Observation: When Paul wrote about becoming "all things to all people," that was no joke. He had this uncanny ability to tap into the culture in which he was sharing the Gospel, and speak their language, both literally and figuratively. In Athens, Paul knows he's facing a tough crowd. It's the intellectual and theological center of the Greco-Roman world. It's the central marketplace of ideas. The Araepagus is the Carnegie Hall of rhetoric and philosophical argument. Or, depending on your chops, it could also be the Apollo theater.
Paul is prepared. This is his moment.
He begins by flattering the Athenians: "I see how religious you are." You know, on account of the hundreds of polytheistic idols.
Then he sees his in: the "idol to an unknown God." Okay. We can work with this.
"What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you..."
And here comes the Gospel. One God, who made heaven and earth, is near to us always--in God we live, move, and have our being--and if that weren't good enough news, that God can be known in the person of Jesus, who walked among us, died for us, and now lives, having risen from the dead to show God's love.
Mic drop. This is it. If they don't buy this, I've got nothing.
And...
It ain't Pentecost. There's no three thousand baptisms. But the Athenians are intrigued. A few say, "we will hear from you again," which is high praise. And a handful of people begin their walk with Christ that day. To these few, this day made all the difference in the world.
Application: I just love this sermon. It's poetic, it's forceful, it's short and to the point, and most of all, it appeals to our common humanity. Everyone wants to feel that they are more than just an accident: that they were lovingly created by one who can be, and wants to be, known. As I read this sermon I just give thanks to God that I'm part of a movement tasked with simply telling a compelling and true story, and giving away love that changes the world.
Prayer: God, thank you for the message and mission you have given to us. Thank you for the privilege of giving away Good News to a world that badly needs it. Amen.
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