Paul adapted his message to different audiences in 3 key ways: 1) He related the message to their specific needs and culture, preaching about Israel's history to Jews and using their own writings about God to Gentiles. 2) He used familiar examples like athletes and soldiers to teach eternal truths in a relatable way. 3) He worked with a team of co-workers like Timothy, Silas, and Luke to spread the message more widely, showing that effective ministry requires collaboration.

1. Lesson 12 for September 19, 2015

2. Depending on
culture: Jews
and Gentiles.
Using
comparison:
Athletes and
soldiers.
The Law of
God.
Death and
resurrection.
Paul’s
co-workers.
Teaching
universal truths:
Working as
a team:
He used several
teaching methods:
Paul always adapted his message to the variety of
audiences he faced. How could teach the same eternal
truth to different cultures, races and religions?

3. Paul was sent particularly to the
Gentiles, but his mission included
reaching the Jews too (they were
spread through the whole Roman
Empire).
Which were the needs of each group?
How did Paul adapt his message so
everyone could understand the news
of Salvation?
“For Jews request a sign, and
Greeks seek after wisdom.”
(1 Corinthians 1:22)
JEWS
Need
They believed that a divine messenger
would show signs and miracles like Moses
did in Egypt (John 6:30).
Message
He preached about the history of Israel.
He introduced Jesus as a descendant of
David and told them about His miracles,
death and resurrection.
GENTILES
Need
They needed a rational foundation for
their beliefs.
Message
He used their own writings to introduce
them God as Creator, Helper and Judge.
Then He introduced Jesus as our
Redeemer.
JEWS AND GENTILES

4. ATHLETES AND SOLDIERS (I)
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all
run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way
that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes
for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do
it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an
imperishable crown.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)
Paul used familiar examples to teach eternal truths.
 Athletes run to reach the goal at the stadium.
Thus believers must live in order to reach the
goal: eternal life.
 Wrestlers follow a strict temperance life to reach
their crown. Believers must live according to the
divine will to reach their crown.

5. “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier
of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles
himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please
him who enlisted him as a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4)
Roman soldiers were
scattered through the
Roman Empire. Paul used
their lifestyle as an
example for believers.
 Every soldier is willing to suffer and to obey
the orders of those who enrolled him.
Believers must be faithful servants of God;
they must please Jesus who enrolled them
to His Kingdom.
 Paul also used the armor of the soldier as an
example of the weapons of the Christian.
For example, in Ephesians 6:10-18: faith,
justice, truth…

6. “Do we, then, nullify the law by
this faith? Not at all! Rather, we
uphold the law.” (Romans 3:31 NIV)
Paul used the term “law” in several ways in his letters. For
example, he wrote about the “law of God”, the “law of
Moses” (1Co. 9:9) and the “law of sin.” (Ro. 7:25).
Sometimes he seemed to contradict himself: He was “under
law” (1Co. 9:21) but “delivered from the law.” (Ro. 7:6).
The Jews needed to understand the difference between the
unchanging and eternal Law of God which all human beings
must fulfill, and the laws that applied only to the people of
Israel as a nation.
The Gentiles shouldn’t be forced to obey the
ceremonial or racial laws (like circumcision), but
they needed to understand the importance of
obeying the Law of God.
For that reason, Paul referenced the observance of
the Commandments several times (Ro. 13:8-10;
1Co. 7:19; Eph. 4:28; Eph. 6:2).

7. “who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable
light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor
and everlasting power. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:16)
The doctrine of the immortality of the soul cannot be
based in the Scripture. The Bible clearly states that
people cease to exist when dying (Eccl. 9:5; Ps. 115:17)
and that God is the only immortal One (1Tim. 6:16).
Immortality is reserved to the saved ones in the day of
resurrection, when “this mortal must put on
immortality.” (1Co. 15:53).
Since death affects everyone (Heb. 9:27),
it’s very important for us to understand
death as sleep. Paul repeatedly referred
to the death as those who “sleep” (1Ts.
4:13; 1Co. 11:30; 1Co. 15:6).

8. “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow
as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those
who sleep in Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)
There would be no salvation without resurrection: “And if Christ is not
risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who
have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.” (1Co. 15:17-18).
Paul taught that Jesus died and remained in the grave until His
resurrection, just like it’s written in the rest of the Scriptures.
Likewise, we’ll remain in the grave once we die until our resurrection.
“But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those
who are Christ’s at His coming.” (1Co. 15:23).
The resurrection of Jesus
and the resurrection of the
believers is part of our
faith.

9. “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him
with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”
(2 Timothy 4:11)
Paul didn’t work alone. Several Paul’s co-
workers are mentioned in the Bible:
Barnabas, Judas Barsabbas, Silas, John
Mark, Timothy, Erastus, Tychicus,
Aristarchus, Jesus Justus, Demas and Luke.
It doesn’t matter how many gifts a person
has; he cannot work alone in God’s mission.
Our mission is teamwork.
PAUL’S CO-
WORKERS
Difficulties may arise within the team
sometimes. For example, Demas left Paul
when he needed the most (2Tim. 4:10).
After a serious discussion, Barnabas and
John Mark left Paul and worked in
another place (Acts 15:36-41).
Nevertheless, that was not a permanent
discord. Reconciliation is always possible
when a forgiving spirit works in us.

10. “Who can measure the results to the world of Paul’s
lifework? Of all those beneficent influences that alleviate
suffering, that comfort sorrow, that restrain evil, that
uplift life from the selfish and the sensual, and glorify it
with the hope of immortality, how much is due to the
labors of Paul and his fellow workers, as with the gospel
of the Son of God they made their unnoticed journey
from Asia to the shores of Europe?
What is it worth to any life to have been God’s
instrument in setting in motion such influences of
blessing? What will it be worth in eternity to witness the
results of such a lifework?”
E.G.W. (Education, cp. 7, pg. 63)
Let’s be an instrument in the hands of God like
Paul and his co-workers were!