Faith conversations arise naturally with nonbelievers who share your same background, interests, or pain. By “background,” I mean the same upbringing or educational training. By “interests,” I mean the same hobbies or entertainment choices. By “pain,” I mean the same experiences with heartbreak or recovery.
When certain Greeks wanted to meet Jesus (John 12:20-22), they specifically approached the Apostle Philip. The passage doesn’t tell us why they singled him out, but I think it was because they felt they had something in common with him. After all, the name “Philip” wasn’t a Jewish name but a Greek name. And Philip was known to be from Bethsaida, a region where there was more Gentile influence than at any other part of the former Hebrew territories. They sensed a commonality with Philip, and so they asked him to introduce them to Jesus.
These Greeks would have been “God fearers.” This was a label given to Gentiles who were attracted to the teaching of Judaism but who had not converted. Maybe they attended a synagogue occasionally. They likely had spiritual conversations with their Jewish neighbors. They even attended the big festivals at the Jerusalem Temple. They found something attractive in the teaching and rituals, and they were drawn to it.
People like that exist today. We don’t call them “God fearers” but, like the Greeks in John 12, they’re curious about our faith and even attracted to certain themes of our message. And when they want to find out more about our faith, don’t be surprised if those who have something in common with you approach you. They see you got the same degree they got, or you’re in the same field of work they’re in, or you both have the same interest in fishing, or you’re both in recovery, or you’ve both gone through the same life-changing experience. They’re more likely to talk about Jesus with you than with anyone else. So, stay sensitive to the opportunities that will come your way!
We’ll study this story in more detail this Sunday. Join us on campus or online at 10am!
--Tom
Tom serves as pastor at Hillcrest Church in Austin, Texas. His sermons are available on YouTube and the HillcrestToGo Podcast and you can find him on Facebook and Twitter. If someone forwarded this email newsletter to you, sign up here to receive Tom’s weekly devotional in your email inbox.