Power in Truth not Presentation
Some people are very gifted speakers! Those with charismatic personalities can draw a crowd and convince them to believe what they are saying is true. We see this in all areas of our world, in politics; in sales; on YouTube but also in the Church. However, the New Testament makes it clear that the power of the gospel is not in the way it is presented. The gospel is powerful because it is true.
Paul is one of the most famous church planters in Christian history and he wrote most of the letters that make up the New Testament. Therefore, you may expect him to have been a gifted and charismatic speaker to bring so many on board with his vision. He admits himself that this was not always the case. In his first letter to the Corinthians he writes:
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. (1 Corinthians 2:1-7)
Paul’s making clear that the power of the gospel is not in the way he presented the message but in the truth of the Good News of Jesus Christ that has the power to set people free. The power of the gospel is seen and demonstrated. He doesn't want people to follow people and their ability to preach or inspire, he wants people to follow God.
In Acts 18:24-28 we learn about a Jewish man called Apollos who became a christian. Apollos had a gift for public speaking.
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Apollos’ gift for speaking is used by God but what is more important is the content of what he is saying is more important. Priscilla and Aquila are more mature believers who teach him and correct him in what he is preaching. The content of what he says is more important than his style, although he goes on to use his gifting to glorify God and sharing truth.
There’s two takeaways from this study I want to highlight. Firstly, just because a message is well presented or a preacher has an attractive. charismatic personality doesn’t mean it contains truth. Secondly, we don’t have to be excellent public speakers to share the gospel! The gospel is powerful because it is true and has the power to save! Whether you are confident with speaking to others or not, always pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your words. We want to lead people to follow God not good speakers. The wisdom of the Kingdom does not look like the wisdom of the world.