SS-Q4-L10 - Mission to the Unreached Part 1 - Dec. 2-8

Sabbath Afternoon - December 2, 2023

Scripture Reading for the Week:
Acts 17:1-34; 1 Corinthians 2:2; Romans 1:18-25. 

Thought for Meditation:
Every act of Christ's ministry was far-reaching in its purpose. It comprehended more than appeared in the act itself. So in the case of the leper. While Jesus ministered to all who came unto Him, He yearned to bless those who came not. While He drew the publicans, the heathen, and the Samaritans, He longed to reach the priests and teachers who were shut in by prejudice and tradition. He left untried no means by which they might be reached. In sending the healed leper to the priests, He gave them a testimony calculated to disarm their prejudices.  {DA 265.1}  

Memory Text:

“ ‘The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands’ ” (Acts 17:24). 

This week's SSLesson will explore the strategies set forth by the Apostle Paul as an example to reach out to the unreached and how are they to be brought to Christianity. This includes the principles of adaptation to new methods for those heathen nations ahead.

Study Outline:

New Fields for the Mission

Sunday - December 2, 2023

A Hebrew in Athens - New Ways of Thinking. Acts 17:1-16

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.  {Acts 17:16}

Monday - December 3, 2023

Paul in the Areopagus - New Ways of Preaching. Acts 17:17-21

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.  {Acts 17:20}

How to Evangelize Non-Christians

Tuesday - December 4, 2023

Paul and the Unknown God - Find Common Ground. Acts 17:22-23

“For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you” {Acts 17:23}

Wednesday - December 5, 2023

Introducing a New God - Adapt our Speech. Acts 17:24-27

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands” {Acts 17:24}

Thursday - December 6, 2023

Crossing the Line - Present Christ. Acts 17:28-34

 “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead” {Acts 17:31}

Friday - December 7, 2023

Insights and Further Study

From the Pen of Inspiration

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New Fields for the Mission

Sunday - December 2, 2023

A Hebrew in Athens - New Ways of Thinking. Acts 17:1-16

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.  {Acts 17:16}

Wicked and Idolatry are Works of the Flesh

For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king.  {1Sam. 15:23}

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  {Gal. 5:19, 20}

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:  {Col. 3:5}

Destitute of the True Knowledge of God

The religion of the Athenians, of which they made great boast, was of no value, for it was destitute of the knowledge of the true God. It consisted, in great part, of art-worship, and a round of dissipating amusement and festivity. It wanted the virtue of true goodness. Genuine religion gives men the victory over themselves; but a religion of dry intellect and taste is lacking in the essential qualities to raise its possessor above the evils of his nature, and to connect him with God. On the very stones of the altar in Athens this great want was expressed by the inscription, "To the Unknown God." Yes, though boasting of their wisdom, wealth, and skill of art and science, the learned Athenians could but acknowledge that the great Ruler of the universe was unknown to them.  {8Red 54.2}  

Consider the Following

Paul used to come into contact with the Jews to present Jesus to them based on what they already knew about the Messiah ( Acts 17:1-2, 10).

In Athens, he encountered a challenge: how to reach people who knew nothing about the true God. Studious people, with philosophical thinking, and accustomed to worshiping hundreds of gods.

Radically different strategies were needed. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul decided to reach the pagans using his own methods.

Monday - December 3, 2023

Paul in the Areopagus - New Ways of Preaching. Acts 17:17-21

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.  {Acts 17:20}

By Tact He Points to Jehovah - Born of Divine LOVE

See Paul at Athens before the council of the Areopagus, as he meets science with science, logic with logic, and philosophy with philosophy. Mark how, with the tact born of divine love, he points to Jehovah as "the Unknown God," whom his hearers have ignorantly worshiped; and in words quoted from a poet of their own he pictures Him as a Father whose children they are. Hear him, in that age of caste, when the rights of man as man were wholly unrecognized, as he sets forth the great truth of human brotherhood, declaring that God "hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth." Then he shows how, through all the dealings of God with man, runs like a thread of gold His purpose of grace and mercy. He "hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us." Acts 17:23, 26, 27.  {Ed 67.1}  

Christian Help Work more than Preaching of Sermons

Christian help work will do more than the preaching of sermons. There is a great need that a class of workers should go to this field who will do this kind of work. Let them meet together and relate their experiences, pray together, and hold their services, not in a way to attract attention to themselves, but in quietness, in meekness, and lowliness. But while they pursue this humble course, let them not sink down into cheapness in conversation, cheapness in manners and ways. Let the workers be Christlike, that they may by precept and example exert an elevating influence. Let them furnish themselves with the most appropriate, simple lessons from the life of Christ to present to the people. Let them not dwell too much upon doctrinal points, or upon features of our faith that will seem strange and new; but let them present the sufferings and the sacrifice of Christ; let them hold up His righteousness and reveal His grace; let them manifest His purity and holiness of character. Workers in the Southern field will need to teach the people line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.  {SW 48.2}  

Mind Enlightenment is Essential - Without this, Preaching is Useless.

