We have a message to tell

Paul liked a good argument or a vigorous debate. That was why he was in his element in Athens. The Greeks were warriors and philosophers, and Paul liked to spend time talking to people about his belief in Jesus. Eventually came away from Athens and headed down to the port town of Corinth. We hear briefly about what happened there in today's reading from Acts 18:1-8. Here Paul met up with fellow Jews, a couple who had been forced to leave Rome, Aquila and Priscilla. They were also tentmakers. Eventually his companions, Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia and they formed a community in Corinth. In later years, as he continued his travels, Paul always maintained close ties with Corinth as seen in his two letters to the Corinthians. Luke's account of the early church and Paul's travels make for good reading and help us to see how determined and persistent Paul was. He liked a good argument, not because he liked to hear the sound of his own voice, but because he believed in the message he preached. Perhaps we need to regain that same enthusiasm and be willing to talk to others we meet in our workplaces, in the various groups we support or wherever. Over half of the population of Aotearoa-New Zealand don't profess any belief. This is a great mission field to use an old term. It is a place that is crying out to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. "Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers ..." as Jesus said. We are those workers.