’s ministry director and said, “Uh.” He looked back at me and said, “Uh, the nature of the gospel? Jesus died for our sins.”
Okay, that’s true. That Jesus died in the place of sinners is essential to the gospel message. But half the unbelievers I talk to tell me that Jesus died for our sins. I gave a pastor the opportunity to expound the gospel of Jesus Christ and that was all he could come up with.
For all he knew I could have been a Mormon, a JW, or an irreligious pagan asking him to explain the gospel.
He continued, “We preach the whole gospel, not a watered down message. Uh, I’m new at the church. I’m still learning.” Then the others chimed in to tell me about the great programs they had at the church.
As we were walking away my wife heard the worship pastor say, “Well, that was a really broad question.” I said, “That’s my dream question.”
The Bible commands Christians to be prepared to answer that question:
The Way of the Master
Evangelism Explosion
Now tell me, doth this offend you?
While in Philippi a demon possessed slave girl became a hindrance to the ministry. Finally, “...Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour” (Acts 16:18 ESV).
This was a great blessing for the slave girl, but “her owners” were not pleased because the demon was a “spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling” (Acts 16:16 ESV). “They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers” (Acts 16:19 ESV). They falsely accused Paul and Sillas before the magistrates who had them beaten with rods and thrown in prison. After Paul and Silas were beaten they were placed in stocks in the deepest part of the prison.
(Acts 16:25-29 ESV) 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds
were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
(Acts 16:30 ESV) 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”In all my years as a Christian I have never had anyone ask me a question like that. (Just as an aside, I think most Christians are waiting for such a question before they will ever proclaim the gospel.) But I can tell you this. If someone ever asks me that question I will have an answer for them. I say that with confidence because I do not wait for someone to ask may dream question before I proclaim to them the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Having said all that, let me tell you a story.
A few days ago I was with my family at a farmer’s market/street fair passing out tracts and talking to people about the gospel. Occupying one of the booths at the street fair was a church that is a new plant from a local seeker sensitive mega church. So I decided to see what they were all about. I asked them what kind of church they were. They said, “We are a Christian church...evangelical Christian. Our pastor preaches messages that are relevant to life and they come from the Bible. We are not a seeker church.”
As we talked they introduced themselves. One of them was the children’s ministry director, one was the worship pastor, and the other two were also involved in the ministry. They said that they were half of the leadership of the church.
That’s when I decided to ask my dream question. What must I do to be saved? Only I wanted to ask it in a way that was still a question about their church.
So I looked at the worship pastor (after all he’s a pastor) and said, “What does your church teach about the nature of the gospel?”
His mouth opened as he visibly inhaled. He looked at the children’s ministry director and said, “Uh.” He looked back at me and said, “Uh, the nature of the gospel? Jesus died for our sins.”
Okay, that’s true. That Jesus died in the place of sinners is essential to the gospel message. But half the unbelievers I talk to tell me that Jesus died for our sins. I gave a pastor the opportunity to expound the gospel of Jesus Christ and that was all he could come up with.
For all he knew I could have been a Mormon, a JW, or an irreligious pagan asking him to explain the gospel.
He continued, “We preach the whole gospel, not a watered down message. Uh, I’m new at the church. I’m still learning.” Then the others chimed in to tell me about the great programs they had at the church.
As we were walking away my wife heard the worship pastor say, “Well, that was a really broad question.” I said, “That’s my dream question.”
The Bible commands Christians to be prepared to answer that question:
(First Peter 3:15 ESV) 15 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,Below I have linked to a couple ministries that help Christians to be prepared to proclaim the gospel.
The Way of the Master
Evangelism Explosion
Now tell me, doth this offend you?
Labels: Bible, Church, Evangelism, Gospel, Seeker Sensitive, Way of the Master, Witnessing
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