The Gospel Travels
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Introduction
The gospel changes lives wherever it goes and on Paul’s 2nd Missionary journey we see even more evidence of this; and More resistance to the Mission
Quick update on Paul’s travels since chapter 13:
- In Acts 9:16 Jesus told Ananias Paul would “suffer for my name”, and he does
Paul and his team did not encounter trouble everywhere they traveled, but when they did……rough.
- Many, many people accepted Christ as the Messiah. Churches were established and almost every village or city they went to.
- There was suffering on the 1st missionary journey and it gets worse on the 2nd.
- Stoned in in Lystra on the 1st J, yet returns on the 2nd without. Incident.
- In Philippi in Macedonia, Paul and Silas end up in prison for healing a woman—unfortunately her owners didn’t want her “healed” as they were making money on her ability to see things unknown.
- So they are beaten with rods, and put in jail; and the miraculous occurs—an earthquake cause the chains to release and the prison doors to open leading to the jailer and his family to become believers
- There was good success in the next city until the trouble making Jews showed up
- Silas and Timothy decided Paul needed a break and sent him to Athen
As he wandered the streets, waiting for Timothy and Silas to join him, he was “deeply troubled” by what he saw.
- 30,000 statues, 10,000 people.
- The gospel changes lives wherever it goes—
o "what am I supposed to do with this mess?”
Teaser
- Wonder what the ratio of people to idols is today?
- Ever wonder what idols people worship today?
Scripture: Let’s read Acts 17:16-34 (NLT): Paul in Athens
Lesson
Our reading today teaches us that we can proclaim the gospel even in a world filled with idols and competing philosophies.
I. Reaching People Where They Are (17:16-23)
Athens was still renowned for its politics, culture, polytheistic religion, and philosophy—it was the home of Socrates and Plato in the 4th century BCE. As Paul walked around the city, “his spirit was deeply troubled when he saw that the city was full of idols.”
- 10,000 residents and 30,000 public statues (Jack O Davis)
- JW, “….this city was a seminary of philosophers, who have ever been the pest of true religion.”
- Socrates had similar beliefs and was put to death for keeping them to himself; it’s quite likely the “Unknown God” statue was placed on his behalf.
Paul interacted with multiple groups of people in Athens.
First, with Jews and Gentiles in the synagogue.
People in the marketplace.
Third, Luke tells us in verse 18, “Some of the Epicurean (atheist, pleasure) and Stoic (believed in all God’s and emphasized discipline) philosophers also conversed with him.”
Paul came with a message about eternal life!
Let’s remember the editorial note that Luke made about the Athenians spending almost all their time talking about new ideas and Paul happens to have one.
They took him to a public forum (BEFORE THE COUNCIL) where speakers could present their ideas and philosophies.
- They said to Paul, “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. 20 “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” (vv. 19-20).
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o JW: Some new thing - The Greek word signifies some newer thing. New things quickly grew cheap, and they wanted those that were newer still.
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o Cell phones….?
What an invitation for Paul—he lived for opportunities like this!
- Notice what Paul said to them, “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’
- This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.”
Paul did not begin in Genesis, he began his message with something that the Athenian’s had built to point them to the true God.
The point here is: to reach people where they are and point them to someone more significant than who they are and who they are worshiping, we have to meet them where they are and relate to them in some way (show them how much we care)!
II. We Must Declare the Greatness of God (17:24-29)
Second, we must declare the greatness of God.
Paul shared three fundamental truths about the greatness of God.
- First, God is the creator of the universe.
- Second, God is the sustainer of life.
- Third, God is the ruler of every nation.
o Paul also stressed that God “is not far from any one of us.” (v. 27).
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o God is not a distant deity like many of them worshipped,
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o nor can He be held in your hand or be confined to a shelf.
Then, Paul, brilliantly quoted from the poet Aratus, “For we are indeed his offspring” (v. 28b).
Paul was affirming that all people were created by God.
