Class Lesson May 23, 2021

 

Question 1:

What are some topics you’re always ready

to talk about?

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

I used to ride a commuter train to school. I was also a new Christian, and I looked forward to that forty-five minute ride as a time to read and study my Bible. On one occasion, a woman sat down next to me while my Bible was open on my lap, and she kept peering over at what I was doing.

This irritated me. This nosy woman was interrupting my Bible study time! I shifted away from her, but she only leaned in further. Finally, I stopped reading, placed my hand over the open Bible, and looked directly at her. She certainly noticed that.

After an awkward moment, I was convicted to engage in conversation. I remembered that my morning prayer had been for God to give me an opportunity to share Jesus with someone. That opportunity was now right beside me, and I almost missed it because I was so focused on my own time with the Lord.

We have “windows of opportunity” every day to share Jesus, but we can easily miss them. Jesus wants to tell His story through us. We need to be ready to share.

THE POINT

Our daily conversations are opportunities to share Christ.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Acts 17:16-18

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some said, “What is this ignorant show-off trying to say?” Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

Paul had a “window of opportunity” in Athens. This opportunity came with the grief he felt over the godlessness he saw in the city. Paul noticed an air of spiritualism that had nothing to do with God. Though the people were engaged in worship, it was idolatrous.

Question 2:

When have you looked at

your community and been deeply distressed?

Paul wisely handled this opportunity by first engaging “with the Jews and with those who worshiped God” (v. 17) since he was most familiar with them. This was his customary practice as he regularly taught in the synagogue. Whenever Paul entered a new city, he began by reaching out to the Jews and the worshiping Gentiles. Every Sabbath he sought them out at the local synagogue. The Jews didn’t know Christ, but they knew about God. Paul could use the ancient prophecies as a basis for his teaching, and his audience could follow his reasoning.

Between Sabbaths, Paul could be found out among the people in the city. In Athens, he walked into the marketplace—the Agora—and sparked conversations. In this marketplace, he met two types of thinkers:

1. Epicurean philosophers believed the purpose of life was in finding pleasure and eliminating pain. They thought that God, if He existed at all, was not involved in our lives. Furthermore, they did not believe in life after death.                                                                     
2. Stoic philosophers were pantheists, believing in an ultimate divine principle that exists throughout the universe and nature, including human beings. They believed the way to realize your fullest potential was to live by reason. They valued self-sufficiency. The Stoics believed they could eliminate suffering through intellectual perfection.

Here in the cultural and intellectual center of the Roman Empire, where Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle had once taught, and where intellectuals still loved to debate, Paul dove right into the discussion with philosophers who were worlds apart from him in their beliefs. To be sure, these philosophers made fun of Paul, labeling him an “ignorant showoff.” But Paul was not deterred. He still saw an opportunity before Him.

Though circumstances may not appear favorable for sharing Christ, we need to look for the opportunity “hiding” in those circumstances. How do we see the opportunity? It begins with prayer. We can ask the Lord to prepare our hearts with the compassion of Christ, prepare our minds with knowledge of the Word, give us the discernment to see where the opportunity lies, and prepare our spirits with bold power from the Holy Spirit.

In our post-Christian culture, many people are not excited about discussing the gospel. Some may want to discuss philosophy, but not “obsolete religion.” Like Paul, we should not be deterred. Moments like these can still be opportunities to point to Jesus when we follow the principle Paul used. We see that principle in the next passage.

Acts 17:22-23

22 Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. 23 For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed: ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.”

GOSPEL CONVERSATIONS

Paul sought to find common ground as a means to share the gospel. Then, he looked for a way to turn the conversation into a gospel conversation. 

Choose one of the following conversation starters and explain how you would turn it to a gospel conversation.

So, how did you get here? Tell me your story.

What’s been the most difficult thing you’ve gone through in life?

What did you learn from that experience?

What role did religion or church have in your life growing up?

Would you describe yourself as spiritual? Why or why not?

What kinds of things give your life meaning or purpose?

“But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy,

ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who

asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

1 PETER 3:15

Question 3:

What are some barriers to

sharing the gospel in our culture?

