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Reach Month Message 05 of 06
When the Gospel Meets People Where They Are
Pastor Anthony King· April 19, 2026
Acts 17:16-34
0:001:13:11
A sermon on Acts 17:16-34 and meeting people where they are with the Gospel. A heart stirred by the Gospel speaks of Jesus with compassion and urgency, engages people's beliefs wisely, and leads them to Jesus as Creator, Savior and Judge, centered on repentance and the resurrection.
“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.”
Acts 17:16
A stirred heart will move us to speak about Jesus.
Seeing people in bondage to sin should drive us to action, not apathy.
And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.Mark 6:34
A Gospel‑moved heart will look for every opportunity to speak of Jesus.
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we can not but speak the things which we have seen and heard.Acts 4:18-20
Faithful witnesses start where people are and lead them to who Jesus is.
Wise evangelism starts where people are and guides them to the truth.
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Gospel conversations turn vague ideas about “god” or “the universe” into a clear declaration of the true and living God as revealed in Jesus.
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.1 John 5:20
The Gospel confronts our idols by proclaiming the one true God as Creator, Ruler, and Judge.
When we share the Gospel, we must clearly declare that God is the Creator and Lord, not a product of man’s ideas or religion.
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.Isaiah 45:5-6
True evangelism calls people to turn from their idols through repentance, because a day of righteous judgment is coming.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.Hebrews 9:27-28
The risen Jesus is God’s final proof and the only hope for every sinner.
The resurrection of Jesus is God’s public, undeniable proof that Jesus is Lord, Judge, and Saviour.
And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:Romans 1:4
Whenever the Gospel is preached, some will mock, some will delay, but God will always save some who believe in the risen Jesus.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.1 Corinthians 1:18
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.Romans 1:16
Let God stir your heart by what you see in our city.
Enter everyday conversations by starting where people are, listen well, then gently turn the talk toward who Jesus is and what He has done.
Be clear and unashamed about sin, repentance, and coming judgment, trusting that the power is not in your skill but in God’s Word.
Speak often of the resurrection of Jesus, calling people to a personal response, and leave the results with God as you faithfully sow the Gospel.
Many people you know will never actually attend a church service. Be ready with the Gospel to meet them where they are.
We can be culturally intelligent and theologically uncompromising at the same time.
16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 17Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. 18Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 19And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? 20For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) 22Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33So Paul departed from among them. 34Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Acts 17:16-34
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