Paul concluded that God made us in his image, as he said in verse 29, “And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.”
God created man in his own image. And man, being a gentleman, returned the favor.” — Quote by Henri Rousseau.
- When sharing the gospel with unbelievers, we must correct their understanding of God, particularly the person of Jesus.
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- We don’t have to have a degree in theology, just our witness of what God and Jesus did for us and how we understand his love.
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- WE HAVE AN ACE IN THE HOLE SO TO SPEAK: John 14:21, “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me, and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
III. The Call to Repentance (17:30-31)
Third, we must invite unbelievers, and ourselves, to repentance.
- They have no idea how badly they need it—we do and we can lead them to it
- Remember how good it felt your first time—I know you want others to experience it
Paul said in verse 30, “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.”
JW: “He did not appear to take notice of them, by sending express messages to them as he did to the Jews. But now - This day, this hour, saith Paul, puts an end to the Divine forbearance, and brings either greater mercy or punishment. Now he commandeth all men every where to repent….”
By the way, notice that God does not invite people to repent.
- No. God commands all people everywhere to repent—Why is that?
BECAUSE HE WANTS ALL OF US IN HEAVEN WITH HIM AND REPENTANCE IS MANDATORY FOR FORGIVENESS—
- AND BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO REFUSE TO BELIEVE
BE FAITHFUL IN YOUR EFFORTS, GOD WILL REWARD us WITH A YES
IV. We Must Expect Mixed Reactions (17:32-34)
There were three reactions to Paul’s speech at the Areopagus.
First, some mocked—verse 32a, “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked.”
Second, some delayed.
Third, some believed—YAY GOD!!!
The Gospel has Traveled
Conclusion—Coming to ACCEPT the Unknown God
- Wonder what the ratio of people to idols is today?
o 1:MANY
- Ever wonder what idols people worship today?
o Modern-Day Idols Identified by Pastors According to a Lifeway Research study:
o 67% of U.S. Protestant pastors say comfort is a major idol.
o 56% cite control or security.
o 55% mention money.
o 51% point to approval.
o Others include success (49%), social influence (46%), political power (39%), and romantic love or sex (32%).
o 📊 Implication If each person is susceptible to multiple idols—often simultaneously—the spiritual landscape is saturated. These idols aren’t carved statues but internal allegiances: desires, fears, and aspirations that subtly displace trust in God.
o 💡 Theological Reflection Paul’s speech (to the council) (Acts 17) confronted a culture full of idols, yet his message remains strikingly relevant.
? Today’s idols are more psychological and cultural than physical, but they still shape behavior, values, and worship.
? Many of these ‘gods’ are lived out on the internet
A time of testing comes for all of us:
- When there's a crisis, a crisis of faith, someone close to them has been in an accident and on their deathbed--how do those idols stand up
- when these persons stand on the brink of eternity, how will their money, popularity, or success satisfy them
- How will their idol help them in the life to come?
- how is there comfort or control or money or sex or approval or social status going to stand up when they're standing before Christ?
- These idols will not and we know it
- BUT WE KNOW THE ONE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON
- THEY WANT TO KNOW HIM TOO
Paul had a hungry audience, we do too and God is unknown 2 our folks just like his were.
- Think about how many people that are coming to church or afraid of not going to heaven.
- The Gospel can only change lives if IT TRAVELS
- So what about those people out there that ARE not going to church; they know that there is a God and they don’t think they add up. And they are really, really hopeful that somehow, someway they are going to avoid going to hell.
o WE HAVE THE ANSWER!!!
Let me encourage you to share the gospel ACCORDING TO YOU with someone IN THE coming weeks; WRITE A NAME OR 2 DOWN, PRAY FOR THEM, GOD WILL OPEN THE DOOR FOR THE CONVERSATION
We are The ONLY hands, feet, eyes God has on earth—we, the Body of Christ @ ________________ UMC.
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The consequence for unbelievers is too grave to do anything other than SHARE this incredible gift we have been given!
