|
Mid-Week with Christ
May 19, 2020
|
|
|
Acts 17:16-23
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. 22 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.
Prayer for the Day
Gracious Father, in you we live and move and have our being. You call us to repentance at all times, but especially in times of crisis. May we see in Jesus not only the judge of the world, but also the one who has given us assurance of our eternal life through his resurrection from the dead. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
|
|
|
|
On Pentecost Peter stood before the people of Jerusalem and proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem," Peter began, "let this be known to you." He then quoted from the prophet Joel, from the psalms of King David, and reminded them of the promises of God to the House of Israel. He then called on the people to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins in the name of Jesus Christ.
Not a few years later Paul and the Gospel made their way to Athens, the center of Greek learning and philosophy. Just like Peter at Pentecost, Paul began with "Men of Athens." He then appealed to their religious sensibilities, making reference to their many altars. He quoted from their poets and their belief in a judgment of people's actions. Like Peter, he called on the Athenians to repent and to find life in Jesus Christ.
Both sermons ended in the same way, but began and proceeded very differently. Paul and Peter knew their audiences. They knew to whom they were preaching: Peter, to Jews come to celebrate Pentecost; Paul, to Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. They started where their audience was, and led them from there to the Good News of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Jesus Christ.
When we share the Gospel of Jesus with our family, friends and neighbours, do we start where they are or where we wish they would be? Those who work in advertising are urged to know their audience. Christians should as well. We should learn the specifics of where people are at. so that we might better share with them that all people need forgiveness before they stand before the Judge on the Last Day.
|
|
|
|
|
