Finding Jesus in Others Through Context and Connection

May 10, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: At the Altar of Unknown Gods

Paul stood in Athens’ Areopagus, surrounded by philosophers and altars. He noticed their shrine “To an Unknown God” - not to condemn, but to connect. “What you worship as unknown, I proclaim to you,” he declared, quoting their poets to reveal Christ. [50:57]

Paul didn’t lead with judgment but curiosity. He honored their spiritual hunger while redirecting it toward Jesus. God had already planted eternity in their hearts; Paul simply named the Gardener.

You walk past modern “altars” daily - coworkers’ yoga mats, neighbors’ charity drives, friends’ social justice posts. These reveal holy hunger. Instead of dismissing them, ask: “What beautiful longing do I see here?” How might you name Christ in the language of their deepest hopes?

“People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.”
(Acts 17:22-23, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to show you one “unknown god” in someone’s life today - a holy hunger they can’t yet name.
Challenge: Text one person this week about a shared interest (sports, hobbies, causes) before discussing faith.

Day 2: Pasta and Open Hands

John McDonald’s team cooked 6,000 pounds of pasta, not as charity but as Christ’s handshake. They delivered meals to Scranton’s high-rises, solving physical hunger to awaken spiritual hunger. [04:10]

Jesus fed crowds before preaching. Full stomachs opened ears. The church becomes credible when we lead with service, not sermons. Every meatball proclaimed: “We see you. God sees you.”

Your community has tangible needs - laundry costs, car repairs, hospital bills. Meeting these isn’t “distraction” from ministry; it’s ministry. What problem can your hands solve this week to show Christ’s hands? Whose practical need might God call you to address first?

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
(Matthew 25:35-40, NIV)

Prayer: Confess areas where you’ve prioritized spiritual conversations over practical service.
Challenge: Sign up for one serving shift at a church outreach event this month.

Day 3: Ninety-Five and Still Serving

Arlene Brown founded a Rwandan school at 75. At 95, she still greets students daily, her bent frame declaring: Kingdom work outlasts earthly strength. [00:53]

Moses was 80 when he confronted Pharaoh. Anna worshipped nightly in the temple at 84. God honors persistent faithfulness over flashy triumphs. Arlene’s wrinkled hands build eternal classrooms.

Society tells you to retire from purpose as you age. Christ says otherwise. Whether you’re 19 or 90, your days are holy fuel. What kingdom project have you sidelined as “too late” to start? What small act of service can you begin this week, regardless of your age?

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
(2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for three older believers who modeled persistent faith to you.
Challenge: Write an encouraging note to someone over 70 still actively serving others.

Day 4: When Mothers’ Day Stings

The pastor prayed for women grieving infertility, loss, or fractured relationships. The church held both joy and pain, refusing to simplify complex stories. [07:33]

Jesus honored women society dismissed - the hemorrhaging woman, the Samaritan adulteress, Mary Magdalene. His church makes space for every heartache, every hidden wound.

Some seasons make “Happy Mothers’ Day” taste bitter. Christ invites raw honesty, not forced smiles. Who needs your gentle presence more than platitudes this week? How can you create safe space for someone’s unvarnished story?

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to make you sensitive to hidden griefs in others’ celebrations.
Challenge: Call someone who finds Mothers’ Day difficult and say, “I’m here to listen.”

Day 5: Chameleons for Christ

Paul became “all things to all people” in Athens - quoting philosophers, honoring altars, finding common ground. Like chameleons blending to survive, he adapted to share eternal truth. [52:58]

Jesus ate with tax collectors without becoming corrupt. Adaptation isn’t compromise; it’s strategic love. The gospel never changes, but our methods must - from Athenian poets to TikTok videos.

You’ve avoided spiritual conversations fearing you’ll “get it wrong.” But Christ asks for willingness, not eloquence. What shared interest - sports, music, parenting - could become your bridge to gospel conversations this week? Where might God be waiting in your existing relationships?

“A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”
(Acts 17:32-34, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God for courage to discuss faith with a friend you’ve known over a year.
Challenge: Initiate a spiritual conversation with one friend this month using shared interests.

Sermon Summary

We gather as a community designed to matter to one another and to the world. We remember a 95 year old leader serving a school in Rwanda as a vivid sign that faithful commitment outlives convenience, and we honor the way presence shapes who we are. We name grief and joy together on Mother’s Day, refusing to hide sorrow or dilute celebration, and we pledge to stand with those whose memories and hopes press heavy on their hearts. We see worship, prayer, and shared remembrances as practices that bind us and prepare us to act tomorrow.

