By Tim Brown
Read: Acts 18:1-17
“And [Paul] left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.” (v. 7)
What does your neighbor know about you and your relationship to Jesus Christ? It’s one thing for them to know you go to church, but quite another for them to know you love Jesus. Most of us are fairly comfortable referring to God, but when it comes to personally identifying with Jesus we often go silent.
In her probing book “Almost Christian,” Kenda Creasy Dean serves all of us notice about this very crucial aspect of the Christian life: “Christian spirituality also requires a particular kind of conversation that reinforces the church’s unique understanding of who God is in Jesus Christ. To state it bluntly: conversational Christianity requires Jesus-talk, not just God-talk.”
In today’s Bible reading, Paul turns to share the gospel with Titius Justus, right next door to the synagogue, and there is a fruitful, God-ordained period of growth among the believers in Corinth. None of us wants to be presumptuous or arrogant, but telling someone about Jesus is to invite them into abundant life here and eternal life in heaven.
As followers of Jesus, we must become more vocal about the gospel. What else could Jesus have meant when he said, “You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8)? If those who know and love him will not speak of him, who will?
As you pray, ask God to give you courage in talking to your neighbors.
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Dr. Timothy Brown is the Henry Bast Professor of Preaching and President Emeritus at Western Theological Seminary, where he served from 1995-2021. Tim continues to actively coach and encourage former students and pastors who seek help in their preaching life.
Read: Acts 18:1-17
“And [Paul] left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.” (v. 7)
What does your neighbor know about you and your relationship to Jesus Christ? It’s one thing for them to know you go to church, but quite another for them to know you love Jesus. Most of us are fairly comfortable referring to God, but when it comes to personally identifying with Jesus we often go silent.
In her probing book “Almost Christian,” Kenda Creasy Dean serves all of us notice about this very crucial aspect of the Christian life: “Christian spirituality also requires a particular kind of conversation that reinforces the church’s unique understanding of who God is in Jesus Christ. To state it bluntly: conversational Christianity requires Jesus-talk, not just God-talk.”
In today’s Bible reading, Paul turns to share the gospel with Titius Justus, right next door to the synagogue, and there is a fruitful, God-ordained period of growth among the believers in Corinth. None of us wants to be presumptuous or arrogant, but telling someone about Jesus is to invite them into abundant life here and eternal life in heaven.
As followers of Jesus, we must become more vocal about the gospel. What else could Jesus have meant when he said, “You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8)? If those who know and love him will not speak of him, who will?
As you pray, ask God to give you courage in talking to your neighbors.
—————
Dr. Timothy Brown is the Henry Bast Professor of Preaching and President Emeritus at Western Theological Seminary, where he served from 1995-2021. Tim continues to actively coach and encourage former students and pastors who seek help in their preaching life.
