churchadmin After Paul is invited to speak in the Areopagus, he goes there and expounds the Word of God beginning in with a very interesting sentence, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious…”
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,[c] 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.
What can we learn from Paul’s message to the Areopagus?
Christians must find an ENTRY point to ENGAGE false belief
Preach God as Creator, SUSTAINER, Ruler, and DWELLS closely
God’s judgment demands CORRECT knowledge and REPENTANCE
Three Reactions from those at the Areopagus: MOCKERY, CURIOSITY and CONVERSION
Aug 22, 2012 – Acts 17, 22-34 Paul at the Aeropagus
Notes – Aug 29, 2012 – Acts 17, 22-34 You Are Very Religious, Part 2
Notes – September 5, 2012 – Acts 17, 22-34 You Are Very Religious, Part 3 [Same notes as Part 2, just updated with correct date
Notes – September 12, 2012 – Acts 17, 22-34 You Are Very Religious, Part 4