We notice how context shapes meaning. We learn from simple examples and stories that the same word or action carries different messages depending on the setting. We commit to reading cultural cues, to listening, and to blending in enough that the life of Christ can be recognized in our ordinary gestures. We reject loud condemnation that alienates and instead choose humble connection that opens doors.

We study the example from Acts where the messenger met people inside their own world, quoting poets and acknowledging common ground before speaking the gospel. We resolve to make friends before we preach, to seek shared language before we deliver theological jargon, and to expect to find Jesus already present in the places we enter. We accept the hard work of sustained relationship rather than quick wins or angry signage.

We take seriously the call to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously as the necessary path to forming disciples for the transformation of the world. We practice open hospitality at the table, invite all to receive, and commit our offerings and actions to relationship building. We will blend in when needed so that Jesus can stand out, and we will keep returning to conversation, kindness, and patient witness until lives begin to change.

Key Takeaways

1. Community reveals our true identity We belong to a faith community that notices absence and feels loss, which proves our life together matters. We protect that identity by showing up, by naming grief and joy together, and by letting presence shape practice. Our shared life proves the gospel more than any tactic. [01:17]
2. Context shapes how we witness Words mean different things in different settings, so we learn to read surroundings before speaking. We allow the setting to form our language and actions so the gospel lands where people already live. Thoughtful context-reading prevents harm and opens doors. [33:30]
3. Relationships open doors for faith We will never get to spiritual conversation without a relationship first, so we invest time in friendship and trust. We choose patience over shouting, credibility over critique, and mutual respect over triumphalism. Long-term connections invite deeper questions. [56:19]
4. Serve joyfully, love boldly, lead courageously Our witness begins with how we love and serve, not with slogans or condemnations, because faithful service builds credibility for truth. Joyful service and courageous leadership create space where others will listen. We practice these habits as the foundation for making disciples. [60:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Rwanda and Uracundo
[00:53] - Arlene Brown’s witness
[01:17] - Missing our church community
[03:14] - Announcements and confirmation
[03:58] - High rise pasta dinner outreach
[05:59] - Mother’s Day reflections
[08:31] - Call to worship and prayer
[20:19] - Remembering Carolyn Edwards
[33:30] - Children’s lesson on context clues
[42:08] - Stories about context and connection
[49:36] - Paul in Athens and approach
[60:26] - Vision: love, serve, lead
[62:42] - Communion invitation
[82:08] - Closing, flowers, and benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Acts 17:22-31 (NIV)
John 14:15-21 (NIV)

Observation Questions

In Acts 17:22-27, how does Paul connect with the Athenians using their cultural context (e.g., altars, poets) before sharing the gospel?
Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.” What specific connection does this create between love and action?
The sermon shared a story about a man in India who opened up after a conversation about cricket. What role did shared interests play in creating space for spiritual discussion? [45:54]
How does Paul’s approach in Athens contrast with the “bullhorn guy” method described in the sermon? [51:23]

Interpretation Questions

Why might Paul’s choice to quote Athenian poets (Acts 17:28) have been more effective than directly condemning their idol worship?
The sermon emphasized blending in like a chameleon to let Jesus stand out. How does this balance cultural sensitivity with faithfulness to the gospel? [44:04]
Jesus says, “The world cannot accept [the Spirit of truth] because it neither sees him nor knows him” (John 14:17). How might relationships help others “see” and “know” the Spirit’s work?
Why is sustained relationship-building (rather than quick confrontations) essential for addressing “urgent needs” in a community, as seen in the high-rise pasta dinner example? [03:58]

Application Questions

Think of a relationship where you’ve avoided spiritual conversations. What shared interest or common ground (like Paul’s use of poetry) could you explore to build trust first?
Joyful service was highlighted as a foundation for credibility. What practical act of love (e.g., meals, listening, volunteering) could you prioritize this month to reflect Christ’s love without expecting anything in return?
When have you been tempted to “blend in” so much that Jesus’ distinctiveness was hidden? How can you adjust your actions or words to honor both connection and truth?
The high-rise pasta dinner met a practical need to open doors for relationship. What unmet need in your neighborhood or workplace could your small group address together? [04:10]
Reflect on a time when you felt judged by someone’s faith presentation. How could a focus on humble connection (rather than critique) have changed that interaction?
Who in your life resembles the “unknown god” seekers of Athens—people genuinely searching but lacking clarity? How can you prayerfully engage their questions this week?

