Step 2 Thematic Outline: Acts 17:16-34
Big Idea, Supporting Idea, Defining Idea
How Do We Become Part of people's Salvation Experience?
34 some joined him and became believers.
34 some joined him and became believers.
- We become greatly disturbed at the things that distract people from God.
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. - We engage in conversations with those people.
17 He went...- Who we are comfortable talking with about the Bible.
to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, - Who we encounter in the course of everyday activities.
And he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there. - Who we can easily participate in spirited dialogue.
18 He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”
- Who we are comfortable talking with about the Bible.
- We let God lead us.
19 Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said.20 “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” 21 (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.) - We invite people to discover the truth about God in the Bible.
22 So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows:- He is the one unbelievers are missing in their lives.
“Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about. - He is our sovereign creator.
24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. - He orchestrates everything in our lives so He can be known.
27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. - He rightfully expects us to leave our immoral life and live for Him.
30 “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone, everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. - He explains that the consequence of unbelief is eternal separation from Him.
31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”
- He is the one unbelievers are missing in their lives.
- We leave the results to God.
32 When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead,- Because some people are complacent; they don't want to know more.
some laughed in contempt, - Because some are curious; they do want to know more.
but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” 33 That ended Paul’s discussion with them, - Because some will be convinced; they will believe.
34 but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
- Because some people are complacent; they don't want to know more.