Real Church Part 15 “The Gospel and a Pagan World”
Real Church – Part 15
The Gospel and a Pagan World
The influence of Christianity is _________________ in America.
We must see the lack of Christian influence as an __________________ instead of an _________________.
Acts 17:16-23
In Athens
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 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. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
The gospel begins where people ________, not where you want them to __________.
The city of Athens was filled with ___________. (vs 16) 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
Paul doesn’t _____________ the people for who they are.
He doesn’t think it is _______________ to remind them of how they are _______________.
The Athenians are taking a _____________ approach to religion.
When we come across people without Jesus, we should focus on the _______________, not the ________________.
Do sinners cause you to feel _________________ or ______________?
Which is more important to you…your ________________ for the ______________ or your ________________ over the ____________?
Paul uses where they _________ to help them get to where God wants them to ____________. (vs 22-23)
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
The way to _____________ beliefs has to start with ____________ beliefs.
This is not a “God as you ________________ Him” approach but an understanding way to approach God.
No approach is a ________________ of success. (vs 32-34) 32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Jesus never _________________ sin or ________________ sinners.
In a pagan world the path to faith may be a little ______________but the foundation for belief will often be _________________.