Acts 17

Intro

an interesting thought presented that you might not have had

religion is not exclusive to those who worship a god

nor is it to those who worship a god like ours

faith is a concept that reaches farther than Christianity in a way

Thessalonica and Berea

somewhat more of the same- going to new cities and preaching first in the synagogues and then to the gentiles as well

why? because the Jews believe in God already

they might want to hear that the savior they have been waiting for has come

the mob forms and comes for them

they again just as before and for the same reasons

they go to Berea and we get the great example of the Bereans

what scripture were they examining?

Paul goes to Athens alone and waits for the other two

Athens

he goes to the synagogue again

philosophers and thinkers hear him and are interested enough to invite him to the Areopagus

this is how they passed the time and what the religion of many then and now consisted of

they were very religious- their lives were devoted in some way or another and they had faith even in what they did not know

Paul says he is certain of his God

YHWH is not far from any of us and he is not in any image that man makes

Paul preached to them the gospel and even some of these believed

Application

you claim to be religious and have faith

according to Paul this is not special nor does it even make you a Christian

what is your faith in and what is your religion working toward?

if it is not for the resurrection Paul mentioned then it is no better than the Athenians who simply meet to talk about philosophy and images of gold