“Paul came to them, and being of the same occupation, stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the Word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus” Acts 18:3-5
I sit in a restaurant as I type this, waiting for my breakfast to arrive. I am here a because I want to be reminded of the everyday life of my community and it’s need for the Gospel. I want the Spirit to remind me afresh of our world’s need for the church.
The restaurant is busy with the early morning crowd. There is noise and conversation all around me, servers hurrying between tables with plates of food, wiping down empty tables, carrying pots of fresh coffee, greeting newcomers.
I glance around trying to listen into the conversations. Two men on the adjoining table are discussing how hungover they feel this morning. A mom in a booth across the restaurant is trying to calm two very active children. Two young folk are laughing at a joke while holding hands across the table. An elderly couple quietly enjoy their pancakes and coffee. A rainbow ‘pride’ sticker is proudly displayed in the window.
| I think of the Apostle Paul who would begin his ministry in a new city in a similar way. He would join people ‘in the marketplace’ and would work with them. He took note of the needs of people and looked for opportunities to share the Word of God with them. Every conversation became an opportunity to talk about the Gospel – the Good News story of God’s love for them expressed in the person of Jesus. Paul was a tentmaker in order to connect with the common folk, but he was occupied with the Word – Preaching this was his mission and nothing would distract from that! “When I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” he tells us in 1Corinthians 9:16. |
It is so easy for me in my role to lose sight of our mission. I can become so busy with helping to resource and encourage boards, pastors, and churches to function in healthy ways, or grow, or resolve conflict that I so easily forget why we do what we do. And I am guessing that it is similar for you. The Gospel mission that should drive us easily fades into the background of busy lives and work schedules.
We have a mission. It is not a complicated mission. We, God’s church, exists to preach the good news (Mark 16:15), disciple people to do the same (Matthew 28:19; 2Timothy 2:2), and to be ministers of God’s grace and healing to those He sends us to (Isaiah 61:1). People need the Gospel and therefore people need us!
So can I challenge you this weekend? Get into the ‘marketplace’ so you can listen in to what people are wrestling with. Take some time to be where people are at. Go hang out at a coffee shop or restaurant. Take a walk in a nearby park. Got to a museum or even shopping in a mall. But observe. Watch people. Listen to their conversations. Where or how is the Gospel needed most in your community?
Our mission is to preach the Gospel – preach it simply, preach it often, preach it with conviction, and preach it where it is needed.
