The Apostle Paul, who experienced a face to face encounter with the Risen Lord Jesus, did just that!
For example, in the city of Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul ministered for three Sabbaths in a Jewish synagogue. He reasoned with them from the Scriptures. What was the topic of his Bible teaching? The resurrection of Jesus Christ!
“He explained and proved that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.’” Christ is Greek for Messiah!
Some Jews, a great multitude of Greeks, and many leading women were persuaded that Jesus was Messiah and joined with Paul and his ministry partner Silas. [1]
Next, Paul and Silas preached Christ in a Berean synagogue. The Berean Jews searched the Scriptures daily to verify if Jesus did indeed fulfill the Bible’s prophesies. Many of them believed. There were also many Greek converts including prominent women as well as men. [2]
Next, Paul stood amid the Areopagus (a temple to a Greek god) located in Athens Greece. Here too, he preached Christ. [3]
He told his listeners, “We ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” [4]
Some in the audience mocked Paul while others wanted to hear more. One man named Dionysius, one woman named Damaris, and some others believed and joined him. [5]
Paul is God’s example of a person who loves God and his neighbor. God’s love led him to care for peoples’ souls. By faith in God’s Word and reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit, he continually made new followers of Jesus Christ.
As many as receive Jesus Christ, to them He gives the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who are born... of God. [6] Converted by His Word and Holy Spirit!
[1] Acts 17:1-4
[2] Acts 17:11-12
[3] Acts 17:22
[4] Acts 17:29-31
[5] Acts 17:32-34
[6] John 1:12-13
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