Know; Yet Keep It Simple

I wonder if this is what I am doing with my writings each day.

“¹And I, when I came to you brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. ²For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” – 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (ESV)

Paul was very well educated and had every opportunity to use that education to sound off in extremely eloquent and authoritative ways (you see what I did there). Instead, he spoke the truth in ways that everyone would understand. He spoke to the topic at hand, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and the impact of that topic on us. He spoke in words and ways that those listening would understand.

I have sat in many a meeting where the speaker begins using terminology and rhetoric to demonstrate their knowledge and education to somehow sound smarter than the rest of us. Paul gives us the lesson that this is not needed. We don’t need to complicate things.

We are charged with taking the gospel to the people and in doing so, doesn’t it make sense to speak to them in the language they understand? It is important for us to study God’s Word so that we speak with knowledge and understanding ourselves, but when taking that knowledge we take it to those that understand. I remember helping to coach up a young man playing basketball. It was his first year moving to the sport and was having some trouble understanding the specific concept. I knew that he was an accomplished football player for the past few years and so I used football concepts to explain the basketball movements to which he quickly understood and was able to apply. I had to keep it simple and speak in a language he understood.

Paul lets us know that we do not and should not make it more complicated than it has to be. We should take to gospel to the people where they are in their environment and in their language. We have to know the gospel well enough to adjust our delivery to fit the audience we are addressing. No need to water down the message by attempting to puff it, or ourselves up.

When you speak about the gospel, do you have trouble getting it out? Do you have a plan to spread to those you are with? Are you able to speak their language? Do you know God’s Word well enough to keep it simple?