Look at the variety of mangoes. Alphonso seems to be king, but I ain’t fussy. A mela is an event where people gather in a festival-like manner. Bring it on. We tend to take the mela back home with us and have mangoes for breakfast, lunch, dinner – and the occasional snack.
But what is going on here?
Is it not true that mangoes are so commonplace and so central to life here in South India that the culture develops and distinguishes the varieties in a way that we just would not do back home in NZ?
Step inside the doors of the store and the same thing happens again – with rice. A similar variety, this time each with its own bin. Once again … is it not true that rice is so commonplace and so central to life here that the culture develops and distinguishes the varieties in a way that we just would not do back home? [But no mela for me this time. Rice glues up my alimentary canal, leading to ailments which will remain unstated here.]
Step inside the life of the early church in the book of Acts and a similar thing is happening – for those with eyes to see. Not mangoes. Not rice. Preaching. So commonplace and so central is preaching to its life that the early church develops and distinguishes varieties in a way that we just do not do in NZ, or in India – or any other country with which I am acquainted.
a basic understanding of the book of Acts picks up its theme: the church spreads, as the Word of God
spreads. It
is the biography – not of Peter, or Paul – but of the Word, carried forward by preachers. The
final phrase in the original emphasizes this: ‘the unstoppable word’…
words of information: teach, instruct, point out, make known,
remind;
words of declaration: preach, proclaim, cry out, testify, bear witness,
declare, write, read, pass on;
words of exhortation: call, denounce, warn, rebuke, command, give
judgement, encourage, appeal, urge;
words of conversation: say, speak, talks, answer, reply, give answer.
There is a need to thicken and deepen and broaden the ‘ministry of the Word’ that happens in and through local churches. Here is one application of what it could look like: preaching: acts and now.
nice chatting
Paul
About Me
the art of unpacking
After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.
Recent Posts
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Thanks Paul. I remember the Advance Homiletics class with you. Your teaching has made me rich…rich enough to share with the pastors and Christian Leaders in North East India. God continue to bless your ministry.
I hope and pray that the best is yet to be, JR!