1. The Unhindered Harvest
Acts:
The Unhindered Harvest

2. Finding Our Way Not merely history How the gospel spreads
Demonstration of God’s sovereignty
Model for ministry

3. Acts 17:16-20 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.

4. 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.

5. And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?”

6. Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

7. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?

8. For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.”
New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995

9. Running or Relocating? Movement and mission
Tactical team not an occupying force
Fleeing was not from a faltering faith

10. A Heart Provoked An emotional response Response to idolatry
Response was provocative yet measured

11. A Heart Provoked
Response was a reflection
God’s heart
God’s mind

12. A Heart Provoked
“Rather than viewing it from the perspective of a tourist, he saw Athens as a city full of lost men and women, doomed…” (MacArthur, pg. 131)

13. Worldviews Challenged
Epicureans and Stoics
Epicureans
Pleasure and avoidance of pain is primary
Any gods are distant, detached, and disinterested

14. Worldviews Challenged
Stoics
Self-mastery is primary
Chief aim is to be “non-feeling”
Emotional detachment

15. Worldviews Challenged
Both worldviews worship “self”
I fulfill me
Life is about me

16. Worldviews Challenged
The gospel confronts both
Created for God’s pleasure and glory
Autonomy from God is not life’s design
Accountable to God

17. Worldviews Challenged
The gospel confronts both
Dependent upon God’s provision
Created to give and serve in all relationships

18. Worldviews Challenged
Challenge brings offense
Offense demands an explanation

19. Reaping the Harvest Our mission is not to attack or change culture
Our mission is to proclaim Jesus
Proclaiming Jesus will do both
Reaping the Harvest