Want to Sell Like Paul?
No follower of Christ has ever done a better job of putting all of these principles into action than did Paul. Paul was without peer as a salesperson. Scripture is filled with examples of Paul’s heroic efforts regarding his "selling" of the faith.
Take a look at Paul's mission to Greece and his interaction with the people of Athens. Paul understood the three principles and put them into action masterfully. Before he could begin to “sell” the Athenians, before he could mention the “price,” Paul had to establish some basis of trust. Take a look.
Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among
them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”
Acts of the Apostles 17:22-23
With a well-placed compliment and a linking of their “unknown god” to his “known God", Paul established trust. He then began to create value by explaining a little about who God is and who God isn’t. Then he explains the essential role this God is responsible for in their lives, their very existence.
The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he
himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.
Acts of the Apostles 17:24-25
Paul, being the Christ-Centered salesperson that he is continues to build trust and value by aligning himself with them. He does this by again appealing to what the Athenians know to be good and true, in this case, the poems of their Greek ancestors. He even offers an encouraging thought to the Athenians; God is not far from them as they search.
For ‘in him we live and move and have our being;’ as even some of your own poets have said, “For we too are his offspring.”
Acts of the Apostles 17:28
Imagine listening to this man who has in some way connected with you, maybe even moved you. Now he’s quoting one of your favorite poets. In a sense, what chance do you have against him? He is pushing all the right buttons in the right order. Paul now moves to the “serving the customer” stage.
Knowing that some will find his next few words objectionable, Paul nonetheless continues to speak the truth in love. This is the “serving them” part. Paul needs to draw a distinction between human creation from Godly ones. It is a risk, but one lessened by the trust Paul has developed.
Since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals.
Acts of the Apostles 17:29
Only in the last verses, after establishing trust, creating value, establishing more trust, and then serving them without regard for the sale, does Paul mention the price; in this case repentance.
While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
Acts of the Apostles 17:30
Paul knew that the price had to be paid. He wasn’t ashamed of it; he simply presented it at the proper time. Paul did not sell every customer, every time. He sold those he was able to sell and then moved on. No need to linger over what is not to be. Praise God for the “yes”; praise God for the “no.”
When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed; but others said, “We will hear you again about this.”
Acts of the Apostles 17:32
He left there with a clear mind and a clean heart and a grateful spirit knowing he remained Christ-Centered the entire time.
Take a look at Paul's mission to Greece and his interaction with the people of Athens. Paul understood the three principles and put them into action masterfully. Before he could begin to “sell” the Athenians, before he could mention the “price,” Paul had to establish some basis of trust. Take a look.
Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among
them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”
Acts of the Apostles 17:22-23
With a well-placed compliment and a linking of their “unknown god” to his “known God", Paul established trust. He then began to create value by explaining a little about who God is and who God isn’t. Then he explains the essential role this God is responsible for in their lives, their very existence.
The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he
himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.
Acts of the Apostles 17:24-25
Paul, being the Christ-Centered salesperson that he is continues to build trust and value by aligning himself with them. He does this by again appealing to what the Athenians know to be good and true, in this case, the poems of their Greek ancestors. He even offers an encouraging thought to the Athenians; God is not far from them as they search.
For ‘in him we live and move and have our being;’ as even some of your own poets have said, “For we too are his offspring.”
Acts of the Apostles 17:28
Imagine listening to this man who has in some way connected with you, maybe even moved you. Now he’s quoting one of your favorite poets. In a sense, what chance do you have against him? He is pushing all the right buttons in the right order. Paul now moves to the “serving the customer” stage.
Knowing that some will find his next few words objectionable, Paul nonetheless continues to speak the truth in love. This is the “serving them” part. Paul needs to draw a distinction between human creation from Godly ones. It is a risk, but one lessened by the trust Paul has developed.
Since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals.
Acts of the Apostles 17:29
Only in the last verses, after establishing trust, creating value, establishing more trust, and then serving them without regard for the sale, does Paul mention the price; in this case repentance.
While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
Acts of the Apostles 17:30
Paul knew that the price had to be paid. He wasn’t ashamed of it; he simply presented it at the proper time. Paul did not sell every customer, every time. He sold those he was able to sell and then moved on. No need to linger over what is not to be. Praise God for the “yes”; praise God for the “no.”
When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed; but others said, “We will hear you again about this.”
Acts of the Apostles 17:32
He left there with a clear mind and a clean heart and a grateful spirit knowing he remained Christ-Centered the entire time.
