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Lesson:

We must be willing to defend God's truth by being a light in a dark world.

Extras

• Character Profiles

  • Paul in Athens and Corinth

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    Paul in Athens and Corinth

    

    The Apostle Paul was a bold defender of his faith in the Almighty God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While in Athens, Greece, Paul preached, reasoned, and debated with everyone who would listen including Jews, Gentiles, philosophers, and the high council.

    • Bible References

      • Acts 17:17
      • Acts 23:6
      • Acts 22:3
      • Acts 17:6
      • Acts 17:32-34
      • Acts 17:16-34
      • Acts 18:1

  • Aquila and Priscilla

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    Aquila and Priscilla

    

    Aquila and Priscilla were a married couple who came from Italy to Corinth when Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. When Paul came to Corinth he met Aquila and Priscilla and stayed in their home. Paul and this couple shared the same trade as tentmakers. Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos preaching in Ephesus and further trained him in God's Word. The couple had church services in their home and were held in high esteem by the Apostle Paul for their work in spreading the Gospel. Paul even credited them with saving his life!

    • Bible References

      • Acts 18:3
      • Acts 18:1-3
      • Acts 18:18-19
      • Acts 18:24-26
      • 1 Corinthians 16:19
      • Romans 16:3-5
      • 2 Timothy 4:19

• Videos

  Paul Meets Aquila and Priscilla

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    Paul Meets Aquila and Priscilla

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    Chris and Joy Make a Presentation

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    Paul and the Unknown God - The Salvation Poem

• Q & A

  • How can I defend God's truth and at the same time be the light of Jesus in this world?

    Not everyone believes in God and the Gospel. In fact, we are surrounded by darkness and unbelief. To defend the faith, we must be ready and willing to live a life of truth to shine the light of Jesus so others can find the way to life. Speaking the truth is effective but words only go so far if we don’t combine it with actions.
    The key is to be ready and willing! 1 Peter 3:15 says: You must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
    We can look past this verse and think it is about worshiping God in church. However, this is talking about worship in the form of walking in obedience to God’s Word and serving as Christ did every day!
    
    This is what Paul said in Romans 12:1: And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.
    Isn’t that good!? True worship is not just putting money in the offering plate, praying and singing songs in church. These are all good things we should do; but when we do these in a church servce, we are often surrounded by fellow believers. True worship is dedicating our lives to living for God outside of church in front of unbelievers and doubters! This is what pleases God. Sacrifices on altars involve fire and flames. When we are a living sacrifice for God; people will see the light of our faith and passion!
    
    Jesus said in Matthew 5:16: In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
    These deeds do not obtain our salvation; rather, they are out of gratitude for eternal life through Christ and what He did! By doing good works, we provide light to a dark world that needs to experience genuine love and receive hope.
    
    Proverbs 4:18 says: The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
    
    Ephesians 5:7-11 says: Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
    People will take notice of the changes in our lives. The light in our lives will expose the evil and impure things in the world. By doing this, we defend the truth and stand strong in our faith!
    
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 1 Peter 3:15

  • Is there any excuse someone can have for not knowing God?

    In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote: For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God. (Romans 1:20).
    
    Paul boldly said that there was no excuse for not knowing God. This is even more true today with the internet and all forms of technology, media, and printed matter available to us. There are countless opportunities to learn of God and to know Him if you desire to.
    
    Paul was troubled by all of the idols he saw in the city of Athens. The people even had an altar inscribed with the words: “To an Unknown God.” Paul declared the one true God to them and said in Acts 17:27-28: His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him—though He is not far from any one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’
    
    God not only can be known; He WANTS to be known. He desires to have an intimate relationship with all of us. Paul said that God's whole purpose was for us to seek and find Him. God is not a moving target that is difficult to locate; He is near to all of us.
    
    Isaiah 55:6 says, Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on him now while He is near.
    God’s Spirit calls to us to discover and know Him. It doesn't stop; even when we have a relationship with Him, He gently and persistently knocks so we will invite Him into every part of our lives. (Revelation 3:20).
    
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • Romans 1:20

  • How can I win someone's trust so that I may freely share the Gospel with them?

