KNOWING THE UNKNOWN GOD

Aug 18

We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.

Sermon Title: KNOWING THE UNKNOWN GOD

Scripture References: ACTS 17:1-34

Notes:

V. 1-4

Paul's letters suggest he may have spent more than three weeks in the city. We know that he had to work there to provide for his livelihood (1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:7-9). We also know that the Christians at Philippi sent him money for his support a number of times, for they had sent aid "again and again" to him while he was in Thessalonica (Phil. 4:16). -FLBC
In his preaching in the synagogue, Paul focuses on three themes: the necessity of Christ's suffering, the necessity of his resurrection, and the Messiahship of Jesus.

(1) The necessity of Christ's suffering. The suffering of Jesus included his death on the cross, according to God's plan. In his writings Luke has emphasized the necessity of Christ's death (Luke 9:22; 17:25; 24:7, 26, 46; Acts 2:23). According to Jewish tradition anyone crucified is accursed by God (Deut. 21:23). The Jews expected the Messiah to be a conqueror. Paul's preaching that Christ had to suffer offended them because it appeared to be inconsistent with the glorious reign of the Messiah as they interpreted it in the prophets (cf. Dan. 7:13-14), But Paul opens the Scriptures, showing the Jews that the promised Messiah had to suffer (cf. Ps. 2:1-2; Isa. 53).
(2) The necessity of Christ's resurrection. (Psalm 16:10; 110; Acts 13:35) For Jesus to die and rise again fulfilled prophecy.
(3) Jesus is the Messiah. Since Jesus fulfilled the conditions of Scripture, Paul declares that Jesus is the Messiah (Romans 8:4).

Often times, evangelism requires reasoning over time. God is patient, so be patient too.
Weeks of ministry turned fruitful! (v.4)

V. 5-9

This was a manufactured mob. They had to make a scene to convince the local officials to arrest Paul and Silas. The disturbance was not created by the apostles but by the jealousy of the anti-Christ or anti-God spirit of that day.
Because they could not find them they arrested Jason and un-named believers. However, they were most likely freed for lack of evidence.
Despite the rocky reception, the church at Thessalonica later grows amid persecution and becomes a model church. 1 Thessalonians 1:8And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it

V. 10-15 Paul and Silas in Berea

A common error of unbelievers is to shut their ears towards God and the scriptures before ever giving them a chance. If you’re listening to this sermon today and you’re more closed off can I encourage you to genuinely give Jesus a fair attempt.
I pray we also encounter those like the Bereans who want to look into the scriptures with sincerity, open minds, and eagerness to search for themselves.
V 12 Once again many Jews and prominent Greek women and men believed.
V.13-15 news travels fast and the same jealous agitators come to Berea to stir up trouble.

V. 16-21 Paul gets acquainted with Athens

While Paul waited for them to arrive he took notice of the spiritual condition of Athens and was deeply troubled. “Full of idols” (kateidolon), which means “thick with images.”
Why and how was he deeply troubled? Because he knows the truth and has experienced the truth of Jesus Christ. Paul didn’t conform to imitate the society but to transform it with the gospel!
Christians are deeply troubled by the godlessness of the world because we know how futile everything is without God. We have come to realize and believe the truth of Jesus Christ and we are concerned for others to know Him too. This is why Christians are not only deeply troubled by the godlessness of our society but we are also deeply moved to do something about it.
I’m praying that we live in this world but not partner with the wickedness of the world.
Daily, Paul went to the public square to reason with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. Paul also stepped into the ring to debate with the elite thinkers of their day the Epicureans and Stoic Philosophers.
Epicurean philosophers “taught that the highest good of human existence was pleasure, but for them, pleasure could be best secured by avoiding excess. They interpreted pleasures not as prudent gratification of every desire and inclination but as being free from disturbing passions and emotions. The ideal life was a life of tranquility that caused no pain…They strongly attacked superstitious belief in gods but recognized the existence of certain gods. Even so, they were materialistic in outlook and atheistic in practice.” -FullLife Bible Commentary, page 626.
Stoic philosophers “believed the good life was attained through a total indifference to both the sorrows and pleasures of the world. For them, God was a living force embodied in nature rather than a person, and everything had been predetermined. God is in all things, and everything that happens has to be accepted as God’s will. Human reason determines what is good and what is evil. Thus, the Stoics were rationalists and fatalists in their religious views, advocating the apathetic acceptance of the natural course of events.” -FullLife Bible Commentary, page 626
Some of the philosophers mockingly call Paul a “babbler (spermologos, “a seed picker”). This word was used for birds that pick up seeds and people who pick up pieces of information here or there without a coherent system of thinking. This wasn’t the case though because Paul most likely explained things very well and we see that in the council meeting in the next verses.
We need Christians who will diligently study and graciously reason with those who are misguided and believe differently than us.

