To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
4 sermons cite this verse
… listener understands even our terminology. We need to break things down, explain them, and try to find common ground with them and build a bridge to them. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9.22, I try to find common ground with everyone so I can bring them to Christ. I do all of this to spread the good news. Another translation of that same statement of Paul goes as follows. I am voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people, religious, non-religious, meticulous moralists, loose living, immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized, whoever. That's a good translation. Jesus modeled this. He spoke to the woman at the well. She could be described as the loose living immoralist. And then he spoke with Nicodemus, a religious man, who we could call a meticulous moralist. Paul and Mars Hill spoke to a secular audience there in Athens, Greece. While Peter on the day of Pentecost spoke to a largely religious audience. But they were adapting to their situation. …
… To those not having the law, I became like one not having the law, though I am not free from God's law, but am under Christ's law, so as to win those not having the law. To the weak, I became weak to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings. The phrase, I have become all things to all people, has sometimes been misunderstood. It can sound like manipulation. Like Paul is saying, I'll say whatever people want to hear if it gets results. But that's not what he means. And it's not how Christianity works. Paul is not talking about changing the truth. That is, his values, his doctrinal beliefs. He's talking about changing his posture, his approach. Let's think about this a minute, especially those listening who don't consider themselves religious or believers. Christianity is not about pretending doubts don't exist. …
… And I have a couple of verses and then I'll be done. Let me start with 1 Corinthians chapter 9. That's going to be the first passage I want to take a look at, 1 Corinthians chapter 9, verses 19 through 23. And I want to encourage you to look for the opportunity to engage with that person out in some meaningful way, in some meaningful environment. Here's 1 Corinthians 9. The Apostle Paul is talking to the church in Corinth, and he says to them, I want you to get a hold of this. Here's what the Apostle Paul says to the Corinthian church because, again, he wants them to be actively involved in winning people to the Lord. And he says this, For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all that I might win the more. And to the Jew, I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews. To those who are under the law, has under the law, that I might win those who are under the law. …
… to be. I'm rooted in missional community, but I'm also rehearsing the mission. This for me as much as it is for you. So as to win those not having the law. To the weak, I became weak to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. and I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessings. Paul is showing us that middle, that Jesus place that I'm not of this world, but I am sent into this world. I'm not running from it. My job is not to condemn it. I am not mimicking it, and I am definitely not trying to get all my pleasure from it, but I'm over here in the middle, and I'm rehearsing the mission. I'm waking up reminding myself, oh yeah, today I want to become all things to all people that by all means I might save some people. That's why I'm on earth today. …