The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1921-09-08
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Si11n1daySchool
' Lesson '
(1y REV. p. b. FlTZwATER. D. D..
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago)
%. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER I,
PAUL IN ATHENS.


LESSON TExT-Acts HASA
GOLDEN TExT-In him We live, and
move, and have our beinR.-Acts l7:2s.
REFERENCE MATERIAl-Luks A:ls-
u.
PRIMARY ToPlC-Paui Telling the
People about God.
JUNIOR TOPlC-Paul In Athens.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
In q Famous Greek City.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Paul In . Center Of Learning. Being
Driven from Berea, Paul Fled to Athena
!. The idelatry Of the AthsnIans
". 16).
Athens was the Intellectual mctrop-
oils Of the world at that time. the
home Of the worlds great cloQuehcc
and PHILOSOPHY. Paul's spirit was
stirred within him when he saw the
city wholly gwen to idolatry.
II. The pMtiss Concerned wv. IT.
Ply.
True TO i,is usual custom Paul went
into the Jewish synagogue and entered
into earnest argument with the Jews.
From them he turned to such as were
found In the market place. Here he
came Into touch with the EpIcurcan
and Stole philosophers. Tie former
were atheistic materialists. They de-
MED the doctrine OF Creation. They
gave themselves up to sensual In
dul:ences since they had no Idea Of
future Judgment. The latter were
pantheists. When they heard the
preaching Of Paul they desired to
know what new doctrine he preac hed.
so they invited hi" ~ the AreOpngus
where he might SPEAK 10 them OF his
new doctrine. They inquired as to
what this "babbler" might say. The
word "babbler" means literally "seed-
picker"
~. Paul's Address on Mars Hill
wv. 23-31).
l. The Introduction wv. %, 223). lie
did not accuse them Of 'superstitlOn"
az the A. V. would make II. but rs In
the Am. X. v. he introduces his dis
course In courteous and cOnclliatory
manner. stating that he perceived that
they were very religious. This he ex-
planned by stating that rs he was view
Ing their city he behcld nm altar with
an inscription "TO the Unknown God"
This was his point Of contact. He
proceeds at once to connect II with
the idea Of the living God. implying
that this altar had been erected to
Him. lie was too wise to begin At
once to denOunce heathenism and
idolatry.
9. Tie body OF his discourse wv.
24-3D.
~ A declaration concerning God
wv. -. 25). (a) He created the
material universe ". 24). This WAS a
direct blow NJ the philosophy Of both
the EpIcureans and the StOIcs. He did
not attempt to prove the existence III
God; II needs no proof The Bible
everywhere assumes the existence Of
a divine being. (b) His spirituality
aud immensely wv. -. 35). He Ia
not served with "men's hands as
though he needed anything" neither
IN lie confined by any sort Of religious
temple. ReinR essentially spiritual
He demands heart service. and being
transcendent nbOvc all lie IN not con.
fined to earthly temples. (c) His ne.
tive providence ". 30. lie gives cx-
istence. hestows needed gifts. and as
sovereign directs all things.
(2) Declaration concerning man (vv.
2tl3I). (a) His common origin ". 26).
This was n blow nj the foolish Athen-
inn pride which supposed that they
were superior to nli other people. This
proposition he proved from their owl,
literature (ssr v. 2s). II men are the
offspring III God md bear His like
ness II IL utter folly 10 make images
as the scnselcss idols were. 90 MI
tIons have their place by the sov-
ereign purpose Of Cod ". ~. The
position and mission Of each nation In
Of Gods appointment. (c) Men should
seek God ". ~. His goodness and
grace In supplying all our needs. and
ordering even the affairs Of the mn
lions should move man Ia ss.e and week
God. for lie II indeed very near 10
every one: NO near that our existence
and movements are Hll under Ills con.
troll ". 20. (d) Pressing obligation
TO repent wv. ~. ~. This WIS his
supreme message. Though God Ind
formerly passed over IdOlntry Tie now
calls I" NIL men TO repent. The solemn
reason for such nc,i"n II the coming
day ~ judgment. the crcdcntinI "
which Is III. resurrection ~ Jesus
tk.s.l.. "A. 4