Sermon Clips

39s

#DisciplesThroughRelationships

“This formula of making connections, this formula works today too. It works today. I promise you it does. If our goal is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, the only way we're going to do it, and I am rarely this black and white, I'm rarely this black and white, but the only way that we're going to do it, the only way that we're going to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of of the world is by building relationships with people. It's the only way.”

48s

#LoveNotJudgment

“For far too long, the Christian church has been seen as anti everything. For far too long, the Christian church has been perceived as anti science. For far too long, the Christian church has been perceived as anti intellectualism. For far too long, the Christian church has been seen as antisocial. For far too long, we seem to have been going into these situations with guns blazing and fingers pointing, yelling, no. No. No. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. But then we turn around and we say, Jesus loves you. We might not, but Jesus does.”

45s

#JesusIsAlreadyThere

“We have the misconception for far too long, we've had the misconception that we have to bring Jesus to a specific place or to a specific set of people when, in fact, Jesus is already there, and we're just trying to catch up. We convince ourselves that if we just yell louder than the opposition, that we will prove our point, that we will coerce or wear down those who do not yet follow Jesus, that we will somehow scare them into confessing Christ. But in reality, all that does is build a higher wall. That's all it does.”

44s

#LoveServeLead

“Before we can even think about making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, we serve joyfully. Before we even think about making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, we lead courageously because that's the only way. That's what builds relationship. Joyful serving, courageous leadership, bold love. We don't get to the other part if there's not the first part. We don't get to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world until we love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.”

49s

#FindJesusInOthers

“Even building relationships with people who we think might be wrong, people whose behaviors we might find offensive. We lead with our commonality. We lead by expecting to find Jesus in them and then pointing Jesus out when we see him. That's what Paul did. Anything less means that we, the church, remain judgmental and hypocritical. Anything less, and the church remains anti everything. When we lead with relationship, we will get the same results that Paul did in Athens.”

41s

#FriendsNotBullhorn

“But I care about what my friends have to say. I care about people who with whom I have a relationship. I care what they have to say, and that's what Paul does. Paul is the opposite of bullhorn guy. Paul could have gone into Athens gun guns blazing and told them that the city is going to be judged and the city's gonna burn because God hates all of the pagans in it. Paul could have said that God hates them, hates their lifestyle, hates their choices, hates everything about them, repent or die. Paul could have done that, but he chose not to.”

50s

#SeizeConnectionOpportunities

“I left the house, and as I went back to the hostel that day, I started to think about how many opportunities I have missed to tell people about Jesus simply because I didn't take the opportunity to know them or make a connection. Isn't that all this guy wanted? All this guy wanted was to be seen. That's all. He was suspect of me at best until he realized that I lucked into a chance to get to know him, a chance to make a connection. I lucked into a common thread that we had, and then I was able to talk about Jesus.”

43s

#LoveByActions

“That's all context clues. Well, here's a great context clue. We are Christians. We love Jesus. Yes. And so when we do things, people should know, people should be able to tell that we love Jesus by how we treat them. That's a context clue. Like, oh, they love Jesus. They must be nice. They love Jesus. They must offer us mercy and peace and joy. Does that make sense? Yeah. So, let's try let's try to remember. We can tell people that we love Jesus, or we can show them that we love Jesus. Let's try to show them.”

38s

“Elm Park, we don't get to talk to strangers about Jesus, So we'd better make some friends. May you expect to find Jesus wherever you are. May you build relationships in order to point out the unknown God. May you realize that wherever you go, Jesus is already there, and may you blend in so that Jesus can stand out. Amen.”

32s

Ask a question about this sermon

Elm Park United Methodist Church This sermon · AI assistant

How does context influence sharing the gospel?

What is the role of relationship in evangelism?

Why did Paul quote Athenian poets and philosophers?

Finding Jesus in Others Through Context and Connection

Devotional

Day 1: At the Altar of Unknown Gods

Day 2: Pasta and Open Hands

Day 3: Ninety-Five and Still Serving

Day 4: When Mothers’ Day Stings

Day 5: Chameleons for Christ

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Finding Jesus in Others Through Context and Connection

Share