GO...and Keep on Going!

Acts 17:32–34 CSB

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.” So Paul left their presence. However, some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

INTRO—

The great band of theologians—Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, and Pete Townshend [The Who]—asked this significant question:

WHO ARE YOU? WHO, WHO, WHO, WHO?

Peter, the Apostle, answers this question wonderfully:

1 Peter 2.9-12 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.”

In line with Peter’s answer, and with a focus toward evangelism, the next principle from the book, Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, states:

PRINCIPLE 5: God has sovereignly placed you in this world at this time with the abilities and gifts you have to bring glory to him and show the joy of the Gospel to others.

Believing this to be true of all of us, I want to share with you today some encouragement…so the as we GO…with Good News, with Power, with Conversation…we can Keep on Going!

Pay Attention to the Lights (Acts 17.32-34)

Remember...

Acts 17.16-17 “While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed when he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.”

Acts 17.22-31…[The message shared, etc.]

Acts 17.22-23 “Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “People of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.”

Acts 17.30-31 ““Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.””

Think about…the context (culture background; Acts 17.21)…the spark (Acts 17.17)…the initial responses (Acts 17.18-20)—& YET:

PRINCIPLE 6: Expect people to be open to the Gospel, and learn to share Jesus where they live.

Acts 17.32-34 “When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.” So Paul left their presence. However, some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.”

The Gospel Traffic Lights:

RED LIGHT [Acts 17.32b]— “ridicule” (scoff, jeer, mock, scorn)…this crew might’ve been the majority in that moment, hence Paul’s actions (Acts 17.33)

Our Response: Leave Acts 17.33 (…while leaving the door open)

YELLOW LIGHT [Acts 17.32c]— “hear from you again”…no reason to think not genuine

Our Response: Be ready (1 Peter 3.15 “but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”)…if God is long-suffering toward us, we should be with others outside the faith.

GREEN LIGHT [Acts 17.34]— “joined him and believed” (attached, glued to, joined, united with; not necessarily went with him on his further journey)…two by name (Dionysius & Damaris; fittingly a man and a woman)

Our Response: Celebrate…growing fellowship…mutual discipleship. (ALL the ‘one anothers’ of Scripture fit here)

[[Paul utilized this approach at the start of his time in Athens…]]

CONCL—

A man called by Christ, and re-commissioned (restored) by Christ [John 21]...

Acts 2.40-41 “With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.”

For us, too...

PRINCIPLE 7: Developing a lifestyle of sharing Jesus consistently flows out of a plan to share Jesus regularly.

Acts 4.19-20 “Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.””

Acts 2:40–41 CSB

With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.