PowerPoint Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8g1q549rzl08lpm1rje5m/Believe-Lifeway-Acts-17-PPNT.pptx?rlkey=dp7bzposkffuauaqu0gad9vsl&st=7cdwskky&dl=0
Review: Last week we looked at how we need to…
- Share the gospel under FAVORABLE conditions (Acts 16:11-15)
- Share the gospel under FEARFUL conditions (Acts 16:29-34)
- Share the gospel under FINAL conditions (Acts 16:35-40)
Title: “Believe”
Text: Acts 17:22-34
Memory verse: Acts 17:30, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent”
Introduction: In this week’s lesson we see that Paul specified his gospel presentation to Gentile audiences like those in Athens differently than he did to Jewish audiences, not referencing the Old Testament as much and using Greek cultural topics to connect better with them. Either way, he pointed folks to Jesus no matter the context.
Opening Discussion Question: Lifeway’s “Acts 13-28 Leader Guide” asks, “Why do some people struggle to believe Jesus alone and faith alone is enough for salvation? Has this been a struggle for you?
Answer: Many are under the false assumption that they must add works to grace, when in reality the blood of Jesus was completely, 100%, sufficient to save us!
Context: Athens in the 5th and 4th century BC was a cultural epicenter for the arts and Greek philosophy. It was filled with idolatry, false temples, and statues. This would have sickened and grieved Paul. After visiting the synagogue, he went to the agora marketplace to share the gospel. The philosophers took him to the Aeropagus, also known as mars Hill by the Romans to have his message tried and tested. Paul tailored his gospel presentation to folks with no biblical background; he even quotes one, possibly two, Greek poets throughout the course of his gospel presentation. He presents God as the only God and Creator God. He moves from broad Greek concepts to the unknown deity, that being his forgiving God who provided His Son to pay for our sins. The doctrine of the resurrection created mixed responses.
- God is sovereign over creation. (Acts 17:22-26)
- God is supreme over imagination. (Acts 17: 27-29)
- God saves through Jesus’ resurrection. (Acts. 17:30-34)
Main Points:
- God is sovereign over creation. (Acts 17:22-26)
- A. Paul makes a bold connection that God is sovereign over creation (vv. 22-23)
“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.”
Paul acknowledges their religiosity, without condoning it. He references one altar that caught his attention to the unknown god; they were shoring up their fear-motivated bases. He boldly uses this to begin his bold proclamation of Jesus to them. He starts presenting God as Creator, which would have blown their minds! Paul makes a bold connection with the people clarifying for them that God is sovereign over His creation. Second,
- B. Paul makes a bold declaration that God is sovereign over creation (vv. 24-26)
“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, 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,”
He adds that God isn’t needy for man’s attempts to enshrine Him. Rather, all humans are dependent on Him for their very breathe. He isn’t simply a Creator God who starts things in motion and let’s them pursue their own course of action like a Divine Clock Maker who winds things up and let’s them wond down as they wish, but He is a Creator who is intimately involved. He created the human race from one man (Adam). He appoints the seasons and timelines of all events, personal and historical, seasonal, and life-cycle. He established national boundaries, as well. Paul makes a bold declaration to these self-sufficient individuals that God is sovereign over creation.
Discussion: “Why is God worthy of all worship and loyalty?”
Application: It is not that God needs us; but that we desperately need God and are accountable to Him.
Transition: God is sovereign over His creation. Second,
- God is supreme over imagination. (Acts 17:27-29)
- A. Because God is supreme over imagination, we should seek Him for Who He really is. (vv. 27-28)
“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.’”
God invites people to search-out Him, like groping in the dark until they find Him by His salvation. We can never under and thirst for God enough! Even after salvation, we must keep learning and desiring Him more and more. Because of God’s intimate involvement in our lives we have our very being and existence, every moment. He is worthy to be sought by us for Who He really is. Second,
- B. Because God is supreme over imagination, we should surrender our thoughts of Him according for Who he really is. (v. 29)
“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.”
This term “offspring” points Paul’s audience to the truth that they are image-bearers of God. This eliminates any adherence to their idols and commands their total devotion to Him. They were not to form their own imaginative depictions and opinions of God through idols of silver and such, but worship God in the beauty of His holiness and undepictable-ness.
Discussion: “Where can believers go to seek God and learn more about Him?”
Application: We must receive this word of caution from God’s Word, to not form our own imaginative opinions of God, but to understand Him-even more, to SEEK Him-for Who He says He is through His Word.
Transition: God is sovereign over His creation. Second, God is supreme over imagination. Third,
- God saves through Jesus’ resurrection. (Acts. 17:30-34)
- A. God saves through Jesus’ resurrection, overlooking ignorance (v. 30)
“30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,”
God delayed judgement. He didn’t overlook their sin or treat it lightly. He waited to dispense the full judgement for sin until the incarnation, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And in that as well, God saves through Jesus’ resurrection if they will repent. Verse 31, “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.” God has appointed not only a day of judgement but the Judge who will carry it out, Jesus Christ.
- B. God saves through Jesus’ resurrection, even though offer is ignored.
“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.”
Even though this offer to repent and be saved from the coming day of judgement if so clearly shared, the sad reality of these verses is that this offer will be ignored and rejected. Some were interested in hearing more either genuinely or by mere inquisitiveness, while others believed, and while others rejected.
Application: There will be a mixed response to our gospel presentations, and we must simply be faithful to keep sharing.
Doctrine: Our key doctrine for this week is the doctrine of salvation: “Repentance is genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior.”
Mark 1:14-15, “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Acts 20:21, “testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Conclusion: Remember, God is sovereign over His creation. Second, God is supreme over imagination. Third, God saves through Jesus’ resurrection. And when you faced mixed responses pray and trust God for His results and persevere in sharing the Good News.
General Outline:
Title: “Believe”
Text: Acts 17:22-34
Memory verse: Acts 17:30, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent”
Main Points:
- God is sovereign over creation. (Acts 17:22-26)
- God is supreme over imagination. (Acts 17: 27-29)
- God saves through Jesus’ resurrection. (Acts. 17:30-34)
- God is sovereign over creation. (Acts 17:22-26)
- A. Paul makes a bold connection that God is sovereign over creation (vv. 22-23)
- B. Paul makes a bold declaration that God is sovereign over creation (vv. 24-26)
- God is supreme over imagination. (Acts 17:27-29)
- A. Because God is supreme over imagination, we should seek Him for Who He really is. (vv. 27-28)
- B. Because God is supreme over imagination, we should surrender our thoughts of Him according for Who he really is. (v. 29)
- God saves through Jesus’ resurrection. (Acts. 17:30-34)
- A. God saves through Jesus’ resurrection, overlooking ignorance (v. 30)
- B. God saves through Jesus’ resurrection, even though offer is ignored. (vv. 32-34)
Doctrine: Salvation
Mark 1:14-15, “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Acts 20:21, “testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Caleb Walker 
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