As Some of Your Own Poets Have Said
by the Rev. AJ Ochart
Sermon Notes
This week we continue with Paul on his missionary journeys. Paul, Silas, and Timothy have had a rough go of it. After Philippi, they went to Thessalonica where Paul ticked off some of the more wealthy denizens, who chased them out of town (where have I heard that before?). After that, they traveled to Berea where they were received warmly, and the Bereans studied the scriptures to confirm what they were being told. However, the crowd from Thessalonica found out that he was in their neighboring city, and caused a ruckus. Since Paul was getting all of the bad press, he left town while Silas and Timothy finished things up in Berea.
Now Paul finds himself in the vibrant city of Athens, the home to (what we would call) classical philosophy. Masters like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle walked these very streets discussing the foundations of reality and the virtues of knowledge. Paul, however is struck by how many idols and temples are around. Paul quickly gets to arguing with anyone who is willing (which in Athens is several), and gets invited to speak at the Areopagus.
Our text for this week is a version of the sermon he gave there. We will see the fascinating way that he appeals to Greek poets and even an alter that he came across to proclaim the Gospel. We will also consider the ways that seeing God through the eyes of others can widen our view.
Questions to Consider
– Have you had the experience of cross-cultural communication?
– How have you seen God, inspiration, or wisdom from a different culture?
– How has your faith been enriched by discussion with a person from a different faith tradition?
