How many times have you heard this verse along with some “new” type of evangelism? Ones like “coffee” evangelism. There’s always some new fad out with how to reach the unsaved for Christ. With so many new methods coming out everyday, may I just suggest a simple one? How about the Biblical approach?

I’m not saying that these fads are wrong; I just don’t understand why the traditional evangelism is not sufficient. I think we focus on these new methods too much. I’m a Baptist, which essentially means that I go by Biblical examples; and the most predominant example of Biblical evangelism other than Christ is the apostle Paul. So let’s take a look at what Paul’s evangelism looked like, and then apply that to today.

One of the best passages when trying to understand Paul’s methods of evangelism is Acts 17:16-32. Here we find Paul in the city of the philosophers, intellectuals, and critics – the city of Athens. This is where Paul gives possibly his most well known sermon of all time; he gives the sermon of “The Unknown God.”
When Paul saw their idol worship his spirit was provoked or stirred within him. “Provoke” comes from the Greek word παροξύνω, meaning to exasperate. John Gill writes it means, “not only his soul was troubled and his heart was grieved, but he was exasperated and provoked to the last degree: he was in a paroxysm; his heart was hot within him; he had a burning fire in his bones, and was weary with forbearing, and could not stay; his zeal wanted vent, and he gave it:” Paul was so concerned about the state of their “lostness” that he was heartbroken over it; his love moved him to action. This love is essential if we are to apply the rest of this passage.

The Athenians loved anything new (vs. 21). They wanted the latest philosophy so that they could determine if it was valid or not. In vs. 18 the Epicureans and Stoics conversed with Paul, calling him a “babbler” this term comes from the Greek word σπερμολόγος which means that a picker-up of seeds. This term basically means a gatherer of scraps, and in this case referring to knowledge – a compliment. The verse goes on to say that they thought he was a preacher of foreign gods because he preached Christ’s resurrection. They had no concept of this.

After this they led him to where all the prominent philosophers were located – Areopagus. There they ask him a simple question, “Can we know what this new form of doctrine that you preach is?” Isn’t this the usual case? Paul then begins his “sermon” with a compliment; saying that he perceived them to be “very religious” this would be very honoring for an Athenian. This shows how one truly can have a loving debate and discussion about the Gospel.
Consider for a moment some historical background of Athens. There were 35,000 statues of idols in Athens. They had so many gods, but just in case they missed one they had an alter to the “Unknown God.” Also, it was illegal in Athens to introduce a new God. They desired new philosophies but not a new god, they had enough of those.

Paul understood the culture, laws, and customs of Athens. Paul knew it was illegal to introduce a new god to the Athenians, but he knew he could introduce them to a God they had no understanding of – The Unknown God. Talk about an attention step! They must have been so eager and excited to understand something that until this point, no Athenian had ever known.

Paul starts his sermon in the beginning. Telling the Athenians the Unknown God was the God who created everything, saying that he is self-existent and sovereign. This flies in direct contrast to what these Athenians believed. Essentially the Stoics believed in fate, and the Epicureans in chance. A Sovereign God would totally demolish those philosophies.

Paul then talks about how the Athenians have tried so hard to reach out and find God, but he was never that far from them. Trying to reach out to God through religion and philosophy is impossible. This would most likely confuse them, so once again Paul refers to something that they do understand. He refers to some of their own poets’ writings in vs. 28 bringing back the attention of the Athenians.

Paul then says in vs. 29, “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.” Paul is telling them, hey this isn’t some made up statue; this is a Supreme Being who is personal. Then Paul tells them how this God demands repentance, and how He will judge the world by the Man whom he appointed. This was made known through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.When they heard about the resurrection, the Bible tells us that some mocked and some said that they wanted to hear of this again. Paul then leaves, and some went with him, some got saved!

This text can show us how evangelism can and should be worked. Notice how Paul compliments the Athenians. He answers questions with humility. He makes the great comparison between the Unknown God and Yahweh. Paul refers to things they understand when it appears that they had been lost in his speaking twice. Essentially, the reason why Paul’s evangelism was so effective was that he took the time to understand the Athenian culture, and then contrasted it with the Truth. No fads needed.

“The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!” Luke 7:34

Early in His ministry our Lord set forth a model of Christian witness that reveals a lifestyle and His heart for souls.  This lifestyle got Him into immediate trouble with the religiously respectable.  For you see, He sought out a publican to  be one of His disciples!  His name was Levi or Matthew.  Matthew, in his excitement, hosted a dinner inviting all his “friends” (Luke 5:29)!  This criticism was embellished over time to include accusations of gluttony and the consumption of alcohol and therefore our Lord most certainly was “the friend of publicans and sinners”!  This criticism was again reinforced later when Christ ate with Zacchaeus the tax collector (publican).

“And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.” Luke 19:7

No doubt  we all understand our Lord’s motives and have no problem finding fault with the Pharisees.  Our Lord’s heart always went out to those in spiritual need.  Did not our Lord make it clear that he was sent to “seek and to save which is lost?  (Luke 19:10)”  Didn’t He also say in response to these who had cast judgment that those who were whole have no need of a doctor , but rather they that are sick (Matt.9:12)?  We sometimes find it hard to understand how the Pharisees could not see and understand the heart of true ministry and be so critical of Christ who exemplified it so well!  Maybe our lack of understanding of the blindness of the contemporary religious community of our Lord’s Day is due in part to our own lack of understanding of the Great Commission and our Lord’s methods for reaching the lost.

I am convinced that there are very few true believers that are not concerned for the lost. We are concerned about lost relatives, friends and fellow workers. But at the same time our concern most often does not translate into souls reached and won to Christ.  Much of this fruitlessness in no doubt due to the coolness of our hearts and therefore a lack of motivation to extend ourselves into the lives of others and tied to this is the fact that many of us have few if any friends outside our Christian circles.  We have been taught or at least understood that our friendships are to be with believers.  We have equated the principle of “friendship with the world as enmity with God” (James 4:4) and intentionally avoided any real or meaningful friendships with the lost.  The result has been that our sphere of influence for the sake of the Gospel as dwindled to a very small group of people. The church by in large, is practicing this truth out of balance.  There is a definite misunderstanding regarding the doctrine of “separation” and our Lord’s passion and methods for reaching people in genuine love with the Gospel.