I’m really glad both of you are helping to bring exposure to the truth.  And I’m excited to read the rest of the book, because I’m sure that I’ll learn a lot.

A sixty something grandmother held me and wept in a church lobby a couple months ago, just sobbing and saying, “No one ever told me what I was saved for.  Why didn’t anybody tell me what I was saved for?”

It was a major shift in her thinking that, in her words, changed her life.

I’m glad you had a different experience.  But I’ve literally stood in front of hundreds at a time, and asked what Jesus major theme in His teaching was.  “Money?” “Hell?” —never once (!) have I gotten the answer “The Kingdom of God.” Never once.

And those are Christian high schools and church groups.  I’ve even asked the question on the radio, “What do you suppose the ‘good news’ was the Jesus was asking his disciples to go and share, and they went and shared, before He died?”

One man knew, with a heavy Haitian accent.  “The Kingdom is here!” Then a bunch of calls from people, “I never thought about it.  How could there be a gospel before Jesus died?”

They think it’s exclusively the atonment—on an individual level, too—and going to heaven. 

Again, if your experience is different, your evangelical church taught a theology of the Kingdom-as–gospel, that’s wonderful.  I honestly don’t think that’s typical.

So far I find the conversational method a little bit cheesy. 

As far as the Paul and Silas story, I need to go back and re-read the passage, which I haven’t done yet.

The times I have talked about my personal faith with others has usually been within the context of a relationship.  I don’t feel like I’m hitting a brick wall, because I usually am not pushing for some sort of answer.

I’d like to talk about the Kingdom again.  There may be a lot of Christians who only see salvation as their ticket to heaven, but I grew up in a conservative Evangelical home and never thought that was the end of the story.  I think a lot of times, it is the beginning step.  Humans are selfish.  We often want to know there is some benefit for us when we make a decision.  But I think with proper discipleship and the process of sanctification, that changes and we see the bigger picture.  I don’t think we necessarily see it straight away in the beginning.  I still don’t see it fully.  Maybe I’m missing something you’re saying, Brant et al., but so far nothing you’ve said is like Oh my gosh!!!!  I’ve never heard that before!  Or maybe I just don’t know the “go to Heaven only” people of which you speak.

Please keep in mind, I’m still in chapter one.

Q2 – I think if we look at the surrounding verses we see that this girl is a fortune teller and she had been following Paul and Silas for many days.  I agree with Ryan in saying that there is not enough evidence to support his conclusion.

Q3 – I agree that most Christians see the ultimate point of salvation as their ticket to Heaven. I’ve seen pastors measure the effectiveness of their ministry by the # of baptisms/member growth.  I think its a problem within the churches and needs to be rectified.  As to personally hitting a brick wall, I honestly am not usually out-right “sharing the gospel” with people.  Very few times have I led someone down the “Roman Road”.  I think evangelism is more about getting to know someone, becoming their friend, helping them through tough times, and being a light in this world than it is about the “right the to say at the right time”.  Programs like “Way of the Master” that protray evangelism like carpet bombing are detramental to what should be going on.  Is it the message thats the problem, or the fact that we still think its words and not actions that convey the message the best.