Acts Part 13

(Acts 17:1-34)

Acts 17:2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

This is something we see again and again.  Jewish leaders are not content just keeping these new ideas out of their own city, they feel C_____________________ to fight everywhere.

Imagine the danger that Paul saw for the people of Athens with such R_______________ I__________________ literally everywhere.

The Areopagus was the council that had authority over all religious activities and morals in Athens.  In many ways you could compare the Areopagus to the S_______________ C_________________.

Paul is both building common ground in order to better reach them with the G_____________, and he is also laying the groundwork for the beliefs that he will have to C______________________ in bringing them to Christ.

One of the most difficult beliefs that he will face is the idea that God does not R________________ in a physical temple.

The claim that Jesus was resurrected from the dead was a real shocker.  They did not in any way believe in bodily resurrection, so while they might find some common ground in other teachings of Paul, the idea being resurrected from the dead both S_______________ and D_____________ the Areopagus.

Take Away Lesson: In every circumstance of our lives, we have a choice.  We can focus on the things we find intolerable and give up, or we can seek the hidden gems of God’s blessing withing that circumstance and press on.

Acts 17:32 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.”