Again, we begin with the text.
- Paul was distressed (paroxuno: to stimulate or make angry) at the idolatry of the city. We usually get disturbed about those things we care about. Paul was not only a great thinker, but a great feeler as well.
- Interestingly, he kept one foot in the synagogue, among the people of God, and the other in the marketplace of Athens, engaging its inhabitants in relationship. This is a balanced approach, which the American church would do well to model.
- Evidently, Paul caught their attention, because they were asking him questions. Are we catching the attention of the world around us, or are they ignoring us?
- Paul engaged them on their own turf, quoting their own philosophers, verse 28.
- He got to the question and person of Jesus. Sooner or later, in marketplace ministry, we have to bring our listeners to the person of Christ.
- Lastly, the reaction of the crowd was mixed. There were some converts, some scoffers, and a few who wanted to hear more. Paul experienced a mixed response in his marketplace ministry, just like we often do.
Consider the following questions.
- When you are in the marketplace, what do you observe that distresses you?
- How do you go about introducing the person of Jesus into your spiritual conversation?
- What doors in the marketplace have opened for you to share Jesus, and how did you take advantage of those?
- What were the results?
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