Smart People Need Jesus Too: Sharing Faith with the Educated and Successful

Has your life been changed by Jesus Christ? Have you ever helped anyone else find a relationship with Jesus Christ? These are the two most important questions any Christian can answer. Until you can answer yes to the first, you can never answer yes to the second. Only someone whose life has been changed has something to share with another person.

When it comes to evangelism, most of our approaches are designed for people whose lives are going off the rails. But what about those who are educated, successful, and seemingly have it all together? How do we share Christ with them?

Why Is It Hard to Share Jesus with Successful People?

In Acts 17, Paul found himself in Athens, the intellectual capital of the world. He was surrounded by Epicurean and Stoic philosophers - the intellectual elite of his day. This presents a unique challenge that many of us face:

• Highly intelligent, successful people often don't feel a need for Jesus. They think they're above it or have moved beyond religion.

• We often feel intimidated by educated people, especially those with impressive credentials.

• We fear rejection, so we avoid sharing our faith with them altogether.

But the truth remains: smart people need Jesus too.

Three Principles for Effective Evangelism

Before diving into how to reach the educated and successful, let's establish three foundational principles:

• The gospel is the most powerful force in the world. Romans 1:16 tells us that the gospel is the power (dunamis - where we get "dynamite") of God for salvation. It's far greater than any military, political, economic, or financial power.

• Our job is to make the gospel clear. We simply need to tell people how we've experienced Jesus.

• Only the Holy Spirit can bring people to Jesus. Our work is telling the story; the Spirit does the converting.

What Can We Learn from Paul's Approach in Athens?

When Paul visited Athens around 50 AD, he was likely the only Christian in a city filled with intellectual giants. Athens was a "junkyard of idols" with an estimated 30,000 idols throughout the city. From a Christian perspective, it was a city of "degraded idolaters, arrogant philosophers, and idle triflers."

Paul's strategy was two-fold:

• He started in the synagogue, reasoning with Jews and God-fearing Greeks
• He went to the marketplace to talk with anyone who would listen

When the intellectuals heard him, some dismissed him as a "babbler" (literally a "seed-picker" or country bumpkin). But others were intrigued enough to invite him to the Areopagus - essentially giving him a platform to address the intellectual elite.

How Did Paul Connect with the Athenian Intellectuals?

Paul demonstrated several effective approaches we can use today:

• He knew their worldview. Paul was familiar with the Epicureans (who believed in enjoying life because there's nothing after death) and the Stoics (who believed in accepting whatever comes without emotion). He even quoted their own poets and philosophers.

• He kept bringing them back to Jesus. While engaging with their ideas, Paul consistently returned to "Jesus and the resurrection" (Acts 17:18).

• He used their culture as a bridge. Paul referenced their "unknown god" altar and used it as a starting point to introduce the true God.

• He wasn't intimidated by their intellect or status. Despite being called names, Paul confidently presented the truth.

How Can We Share Christ with Educated and Successful People Today?

Based on Paul's example, here are four practical suggestions:

• Don't be intimidated by babbling. If you're a Christian, some intellectuals may not like you anyway. Name-calling is often a sign that something's getting through.

• Expect opposition. The Epicureans and Stoics opposed Paul, and it's not clear if any of them converted. But others in Athens did become Christians.

• Keep your focus on Jesus. Start with something relatable to them, but always bring the conversation back to Jesus and His resurrection.

• Seize every opportunity God gives you. Paul didn't plan to speak at the Areopagus - he simply went with the flow and talked about Jesus wherever he found himself.

Why Do Successful People Need Jesus?

Many successful people reach a point where they ask, "Is this all there is?" They've achieved career success, financial stability, and social status, but still feel empty inside.

One missionary in Madrid found success by targeting people over 45 rather than younger people. Why? Because after years of chasing success and pleasure, many middle-aged people realize the emptiness of life without meaning. They're ready to hear about Jesus because they've discovered that worldly success doesn't satisfy.

The question becomes: "I'm working this hard, and I'm going to die and there'll be nothing left" versus "I'm working this hard and the work I do for Jesus remains for eternity." Which way would you rather live?

Life Application

As you consider how to share Christ with the educated and successful people in your life, ask yourself these questions:

• Has your life truly been changed by Jesus Christ? If not, let go of your pride, degrees, and pedigree, and run to the cross for salvation. We're all equal under the cross.

• Have you ever helped anyone else discover a personal relationship with Jesus? If not, start praying that God will give you a chance to share Christ with someone this week.

• Who are the successful, educated people in your life who need Jesus? How might you begin a conversation about faith with them?

• What aspects of your testimony might resonate with someone who appears to "have it all together"?

Remember, you don't have to "win" someone to Christ - you just have to tell them what Jesus has done in your life. The Holy Spirit does the converting. We tend to quickly share with those who are visibly struggling but back away from those who seem to be doing well. Yet behind many successful facades are people dealing with emptiness, fear, and the question of whether their achievements will ultimately matter.

This week, look for opportunities to share Jesus with someone who seems to have it all together. They need Him too.