Beyond the Weekend

October 10 | What Paul Said

October 10, 2019

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

A group of Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Acts 17:18

Read: Acts 17:22-34

Listen: Acts 17

TODAY’S MESSAGE

After days of speaking in public, Paul gets a chance to speak at the Areopagus (much like the Supreme Court of Athens). At best, this was a tricky task because they were not familiar with the Jewish scriptures. When he spoke, he showed them respect and worked to understand them. He quoted their peers but never actually quotes the Jewish scriptures. He didn’t avoid the truth and spoke it clearly.

His message is that they are missing something, and they know it because they have an altar to an unknown god. Paul knows what they really are missing is Jesus.

This message is essential for us today. We feel we are missing something and seek different ways to fix it. Some think they will feel better if they are accepted by others, financially secure, build a lasting legacy or pile up new experiences. In the end, these are just as useless as the false gods of Athens.

We can learn some lessons from Paul when we speak to people who don’t know Jesus. We should show respect to others and seek to understand. Only from this place, will we be able to speak the truth and tell others about the one true God.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Begin your time by praying for opportunities to share Jesus with those you are around. Then wrap up your time by asking him for the wisdom to see these opportunities and how to speak into them.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

 

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