1. IT WILL INVOLVE PEOPLE
When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue…
Acts 17:1-2a (NIV)
Every person who becomes a Christian in the NT…
…involved a person who became a Christian in the NT.
So faith comes from hearing the Good News. And people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.
Romans 10:17 (ICB)
He died for us so that we will, not for ourselves, but for Him who died and rose…. 18 All of this is a gift from our Creator God, who has pursued us and brought us into a restored and healthy relationship with Him…. And He has given us the same mission, the ministry of reconciliation, to bring others back to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:15,18 (VOICE)
2. IT WILL INVOLVE REASON
…on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said.
Acts 17: 2b-3 (NIV)
Paul replied, “No, Your Excellency Festus, I am not crazy. I speak the words of truth and reason.
Acts 26:25 (TPT)
“But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence ⌞in God when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 3:15 (GW)
3. IT WILL INVOLVE THINGS THAT SEEM UNREASONABLE
Points to ponder after reading
Acts 17: 16-19, 21-28, 30-31:
● It seems unreasonable to have my deities disparaged
● It seems unreasonable to believe in a resurrected corpse
● It seems unreasonable to believe I could be religious but wrong
● It seems unreasonable to believe that God brought me here today
● It seems unreasonable to believe that ignorance is no excuse
4. IT WILL INVOLVE MY RESPONSE.
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.” At that, Paul left the Council. 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.
Acts 17: 32-34 (NIV)
● I can choose to Reject – “some of them sneered”
● I can choose to Procrastinate – “We want to hear you again”
● I can choose to Follow – “Some became followers”