What practical steps can we take to "reason with them from the Scriptures"? The Verse in Focus “Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.” (Acts 17:2) Why “Reasoning” Matters • Scripture is God-breathed and fully authoritative (2 Timothy 3:16). • Believers are called to “always be ready to give a defense” (1 Peter 3:15). • God Himself invites dialogue: “Come now, let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18). Practical Steps to Reason from the Scriptures • Immerse Yourself First – Read daily; know the context of key passages. – Memorize verses that explain core doctrines (e.g., Romans 3:23; 6:23; John 3:16). • Begin with Shared Foundations – Start where your listener already agrees (e.g., belief in God’s existence, moral law). – Use Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Christ (Isaiah 53; Psalm 22) to build bridges. • Open the Text Together – Physically hand them a Bible or share the passage on a screen. – Read aloud; let the words speak for themselves (Hebrews 4:12). • Explain Plainly, Connect Clearly – Unpack difficult terms: redemption, justification, grace. – Illustrate with everyday examples, as Jesus did with parables. • Ask Guiding, Non-Combative Statements – “Notice how this verse uses ‘all’; what do you think that includes?” – Invite them to trace the argument themselves (Acts 17:3: “explaining and proving”). • Keep Christ Central – Every discussion should lead to Jesus’ death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). – Show His sufficiency over rituals or personal effort (Colossians 2:13-14). • Rely on the Holy Spirit – Trust His role in conviction (John 16:8). – Pray silently for clarity and soft hearts while you speak (Ephesians 6:18-19). • Maintain a Gracious Tone – Speak “with grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). – Listen attentively; reasoning is dialogue, not monologue. • Be Patient and Persistent – Paul returned three Sabbaths in a row; some hearts need time. – Follow up with resources or another meeting (Acts 18:4). Common Pitfalls to Avoid • Arguing to win instead of aiming for transformation. • Jumping verses out of context, which breeds confusion. • Ignoring emotional or personal barriers that may underlie intellectual objections. Encouragement to Act God delights to use ordinary believers who faithfully open His Word. Step out, Bible in hand, confident that “the word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12) and that He will honor your obedient reasoning from the Scriptures. |
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