OPEN

As you open up tonight, Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘Don’t impose your beliefs on someone?’ What does that mean to you?

What jumped out at you from the message this week? What led you to really think or even better, to change your actions?

INTRODUCTION

What jumped out at you from the video in this session? What are some ways that we might use this to live on mission with Christ?

READ
READ Ephesians 2:18-22
22So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

How did Paul use the culture around him to make a bridge into the gospel message?

Why was this important?

What are some bridges in your culture to the gospel?

What inscription found on an altar did Paul use to begin his sermon

How is Paul’s sermon unlike the one to Jews in 11:16- 41?

DIVE DEEPER

What happened to Paul when he saw the culture around him in Athens? How did he respond?

When have you experienced a similar feeling?

How does the idol “To an Unknown God” in Athens reflect man’s search for meaning?

The danger of accommodating the gospel to an audience is that, if you aren’t careful, you can compromise on some of the truths of the gospel message. Do you think Paul maintains a good balance?

BIG IDEA
When Paul saw the city of Athens was full of idols, his spirit was provoked within him. The glory of God being mocked by the city of idols was more than Paul could take. His zeal for the glory of God would not allow him to be silent. Paul went from synagogues to the market place to talk to people and tell others about the glory of God. So strange was the gospel message to a few of the philosophers that they asked Paul to come explain his strange beliefs at the Areopagus. When our culture dishonors the glory of God, our zeal for God compels us to act.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Which part of the gospel do you have the most difficulty talking about or explaining?

How could you better prepare yourself to proclaim this part of God’s message?

What are the movies, sitcoms, beliefs or issues. already in people’s consciousness that can be a bridge to talking about Jesus?