Right Message, Right Audience
We had a good day today with activities around the resort. Debbie and I went to the miniature golf course near of condo unit. It was a simple course, that was handicap accessible. So I used my wheelchair and tried to stand to hit the ball until I lost my balance and fell. Debbie had two holes-in-one and beat my by six strokes. She wasn’t sympathetic for the handicapped!
This afternoon we enjoyed more time at the swimming pool. The water is warm and the weather has been good. I enjoyed my time with Mason and Carter in the water. Tomorrow is Mason’s seventh birthday, so he is working with his mom on an hour by hour schedule of activities.
It has been good to see McKenzie growing and being more active. Here is a picture of her with me in my wheelchair. This took a little coaxing and time for her to warm up to me with all the apparatus that is a part of my life.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” Luke 1:1-4
Target marketing is the modern day concept of endeavoring to match the message to the intended audience. The marketer asks important questions about those who are the intended recipients of the message and the way the message is presented must connect with that audience.
My undergraduate degree had an emphasis on marketing and I recall a marketing and public relationships class in my masters program reviewing some basic concepts that I had learned and even taught thirty years prior. However, from the perspective of ministry and my ongoing study of the Bible, I realized that the gospels are the earliest form of “target marketing” that I can recall.
People often ask, why four gospels? What different content? Why different emphasis? The answer is found in the author and the audience. In recorded scripture we have four different authors addressing four different groups. As a result the content contains some variations.
For example, Matthew was written to a Jewish audience and contains the greatest number of Old Testament references. Jesus is shown as the Messiah, the King of the Jews, the one who fulfilled the claims that the Messiah would be tied to the lineage of David.
Mark, considered the oldest gospel, was written to a Roman audience. It is short to the point and filled with action. It begins with the ministry of Jesus and not his birth. In Mark Jesus is presented as “servant.”
Luke, was the physician, historian of early Christianity. He liked details. He writes his gospel to Greeks, one in particular by the name of Theophilus. He presents Jesus as the “Son of Man.” Jesus lineage is traced all the way back to Adam and Luke uses the term, “Son of Man” more than any other gospel.
John’s gospel was the last to be written and his audience were first century believers. He presents Jesus as the Son of God. We see this from the first verse when he writes, “In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1) We see that John’s gospel contains the greatest number of chapters dedicated to Jesus with His disciples in the upper room before His crucifixion.
This brief overview is not to diminish but to show the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in presenting the life and ministry of Jesus and the gospel to a variety of audiences in a way that connects with them. What we see in scripture was eventually developed by people hundreds of years later in their attempt to promote a product or service.
Both Luke and John give the reason for their gospel account. Luke says, “…that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:4) John says, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)
Then we see the variety of audiences reveals that the gospel is for all people. During John the Baptist’s ministry we see the religious, tax collectors and soldiers and “regular” people all in his audiences. The same was true with Jesus.
This is also a reminder for us today. As followers of Christ as we connect with people in our present day, we need to know how to effectively communicate the good news with them. It is important to understand their background, concerns and needs.