Some say we live in terrible times and suggest we cannot win souls in such an environment. We can learn some valuable lessons from the establishment of the Corinthian church in the midst of a very wicked city.
Paul was a preacher so dedicated to proclaiming the truth that he supported himself through making tents beside a husband and wife team named Aquila and Priscilla. The tents were made out of either leather or goat hair cloth (Acts 18:1–3). He did not insist on his right to be supported in the preaching of the Gospel because he did not want to hinder anyone’s obedience (1 Corinthians 9:11–12; 2 Corinthians 11:9).
Paul reasoned publicly with the Jews and Greeks who came to the synagogue on the Sabbath (Acts 18:4). He also taught in the house of a man named Justus (Acts 18:6–7). Paul followed the same course in Ephesus. He reminded the Ephesian elders that he did not hold back anything helpful to them, “but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20 NKJV).
Paul’s preaching centered around the fact that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 18:5). He reminded the sanctified in Corinth of the Gospel he preached. “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
The Lord added people in Corinth to the church because they heard, believed and were baptized (1 Corinthians 15:1–2; Acts 18:8). Paul said, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13).
The Gospel seed can grow in difficult soil.We, Christians, must be determined to proclaim the Good News. We must remain on subject by proclaiming Jesus is the Christ. We can be assured God will bring forth the increase when that Gospel seed springs up in the hearts of those willing to follow His plan.
