2022_03_25 Insight Post- Emma Keeton

This week we follow Paul as he makes more stops on his second missionary journey. Paul travels to Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth and Syria and in each place Paul sticks to his usual pattern; turn up in a new city, preach to the Jews at the synagogue first and then to the Gentiles. But this week, we find Paul sharing the gospel with a different audience. A group of Greek philosophers at Mars Hill, the highest court in the land.

When Paul arrives in Athens, Acts 17:16 says, “he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” As a result, Paul preaches in the synagogue and marketplace for days. While speaking, he is overheard by a group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. These people loved hearing any new idea but thought that much of what Paul said was nonsense. Paul would not be able to reason with them through the scriptures, so he tailors his delivery of the gospel to what they knew. Resourceful Paul points out an altar that’s TO AN UNKNOWN GOD and suggests that he knows who that God is, it’s Jesus. Paul proclaims, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of Heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands” Paul’s message was not well received by everyone. Acts tells us some philosophers sneered at the gospel, some wanted to hear more while others believed and became followers. At least one of those new believers was a member of the Greek government. It was worth any rejection for Paul that some may be saved. He was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When we became believers, we were delivered from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. There are so many around us who are still in darkness, just as we were. They do not know the love of God and we can’t expect them to behave as a Christian would. They will likely have opposing lifestyle choices to us. It feels nice to build our Christian lives around other believers, but as in Acts today, we can share God’s love with people that make us a little uncomfortable. I am again challenged this week to step out of my Christian bubble. Ask God if there is anyone in your life that He is inviting you to befriend. And like Paul, may we share the gospel relevantly and creatively!

QUOTE 
In reference to the book of Acts: “It’s not called the book of thoughts….” –Smith Wigglesworth