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In Acts 20, what sort of evangelistic and missionary implications are there in this section Acts 20:17-35.
Pastor ascends pulpit and reads text...looks at congregation and says, "Hmmm...real good." and then the end of the sermon. Ben, anything more extensive?
The tentmaking aspect is not where I want to go with this. I don't think it is normative for evangelists/missionaries/pastors in our own day.
Paul did this because of the sophist practice of charging a fee for teachings that tickled one's ears. He was not merely a traveling teacher trying to make a living, but an apostle. Also, he desired to gather funds for the Jerusalem church.
What else for missions today, unless you would assert that all missions should be done in the tent-making pattern?
for missionaries today, what can we learn?
for missionaries today, what can we learn?
That they should not ask pesky questions, and should lern to spell.
The tentmaking aspect is not where I want to go with this. I don't think it is normative for evangelists/missionaries/pastors in our own day.
Paul did this because of the sophist practice of charging a fee for teachings that tickled one's ears. He was not merely a traveling teacher trying to make a living, but an apostle. Also, he desired to gather funds for the Jerusalem church.
What else for missions today, unless you would assert that all missions should be done in the tent-making pattern?
Well, I know two missionaries now in the 10/40 window who would not be in the country they are in unless they were tentmakers - i.e. they have a skill definitely needed by the host country in which that would be their top priority for being there. Mission activity could not be the primary activity.
This is certainly true for Muslim countries, where you would certainly not gain acceptance into the country if you came proclaiming immediately that you are there to evangelize them.
I emphasize this for a couple of reasons. First, I know some young people who have always desired to be missionaries, but because a mission board wants a college degree, they simply get a generic degree like "communications" - something not of as much practical value.
Foreign countries want practical degrees - English teachers, scientists, engineers, medical practitioners, business specialists. Philosophers are not in high demand.
Second, some missionaries seek full support - something hard to come by not only in today's economy, but also from the fact that most believers are also struggling financially, and they are being pulled from 50 different directions with other ministries also requesting funding. If a person is a tentmaker, that helps things tremendously.
So, Paul's emphasis that he provided for himself has numerous, important applications for the missionary in today's world and economy.
for missionaries today, what can we learn?
That they should not ask pesky questions, and should lern to spell.
for missionaries today, what can we learn?
That they should not ask pesky questions, and should lern to spell.