Overview:
“It was easier to find a god than a man in Athens,” according to one ancient writer. Wading through the sea of idols, Paul couldn’t keep silent. He responded with righteous anger and spoke with courage and skill, preaching a six-sentence sermon that some responded to in faith. Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in this riveting account of Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill (Acts 17). Learn how you, too, might become a better communicator of the truth, by knowing your audience, speaking the truth without fear, and surrendering the results to God.
Message Summary:
In “Preaching as Paul Preached,” Chuck Swindoll examines the masterclass in communication and spiritual courage delivered by the Apostle Paul in Athens. Surrounded by a “sea of idols,” Paul’s spirit was provoked not to condemnation, but to a skillful and culturally relevant proclamation of the one true God. Swindoll explores how Paul engaged with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers on Mars Hill, utilizing their own cultural markers to introduce the “Unknown God.” This message highlights that effective preaching and sharing of the Gospel require a deep knowledge of the audience, the courage to speak the truth without fear of intellectual ridicule, and a total surrender of the final results to the work of the Holy Spirit.
Message Key Facts:
- The Provocation of Spirit: Paul’s initial reaction to Athens was “righteous anger” or being deeply stirred because the city was full of idols, demonstrating that a godly leader is sensitive to the spiritual state of their environment.
- The Arena of Ideas: Paul did not hide in a church building; he went to the marketplace and the Areopagus (Mars Hill), engaging directly with the leading thinkers of his day.
- The Strategy of Commonalities: Paul used the Athenian altar “To An Unknown God” and quoted their own poets to build a bridge to the message of the Resurrection, modeling how to find common ground without compromising truth.
- The Six-Sentence Sermon: Swindoll notes the brevity and skill of Paul’s address, which moved logically from God as Creator to God as Judge, culminating in the necessity of repentance.
- Varied Responses: The sermon resulted in three distinct reactions: mockery, procrastination (“We will hear you again”), and belief, reminding us that the messenger is responsible for the delivery, while God is responsible for the harvest.
Message References:
- The Observation of an Idolatrous City
- Paul’s experience in Athens and his discussions with those in the marketplace and synagogues.
- Scripture: Acts 17:16–18 (His spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols).
- The Invitation to the Areopagus
- The transition to the formal setting of Mars Hill and the curiosity of the Athenian philosophers.
- Scripture: Acts 17:19–21 (“May we know what this new teaching is…?”).
- The Proclamation of the Unknown God
- Paul’s brilliant opening and his explanation of God as the Creator of the world who does not dwell in temples made by hands.
- Scripture: Acts 17:22–25 (“What you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you”).
- The Call to Repentance and Resurrection
- The climax of the sermon, addressing the judgment of the world through the Man whom God raised from the dead.
- Scripture: Acts 17:26–31 (God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent).
- The Result of the Witness
- The mixed reception of the message and the specific individuals who joined Paul in faith.
- Scripture: Acts 17:32–34 (Some sneered… but others said, “We shall hear you again…”).