Christian apologists
Diligent students of God’s Word who are Spirit-Led and humble in their reasoning and delivery.

Take time to listen and learn about your audience before sharing the message of Jesus

God will help you see things and connect the dots from their lives to the life of Christ.

V. 22-31 Paul's sermon to the high council

“To an unknown god,” The Greeks commonly dedicated altars to unknown gods out of fear of overlooking a god that would otherwise be offended. The altar to an unknown god was probably a type of “insurance,” to ward off judgment from a god demanding attention about who they knew nothing. FLBC, 628
Paul brilliantly uses the altar to help him reveal the one true God.
“Obviously Paul is not trying to draw a direct connection between the unknown god and the true God, but he uses the inscription of the altar as a means to begin telling the Athenians about the living God, the Creator…” FLBC, 628
The Athenians do not accept the authority of the scriptures or know about Jewish history on the Messiah so Paul adapts his message to meet them where they are.
Paul describes God as:

Creator of all things and Lord of heaven and earth. He is too great for man-made temples and sanctuaries.
God is self-sufficient and gives us all we need. God is without need from humans, there's nothing he needs from us, we need Him!
God created all nations through one man and is the one true God V. 28 “For in Him we live and move and have our being…”

V. 28 “For in Him we live and move and have our being…”

Paul explains God’s purpose in all of his creation:

That we may seek Him and find Him if we seek Him with all our hearts.
That we may come into a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.

“We are his offspring,” Paul appeals to and quotes one of their poets to punctuate that God is unique from all other gods and idols they have fashioned with their hands and worship. God is real and personal, capable of having a relationship with us.
God is not withdrawn from the world as the Epicureans believed. God is present and nearer than we think by faith.
Our relationship with God is not simply Creator and creature but of Parent and child. We are not divine, but we were created in His image.

That we may repent or come back to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

In General revelation, God has revealed himself through creation and overlooked people's ignorance not because they were innocent but because God is merciful and patient.
But now God has revealed himself through special revelation in the life of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are definitely without excuse.
He commands all to turn from sin and false worship to believe and follow Jesus.
God has set a day of judgment for all people by Jesus himself, who lived perfectly, defeated sin and death, therefore can and will judge us justly.

God isn’t hiding. God has revealed himself in creation, in Jesus Christ, and through our testimonies.

Creation:

Psalm 19:1-6
Romans 1:19-20 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Jesus:

Colossians 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation
John 1:10-12 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Through Testimonies

1 Timothy 1:15-16 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

God has revealed himself to us. What we need to know about Him we can know it. When God did reveal himself through Christ he was still rejected.
God is not looking for us to simply believe He exists and then add Him to a list of worldview beliefs we hold. God longs for a relationship with us but sin has damaged that and the only way to restore it is through Jesus. In God, we find true identity, understanding, purpose, and love. “By Him and In Him we live, move, and have our being.” The question is do we believe in Him and will we accept him as all we need?

V. 32-34 The results

Some people laughed, some wanted to hear more, and some believed. If there are three types of people in this world they were all represented in our story.
Share the message of Jesus and then let God sort out those who laugh, those who need more time, and those who believe.
God is unknown to some but we know God. I pray we will help others know God. 1 Peter 1:8 NLT and 1 John 4:12 NLT

Discussion:

What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
What part of the scripture stuck out to you and why?
Why did Paul's preaching that Christ had to suffer offend the Jews?
Why was Paul deeply troubled when he took notice of the spiritual condition of Athens?
What helped you believe in God’s existence and why did you choose to follow Jesus?
How can we pray for you or someone in your life, today?

The most important decision you will ever make!

If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!

We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.

Pray Together

We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!

Ryan Coon