How Paul marketed church?

Hi

I'm still busy reading Church Marketting 101 - it is excellent.

It is now talking about how Paul adapted his approach to suit his audience. We know that (in 1 Cor. 9:20-22) Paul said "and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law..."

Paul put people into categories - grouping people with common tendencies together. We know that not all Jews are alike, not all people have the same weaknesses, but Paul was aware that not all people view the gospel from the same perspective, but some people think alike or have a similar perspective. His grouping (in his letter to the Corinthians) is based on ethnicity (Jewish background), spirituality (under the law), lack of spirituality (without the law) and their needs ('the weak').

In Acts, Paul uses this to excellent effect. Look at Acts 17:22-24. He says "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD." (NIV).

Instead of being critical about them worshipping so many Gods, he opens their hearts (and ears) by complimenting them. He then goes on to tell them about the one true God ("Therefore, the One who you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it".

It has made me think.

You can read more at http://www.beyondrelevance.com/

Regards
Jonathan