45. Gospel Versatility
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· 4 viewsWe should be versatile in our approach to sharing the Gospel.
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Recap
Bereans: They heard Paul preach the word, and they eagerly responded to the message. They studied Paul’s claims in Scripture and found them to be true.
We learned the importance of studying the Scriptures for ourselves, we can’t be tossed about here and there by every wind of doctrine.
Well, things didn’t end off well, the Jews from Thessalonica followed them to Berea and started another mob. So Paul is sent away on a solo mission to Athens, which is not ideal, but it’s got to do until Timothy and Silas reach him.
Vs. 16-21
Vs. 16-21
Paul in Athens: Lots of time on his hands, walks around the city, observes things…
In vs. 16 it says that something provoked his spirit (made him deeply distressed), what provoked him? (The idolatry in Athens)
History: Athens was a hugely important city in its day. Their prime was 400-500 years before, but it was still important…
- Philosophers like Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, etc.
- Athens shaped the Western world. So, this city was no joke…
- Talented artists —> Mainly working in stonework
Q: Can you guess what most of them made? (Idols, and lots of them!)
The idols were so plenteous that people commonly said it was easier to find a god in Athens than a person. So it’s no surprise that vs. 16 says it was given over to idols, Athens was littered with them!
Now, Paul was provoked in the heart… What emotions do you think he had at the moment? (Sadness, pity, righteous indignation)
Downtown rallies w/Scary banners & megaphones…
Some people think the best thing to do with their anger is to vent it out on people, “You shouldn’t be living this way!” Their concern is good, but the delivery is bad.
We need to be speaking the truth in love, there’s a balance!
Does Paul vent out his anger in vs. 17? What does he do in response to his anger? (Reasons with the people, he chatted with them, shared the gospel)
17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.
Where did he reason with the people? (Synagogue & marketplace)
Synagogue: Formal, religious setting. Kind of like church…
Marketplace:
Who would you find here? (Anyone and everyone!)
Slaves
Philosophers
Government officials
business people
Vendors
Paul was VERSATILE, he could preach anywhere to anyone. Remember that fact, it’ll come back later.
That preaching gets the attention of people, who approached Paul in vs. 18? (Epicureans & Stoics)
Everyone has a general idea of stoics, but have any of you heard of an epicurean? (These two groups are polar opposites)
Epicureans:
- Materialists. They think the body = evil, soul = good. So, what matters is the soul…
Q: If only the soul matters, does it matter what I do with my body? (No! So, I’m going to enjoy whatever pleasure I want!)
“YOLO”
“If it feels good, do it!”
Ill: We use the word “Epicure” today for something that feels/tastes good, this is where the word came from!
- Epicure food mix
The Stoics on the other hand, were total opposites to them…
Stoics:
- God is a part of everything, you could find God everywhere.
- Tables, trees, people, dogs, acorns = God. The thought is, God lives in everything
Ill: The force (Star wars). The force flows through every life source.
- The better people were the ones who realised their connection with the “universe”. They were pretty strict and serious.
So, they’re listening to Paul’s preaching…
What do they ask at the end of vs. 18? (What does this babbler want to say)
Can anyone who knows or has a study bible tell me what it means to be a “babbler”? (Seed picker)
Ill: Imagine…
- Farmer heads to the town market for some seeds to plant…
- He’s pretty poor, so he’s looking for anything on clearance…
- Finds a few seeds of this kind, a few of that kind, and a few from another…
- Heads back to the farm with a bunch of mixed seeds…
- Instead of taking time to sort them out by kind, he just chucks them in the field.
Q: What’s going to happen when they all grow up? (It’ll be all mixed. You’ll have no idea which is which)
The Philosophers are saying that Paul is like this farmer. Instead of gathering seeds, he’s gathering ideas from a variety of religions and philosophies. And what he’s presenting is a mixed up, unorganized religion.
“You preach about good morals, then you preach about a Creator, you preach about Jesus and a resurrection. And we’re mixed up!”
They’re not saying he’s doing a bad job here, they’re saying, “I have no idea what your train of thought is!”
