Cultural Understanding: Sharing the Gospel Effectively

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

OBJECTIVES

Explaining Cultural Understanding

The Necessity of Understanding Culture

Practical Steps for Cultural Understanding

Explaining Cultural Understanding

Cultures and Traditions

Does not mean

Approving

Affirming

Accepting

The Necessity of Understanding Culture

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

John 4:7–9 ESV

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

Peter at the House of Cornelius

Acts 10:25–28 ESV

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

Paul in Athens

Acts 17:20–21 ESV

For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

Acts 17:22–23 ESV

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

Compare this sermon to Peter’s in Acts 2

2 different cultures, 2 different sermons, 1 way to be saved

What was the goal of Paul becoming all thing to all people - that some might be saved

He does it for the sake of the gospel - not personal glory.

Practical Steps for Cultural Understanding

Be Informed

Learn about the cultures we engage with

Understanding cultural norms, values, and practices

Listen to Understand not argue

Three Important Questions

What do you mean by that?

How did you come to that conclusion?

Have you considered…?

3. Show Godly Love

Philippians 2:3–4 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.