Lesson for 11/22

Hey all, the Sunday school lesson for tomorrow comes from Acts 17:1-4, 10-12, 22-25, 28. "Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens" - The lesson focuses still on Paul and Silas's journeys as they continue to spread the gospel. In Acts 17 they begin their preaching work in Thessalonica, where Paul is "³ 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.” ⁴ 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." - They were explaining the importance, the sacrifice and how important it was for Jesus to die for our sins, and be raised; as He was the greatest sacrifice on behalf of mankind. John 3:16 reminds us, that "for God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son, whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." That was the disciples mission! To draw people closer to God, through His Son Jesus. Its our mission today too. The publication skips around with the scriptures - I always encourage to read the entire chapter for yourself. The verses I am being led to focus on today are verses 28-33. Paul is telling the men of Athens. 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.’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. ³⁰ The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, ³¹ 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.”³² Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” ³³ So Paul went out from their midst. ³⁴ But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

These last verses speak so much volume, the disciples are telling them (and us) that God commands everyone to repent. He has appointed His Son Jesus, who sits at His right side (Like 22:69) to carry out His Will. As believers today, those who are actively seeking to carry out the purpose God has for them; to spread the good news of His Son, there will be hard times. Verse 32 brings out how some of the people mocked them and their preachings; that will happen, but to God be the glory, there will still be people that we will reach, encourage, love, and more importantly, save!

Thanks for reading! Stay blessed all!