So they tell him, we’re going to hear you out in a little more depth than this.”
Where do they take Paul in vs. 19? (Areopagus)
Ill: Caelan @Areopagus
- The Areopagus was where you’d share new philosophies, talk politics and make decisions for the city…
- Greek supreme court is called the Areopagus today
Verse 21 is hilarious…
21 For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
Paul has a GREAT gospel opportunity ahead of him
Vs. 22-25
Vs. 22-25
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;
What is Paul’s observation of the people of Athens? (You’re very religious [or pious])
The KJV makes it sound like an accusation, “you are too superstitious”, but that’s probably not what he said.
Would any of you recommend starting a sermon accusing the people you’re preaching to? (“Open up your Bibles to Genesis 1:1… Oh and by the way… YOU GUYS ARE IDIOTS!”)
Not how I’d want to start a message! Paul just tells them what he had seen during his stay in Athens so far…
23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:
What was he doing as he was passing through the city? (Considering)
He not only saw things and enjoy them, “Oh that’s so pretty.” But he considered what he saw, he thought about what he was seeing and tucked it into his pockets…
Why might that be significant? (He used what was in front of him, he rolled with the punches!)
So he notices this altar dedicated to “THE UNKNOWN GOD”,
How does he use this in his speech? (“I saw you have this idol, well I’m here to tell you about the God you’re seeking.”)
Try to notice things around you, and use them for Gospel witness…
- Jewelry
- Books
- Music
- Tattoos
- Clothing
Again, Paul rolled with the punches, he was VERSATILE.
So, verse 24, Paul gets into the meat of the message…
24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
What truth is he trying to get into the minds of these Greeks? (God is creator! He is distinct from creation)
So is he like the stoics say (God is in everything)? (No, God is seperate and powerful, He made you)
Paul just brought them to square one, God is the creator of all things, which includes you.
Would this have been news to a crowd of Jews? (No, they’d say “Thanks captain obvious”)
But who is he talking to here? (Greeks)
Do they know these things about the Bible? (No)
So, instead of going straight to Jesus, Paul starts with Genesis 1:1; God made you.
Think of your unsaved friends at school, do they have an understanding of biblical things?
So, why might it be important to talk about Genesis 1:1 first? (Because they don’t even know the basics)
Talks about God as creator and Lord
Idolatry is wrong
Vs. 26-31
Vs. 26-31
26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
He says that from one blood every nation come to dwell on earth, do any of you have a different word than “blood”? (Bloodline, lineage)
Everyone comes from Adam, we’re on level ground..
Athenian superiority mindset…
We all come from the same man, and God controls the beginning and end of all nations
Vs. 27, God can be found, you can find Him
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.
God made us and we’re like Him, so it makes no sense that God would be an idol, He’s not like that…
Who does Paul quote at the end of vs. 28? (One of their philosophers)
Notice how Paul doesn’t even quote Scripture once?
I think this is a genius tactic, he quotes their philosophers instead. Why is this a good strategy? (He’s speaking in their lingo, in a way they can understand)
Does Paul water down the gospel? (No, but he explains it in a way that they can understand)
You know what that is? (Versatility!!!!!)
Speaking Christianese to our friend who’s never been to church…
“You’re a sinner fallen short of the glory of God, the only way you can be saved from condemnation in the lake of fire is through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works. Call upon the Lord and invite Him in your heart and you will be saved.
Put yourself in the shoes of a biblically illiterate person, did you get a word of what I just said? (No way!)
Does that mean we don’t talk about these things? (Absolutely not, we take the time to explain what these terms mean, and we speak in ways they’ll get it)
Paul does this!
Ill: Paul = Shohei Ohtani
Vs. 30 - God is patient and merciful
Vs. 31 - But God will return and judge us one day, we know that because of the resurrection of Jesus.
Vs. 32-34
Vs. 32-34
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.”
33 So Paul departed from among them.
34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Does everyone listen to the message? (Not always, some reject. But some receive it)
So is it worth it? (Always)
Application
Application
When sharing the gospel, know your audience…
BE VERSATILE!
