Bible ReadingActs 17:1–27Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’”
[00:23:55] [00:24:59] [00:26:27] [00:29:22] [00:34:53] [00:38:38]Mark 12:41–44And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
[00:05:20]John 6:1–14After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
[00:05:20]Acts 17:34But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
[00:33:43]Observation questions- What did Paul actually do in Thessalonica before some people were persuaded, and what message did he explain and prove from the Scriptures? [00:24:59]
- What did Jason do for Paul and Silas, and what did it cost him when the mob came to his house? [00:29:22]
- What pattern repeats in Thessalonica and Berea when Paul proclaims the word of God?
- In Athens, what did Paul observe about the city, and how did he use the altar “To the unknown god” to begin speaking about the true God? [00:34:53]
Interpretation questions- Jesus says the widow gave more than those who gave large sums because she gave “all she had.” What does this show about how God measures surrender differently from how people often measure it? [00:05:20]
- Paul went into synagogues, the marketplace, and the Areopagus rather than staying distant from people. What might this show about the kind of intentional presence God calls believers to have in everyday places? [00:24:59]
- Jason was not the public preacher, but he took real risk by opening his home. How does his example expand the understanding of what it means for a believer to participate in God’s mission? [00:29:22]
- Paul experienced belief, rejection, mockery, and opposition, yet Acts records Dionysius and Damaris by name. Why is it important for a believer to leave the results of faithful witness with God? [00:33:43]
Application questions- Where are you tempted to compare your resources, confidence, time, or platform with someone else’s? What would it look like for you to bring your actual “all” to God rather than measuring yourself against others? [00:05:20]
- Think about your work, school, neighborhood, family, or regular routines. Where might the Lord be giving you a small “oomph” to step out of the bleachers and into the game this week? [00:10:15]
- Jason’s role was hospitality, protection, and support. What is one behind-the-scenes way you could help someone else serve Jesus or care for people this week? [00:28:45]
- Have you ever tried to do something loving or faithful and then felt ignored, misunderstood, or rejected? How could remembering that God sees the whole story help you stay faithful? [00:30:31]
- What weakness, limitation, fear, or lack of resources most often makes you feel unqualified to serve God? How might God’s strength be displayed as you take one faithful step anyway? [00:20:54]
- Think of a practical kindness you could offer someone this week—helping with a need, bringing a meal, buying groceries, checking in, or serving in another way. How could you naturally connect that kindness to Jesus instead of leaving the person to think you are simply nice? [00:36:35]
- God has placed you in a particular time and place so that people may seek Him and find Him. Who is one person already near you who may need encouragement, prayer, a gospel conversation, or an invitation to know Jesus? [00:38:38]