As Paul engaged the Athenians, he looked for an open door to draw them into conversation. He acknowledged they were religious, knowing full well their “religion” had nothing to do with the One true God. Yet, that point of commonality was a springboard for him to talk about what they didn’t know—and what they didn’t know was Jesus. They didn’t even believe in one God, but the apostle was actively looking for some way to connect with the people around him. Notice some of the verbs in verses 22-23: “I see . . . I was . . .observing . . . , I even found.”

And he found the connection: they worshiped—and so did Paul. He found common ground in their spirituality. Granted, they were worshiping the wrong things, but at least they were spiritual seekers. So Paul used this to connect.

By building an altar and inscribing it “To An Unknown God,” the Athenians clearly were attempting to make sure they didn’t unintentionally forget, and thereby risk offending, one of the gods. Paul used their acknowledgement that there could be a god they didn’t know as an opening to introduce them to “the God who made the world and everything in it” (v. 24). Using something they knew about—their own altar to the unknown god—Paul told them what they didn’t know about the “Lord of heaven and earth” and His plan to save them.

Though we may think people aren’t open to hear the gospel, they often are willing to discuss spiritual matters when we start with a point of commonality which places both parties on equal ground. To be clear, our different beliefs are not equal, but as followers of Christ, we never should approach the conversation with an air of superiority. Instead, we humble ourselves and seek those places of connection as an opening to share God’s important message of truth. Begin to look and listen for that common ground—concerns people talk about, the team logo they wear, the religious symbols they display. Any and all of these can be conversation starters that lead to discussions about the gospel.

Question 4:

What are some bridges to

sharing the gospel in our culture?

Acts 17:30-31

30 “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

It’s great to go where people are and get involved in what they’re doing. It’s great to ask questions and start discussions. But it doesn’t end there. To stop there is like walking away from the marathon just short of the finish line. We must get to the truth of what Jesus did to make a relationship with God possible.

As Paul spoke to the Athenians at the Areopagus, he framed the message in terms familiar to his listeners. He quoted their poets and spoke their language, but he still got down to the gospel. The Athenians struggled to accept God as Creator and Judge and to believe in Jesus’ resurrection, but on these points, Paul didn’t compromise on the truth.

Paul did what he could to make the truth clear to the Athenians. When he mentioned the resurrection of Jesus, he was stopped by some in the crowd. Some even ridiculed him, but Paul’s witness was not in vain. Others wanted to know more. We can be fairly confident that Paul found another opportunity to continue his explanation of the gospel with those who wanted to know more.

In our own encounters and conversations, we also need to present the full gospel. Responding to the gospel requires that we acknowledge the sin that separates us from God. We need to accept that a price had to be paid for the sins we’ve committed. This leads us to recognize that Jesus was the only acceptable sacrifice for our sin. Finally, we need to understand that Jesus became our substitute so we could be brought into a relationship with God. Jesus freed us from a deadly debt, and that is amazing good news.

Paul met the Athenians on their ground, brought the truth of Jesus into the conversation, and crossed the finish line in communicating the gospel. The results would be up to God. We can do the same in our own encounters.

Question 5:

How can we compassionately

deliver a message of judgment to those who need to hear it?

LIVE IT OUT

What will you do this week to share the gospel with someone? Choose one of the following applications:

• Open your heart. Pray and ask God to make you aware of the opportunities around you to talk about your faith. Pray for a willingness to share Christ with others.                                                                                                                                                                 
• Open your eyes. Make a list of areas of interest you share with other people. With the list, identify ways those areas of interest could be used to turn the conversation to the gospel.                                                                                                                                     
• Open your mouth. Be diligent about maximizing your windows of opportunity to share Christ. Be intentional in making natural bridges between you and another person to talk about the gospel.

It’s easy to get busy and even so focused on good things that we lose awareness of those people God is bringing across our paths. But just as Paul seized those opportunities, so must we if the message of the gospel is to spread to all who need to hear it.

Teacher's Notes:

Share the Message

The Point: Our daily conversations are opportunities to share Christ.

