1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Compare these different versions of Verse 12:
We appealed to you, encouraged you, and pleaded with you to live lives worthy of the God who is calling you into his own kingdom and glory. (CEB)
...encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (NIV, 1984)
We begged, encouraged, and urged each of you to live in a way that would honor God. He is the one who chose you to share in his own kingdom and glory. (CEV)
We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory. (NLT)
...urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (NRSV)
Many people - including some whose faith is deep, find it difficult to talk to non-believers about Jesus. Telling the Thessalonians what he did, Paul gives Christians today a practical model for talking to someone about Christ. Sharing from your own, genuine experience of faith, you can
- Appeal - Ask the person to tell you something about his/her life, celebrations, and challenges. Ask him/her to consider believing in Jesus. Introduce him/her to the reality of Christ's loving presence. Tell them about St. Philip's and invite them to come to Church with you so that s/he can see for her/himself the life of a community of believers;
- Encourage - Affirm that s/he can - that we all have the ability and capacity to - believe. Assure from your experienced confidence of Christ's caring power that s/he can trust Jesus; and,
- Urge - Share with her/him Christ's desire to be in the now, that Jesus is available now to share with her/him God's gracious, accepting love.
Questions
- In what ways does this practical model help you in inviting others to believe in Jesus?
- How can you incorporate into your conversation with friends? colleagues? persons with whom you have casual encounters?
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