Who is most receptive to the gospel? In Jesus’ day, it was tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, beggars, etc. Not a lot has changed. “Nice people” are often more out of touch with their need for God.
•“Bad” people make good soil, there is a lot of fertilizer in their lives. “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32.
•Those in poverty are often good, receptive soil. “Listen my beloved brethren, did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” James 2:5
•Young people are often more receptive than older. “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
•Those searching for God in the occult or other religions can actually be more open than you think. “Seek, and you shall find.” Matthew 7:7
•The uneducated and the powerless are often good soil. “… but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame things which are strong.” 1 Corinthians 1:27
•Those deemed insignificant and discriminated against are often open and receptive “He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” 1 Corinthians 1:28-29
Note: This blog entry is part of a series based on Beyond Church Planting (coauthored with Neil Cole) that explores the process of evangelism and coming to faith.