The Gospel Goes to Athens

Here are the Soul Care notes for this week

Last week’s challenge was to get the most from God’s Word.  What are you as an individual and you as a group doing to get the most from God’s Word?

This week think about this:  Are you trying to understand the people you serve in order to better deliver the Word that they desperately need?

Read through Acts 17:16—34 together.

What was the basic message Paul told the people?

A good question to examine your life is:  If only I had _______, I would be happy.

What are some things you have placed in that blank that shouldn’t be there? 

What are the four meta-narratives, big ideas, Pastor Duke shared on Sunday?  What is the importance of each one?

1.  God
2.  Man

3.  Sin
4.  Salvation

-Part one – God
-God is Creator (He made the world and everything in it v. 24)
-God is Ruler (being Lord of heaven and earth v. 24)
-God is Transcendent (He doesn’t dwell in temples made by man v. 24)
-God is Self-Sufficient – Asceity (he is not served my human hands as if he needed something v. 25)
-God is Imminent – (he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything v. 25)
-God is Sovereign – (see verses 26-28)

-Part two – Man

 -Man is created

-Man is a worshipper (he makes gold, silver and stone images my his own imagination – v 29)

-Man is ignorant of his Maker (the times of ignorance are overlooked v. 30)

-Part three – Sin

-Man must repent…In his ignorance he doesn’t go the right way…he sins (now God commands all people everywhere to repent v. 30)
 
-Part four – Salvation
- Ultimate salvation (he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness)
-A Savior…Redeemer (a man whom he has appointed who was raised from the dead v. 31)

Think about your life in light of these four things.  Share your salvation story with someone this week.  Use these four themes to focus your story on God and Jesus Christ not you.  Check out blog.emmanuelbaptist.com