DEFENDING THE GOSPEL:
GIVING REASONS FOR OUR HOPE
SESSION: 3
Teacher: Bill Payne
“. . . always being ready to make a defense. . . .” (1 Pet 3:15) [1]
WHERE DO WE TURN FOR REASONS TO DEFEND
THE GOSPEL?
Goals:
1. Review
2. To
examine different defenses of the Gospel in Scripture (Paul’s Defenses in
Thessalonica,
3. To understand that while the message of the Gospel does not change, the reasons given for its defense may vary according to the situation and the beliefs, personalities, and experiences of those with whom we reason.
4. To consider how we can begin to integrate different approaches to the defense of the Gospel into our personal witness.
Lesson:
People are different in their backgrounds and personalities. This is what makes hearing personal testimonies so exciting. The message of the gospel does not change but the ways in which God deals with people as individuals is amazing. Where we turn for our reasons will first be influenced by the story of God’s grace in our lives. Secondly, we must consider the people with whom we are sharing the Gospel.
Learning
From Paul’s Defense of the Gospel
1. Thessalonica
1. Now when they had
traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia,
they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 And according to Paul's custom, he went to
them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned [diale,gomai,, of a reasoned discussion discuss] with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and giving evidence that the
Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying,
"This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ."
4 And some of them were persuaded and joined
Paul and Silas, along with a great multitude of the God-fearing Greeks and a
number of the leading women. (Acts
17:1-4)
1. What does this
passage from God’s Word tell us about the people with whom Paul was sharing the
Gospel?
2. How much time does
Paul spend with the people of Thessalonica in order to share the Gospel? What are the implications of this for us in
our presentation of the Gospel message?
3. Where does Paul turn
for the reasons he gives to the Thessalonians?
4. According to this
passage what should we be able to do when reasoning with others about the
Gospel?
2.
Synagogue and Market Place in
16 Now while Paul was
waiting for them at
17 So he was reasoning in the synagogue with
the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day
with those who happened to be present.
18 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.
(Acts 17:16-18)
1. What is Paul’s reaction as he
observes the situation in
2. From the text, what seems to be the content of Paul’s message?
3. It what ways is Paul’s reasoning
in
2.
Areopagus In
Where and What was the Areopagus?
The Areopagus
was formerly known as the “council of the Areopagus,
the most famous tribunal in the ancient world.
It met on the Hill of Mars, which got its name from the legend of the
trial of Mars for the murder of
In Athenes befoe the democracy (which assumed power in the 5th c. B.C.) the Areopagus had broad powers over religious and criminal matters. It was the body that condemned Socrates to death for impiety, and they also brought charges against Protagoras, Anaxagoras, and Socrates. Under the democracy they lost power, but during the Roman period they enjoyed a resurgence of prestige. The language of verse 19 is consistent with their lessened coercive power: May we know. . .” It was an official request from an august body, and Paul was obliged to accept their offer.”[2]
Who are the Philosophers?[3]
|
Epicureans |
Stoics |
|
|
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.
24
"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of
heaven and earth, does not cdwell in temples made with hands;
25 neither
is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself
gives to all life and breath and all things;
26 and He
made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth,
having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their
habitation,
27 that
they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though
He is not far from each one of us;
28 for in
Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For
we also are His offspring.'
29
"Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine
Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought
of man.
30
"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring
to men that all everywhere should repent,
31 because He has fixed a day in which He will
judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having
furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."
32 Now when
they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but
others said, "We shall hear you again concerning this."
33 So Paul
went out of their midst. (Acts 17:
19-32)
1. How does Paul begin his defense to those who
want to know more about “this new teaching”?
2. What information about God does Paul provide?
3. Where does Paul turn for support of his view of
God?
4. The philosophers Paul quotes are Epimenides the Cretan and Aratus. What is the significance of Paul using these
quotes?
5. How does Paul challenge the worldviews of the
philosophers?
6. In what ways is Paul’s presentation to the
philosophers in
7. What implications does Paul’s presentation to
the philosophers have for our defense of the Gospel?
·
We should be
familiar as possible with the worldviews of those with whom we share. This is not just so that we can be friends
with them but know how to challenge unbelievers. We must also keep in mind that all worldviews
outside of Christ stem from the same lie and need to be confronted with the
truths of the Gospel.
·
Paul uses
several different lines of argument.
o
He appeals to
the reasonableness of belief in God.
o
He
demonstrates the faults of human reasoning.
o
He provides
evidence.
o
He confronts
his listeners with their moral failure before God.
o
He confronts
his listeners with the justice of God in judgement.
3. Paul’s
Defense Before Agrippa
12 "While thus engaged as I was journeying to
13 at
14
"And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in
the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you
to kick against the goads.'
15
"And I said, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you
are persecuting.
16 'But
arise, and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to
appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have
seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; (Acts 26:12-16)
1. What does Paul tell Agrippa in this text as
part of his defense?
2. In what ways is this different from the reasons
given in Thessolonica and
3. What implications does this defense by Paul
have for our presenting the reasons for our hope?
Choosing
the Best Defense
Getting to Know The Person
Before becoming involved in defending the Gospel
it is a good idea to get to know person(s) with whom you
Talking.
The attached chart will give you some ideas of areas to explore.
Selecting a Defense
The attached chart provides four sources to which
we can turn for reasons. As you read the
different sources think about characteristics of the people to whom they might
appeal.
Optional Homework:
Think about what you would say to someone who does
not believe in God or is not sure if God exists or not. Also give some thought to what you would say
to a person who generally believes there is a god but does see the existence of
that god as being at all significant.
Read Chapter 4 in John Frame’s Apologetics to
the Glory of God
[1] All
scripture quotations are taken from the New Americans Standard Bible,
[2] Morley, Brian, “The Modern Christian on Mars Hill,” A presentation at the 2003 Truth and Life Conference at The Master’s College.
[3] Adapted from Morley, Brian, “The Modern Christian on Mars Hill”