‘Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.”’ Acts 22:3 (NIV).
Paul understood the importance of finding common ground with his audience before launching into sharing his faith. Like his listeners, Paul grew up in the same city as them, was trained in the Mosaic Law and tutored by Rabbi Gamaliel according to ancestral customs, just as his audience was. And he was extremely passionate in his desire to please God, just like them.
Paul was acknowledging his listeners’ sincere motives behind their desire to kill him and recognizing that he too would have wanted to do the same thing to Christian leaders a few years earlier (verse 4).
When we share our faith in Christ, it is best to first identify ourselves with those we are speaking to: we need to find common ground. They will be more likely to listen if they feel a common bond with us. What experiences might we have in common? What interests?
There is something the Spirit will reveal to us that can be used as a ‘starting point’ to establish conversation and provide further opportunity to share Christ. Sometimes we may find the task of finding common ground daunting or almost impossible. But we are all human with weaknesses, frailties and struggles. We are all someone’s daughter or son, usually a mother or a father, an employee, a homemaker, a wife or a husband.
Prayer:
‘Father, sometimes I find it hard to begin talking with those I don’t know well. Please give me the confidence to trust your leading as we uncover common ground that is the soil where fruitful conversations about you can emerge. Thank you.’
In Jesus’ Mighty Name,
AMEN!
Final Thoughts:
Let God guide our conversation. Listen to the promptings He provides and trust that He will show us common ground, providing the space for the other to become an attentive listener as we share our love for Christ.
Be Greatly Blessed!
Enjoyed This Post? Please Help Us To Share It With More People!
If you would like to continue reading further devotionals please choose an option below. Thank you for your support, and Be Greatly Blessed!