Greetings Heritage,
Perhaps I'll start writing some mid-week thoughts like this. I was thinking last night of ways we can reach out to the Sanford community to tell them about our church Heritage Reformed and the good news of Jesus Christ. Acts 18 came to mind, where God says to Paul in vv. 9-10 "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." I began looking at this verse in context and would like to share a few observations.
- Paul's custom, like Jesus's, was to preach in the synagogues, the place where Jews would gather for worship, discussion, Bible readings, debates, etc., but also Gentiles would come to hear things at times, and so Paul would reason with both Jews and Gentiles in the synagogues and marketplaces (Acts 17:17; 18:4).
- As the Jews rejected the Gospel, Paul goes to the Gentiles, and had only to go next door to Justus, a worshiper of God who lived next to the synagogue. Through that strategic location and influence, Paul was well-positioned to also speak with Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, who believed on the Lord with all his household, and many other Corinthians heard, believed, and were baptized (I Cor. 18:8).
- This is the immediately preceding context in which God by vision at night reveals to Paul that he should not be afraid, for God has many elect in this city. And so Paul continues there 1.5 years, teaching the word of God among the people (18:11).
- The question for us in Sanford is whether we believe that the Lord has many in this city/area who are of God's people, the elect. I believe that there are, given the number of churches in the area and how the Gospel has already permeated our culture.
- At the same time, we are in a similar situation to Paul, where much of Christianity and worship has become distorted and diminished with bad doctrine/teaching, similar to how Jesus had to correct the teaching of the religious leaders of his day, the Pharisees, and Paul had to experience the Jewish people rejecting Christ their Messiah.
- A poor or even altogether false understanding of the Christian faith is a reality among professing Christians in Sanford, North Carolina.
- Paul worked as a tentmaker with fellow Jews Aquila and his wife Priscila. As we saw, he reasoned in the marketplaces as well as the synagogues when he could. We have to ask ourselves where the "marketplace of ideas" is being communicated today in Sanford, North Carolina.
- Where do Christians and even unbelievers gather (whether in person or online forums, etc.) to discuss religious matters? Further, what marketplaces/commerce can we create or get involved in (as individuals or even as a collective Church outreach) that would give us a strategic foothold to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and teach accurately the things of God to the people in our area?
- In my thinking, a good website for our church, with sermon content, blog posts, articles, etc., is an important first step. Getting this website to be seen by those in Sanford is the next step.
- Beyond that, finding physical/tangible ways to meet with those in the community is important, whether that is events, conferences, or engaging in some sort of commerce (like a Christian bookstore, pamphlets/magazine, coffee house, etc.) that makes our church and ministry a staple in the community. If avenues for discussing and learning about Christianity do not exist in the community, we must create them.
- Of course, we interact and engage Sanford as individual members of the church with our own friendships, commerce, etc.
- The bottom line is that we believe God has many of His people in this city. If this is true, then we need to give as many avenues as possible for the truth of God's word to reach the people of Sanford, so that God's Word and His Spirit can work in His people's hearts. The Lord told Paul to "go on speaking" and so Paul went on "teaching the word of God among" the people.
- Let us pray that God would enable His ministers and people to proclaim His Word in Sanford, and that Heritage would be a bastion of the faithful preaching of God's Word and shepherding of His people, and that this faithful preaching and shepherding would become visible to the Sanford community, so that many may be drawn to Christ and grow in Him, for the sake of His Church and Kingdom in our town.
In Christ,
Pastor Booher
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