How to Present the Gospel to Materialists and Philosophers - Acts 17:16-34
Illustration:A recent survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them:
1. Materialism.
2. Pride.
3. Self-centeredness.
4. Laziness.
5. (Tie) Anger/Bitterness.
5. (Tie) Sexual lust.
7. Envy.
8. Gluttony.
9. Lying.
Survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when they had neglected their time with God (81 percent) and when they were physically tired (57 percent). Resisting temptation was accomplished by prayer (84 percent), avoiding compromising situations (76 percent), Bible study (66 percent), and being accountable to someone (52 percent).
Discipleship Journal, November / December 1992.
Illustrations:
One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I’ll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can’t see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that’s all that matters."
Here is a similar illustration:
During the terrible days of the Blitz, a father, holding his small son by the hand, ran from a building that had been struck by a bomb. In the front yard was a shell hole. Seeking shelter as quickly as possible, the father jumped into the hole and held up his arms for his son to follow. Terrified, yet hearing his father’s voice telling him to jump, the boy replied, "I can’t see you!"
The father, looking up against the sky tinted red by the burning buildings, called to the silhouette of his son, "But I can see you. Jump!" The boy jumped, because he trusted his father. The Christian faith enables us to face life or meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we are seen; not that we know all the answers, but that we are known.
Donner Atwood.
The following letter was found in a baking-power can wired to the handle of an old pump that offered the only hope of drinking water on a very long and seldom-used trail across Nevada’s Amargosa Desert: "This pump is all right as of June 1932. I put a new sucker washer into it and it ought to last five years. But the washer dries out and the pump has got to be primed. Under the white rock I buried a bottle of water, out of the sun and cork end up. There’s enough water in it to prime the pump, but not if you drink some first. Pour about one-fourth and let her soak to wet the leather. Then pour in the rest medium fast and pump like crazy. You’ll git water. The well has never run dry. Have faith. When you git watered up, fill the bottle and put it back like you found it for the next feller. (signed) Desert Pete. P.S. Don’t go drinking the water first. Prime the pump with it and you’ll git all you can hold."
1. Paul noticed that worship of the true God was neglected in Athens as he noticed the large number of shrines, temples and altars to idols. We should be disturbed and moved to action when we see how people set up false images in societies around the world. (vs. 16) Paul’s introductory tone is conciliatory (vs 22) as it is important to gain respect, rapport and credibility with one’s audience. Paul’s exposition was concise (24-28) and his application was cogent (29-31)
Illustration: Keith Miller and Bruce Larson, The Edge of Adventure.
The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.
John Emmons.
The true, living faith, which the Holy Spirit instills into the heart, simply cannot be idle.
Martin Luther.
God does not expect us to submit our faith to him without reason, but the very limits of our reason make faith a necessity.
Augustine.
The more we know of God, the more unreservedly we will trust him; the greater our progress in theology, the simpler and more childlike will be our faith.
J. G. Machen.
Faith is not a distant view but a warm embrace of Christ.
John Calvin.
2. Paul used tact as he approached the Athenians with considerateness while awakening their interest without arousing prejudice. (vs 22). He was fair in recognizing the hearer’s position, finding common starting points. (vs 23) He was truthful in stating positively as well as negatively of the God’s essential attributes. (24,25) He spoke of God’s fatherhood as attractive in uplifting the power of the Gospel. (26,27) He spoke to the inner consciousness of people devoting secular wisdom to sacred use. (28,29) He reminded them that ignorance is not only wrong but sin while declaring God’s full revelation. (30,31) He trusted God to use His ministry refusing to be discouraged when his efforts did not show outstanding success and leaving all results to God. (vs 32-34)
Quotes: Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.
George Muller.
Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is to see what we believe.
Augustine.
3. Paul felt distressed and his spirit was stirred in him. Allow yourself to be moved by the Spirit of God as you contemplate the horror of those going to hell without Christ! Let us learn to hate what is evil and cling to what is good. (Rom. 12:9-21)
4. Paul began his ministry in a local synagogue to the Jews and the God fearing Greeks. It is a good idea to begin to sow your seeds in the fields that are ripe for harvesting. Paul also shared the gospel in the marketplace where teachers often used the open air to teach their students.
