“Reaching Outsiders” (Part Three)

Paul’s Appeal

We have observed Paul with outsiders on the streets of Athens and found his attitude and approach worthy of our emulation. In our final consideration of the Athens story, we can learn much from Paul’s appeal.

Paul started in Genesis but arrived at Jesus. In our evangelism, we need to ask: Where is this person on their spiritual journey? This is a key question, and the answer may be the result of many get-togethers over coffee. If we are patient, we will arrive where Paul did on Mars Hill: “[God] has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man [Jesus]” (Acts 17:31).

Dan Kimball wrote the book They Like Jesus But Not the Church. We may be disturbed by the title and become defensive, but the message it presents is significant: Seekers today are drawn to the Jesus of the Gospels!

Embrace the response. We will meet some skeptics today who will be mockers of the gospel story just as they were in Paul’s day. Others will not be ready to believe and become a part of the kingdom of God. Be patient and, as an old song says, “keep on praying until the light breaks through.”

Rejoice over new converts (Acts 17:34). Some have made disparaging remarks about the meager response Paul received. But thank God for the men courageous enough to publically declare their faith in Jesus. And thank God for Damaris and Dionysius who were saved out of pagan idolatry.

Our challenge today is very similar to what Paul faced. Will our attitude, approach, and appeal resemble his? Will there be a time when we experience a response like his? This is my prayer for myself and for you.