Communicating Missionally

After the joy of a sister's baptism last week, in celebrating Mother's Day (and for the Sixth Sunday of Easter), we will look at Paul's engaging activities in Athens as found in Acts 17:16-34. From what is described of what Paul did and proclaimed, we find that because God will judge the world with justice by Jesus (v. 31), we should make known to others of the need to repent (v. 30). Like Paul in Athens, there is distress in seeing a city filled with idolatry (v. 16). Our time and place is no different. Observing Paul we note that: 1) It is essential to connect culturally (vv. 17-23, 28-29); and 2) It is essential to challenge others clearly (vv. 18, 30-32). And, though it is difficult to believe, we do not duck the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. In fact, it may just be the novel notion that those you speak with have never really heard or considered. After our service we again will have our prayer groups and prayer walks — before many of us head out to celebrate our moms.