Challenges to Belief(s) (9/19/23)
Acts 17
Freya
9/20/2023
Life Lesson(s)…
Acts 17 illustrates the challenges to the beliefs that people face. As noted throughout the chapter, some are challenged intellectually, emotionally, and/or physically. Paul intellectually challenged the people, first the Jews and then the Gentiles, as he used Scripture to "argue", "explain," "prove," and "reason" the Good News of Jesus Christ. Paul used the intellectual process to win many to the Lord. Reminding many that God does not want blind faith without relationship, but a relationship of love according to Matthew 22:37, where you love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul.
Through Paul's intellectual approach, he triggered the desires of the people as they became "persuaded", "eager" and some were open-minded in hearing a different perspective of their "unknown god," whom Paul equated to the Lord. In contrast, dissenters of the faith were emotionally goaded as they became "jealous," "mocked" and/or "stirred up."
Finally, out of the intellectual and/or emotional response, the people either chose to believe Paul's words and/or delved into the word of God for confirmation or "agitated" crowds and choosing instigators to silence Paul, Silas and any new converts they could get their hands on.
Your Thoughts…
For study, prayer and journaling as you feel called to:
Does this chapter connect with 1 Peter 3:8-22? If so, how? Do you believe that the challenges to beliefs are as layered as described in Acts 17? What do the intricacies, if any, that such challenges bring, reveal to you about yourself? God?
What do you think about God? Do you treat God as described in verse 29? Or do you treat God as a living being according to Matthew 22:37? Why do you do so? What would help you to see God in view of Matthew 22:37? I challenge you to pray for a sign or two for confirmation and see what happens.
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Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
ACTS 17: 29-31 (ESV)