[Youth Group Bible Study from 8-20-26]
In this video we are going to see one young man (age 10) who is literally being pounded by a force stronger than he is – the Pacific Ocean. When the video begins, a lifeguard (age 16) is already on the scene, trying to pull the victim out of the surf. Things are not going well. Something nasty is about to happen. You can see it beginning at the top of the screen. A massive wave is coming. What is the lifeguard going to do? Will the young swimmer survive?
Open
your Bibles to Acts 17 and scroll down to verse 16. The Apostle Paul is in
Athens, Greece. He is waiting for two of his friends, Silas and Timothy, to
arrive from Berea. Let’s read.
“While Paul was waiting for them in
Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” – Acts 17:16
Those
statues were idols in Paul’s eyes, but they were gods in the eyes of the
Athenians. The Greeks would not take kindly to Paul telling them that they
were wrong in their beliefs. Was Paul afraid? Was the lifeguard in the video
afraid? Paul did what the lifeguard did.
What
did the lifeguard do just before the wave hit? He leaned into the wave.
Why? He was trying to reduce the surface area of his body so the wave
would have a reduced impact.
Time
for a little lesson in physics. Have you ever stuck your hand out of a car
window like this? (Flat) A car that’s going 65 mph? What happens when you go
like this? (Vertical) It just about rips your arm off, right? Whoa! The
lifeguard was making himself “aerodynamic” by leaning into the wave.
Paul
was really “leaning into” his missionary work. He didn’t know when Silas and
Timothy would arrive so he got busy sharing the Gospel. In the lifeguard video we can see
a few people coming to help. Maybe they’re named Silas and
Timothy. Lol! Not likely. But none of them were as determined as the teen
holding onto that kid. It’s the same with Paul. He was a determined evangelist -
just as we should be.
Let’s take a look at Paul and see exactly what he did. Maybe we can learn something. What’s the first thing he did when he got to Athens?
He observed. He went around the town, observing what they did. He learned their customs, their habits, their gods, and their traditions (v16).
He was distressed by what he saw. He cared deeply for the people he met there and wanted to help them come to know Jesus. (v16).
He reasoned with them. This took the form of debates – a back and forth discussion with unbelievers. Are WE up to doing something like that? (v17).
He met with them. And this was wherever and whenever. The Areopagus, the synagogue, the marketplace (v19, 22).
He redirected. He used one of the Athenian’s own statues to preach Jesus to them (v23).
So,
what are WE to do when talking to others about Jesus? Where do we even begin?
Well, we can start by getting to know those we are taking to, just like Paul
did. But before that we can pray for opportunities and for the Holy Spirit to
guide our thoughts and words. And remember, the first and greatest commandment
is to love God and love others (Luke 10:27). And we are also called to love our
enemies. These “enemies” have a tendency to suddenly appear when we are talking
about Jesus.
“’Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all
your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Luke 10:27
“Love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you.” – Matthew 5:44
“If anyone will not welcome you or listen to
your words, leave that home and shake the dust off your feet.” –
Matthew 10:14
Train yourselves. Spend time reading God's Word. It will get you ready for the big wave when you leave home and go out on your own. Back to sharing the Gospel for a moment.
Not
everyone is open to hearing the Gospel message. Turn to 2nd
Corinthians 11:24 This is what Paul endured.
“Five times I received from the Jews the
forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was
pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in
the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger
from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger
from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at
sea; and in danger from false believers. 27I have labored and toiled and
have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often
gone without food; I have been cold and naked." - 2 Corinthians 11:24-28
We
may lose friends, family members might get angry with us, but the key is to
never give up, like that lifeguard.
“Do not be surprised, my brothers and
sisters, if the world hates you.” - 1
John 3:13
“My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9
"For when I am weak, then I am
strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:10
"For to me, to live is Christ and to
die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean
fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn
between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but
it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body." - Philippians
1:21-24
Paul
was eventually beheaded in prison because he kept on preaching the Gospel.
And
how do we know whether or not what we say might work on someone and, over time,
they would come to believe?
There is a cool story from a man named Lee Strobel who was sharing the Gospel one day at work. God's message of grace and hope did not return void (link below).
“My word that goes out from my mouth, shall not return to me empty; but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing which I sent it.” – Isaiah 55:11
Is there anyone in YOUR life who needs to hear the Good News about Jesus? Is anyone “drowning” in worldliness and in need of a rescue? In need of Jesus? Speak to them. Follow Paul's example. Lean into sharing the Gospel with God's Word and the Holy Spirit. Save a life, right here, right now.
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