The Passage: Acts 17:16-18,22-23,30-31

Billy Graham: 

Billy Graham share the gospel with more people face-to-face than anyone in history.

I’m only a messenger to proclaim a message that I believe has within it the power to change lives.

God said from the cross, “I Love You.”

In spite of our sins, God says I Love you.

I want mercy, I want forgiveness and that’s what God offers me from the cross.

It’s a simple message: Jesus loves you and you need to accept Him.

Billy Graham had a burden for the souls of men and women. Always rejoiced for souls that were saved.

You know what was wrong, you didn’t preach on the cross – next night I did

The gospel message is a proclamation. I don’t have to convince them. The big thing is the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. I believe the gospel appeals to the total man.

The gospel is what has the impact, not me.

 

 

What are some topics you’re always ready to talk about?

• I dare say it’s not about Christ.

 

If there was guilt meter in the average church, it would spike whenever the pastor raised one of these topics:

·        Giving

·        Helping in the nursery

·        Sharing our faith

 

Some things we know we should do, but we don’t. For example, no one would disagree that talking about Jesus is important, but we get anxious or nervous when we think about actually doing it. We don’t want to come across as that overbearing, obnoxious car salesman with the fake smile. And I’m not a Billy Graham.

 

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a corner you could just stand on and people would come to you to talk about Jesus?

I found such a corner. Several years ago, I had the opportunity to go to China. (Here’s an earlier blog on the subject.) College students in China want to know English because it’s good for their careers, so near one of the universities in Chengdu, the students would meet on Fridays to converse with each other in English. They call it the English corner.

Imagine their enthusiasm when a couple of Americans showed up on Friday night. We were native speakers! My friend and I separated, and we were both flooded with questions by students who wanted to practice English. Their questions were all about America and American culture. Inevitably, every student—every student—turned the conversation to Jesus. They equated Christianity with American culture, and they wanted to learn about my faith. I just answered questions and talked about Jesus. In communist China.

 

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had corners like that right here in America?

 

We do. They’re just not as obvious. We’re surrounded by people who hurt. People with questions. People who are looking for something to fill that empty spot in their lives. They’re in the hallways where we work. They’re in our fitness groups. They’re on either side of us at a kid’s soccer game. They’re, well, everywhere.

 

These are momentary intersections that could morph into a changed life. Here’s how to do it without getting stressed:

 

1. Pray. Ask God to show you how you point to Him in a conversation. Not every conversation you have may lead to the gospel. That’s OK. Don’t feel guilty. Just ask God to make it abundantly clear when a door of opportunity is swinging open. And if you don’t see it swing open, don’t worry about it.

 

2. Have a normal conversation. That’s right, a normal conversation about life, sports, family, who has the best French fries, whatever. Somewhere along the way, a problem with a child, a health concern with a family member, or an issue at work will pop up. Just offer this:

 

Would it be OK if, when I pray, I include that in my prayers?

 

A door has been opened. You’ve pointed to your dependence on Christ without preaching. From that point, the conversation can quite possibly go into deeper conversations about faith, who Jesus is, and who He is in your life.

 

If this is someone you see frequently, keep the conversation going. Without pushing, periodically ask how things are going. Let them know of your continued prayer. Offer support. Maybe invite them to your church or Bible study group.

 

LifeWay Research shows that people are willing to hear about your faith, provided it is a conversation and not simply a lecture. So, let’s find those English corners. Those intersections. Those unplanned encounters. And let’s just have a conversation. 

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.” (Col. 4:6).

It just starts with a conversation.

 

 

In Acts 17, Paul gave us an example of how to communicate the gospel in any situation.

 

 

Acts 17:16-18

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed when he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some said, “What is this ignorant show-off trying to say?” Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

 

 

How can we be more sensitive to opportunities to share the gospel?

 

1.   Be sensitive to opportunities to share the gospel.

• Believers ought to engage in assessing their communities to determine its religious climate and the need for the proclamation of the gospel.
• Because some people do not have a religious background for understanding the gospel, believers need to be prepared to explain it to others and know how to defend its truth.
• Not everyone will understand the message or affirm us as messengers.

