Paul’s Approach for Reaching People with the Gospel
What does the example of Paul’s preaching in Thessolonica
and the
Acts 17:1-14
1. Where did Paul go when he got to the town? V. 2
a. What made Paul choose to go to the people instead of inviting them to come to him? (Tent meeting)
b. Is it a good strategy to go people who already believe in God today?
c. Where do religious people gather today?
d. Should those who are missionaries go to religious gatherings today?
e. What was different about Paul’s situation?
2. What did Paul use for the basis of his preaching? V. 2
a. Is it okay to reason with people without using the scriptures?
b. What situation makes it better to use the scriptures?
3. What was the message that Paul preached? V. 3
a. What is the Bible term for the death and resurrection of Jesus?
b. Do people who want to be saved have to believe that Jesus is the Christ?
c. Could Paul have talked to them about the church instead?
d. Is it better to talk about Jesus rather than the church? (Why?)
e. Is it better to talk about Jesus rather than baptism? (Why?)
f. Should we get around to talking about baptism and the church?
g. What is it about Jesus that really makes a way into someone’s heart?
4. What was the reaction of the Jews in Thessolonica?
a. Some believed – v. 4
b. The Jews accused Paul of violating Roman law?
c. Do you suppose the Jews were interested in the truth of God’s salvation or something else?
5. What was the positive reaction to Paul’s message?
a. What made the Berean’s noble?
b. What made the Thessolonian Jews ignoble?
c. What was the source of the problem at Thessolonica? V. 5
Conclusion
The 7/98 Vantage Point quoted Oprah: "There couldn’t possible be only one way...Does God care about your heart or whether you called His Son Jesus?", "[Claiming exclusive Divinity] would make Jesus the biggest egotist that ever lived.", and "You are responsible for your life - the power of God is within you [whether you are a Christian or not], above you and through you. You control your life." - Oprah Winfrey, July, 1998
How was Paul’s approach to teaching the Athenian pagans different from his approach to teaching the Jews? Acts 17:16-34
1. What
distressed Paul about
2. What did he do about it? V. 17 (Took action) What can we do about it?
3. Here is how easy it can be…(story of letter to radio ministry)
1. Who was Paul speaking with initially? V. 17
2. How should the approach differ depending on the audience?
3. Where do you think Paul starts when teaching Christ to those who accept the Hebrew Scriptures as being from God?
4. Would the pagan Greek people require a different approach?
5. Is Paul using a cultural parallel to reach the Athenians?
6. Look at their reaction to Paul’s preaching in verse 18.
a. “foreign gods” refers to their interpretation of Jesus (god #1) and the resurrection (god #2)
b. What do you think the use of the term “babbler” indicates? (intellectuals)
c. What was the interest of the Athenians? V. 19-20 (paradigm issue)
7. Now the scene changes and Paul customizes his message to the pagan Greeks.
1. Where did Paul start? (with their search and their ignorance) v.22-27
a. How do people wind up in idolatry? Romans 1:18ff
b. So religious they have an alter to the Unknown God just in case.
2. Where do we start today with someone who believes in many Gods?
a. What did Paul do to contrast Jehovah with their gods? V. 28-29
b. Did Paul call for a response? V. 30
c. What are the things Paul preaches to convince people to repent? (righteousness, self-control, the Judgment, the resurrection)
3. What was the reaction? V. 32 (Note: Paul also knew when to stop)
Conclusion
What’s an Epicurean?
Central to Epicurean philosophy was the teaching that pleasure and the avoidance of pain are the chief end of man. They were materialists, who, while not denying the existence of the gods, believed they did not intervene in the affairs of men. They taught that, at death, the body and soul (both composed of atoms) disintegrate; there is no afterlife. – Humanist or practical atheist
What is a Stoic?
The Stoics or the rationalists, the self-controlled and disciplined. Stoics follows Pantheism: god exists in everything and in everyone. The fiery spirit, the energy of everything and everyone, is god. Fatalism: whatever happened occurred because it was supposed to happen. There is no good or evil in the world. Things are the way they are and happen the way they do because they are destined. There is nothing anyone can do about anything – New Age (poly theists)
Heaven for an Atheist
There was this lady that had to do a lot of traveling for her business so she
did a lot of flying. But flying made her nervous so she always took her Bible
along with her to read and it helped relax her. One time she was sitting next
to a man. When he saw her pull out her Bible he gave a little chuckle and went
back to what he was doing.
After awhile he turned to her and asked "You don't really believe all that
stuff in there do you?"
The lady replied "Of course I do. It is the Bible."
He said, "Well what about that guy that was swallowed by that whale?"
She replied "Oh, Jonah. Yes I believe that, it is in the Bible."
He asked, "Well, how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the
whale?"
The lady said, "Well I don't really know. I guess when I get to heaven I
will ask him."
"What if he isn't in heaven?" the man asked sarcastically.
"Then you can ask him," replied the lady.
The Barber and the
Minister
A preacher and an atheistic barber were once walking through the city slums. Said the barber to the preacher: "This is why I cannot believe in a God of love. If God was as kind as you say, He would not permit all this poverty, disease, and squalor. He would not allow these poor bums to be addicted to dope and other character-destroying habits. No, I cannot believe in a God who permits these things."
The minister was silent until they met a man who was especially unkempt and filthy. His hair was hanging down his neck and he had a half-inch of stubble on his face, Said the minister: "You can't be a very good barber or you wouldn't permit a man like that to continue living in this neighborhood without a haircut and a shave."
Indignantly the barber answered: "Why blame me for that mans condition? I can't help it that he is like that. He has never come in my shop: I could fix him up and make him look like a gentleman!"
Giving the barber a penetrating look, the minister said: "Then don't blame God for allowing the people to continue in their evil ways, when He is constantly inviting them to come and be saved. The reason these people are slaves to sin and evil habits is that they refuse the ONE who died to save and deliver them."