Led by the Spirit: Journey Through the Book of Acts Part 2Sample

Day 10: Communicating the Truth of the Gospel

Do you have a friend who often shares big ideas and uses sophisticated language, but after the conversation, something feels off? You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you leave thinking, “That sounds right, but… that can’t be all there is to it!” Sometimes, what seems like deep intellectual conversation can miss the heart of the matter entirely.

In today’s passage, Paul addresses the Athenians who are known for their philosophical wisdom and many gods. Despite their religious practices, Paul identifies a significant problem: they are ignorant of the one true God. They have gods, altars, and statues, yet they do not know the True Creator who is not confined to temples. Even their "unknown god" (v23) reflects their incomplete understanding of the divine. Paul, in his wisdom, uses philosophical quotes familiar to them to correct their view of God (v28), pointing out that while their search for God may be sincere, it is incomplete. Paul then makes the message clear: the Creator has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ, and all people are called to turn to Him.

Paul’s message to the Athenians is just as relevant today. Like them, many people are genuinely searching for God in various places, but they miss the full truth found only in Jesus. As believers, we are called to share this truth with others, guiding them to the knowledge of the one true God. We can learn from how Paul engages the Athenians by appealing to their intellect and cultural context without diluting the message. He meets them where they are, acknowledging their religious zeal, and uses their own references to connect to the Gospel. But he never compromises the core message of the Gospel—repentance and judgment through Jesus Christ.

This approach offers a valuable lesson in evangelism for us. We often encounter people from different backgrounds and worldviews, and while it's important to understand their perspective, we must never compromise on the Gospel message to make it more appealing. Like Paul, we are called to communicate the full truth of the Gospel in a way that resonates with people's lives and needs, without diluting its radical call to repentance and a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Reflect:

• Pray for courage to share the complete Gospel with others, meeting them where they are without compromising the truth of repentance and salvation in Jesus Christ.
• Ask the Lord for wisdom and ideas on how to engage the people we are reaching out to with the truth of the Gospel presented in a way that is relevant to them. Take time to pray for these people’s needs as well.