Introducing Erik Fish - "Foolish Preachers"

Student CPx'ers (simple church training for college student this summer),

I was thinking of you and praying for you this morning! I wanted to share a couple thoughts.

"Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe." (I Corinthians 1:21)

Sometimes it's easy to get tripped up thinking about how clever we need to be to lead people to Christ and make disciples. It's sometimes possible to get confused over strategy and trying to get every step right in order to multiply churches, etc. It can be deflating. I just wanted to encourage you that - next to simply loving God and being loved by Him - really the main task God has given us is pretty simple: "Preach foolishly about Jesus."

Sound too difficult? Can you be dorky for Jesus? Can you communicate the story of the cross and resurrection of Jesus with only average charisma? Can you get people to laugh at you and think you're ridiculous for what you believe? If so, you're in good company with the Apostle Paul. Paul was possibly the greatest disciple maker and church planter in history, yet he gives us great insight into his ongoing strategy for what really produced good fruit in the midst of his seeming "failures."

"I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness – timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God." (I Cor 2:1-5)

It seems to me that Paul made a conscientious choice NOT to use clever and persuasive speeches. Using this tactic opened a door for people to experience an encounter with God and freed Paul from the naggingly unsatisfying insecurity that comes when you rely on your own ability, preaching skills, and "coolness" (or whatever) in trying to lead people to Jesus. Our one simple responsibility, next to loving God and loving others, is to simply be willing to be a foolish preacher when it comes to speaking openly and honestly about who Jesus is to people.

"It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom." (I Cor. 1:22)

Paul knew what it was like to be rejected on two fronts: By those who's callous, self-righteous hearts had hardened them to the reality of the coming of their Messiah, and those who were intellectually arrogant and were only impressed with the latest philosophy and rhetoric. In the midst of this rejection, he embraced a simple, reassuring truth: we don't have to make ourselves impressive to people for God's power to move upon their hearts. We only need to be willing to be a foolish preacher and speak simply about what Jesus did, who he is, and the good gift he offers to all who will receive Him.

I was so convicted recently when I encountered a fifty-year-old man who was telling me his story. He went to UCLA years ago. In spite of there being a strong presence of campus ministries, he told me he never even heard the gospel until he was thirty-five years old. Among other possibly deeper explanations, there is one simple reason the gospel doesn't spread on certain campuses: Christians don't preach the gospel to non-Christians and invite them into a new relationship with their Creator. Are you willing to do so?

Please let your heart be convicted to preach the gospel to those who don't yet know Christ! This is where the miracles happen: When you're willing to be foolish enough to take the story of Jesus to the those who don't know Him. It's the method God uses to bring people to salvation: "He has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe." The world calls it foolish. God calls it brilliant. I am believing we will reach a time together on our college campuses when not one person will get through college without at least hearing the message of Jesus communicated to them. We must all be willing to be "foolish" preachers to see it happen.

Please share any prayer requests with each other as well as stories that may be of encouragement to the rest of us as you foolishly preach the gospel this semester. :)

Love,

Erik

efish@studentchurch.org

785.423.3272