The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 1:1, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham…”

Mark 1:1, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Luke 1:13-4. “it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.”

John 1:1-3. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”

If I were to say to you that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were the four Gospels, you might ask why there are four of them. The answer is simple:

Matthew wrote to the Jews;

Mark wrote to the Romans;

Luke wrote to the Greeks;

John wrote to the Church (the believers).

There is really only one Gospel, but it must be shared with people of different cultural backgrounds. Paul wrote to the Colossians saying, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person (Col. 4:6).

Each of the four groups had distinguishing backgrounds. If the Gospel were to be effectively shared with them, it must be “packaged” in their culture, explaining things they would not have otherwise known. When I was in Papua New Guinea, I learned that there are no sheep in that region –none at all! So, telling them that Jesus was “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29), makes no sense to them at all. Missionaries have to share the Gospel with native people when it’s wrapped up in their culture. We have to do the same thing; we just don’t think of it in the same way.

I’ve found that Jewish people really speak their minds! Sometimes they snap at you. I snap back!

Responding to them with their own method of communication works. It was “foreign” to me at first, but I soon got used to it and it was effective. Just remember that LOVE is the key. We’re not trying to win arguments; we’re trying to share the Love of Jesus Christ with people who are imprisoned in sin. BE Christ-like! Understand the culture of their work and home. Show concern for their souls. Don’t get sidetracked on sports or politics! Keep your eye on the ONE you want them to see: Jesus!

Praying for you this week,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Please remember to pray for Rose Marie. Her hemoglobin is down again and she needs blood.

Attn: Nurses! You know who you are. -??

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”