Preaching The "Offensive" Gospel Of Christ

In Acts 17:2-7 KJV, the scripture states the following concerning Paul and his preaching: “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

In the context of the above passage, Paul and Silas were in Thessalonica (vs. 1) preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The preaching of the Gospel always brings either a positive or negative response. Some believed and accompanied Paul and Silas (vs. 4), but others did not believe and sought to bring harm upon Paul and Silas to the extent that the brethren sent away Paul and Silas under the cover of night (vs. 10). The charge was, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also” (vs. 6).

When preaching the word of God the way it ought to be preached, people will be offended, especially with those who reject what the word of God demands they do. With this clear fact that is shown throughout the New Testament, we wonder why some preachers are so afraid that they might “offend” someone when preaching the Gospel unto them?

See why here.

Related Article: Here (note the key words "offend" and "offensive")

Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

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