Philosophers of two opposing schools: Epicureans (materialists) who taught pleasure as the main purpose of life and regarded gods as living in calm happiness far removed from earthly things.
Paul preached Christ crucified, who brings God near to bless us. Paul knew that people are sinners and they need a Savior above all. Do not preach Christ merely as a good teacher or a moral exmaple. Paul preached to the Stoics (pantheists) who taught the practice of virtue for its own sake, fatalism and sheer discipline for endurance’s sake.
Paul preached Jesus who sets up to the highest levels of duty, strength and furnishes with motives to endure any trial as He did. They called Paul a babbler or one who pretends to have wisdom he does not possess, but a capable speaker.
Let us not mind criticism as most of it is wrong.
5. Paul adapted his message and address to the felt, perceived and real spiritual needs of the Athenians.
He showed how people had a vague notion of God but without true knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ. They feared God – you are very religious, they worshipped, and yet they were ignorant since they had erected a monument to an unknown god. (Story of Euripides in 600 BC)
6. Paul presented God as the creator, the ruler and the life giver of all. (vs 24,25) By pointing them to the true worship of God he taught them that it required the Spirit of God and truth. (vs 23-25) Ignorant worship is both unnecessary but inexcusable in the light of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
All people, regardless of their backgrounds, need Christ by God’s determination. Individuals and people groups need to seek God and find Him since we are all His creation, not His spiritual children. (vs 27,28)
7. Paul presents the gospel in relation to the past (vs 29,30) as he highlights human ignorance and divine mercy of God to overlook had overlooked for a time this ignorance (14:160 and the sins of the past (Rom. 3:25) awaiting opportunity of revelation in Christ. Now universal repentance is called for and all reasons for ignorance are removed in Christ.
In the future God has set a day when everyone will be judged.
Quote: A. B. Simpson has said, “Paul’s message of Acts 17 deserves to be written in letters of gold… The whole address could be repeated in five or six minutes, and yet it outweighs whole volumes of philosophy, theology and diluted homiletics.” (W.H. Griffith – Outline Studies in Acts, p. 348)
8. Luke shows us how God’s offer is received by some but ridiculed or procrastinated upon by others. We should remember that there will always be some unfavorable, some neutral and some favorable toward the gospel. (vs 32-34)
9. Those who accepted Paul’s message took it seriously and clung to its truth.
Do not always expect a positive response as the word of God never returns without having its intended effect.
Quote: "We are just called to present the facts and leave the results to the ministry of the Holy Spirit."
(Bill Bright – Founder of Campus Crusade for Christ).
Dionysus, an important judge and Damaris, a very reputable woman came to faith in Christ that day in Athens.
Paul did not return to Athens after this since he generally disregarded people who were largely indifferent to the gospel.
Notes from W. H. Griffith Outline Studies in Acts. P. 348-350. Zondervan.
Conclusion:Faith honors God and God honors faith! A story from the life of missionaries Robert and Mary Moffat illustrates this truth. For 10 years this couple labored faithfully in Bechuanaland (now called Botswana) without one ray of encouragement to brighten their way. They could not report a single convert. Finally the directors of their mission board began to question the wisdom of continuing the work. The thought of leaving their post, however, brought great grief to this devoted couple, for they felt sure that God was in their labors, and that they would see people turn to Christ in due season. They stayed; and for a year or two longer, darkness reigned. Then one day a friend in England sent word to the Moffats that she wanted to mail them a gift and asked what they would like.
Trusting that in time the Lord would bless their work, Mrs. Moffat replied, "Send us a communion set; I am sure it will soon be needed." God honored that dear woman’s faith. The Holy Spirit moved upon the hearts of the villagers, and soon a little group of six converts was united to form the first Christian church in that land. The communion set from England was delayed in the mail; but on the very day before the first commemoration of the Lord’s super in Bechuanaland, the set arrived.
Unknown.
