Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath school class, December 9, 2023.

Main Theme: Paul shows us how to reach people for Jesus.

Read in Class: Acts 17:10-16. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: How did Paul wind up in Athens, and how did he respond to what he found there?

Apply: What kind of idols are people worshiping in your society, and how can you open their eyes to how worthless it all is?

Share: Your friend says that the Jews stirred up the crowd and made Paul leave Berea. In early Adventism a crowd was stirred up over opposition to the 1888 message forcing Ellen White to have to leave the United States. Your friend asks why God allows so much opposition? What do you tell your friend? What were the results of Paul leaving Berrea for Athens and Ellen White leaving the United States for Australia?

Read in Class: Acts 17:18-21. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What were some of the different ways that the pagans in the marketplace reacted to Paul’s speaking and ques­tioning?

Apply: After Paul’s experience in Athens with these pagans and philosophers, he wrote to the Corinthians that “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). What lesson is there for us about how central Christ must be to our message regardless of whom we are preaching to?

Share: Your friend says, just like with Paul at Athens, many today just enjoy talking about new ideas about the Bible and prophecy all the time but that’s all they want to do is talk. There seems to be no real conviction. How do we help people become convicted of truth? How again might 1 Corinthians 2:2 help you answer your friend?

Read in Class: Acts 17:22-23. Define the main idead of this passage.

Study: What was Paul doing here in his attempt to reach these people with the gospel?

Apply: What bridges and points of contact can you think of that would open opportunities for deeper conversation with others with whom you come in contact?

Share: Your friend notices that Paul said these people were very religious even though they were worshiping false gods and therefore had a false religion. your friend asks you, which is easier, reaching someone who has no religion or reaching someone who has a false religion? What strategies do you use for reaching people with a false religion as opposed to people with no religion? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Acts 17:24-34. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What approach was Paul taking here in an attempt to reach these people?

Paul probably spoke longer at the Areopagus than just the few words Luke shared in this story. It seems reasonable for the sake of space that Luke just summarized Paul’s speech. If that is true, then each of the concepts we have read so far Paul probably fleshed out in more detail. Then we break down Paul’s speech into concepts:

1. Paul first complimented their current spiritual awareness and sincerity.
2. Next he showed that he had studied their belief and that he found some things that he respected from what he had learned.
3. He then told them about one particular thing that he had discovered in his study of their religion that they admitted they did not understand.
4. After that, he shared the aspect of God that he knew they desperately needed, which is the fact that God exists and that He loves them and is not far away.
5. Finally, at the end of his speech, Paul moved to warning them of what it means to reject the knowledge of this God they did not yet know.

Apply: Notice Paul’s appeal to the created world and to God as the Creator (see also Romans 1:18-25). Why is this such a good approach to take, at least as a start, with most people? What is it about the created world that points so powerfully to God?

Challenge:  In prayer, ask for God’s specific guidance in knowing how best to witness to someone you know. Explore social media as a possible “Areopagus” for you to represent the gospel—with Paul’s clarity and ­discretion—to unbelievers.