CrossTalk Scripture Focus Background

Today’s Scripture Focus: Acts 17:22-31

Chapter 17 continues Paul’s missionary journey through the Macedonian and Grecian provinces. Here we learn of the founding of the church in Thessalonica, the largest city in Macedonia. It was a “free” city, meaning it had its own government. Paul went to the Jewish synagogue for three weeks in a row, trying to prove from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. A small number believed, among them Jason, who served as host for Paul, Silas, and Timothy. Many of the God fearing Greeks accepted the Message, mostly the wives of local prominent citizens (synagogue attendance was considered fashionable among wealthy Greek women.) Most of the Jewish leaders, however, rejected the Message.

The jealousy of the synagogue leaders led them to stir up a mob against the missionaries. This led to persecution against some local converts, and Paul and Silas had to move on. They met a much more receptive audience in Beroea. Once again, they went to the synagogue, but this time the Message was received with much interest. They experienced greater success among the Greek men here, especially in light of the fact that converting to Judaism meant undergoing circumcision, while becoming a Christian did not. Soon, however, trouble showed up once more. Jewish leaders from Thessalonica came to town to try and stir up a mob again. Silas and Timothy stayed to nurture the new church. Paul left immediately and waited for them in Athens.

In our scripture focus today, we find Paul’s only full sermon recorded to Gentiles. Paul didn’t intend to minister in Athens, but he was so disturbed by the huge number of gods and idols, he couldn’t help but preach! It cannot be overemphasized the role Athens played in Western thought, both then and now. When Paul took on the Athenians, he was attacking the entire pagan system. While passionately proclaiming Jesus, Paul was met by mocking (“babbler” literally means “picker of scraps” a term used to describe someone ignorant) or misunderstanding (the Greeks heard “Jesus and the Resurrection” as “Jesus” and “Anastasis”, whom they assumed were foreign gods). Wanting to hear more, they sent Paul to the Areopagus, the city center of discussion

Paul is speaking to Greeks, so he uses the form of speaking they were most accustomed to hearing. He speaks far differently here than in the synagogue, using phrases from famous philosophers and poets. The altar ‘to an unknown god’ has an interesting history. Centuries before when a plague struck the city, the Athenians couldn’t decide which god had been offended and needed appeasing. Having gone through all the gods, the seer-philosopher Epimenides set hungry sheep free in the city. Several lay down without grazing, and altars to unknown gods were built in these locations, with the sheep slain on them to appease the gods. It is this same Epimenides Paul quotes when he proclaims “For we too are his offspring”.

Today’s sermon will focus on how God is revealed in a culture that values spirituality, but shuns passionate faith.

CrossGroup Discussion Guide

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. Have you ever seen a movie of TV show that made you think of God or the Gospel?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• The people of Athens were spiritual.

• Our culture is also spiritual.

• God revealed the Message through Paul.

• God reveals the Message through us!

This Week’s Assignment –

Where are spiritual conversations taking place in your world this week? Go there, be open, and wait for God to use you.

CrossTalk Scripture Focus Background

Today’s Scripture Focus: Acts 16:16-34

Remember that last week we explored the controversy that erupted in the Antioch church over whether or not Gentile believers must convert to Judaism to be saved, and how a council convened in Jerusalem, ruling that Gentiles would only be required to observe some basic diet and relational restrictions. After Paul and Barnabas returned with this decision and continued their ministry in Antioch, they felt compelled to return to the churches which sprung from their first missionary journey. However, a dispute arose, for Paul didn’t want to take Mark along, who had abandoned them the first time. The dispute became so great that Paul and Barnabas parted ways, with Barnabas taking Mark and journeyed to Cyprus, and Paul took Silas and headed north.

As Paul traveled from town to town, he delivered the letter from Jerusalem regarding circumcision. When Paul arrived in Derbe, he added Timothy to his traveling party. Though Acts doesn’t go into detail, Timothy would become Paul’s closest follower, his “son in the Lord.” Paul had Timothy, who apparently was raised as a Gentile though his mother was Jewish, circumcised before continuing their journey. Why would he feel the need to do this, in light of the very message he was proclaiming to the churches that such measures were unnecessary? Since Timothy would be proclaiming this message along side of Paul in the synagogues, it was helpful for him to embrace his Jewish heritage, in order that the message would be accepted.

Our scripture focus today finds Paul and his companions in Macedonia. This was new territory. Remember, Paul’s original intent was to revisit previously established churches. The Spirit of Jesus had other plans. Through a dream, Paul is compelled to sail for Macedonia (modern day Greece). Each day Paul would head into the city to proclaim the message, starting at the synagogue. Every day, a slave girl followed them, proclaiming them as “slaves of…God who proclaim the way of salvation”. Though her ecstatic rantings were true, she was distracting, and Paul was concerned people would associate the source of his preaching with the demonic source of the girl’s outbursts. Out of frustration, Paul resolves the issue by casting the demonic spirit from her!

The slave girl’s owners could no longer use her as a source of fortune telling income. In anger, they forcibly dragged Paul and Silas before the city leaders, and took advantage of local racial prejudice to whip up the crowd. The magistrates had Paul and Silas thrown into the worst form of confinement. “Stocks” were a form of torture, for they wouldn’t allow for stretching of the legs. As the men worship God, a supernatural earthquake frees them. For their jailer, this was a death sentence, as he was personally responsible for those placed in his jail. He chooses suicide. When Paul and Silas interrupt his suicide attempt, he asks them the key question for all humanity – “what must I do to be saved?”

Today’s sermon will focus on that question, and the transforming power of the answer!

CrossGroup Discussion Guide

• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.

• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.

• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?

• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.

1. What enslaves people in Denison, TX? Who profits from it?

2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?

3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?

• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.

Today’s Sermon

Key Truths –

• The Message brought trouble for Paul and Silas.

• The Message brings trouble today.

• The Spirit delivered in Acts 16.

• The Spirit delivers right now!

This Week’s Assignment –

Having a CrossView means looking beyond the outer appearance of those in bondage, and speaking to the circumstances and systems that keep them enslaved. What person or group is irritating you today? Pray for boldness to proclaim the Message under the power of the Spirit!