Listen up, little ones
Listen for the word provoked.
Reading
Acts 16:16 -17—Are You Provoked?
Optional Reading
Jeremiah 20:9
Keys for kids
- Paul was provoked by idolatry.
- Paul was jealous for God's worship and glory.
- Beacuse he was provoked, Paul acted.
Questions
- What does it mean to be "provoked"?
- What provokes you?
- What do you do about it?
Notes
(See below for all authors.)
Paul preached in Athens because he was provoked. Why was he provoked? Because the city was full of idols. The word translated “full of idols” could be described as a “forest of idols.” An idol in Athens was just as common as a tree in a forest. The entire city was perverted by false worship, and that provoked Paul.
As was mentioned yesterday, Jesus sits on the throne as the Me-diatorial King. The nations have been given to Him as His inher-itance. Jesus has no tolerance for false worship, and neither did Paul. In other words, Paul was jealous for the worship and glory of God. In the place of true worship, there was false worship and idola-try. It had to be stopped.
Because of this, Paul responded by preaching Jesus and the res-urrection. He didn’t sit around and brood until Timothy and Silas met with him so he could complain to them. He didn’t despair and say, “There’s no hope for this city!” Instead, he took action. He preached. May we also be provoked into righteous action at the idolatry we see around us!
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 119s, 51a
Prayer
- Ask God to provoke you for the right reasons.
- Pray for the reading and preaching of God’s word tomorrow.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.