Matt Richards
Acts 17:18
And some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him and began to engage in discussion. And some said, What is this babbler with his scrap-heap learning trying to say? Others said, He seems to be an announcer of foreign deities—because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
In presenting the Gospel you can face alot of rejection, alot of misunderstanding and even anger.
Here, Paul was ridiculed and scoffed at having 'scrap-heap learning'. (He was highly educated and schooled in the law). But that makes no difference to those who are offended. Many translations say they thought he was a 'babbler' MSG says an 'airhead'.
But what I love about this verse is that he preached Jesus. Not a philosophy, not self- help, not humanism, not a motivational feel good sermon, but he preached Jesus.
Many churches today have gone away from the simple Gospel; to preach Jesus.
One time a friend of mine Jonny was so on fire for Jesus he would just tell people any time, any place about Jesus.
In a Chinese he told the waiting customers, "hey Jesus loves you" Someone responded with: " you slap-head". Undeterred and full of joy Jonny responded, "slap-head for Jesus".
You know whether your called a babbler like Paul or a slap head like Jonny: preach Jesus.
Infact why not be..a slaphead for Jesus.
The scrap-heap challenge today is to simply Preach Jesus.
Prayer:
Father forgive for not sharing about Jesus. Help me to preach You Jesus today no matter the insults in Jesus' name, Amen.
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