The One True God - Acts 17:22-34
By David Woods
Sometimes evangelists get carried away a little.
A pastor of a church was looking forward to holidays in his cabin in Northern Ontario. A friend of his was an Evangelist. The two decided to have holidays together up in this cabin.
The pastor started reading the books that he wanted to, and was enjoying himself reading and the evangelist started pacing the floor. After about 15 minutes, he announced that he was going out. He took his hat and coat and left.
About half an hour later, the pastor heard a loud crashing and yelling in the bush. He went to the window to see the evangelist running towards the cabin with a bear in hot pursuit. The evangelist was yelling "OPEN THE DOOR!"
The pastor opened the door to let the evangelist in, but keep the bear out. At the last minute, the evangelist sidestepped the door and the bear ran in. The evangelist shouted in the window "This is great! You take care of that one, and I will go get some more!"
I think Paul was probably a little like this evangelist. Paul’s trip to Athens really was an unplanned visit. The believers had escorted Paul there from Berea because of the harassment of the Thessalonian Jews who had followed him to Berea.
Even though he had not planned to go to Athens and would not be there for long, Paul could not keep quiet. He had to share the Gospel.
How different is this from many Christians today! Today, too many Christians have never shared the Gospel with anyone, despite being in the faith for many years.
Discussion: What are some reasons why Christians are afraid of sharing the Gospel with others?
Discussion: Why do you think Paul was so bothered by the overwhelming idol worship in Athens?
Discussion: Why did Paul share the Gospel in the synagogue, marketplace and Mars’ Hill?
In verse eighteen, some of the people called Paul a “babbler.” The Greek word literally is “seed-picker.” This was insult was for those who picked up odds and ends of information - often useless information - and then shared it with others. The idea seems to be that such people were idle gossipers.
In short, Paul was being called hurtful names. We are familiar with the ditty: “Sticks and stone may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Yet we know this is often very untrue. Harsh words can really hurt.
Discussion: Why do you think Paul refused to let insults stop him from sharing the Gospel?
In The Unchurched Next Door, Thom Rainer shares the results of extensive research he and a team underwent on the attitudes and beliefs of unchurched people in the United States. From the results they developed the Rainer scale.
U5 was the group of people most resistant to God and the church. It may surprise many, but U5 only comprised 5% of the survey respondents, or according to Rainer’s estimations, only 8 million Americans. One of the most defining characteristics of U5s, however, was degree of education.
“More than 39 percent of the U5s had a master’s or doctoral degree, compared to 14 percent of the total unchurched population. And over one-fourth of the U5s had a doctoral degree, compared to only 4 percent of all the unchurched.”
It probably would be difficult to establish a clear parallel between the Rainer Scale and the receptivity of the Athenians. However, it is obvious that a number of people with whom Paul conversed during this brief visit were the intellectuals of that day.
Discussion: Why do you think Paul spent the effort to share the Gospel with a group of people that, at least stereotypically, are usually the most resistant to the Gospel?
Paul’s sermon at Mars’ Hill is a masterpiece of relating to an audience while preaching the uncompromising Word of God. Paul addressed these philosophers as “too superstitious.”
This could also be translated “very religious.” It could be seen as an insult or a compliment, but no doubt got his hearers’ undivided attention.
Paul then used something very important to the Athenians - their altar to the unknown god - to establish common ground with them and teach them about the one true God.
Unashamedly, Paul preached that there is one true God who was not created by man’s imagination, but is far superior to man’s greatest intellect. Paul even used a quote of one of their poets to support his Biblical teaching.
The thrust behind Paul’s message, however, was that there would be a judgment day soon. This, Paul said, is proved by the fact that Christ was raised from the dead.
I believe the thrust of this message explains why Paul so passionately shared the Gospel at this unplanned and short visit to Athens. Paul was so consumed by the knowledge that God’s judgment is coming soon that he could not sit around watching as the world went to Hell.
Big Idea: The coming judgment should impassion us to share the Gospel.
Discussion: Are we as bothered as Paul was by the uninformed seeking after God in our community?
Discussion: What are our synagogue, marketplace and Mars’ Hill?
(Teacher: You might use Google to print copies a map of the immediate neighborhood of your church facility or a map of your town/city. You could then give these copies to your students and ask them to 1) pray for their community, 2) consider the needs of their community.
Another suggestion: Recently, I did a study of my community on several factors to try to understand more of the needs of my community. You can find an edited version of the questions I asked at the end of this lesson. You may wish to modify the questions you ask concerning your community. Then, you might try to find the answers to these questions yourself and give a report to your class or commission your students to find the answers and report back the next week. Finally, with the results, you and the class could consider what needs or opportunities in your community this study reveals.)
Discussion: How much are you willing to be ridiculed and/or harassed before you stop sharing the Gospel with others? Does your life give testimony that you do share the Gospel this passionately?
Hudson Taylor told of a Chinese pastor who always instructed new converts to witness as soon as possible. Once, upon meeting a young convert, the pastor inquired, "Brother, how long have you been saved?" The man answered that he had been saved for about three months.
"And how many have you won to the Savior?"
"Oh, I'm only a learner," the convert responded.
Shaking his head in disapproval, the pastor said, "Young man, the Lord doesn't expect you to be a full-fledged preacher, but he does expect you to be a faithful witness. Tell me, when does a candle begin to shine - when it's already half burned up?"
"No, as soon as it's lit," came the reply.
"That's right, so let your light shine right away."
Reflection: How long have you been saved? And how many have you won to the Savior?
Scanning Cultural Trends
Political
- What is the most common concern printed in the local newspaper’s editorial section?
- What were the top five issues that local politicians ran on in the last election?
- What are the most popular issues on local talk shows?
Relational
- What are the top five favorite TV shows?
- What are five most listened to radio stations in this area?
- What are the five popular leisure activities in this area?
- Are crime rates going up or down?
Spiritual
- How many other churches exist within a one-mile radius of our worship facility?
- What percentage of the people in this community go to church on a regular basis?
Economical
- What history does this community have concerning 1) racial relations, 2) labor relations, 3) moral issues?
- Is the jobless rate increasing or decreasing in this community?
- What is the major industry of this area?
- Do high school students see this community as a good place to live or is the dominant perception that you must escape in order to make something of your life?
Ethnical
- What are the percentages of Caucasians, Hispanics, Blacks, Orientals, etc. in this area?
- Have the percentages of population changed dramatically in the last two years?