Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-09-09
MPR0vEy CNir0EM INTERNATIONAL
Sil19ldayScl1ool
' Lesson '
NY REV. =, b. FITZWATER, u. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
10, 1921, Western Newspaper Unlon)
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER II
PAUL IN ATHENS.


move, and have our being.--Acts UPS
REFERENCE MATERIAI.-Luke il6-
M
PRIMARY TOPIC-Paul Telling the
-'eople about God.
JUNIOR TOPlC-Paul in Athens.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
In Famous Greek City.
YOUNG PEOPLE IND ADULT TOPIC
Paul In n Center Of Learning Being
Driven from Befea, Pau Fled to Athens.
L. The idoatry Of The Atnenans
". 1G.
Athens was the intellectual metrop-
oils Of the world at that time, the
home Of the worlds great eIoQueLce
and philosophy. Paul's spirit was
stirred within him when he saw the
city wholly given to idolatry.
". The Parties Concerned wv. II
2D.
True to his usual custom Paul went
into tie Jewish synagogue and entered
INTO enrnes argument with the Jews.
From them he turned to such rs were
found In the market place. Here he
came into touch with the Epicurean
and Stole philosophers. The former
were atllal.tic mnterialists. They dc
MED the doctrine Of Creation, They
gave themselves up TO sensual in
dulgences since they had no idea of
future Judgment. The latter were
panthelsts. When they heard the
preaching Of Paul they desired to
know whit new doctrine he preached,
so they Invited him to the Areopagus
where he might speak to them of his
new doctrine. They inquired as to
what this "babber' might say. The
word "babhlcr' means literally "seed-
picker" They conceived Paul rs n
elJbe-trotter who had gathered up
seeds Of truth here and there over the
world, and that he was somewhat like
themselves. Interested in talking about
that which he knew.
~. Paul's Address on Mars Hill
wv. 23-3D.
l. The introduction wv. %, 49, He
did not accuse them of superstition"
as the A. V. would make it, but as In
the Am. Il. V. he introduces his dis
course in courteous and c0ncilatory
manner, stating that he perceived that
they were very religious This he OK.
planned By stating that as he was view.
Ing their city he beheld an altar with
an inscription "To the Unknown God.
This was his point of contact. DE
proceeds at dice to connect it with
the idea of the living God implying
that this altar had been erected to
Hin. He was tcO wise to begin at
once to denounce heathenism and
idolatry.
., The body of his discourse wv.
2f3D.
Q) A declaration concerning God
wv. "a, 25). (a) lie created the
material universe ". 2D. This was
direct blow at the philosophy of both
the Eplcureans and the Stoics. He did |
not attempt to prove the existence of |.
God; 1t needs no proof. The Bible
everywhere assumes the existence OF |
divine being % His spirituality
and immensely wv. -, 2j). He Is
not served with mems hands as
though he needed anything" neither
Is He confined by any sort of religious
temple. Being essentially spiritual
He demands heart-servlce, and being .
transcendent above all He is not con.
fined to earthly temples. (c) His nc. .
tive providence ". 25). He gives ex.
istence, bestQws needed gifts, and as
sovereign directs all things.
(2) Declaration concerning man wv
26.3D. (m His common origin ". 2G)
This was blow ut the foolish Athen.
ian pride which supposed that they
were superior to all other people This
proposition he proved from their own
literature (see V. 2S). If men are the
offspring of God and bear His like.
ness 1t Is utter folly to make images
as the senseless idols were. (b) Ma.
tons have their place by the soy
ereign purpose Of God ". 2G). The
position and mission of each nation Is
of Gods appointment (c) Men should
seek God ". 26). His goodness ana
grace in supplying all our needs, and
ordering even the affairs OF the ma.
tons should move man to see and seek
God for He is indeed very near 10
every one; so near that our existence
and movements are all under His con.
troll ". 27). (d) Pressing obligation
to repent wv. 80, 81. This was his
message Though God had
formerly passed over ld0latry He now
calls 10 all men to repent. The solemn
reason for such action Is the coming
day of Judgment, the credentlal Of
which Is the resurrection Of Jesus
Christ from the dead. The Judgment
of God of IN unbelieying world is as
sure as this fact. Men will be Judged
on the basis of their attitude toward
Jesus Christ.
W. Result of Paul's Preaching wv.
32-3D.
/. Some Knocked w. 32). This Is
ever the case. Today men and women
are hooking the preacher who breaches
4 judgment 20 come. The attitude of
the mocker does not alter The fact OF
Judgment.
.. Some procrastlnated ". 32). This
g the common way of men. They may
not mock, but they hesitate to accept
md act upon the urgency Of the mes.
sage
3. Some believed ". 3i). Where
ever the gospel is preached there are
some who believe Mud are saved.
-
Happlhess. ,
~ "a