 

Paul had a “window of opportunity” in Athens. This opportunity came with the grief he felt over the godlessness he saw in the city. Paul noticed an air of spiritualism that had nothing to do with God. Though the people were engaged in worship, it was idolatrous.

 

When have you looked at your community and been deeply distressed?

 

Highlight the main points from page 112 of the PSG. Between Sabbaths, Paul could be found out among the people in the city. In Athens, he walked into the marketplace—the Agora—and sparked conversations. In this marketplace, he met two types of thinkers:

 

·        Epicurean philosophers believed the purpose of life was in finding pleasure and eliminating pain. They thought that God, if He existed at all, was not involved in our lives. Furthermore, they did not believe in life after death.

·        Stoic philosophers were pantheists, believing in an ultimate divine principle that exists throughout the universe and nature, including human beings. They believed the way to realize your fullest potential was to live by reason. They valued self-sufficiency. The Stoics believed they could eliminate suffering through intellectual perfection.

 

 

Acts 17:22-23

Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed: ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.”

 

What setting is most comfortable for you to talk about Jesus?

When you read these verses, what stands out to you about Paul’s approach to sharing the gospel?

 

2.   Find a common ground for introducing the gospel.

• Just because people are religious does not mean they do not need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Believers have an obligation to confront the cultural perspective about God and declare the truth about Him.

 

Share the Real One (vs. 22-23)

Paul was asked to address the thinkers, philosophers, and religions in Athens (vs. 18, 21). He had analyzed their actions and surmised that they were very religious. Today, people are the same way. A significant number of people claim to believe in God or consider themselves spiritual. Yet, it does not take much to see that athletes, movie stars, and celebrities are being worshiped instead of God. People need to hear about the Real One, God Almighty. Just like the men of Athens were ignorant of the Real One, the same is true today. We must share who He is, what He has done, why He did it, and what He desires. In the midst of a culture where people freely share their beliefs, Christians should be prepared to tell others about the hope they have within them. Saints must testify that He ignited the flame of the sun and positioned the stars in the universe. We must testify that He provided a remedy for man’s ruined life and a pardon for humanity’s pollution through the Eternal Son.

 

As Paul engaged the Athenians, he looked for an open door to draw them into conversation. He acknowledged they were religious, knowing full well their “religion” had nothing to do with the One true God. Yet, that point of commonality was a springboard for him to talk about what they didn’t know—and what they didn’t know was Jesus. They didn’t even believe in one God, but the apostle was actively looking for some way to connect with the people around him.

 

Though we may think people aren’t open to hear the gospel, they often are willing to discuss spiritual matters when we start with a point of commonality which places both parties on equal ground. To be clear, our different beliefs are not equal, but as followers of Christ, we never should approach the conversation with an air of superiority. Instead, we humble ourselves and seek those places of connection as an opening to share God’s important message of truth. Begin to look and listen for that common ground—concerns people talk about, the team logo they wear, the religious symbols they display. Any and all of these can be conversation starters that lead to discussions about the gospel.

 

 

Acts 17:30-31

“Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

What principles can we learn from Paul about clearly communicating the gospel?

What does it mean to you to have the privilege and responsibility to share the gospel?

  

3.   Help others understand the truth of the gospel.

• The gospel includes a call for repentance—turning from one’s evil ways to follow the Lord.
• God has appointed a day of righteous judgment by the One whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

Conclusion: What does our world need? A new president, No! More money! No! Better education! No! What the world needs is for Christians to model what a disciple is, continue to mature as a disciple, and share the gospel to make disciples of all nations.

It’s great to go where people are and get involved in what they’re doing. It’s great to ask questions and start discussions. But it doesn’t end there. To stop there is like walking away from the marathon just short of the finish line. We must get to the truth of what Jesus did to make a relationship with God possible. As Paul spoke to the Athenians at the Areopagus, he framed the message in terms familiar to his listeners. He quoted their poets and spoke their language, but he still got down to the gospel. The Athenians struggled to accept God as Creator and Judge and to believe in Jesus’ resurrection, but on these points, Paul didn’t compromise on the truth.

 

The Point: Our daily conversations are opportunities to share Christ.