Missions Sunday School Discussion on Acts 17
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What we can learn from Paul’s Style for talking about the Gospel.
What we can learn from Paul’s Style for talking about the Gospel.
Paul stood in the religious center of the world. A melting pot of ideas and philosophies much like we encounter online and in our community a collage of different ideas and philosophies encounter us everyday and Paul seeks to bring the gospel message to these men and woman
Start with a compliment
Start with a compliment
22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.
23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
Acts E. The Persuasion on the Areopagus (vv. 22–31)
The Greeks erected altars to unknown gods to make sure all religious bases were covered. Now the missionary apostle wants to introduce them to a God completely unknown to them.
Paul recognized the desire these people had to do the right thing spiritually.
Paul recognized the desire these people had to do the right thing spiritually.
He positioned what he had to share as an answer to the problem they realized they had.
What positive things can we recognize in those around us who don’t know the Gospel?
What positive things can we recognize in those around us who don’t know the Gospel?
What problems do our neighbors, friends, and family face that can be solved by the Gospel?
Define the truth.
Define the truth.
24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,
25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,
28 for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
What is Paul declaring in these five verses?
What is Paul declaring in these five verses?
Acts E. The Persuasion on the Areopagus (vv. 22–31)
So in five short verses Paul affirmed that God made the world; God gave all people life; God controlled the nations; and God revealed himself so people would seek him, a result quite possible for he is both transcendent and imminent.
Creation maker
Life giver
Control of the nations
A desire for us to know God and pursue knowing God.
How do these truths point men and women to God?
How do these truths point men and women to God?
Point people to Jesus.
Point people to Jesus.
29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
What is Paul saying here?
God isn’t an idol
God calls for repentance.
God will judge.
God has provided a solution.
Why doesn’t Paul more explicitly point people to the Gospel here?
Acts E. The Persuasion on the Areopagus (vv. 22–31)
“Don’t preach to Buddhists, to Muslims, to Hindus. Just preach to men. Reach out to men in the tragedy of their need and you will win them to Christ” (Glasser, 11–12).
Paul contextualized his argument to the world he was in.
He was in a place surrounded by idols and statues the people worshipped.
How can we follow Paul’s example in bringing the Gospel into our own relationships and community?
Paul saw a need and complimented actions.
Paul shared the truth about God in a way the greeks could understand.
Paul pointed to Jesus.
How can we do the same in our world?
Think of several people you do life with who don’t currently attend a church.
Or think of several people you know of you don’t attend a church.
Or think of trends you see on Facebook or in the culture around.
What positive spiritual things can you notice and point out like Paul did?
What Biblical truth can you share with them?
I love the structure that Time to Revive Ministries gave to us several years back.
Love
Listen
Discern
Respond
Let’s practice this today