I don’t know how I missed this but I did. And I’m guessing you did too.

In many ways we try to emulate the preaching, teaching and practice of the apostles. Things like the centrality of the cross, the willingness to lay down one’s life for the gospel, and following the life and teachings of Jesus. And then there’s that practice of “to the Jews first and then the Gentiles.”

Wait…Jews first and then the Gentiles?

I missed it too.

I was at a conference this week and a pastor was saying if we really preach and believe the gospel, the first thing we will do when ministering in a new place is find a synagogue. We go to them, bless them, affirm our support and share the gospel.

“But, but but I don’t like what some Jews are doing or what’s happening over there…”

The truth is much of the Bible was about the unbelief of Israel. Yet he still loved them anyway. And any nation who harmed them, even when Israel was in the wrong, God would bring judgment against them because Israel was and is his covenant people, the apple of His eye.

And the truth remains. God still longs for Israel to be saved. And the gospel format is the same–to the Jew first, and then the Gentile.

We don’t have to live in Israel to make this happen. We actually can do this wherever we are at–preach the gospel to the Jews first.