August 17, 2021 - Acts 19:1-10

When I was a young boy I attended a church that taught Sunday school and had a morning service that followed. I loved to go to Sunday school as my teacher was a man who loved the outdoors and regularly took his students fishing or other outdoor activities but I do not ever remember being told how to become a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul had returned to Ephesus and encounters some disciples of John who taught and understood the need for repentance. These individuals had not heard the entire gospel message of the resurrection of Christ and the person of the Holy Spirit who would reside within the believer. Like Apollos earlier, they had learned a partial gospel and needed further instruction.

Paul then proclaimed the message of Jesus Christ and the promise of the Holy Spirit to those who repented and believed in Christ. The apostle took the people from where they were and advanced them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. They followed this profession of faith with baptism and were recognized as believers in the Lord Jesus.

There are many in our world who have heard a form of the gospel and believe they know the truth but in reality have only received a partial understanding of Christ and therefore are not true believers of the Lord. When talking with someone about their faith and their answers are vague or uncertain, it is good to gently question the individual about their relationship with Christ.

Like Paul, begin where the person’s knowledge of Christ presently is and move the conversation forward. If a person is uncertain about their ongoing relationship with Christ, it can be an opportunity to solidify that relationship by walking through the plan of salvation and then spend time addressing the assurance of Christ’s presence in their lives each day. Passages that can be useful for assurance are John 10:27-30; Ephesians 1:7-14; Hebrews 13:5b; 1 John 5:11-13.

As Paul experienced, if we are talking and living out our faith, conversations will naturally occur that will allow us to assist and strengthen others in their relationship with Christ. Be prepared by looking over and being familiar with some of these passages of scripture that can be used as an encouragement in ordinary conversation today!

With an expectant hope,

Pastor Miller