The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 17:17-23, “And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. And some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”– because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? 20 “For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; we want to know therefore what these things mean.”

21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

22 And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, ‘Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. 23 For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.” What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.’”

Evangelism is not easy. The kind of evangelism in which I was engaged for many years, was quite different from Paul’s. I went into churches to preach. Church members invited lost friends to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Paul was in enemy territory. Yes, he preached in Jewish synagogues, too, but even there he encountered opposition.

Anytime Jesus Christ is proclaimed there is opposition! The philosophers that Paul engaged in Athens opposed his message, still they openly said, “We want to know.” Obviously, the LORD was working on them to bring them to faith in Jesus. You and I have encountered people who stubbornly resisted our message about Jesus; yet, in their hearts they really want to know what it’s all about.

Paul began his message by leveraging off of the Athenians’ “Unknown god.” When we witness, we need to find common ground with our hearers. (“Where do you attend church?”) Then we can move forward and tell them about Jesus (“That’s fine. When did you come to know Him?”) However they respond, you can proceed to tell them how you came to know Him. Always be loving, as He is to you.

Far down in this passage (vv. 32-34), we learn the results of Paul’s witness. Some sneered. Some believed. It will always be this way. But the value of those won to faith in Christ always outweighs the hurt of those who sneer and reject Him. He is alive! And He will prove it to all who will believe.

We pray earnestly for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”