These pictures just represent some of the ways I have changed to fit in with my context.  I was a pastor at a black church in Chicago for two years.  I had to be careful how I spoke about Democrats.  I saw a dark side to Chicago law enforcement.  I started to expect a response when I preached.

I was a teacher in Pakistan.  I wore Shelwar-kameez.  I started to sound Pakistani when I spoke.  I talked about Jesus in classes with Muslims. 

I was a teacher in Japan.  I learned some Japanese.  At Christmas and Easter I talked about the reason for the seasons.

In England I was a rocker for a while.  I wore the denim.  I listened to the music and headbanged.

Would the apostle Paul have changed his appearance in this way for the sake of the gospel?  I believe that he would have changed his appearance.  I believe he would have accepted local customs.  I do not believe he would have changed the content of his message, only the delivery.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

¹⁹Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Questions

1. Is Paul a slave or is he free?
2. How does Paul behave around Jews?
3. How does Paul behave around the weak?
4. Which sentence sums up Paul’s main point?
5. How have you adapted yourself to the different environments that you move in?  How does it hinder the gospel if you are inflexible in your dress, culture, attitudes and behaviour?

Going Deeper

This is an image of ‘Saddleback Sam’.  Rick Warren’s church created a profile of the type of person who lived in Saddleback.  How is this image the same as those in your neighbourhood?  How is it different?

Think of your neighbourhood and your place of work.  How is creating a Saddleback Sam kind of profile helpful?  How can it be unhelpful?  How would a ‘Downer’s Grove Dave’ or a ‘Grayslake Gary’ look?  Would a ‘McHenry Martha’ look the same as a ‘McHenry Michael’? 

How would you need to change for the people in your community to welcome you more easily?