I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
I Corinthians 9:22
Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and addressed a congregation that had many internal problems. The main issue was the abuse of freedom by some believers that threatened to hinder the spread of the gospel. Freedom, Paul taught, is not merely a release from the necessity of keeping the laws of the Old Testament. Rather, it is a spiritual liberty that enables us to live our lives with the spiritual well-being of others in mind. Those who fail to understand this sometimes taketheir freedom in Christ as a license to engage in behavior that harms themselves and others.
Paul wrote to encourage Christians to put others first. By doing so, they would use their freedom to win others to Christ rather than defame the Gospel. Though their behavior at times appeared inconsistent, it had the goal of bringing others to Christ.
Adjusting our demeanor to the situation is often a matter of simple courtesy. We dress differently for a wedding than for a hunting trip. We act differently at a football game than at a classical concert. We want to show respect and put others at ease. It is sometimes appropriate to adjust our actions to better approach nonbelievers with the Good News of Jesus. However, we must never engage in sinful practices in order to “win others to Jesus”. Keep these points in mind when trying to witness to nonbelievers:
- The desire to win souls for Christ begins when our lives are oriented toward God. (I Corinthians 9:19)
- The message of salvation through faith in Jesus is for all people in all cultures. (I Corinthians 9:20-22)
- Whatever we do should be done for the sake of the Gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:23)
Back to School Sunday
As we recognize our students and teachers, let’s determine to pray for them as they return to school. Pray also for the parents of our students and all the staff members at each school.
Prayer Walk at May0 Elementay
Churches in the Mayo and Chesnee areas will gather at local schools today at 5:00 to pray. Our prayer focus will be for the students, faculty, staff, and parents. Graham Chapel will g0 to May0 Elementary School. Meet us today at 5:00 at the front of May0 Elementary to pray . Wear your Love Your City shirt if you have one.
Back to Church Emphasis
Summer vacations have kept many people out of church. Let’s make every effort to get back to church for all of our services and encourage others to be here. Together we can make a difference in the lives of our families, friends, community, and world when we are serving the Lord through His church.
Best Years Fellowship
The BYF will eat dinner at Blue Bay in Spartanburg on Saturday. We will meet at the church and the bus will leave at 4:30. After dinner, we will go to Pastor and Donna Edmonds’ house for dessert and coffee, Everyone is welcome to join us!
Help Needed
There are many opportunities for volunteer ministry in our church. If you want to get involved in the ministry of Graham Chapel in some way, please see Pastor Edmonds. There is work for all to do. Your help could lighten the load for someone else, but more importantly, you will receive a blessing for the work you do for the Kingdom!
Labor Day Yard Sale
It’s time to clean out closets to donate to the church yard sale. Call Bruce for pick-up of large items. Volunteers are needed.
