Thinking Outside The Box Without Compromising The Message

I'm all about thinking outside the box as it relates to reaching the lost. Modern music, Hymns, Sunday School, Missions Statements, Praise Teams, Small Group Home Bible Studies,Prayer Meetings, Awana's, TeamKids, and good old fashion Training Union to name a few that are new and old methods. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 the apostle Paul makes it very clear that he was able to think outside the box by becoming all things to all men. Paul understood the urgency of getting the message of the gospel out by what ever means necessary. Change the music, no problem; blend the music, no problem; switch Discipleship Training for Home(community) Bible studies, no problem; add a program for the kids, no problem. The one thing we see in these verses is, he did it to share the gospel. That's the one thing we can't change, we can't compromise, and we can't abandon for the sake of drawing a crowd. Why because the gospel is offensive to man and necessary for salvation. Consider what Paul has already told the Corinthians in chapter 1 verse 18, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." The power is the message of the gospel whether we're in the church, the grocery store, the alley ways, the country club,or the projects. The gospel is not for those who have everything and just want to add Jesus to their list of accomplishments. The gospel is for those who realize they have sinned (Romans 3:23) against a holy God and that the penalty for their wickedness is eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23). The gospel reveals the love of God (Romans 5:8). The gospel is the cure for death (Romans 10:9-13). The only way to come to a real relationship with Jesus Christ is the message of the uncompromising gospel. That is, man is sinful and rebellious towards a holy God, but in God's love for us, He offered His Son as a payment for our sin.Jesus built a bridge between man and God through His sacrifice on our behalf. If you have never crossed that bridge and accepted that gift please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. It was best put his way long ago by some wise person, "God paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay." So should we think outside the box? Absolutely, but never to the point we change the gospel. God Bless, Gerald Greenlee