Listen up, little ones
Listen for the words synagogue and marketplace.
Reading
Acts 17:16-21—Strategic Witness
Optional Reading
1 Cor 9:19-23
Keys for kids
- Paul was moved to action by the idols in Athens.
- Paul bore witness to Jesus and the resurrection in the public square.
- Paul's preaching caught the attention of the philosophers.
Questions
- Do you come up with excuses not to witness?
- Do you use strategy when you witness?
- How do you witness?
Notes
(See Saturday for authors.)
The story of Paul in Athens comes at the tail end of the second missionary journey. In fact, he didn’t necessarily intend to stop there; he was just waiting for his friends to arrive so they could go on together.
However, that didn’t stop Paul from taking action. It would’ve been easy to say, “I don’t have much time. Timothy and Silas will get here any day. It would be better to keep my head down.” Instead, Paul bore witness to the risen Christ.
There were two places where Paul focused his efforts: the synagogue and the marketplace. He went to the synagogue because that was the first place he always visited in the different cities. The second location he visited is worth thinking about for a moment. The marketplace, or “Agora,” was more than just a farmer’s market. It was the social center of the city. Both commodities and ideas were exchanged there. Therefore, it made sense for Paul to go to the place where everyone was at.
From this, we should consider our own strategy in evangelism. This doesn’t necessarily mean that we must find the equivalent of the Agora in our own city, but we should give serious consideration to where we can have the greatest contact with unbelievers.
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 67c, 51a
Prayer
- Pray that God would make you wise in your witness.
- Pray for the preparation for preaching God’s Word this Lord's Day.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.