In Acts 17:16-34 we see how Paul noticed the people around him, what there customs were regarding idolatry and was "deeply troubled" by what he saw. He went to places of worship to reason with people there as well as the public square. He debated with them philosophically about Jesus and his resurrection - they didn't get what he was saying but they welcomed him and wanted to know what it was all about. Paul had a big impact on those around him because he went out of his way to connect rather than critizes. Let's pick up the story in verse 22.
Here we see Paul standing before a council, having a fantastic opportunity to tell them about Jesus but before he does he says, "Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way." He then points out example of why he came to that conclusion - he saw many shrines, and even one altar had an inscription on it: "To an Unknown God" - He says, "This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I'm telling you about."
Wowza! What a connection, a way of relating to someone - caring about them and where they are. This is our model to follow when sharing God's message of salvation, redemption, forgiveness of sins, eternal life and fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. Let's see how Paul tells them about the God they haven't known.
"He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.
“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.
“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” - Acts 17:24-31 NLT
The result of hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the connection context results in people wanting to hear more and still others join in and become believers, so don't be discouraged when people laugh because God's word will never return void (Isaiah 55:11).
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Here we see Paul standing before a council, having a fantastic opportunity to tell them about Jesus but before he does he says, "Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way." He then points out example of why he came to that conclusion - he saw many shrines, and even one altar had an inscription on it: "To an Unknown God" - He says, "This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I'm telling you about."
Wowza! What a connection, a way of relating to someone - caring about them and where they are. This is our model to follow when sharing God's message of salvation, redemption, forgiveness of sins, eternal life and fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. Let's see how Paul tells them about the God they haven't known.
"He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.
“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.
“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” - Acts 17:24-31 NLT
The result of hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the connection context results in people wanting to hear more and still others join in and become believers, so don't be discouraged when people laugh because God's word will never return void (Isaiah 55:11).
The 30 Most Common Reasons People Might Criticize You
What to Do when Relatives Criticize Your Parenting