    Paul’s focus and purpose was to win people to Christ. To do this, he gave up some of his own freedoms to find an entry or launching point for sharing the Gospel. For instance, Paul knew in Christ that he was no longer under the law and could freely eat meat. However, he knew that this could offend Jews who had not yet discovered their liberty in Christ. Because of this, he chose not to eat meat in their presence. His personal rights or desires took a back seat to reaching others for Christ. He encouraged us to not do anything that might cause someone weak in faith to stumble. (1 Corinthians 8:12-13; Romans 14:21).
    
    Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:24, Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
    Is there other common ground we can find that someone believes in or is passionate about? Jesus came to the seacoast to find Peter and Andrew. He called them to be fishers of men, relating something familiar to them to His plans for them. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit inside of us; He will lead us and guide us in unique ways in which we can find common ground with others to share our faith.
    
    1 Peter 3:15 says: You must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
    
    One of the most effective ways to share the Gospel is to live it before others so they can see our sincerity. By doing this, we create common ground and break down barriers. We stir up a hunger for the peace and hope that Christ can give as we model it over time. That common ground is peace and hope, not that the world gives, but only through Christ.
    
    Finally, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19, Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave (servant) to all people to bring many to Christ.
    Being a servant to others as Christ modeled will develop trust and lower barriers that people often put up. By serving others, we share God’s love and draw them to Christ.
    
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 1 Corinthians 10:24

  • How can I know God's truth to make wise choices?

    In Thessalonica, Paul reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews. He used the Scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. Some believed, others did not. Some of the Jews were jealous and refused to listen to the truth. They stirred up a mob and Paul was forced to flee to Berea. (Acts 17:1-9).
    Paul went to the synagogue in Berea and picked up where he had left off in Thessalonica. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men. (Acts 17:11-12)
    As believers, we should always seek the truth and not just believe all that we hear from the internet, television, books or from people we know. God has given us His Spirit who lives inside us. He is our teacher and He will lead us into all truth. (John 14:26).
    1 John 2:27 says: But you have received the Holy Spirit, and He lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what He teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as He has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
    
    The Holy Spirit gives us discernment to judge what is real and accurate and what is not. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 tells us to test everything that is said and hold on to what is good. When we hear something, we should run it through the filter of the Holy Spirit that God has given us. If it does not line up with God’s Word, we should reject it. The Thessalonians had a different filter called man-made religion and tradition. They rejected the truth found in God’s Word.
    
    Let our daily prayer be Psalm 25:5: Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You.
    
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 1 John 2:27

  • Does true wisdom come from God or the world?

    When Paul was in Athens, he regularly debated with respected religious leaders, philosophers and city leaders. These men spent their time discussing and learning the latest ideas. There was no lack of wisdom in the city; yet, worldly wisdom isn’t necessarily the same as God’s true wisdom. (Acts 17:16-21).
    
    Jesus said that you can gain the entire world but lose your life (soul). (Mark 8:36). Solomon, being the wisest man on Earth in his time came to this conclusion in his life. He had everything, wisdom and the riches of the world--more than anyone at the time! In Proverbs 9:10 he said: Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
    
    Paul was a scholar himself, and was often surrounded by wise men and the wisdom of the world. Here is what he said about it: So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Cor 1:20-24)
    
    From Solomon in the Old Testament to Paul in the New Testament, they said the same thing: God and Jesus are the foundation of wisdom. If you miss this, you are not wise, and you could even be called foolish! God has made the wisdom of the world look foolish.
    
    So, how do we get this pure, true, superior wisdom? All we must do is ask.
    James 1:5 says: If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
    You have to love that! Not only will God give us wisdom, but generously! God is not stingy about it and we never have to worry about Him turning us away or being angry that we come back over and over again to ask!
    
    Here is what the Bible tells us about the kind of wisdom that God generously gives:
    But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. (James 3:17).
    
    Couldn't this wisdom that can make a difference in this world? This kind of wisdom will not only give us peace and security, it will attract others to God’s Kingdom. Solomon concluded in Proverbs 6:7, Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
    
    You don't have to be wise to understand that simple statement! The wisest thing we can do is to seek God for His wisdom. The wisdom of the world is important, but it can only take us so far. Let us first seek the wisdom from God above and He will add everything that we need. (Matthew 6:33).
    
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 1 Corinthians 10:24