November 6, 2022 - Sermon Notes & Questions
November 4, 2022

Gender & Sexuality Part 7:

How We Should Then Live With Unbelievers

Acts 17:16-34

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
Paul Addresses the Areopagus

22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For 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. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,[a] 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And 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, 27 that 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, 28 for

“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

as even some of your own poets have said,

“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Paul’s Sermon:
1. He compliments them for being very religious. (Acts 17:22)

  1. He finds a connection point to begin the conversation. (Acts 17:23)

  2. He presents basic truths about the nature of God starting with their own beliefs. (Acts 17:24-29)

  3. He turns from telling them general truth to telling them what they’re supposed to do about it. (Acts 17:30-31)

  4. Some mocked, and some believed. (Acts 17:32-34)

5 Patterns of Approach:
1. Firing the truth gun and walking away. (Col. 4:6, 1 Peter 3:15)

  1. “Letting them know where I stand.”

  2. Trying to change their mind on this one issue.

  3. Affirming sin as good. (2 Tim. 4:1-4)

  4. Loving them unconditionally while praying for wisdom in leading them to Christ. (Titus 3:4-7)

Discussion Questions

  1. When approaching people with the truth of the gospel, how is one to go about it according to Col. 4:6? Does 1 Peter 3:15 back up this approach?
  2. Read Paul’s sermon in Acts 17:16-34. Notice his pattern of approach to his listeners. At what point (verses) does Paul go from telling them the general truth to telling them what to do about it?
  3. How does Tim. 4:1-4 address the fact that some will mock the gospel? How does this scripture relate to Paul’s sermon in Acts, with regard to man setting his own rules and making his own idols?
  4. Loving others means all Christ followers should share the truth of the gospel with prayer and wisdom, but in Titus 3:4-7, directives are given specifically to leaders in the church. Read and discuss these directives.
  5. What challenges to reaching others with the truth of Christ, in today’s world, do Christians have? Are they similar to what Paul spoke of in Acts 17? In what ways?