Through the study of the word of God, a great work may be done for the Southern people. The colored people, though emancipated from physical slavery, are still in the slavery of ignorance. They are led to believe that they should do just what their ministers tell them to do. Unless their minds are enlightened so that they may understand the Scripture for themselves, and know that God has spoken to their souls, they will not be benefited by the preaching of the truth; for they are in a condition to be deceived easily by false teachers. In reaching the colored people, it is best to seek to educate them before presenting the pointed truths of the third angel's message.   {RH, December 24, 1895 par. 7}  

Consider the Following

After some time preaching in the square, the Athenians were surprised by the ideas that Paul presented.

What he said about God had nothing to do with the way his capricious and vain gods acted. Accustomed to debating philosophical thoughts, they saw the coherence of their reasoning.

Paul had become familiar with Greek thought and culture. He had read the classical authors and walked the streets of Athens, carefully observing everything he saw, and getting to know the way of thinking and acting of its inhabitants.

The Holy Spirit was preparing him for a new way of preaching to people who were not used to hearing about the one true God.

How to Evangelize Non-Christians

Tuesday - December 4, 2023

Paul and the Unknown God - Find Common Ground. Acts 17:22-23

“For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you” {Acts 17:23}

The Common Ground - "The Unknown God"

Paul drew the minds of his idolatrous hearers beyond the limits of their false religion to a true view of the Deity, whom they had styled the "Unknown God." This Being, whom he now declared unto them, was independent of man, needing nothing from human hands to add to His power and glory.  {AA 237.3}  

The people were carried away with admiration for Paul's earnest and logical presentation of the attributes of the true God--of His creative power and the existence of His overruling providence. With earnest and fervid eloquence the apostle declared, "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things." The heavens were not large enough to contain God, how much less were the temples made by human hands!  {AA 238.1} 

Holy Zeal For the Master's Cause - to Bear the Tidings of Salvation

Paul's work was to bear the tidings of salvation to a people who had no intelligent understanding of God and his plans. He was not traveling for the purpose of sight-seeing, nor to gratify a morbid desire for new and strange scenes. His dejection of mind was caused by the apparently insurmountable obstacles which presented themselves against his reaching the minds of the people of Athens. Grieved and indignant at the idolatry everywhere visible about him, he felt a holy zeal for his Master's cause. He sought out his Jewish brethren, and, in the Jewish synagogue of Athens, proclaimed the doctrine of Christ. But the principal work of Paul in that city was to deal with paganism.  {8Red 54.1}  

Consider the Following

In his lecture at the Areopagus, what was Paul's way of dealing with the pagans?

(1) He praised them.

(2) He respected them.

(3) He took advantage of the commonalities.

(4) He did not mock their ignorance.

Preaching to people with beliefs radically different from ours is a challenge that we must face with the utmost tact. With all due respect, we must look for points in which our interlocutors can be praised and even admired; and those that are common with our way of thinking or acting.

Wednesday - December 5, 2023

Introducing a New God - Adapt our Speech. Acts 17:24-27

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands” {Acts 17:24}

The Introduction of the Creator of All Things

Here the Athenians conducted Paul, away from the public thoroughfares, and the tumult of promiscuous discussion; for the frivolous, thoughtless class of society did not care to follow him to this place of highest reverence. Here the apostle could be heard without interruption. Learned men addressed him: "May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? for thou bringest certain strange things to our ears; we would know, therefore, what these things mean." "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' Hill and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of Heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us."  {8Red 56.2} 

The Disputes in the Synagogue with the Jews

The great men of the city seemed hungering for matters of discussion, in which they would have opportunity to display their wisdom and oratory. While waiting for Silas and Timotheus to meet him, Paul was not idle, "He disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him." The great men of Athens were not long in finding out this singular teacher, who propounded such strange things to the people on all suitable occasions.  {8Red 54.3}  

Facing them in their Own Ground, Logic with Logic, Philosophy with Philosophy

Some who prided themselves upon the depth of their intellectual culture entered into conversation with him. This soon drew a crowd of listeners about them. Some were prepared to ridicule the apostle, as one far beneath them, socially and intellectually, and said jeeringly among themselves, "What will this babbler say? Other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods; because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection."  {8Red 55.1}  

The Stoics and the Epicureans encountered him; but they, and all others who came in contact with him, soon saw that he had a fund of knowledge even greater than their own. His intellectual power commanded the respect and attention of the more intelligent and learned; while his earnest, logical reasoning, and his power of oratory, held the promiscuous audience. Thus the apostle stood undaunted, meeting his opposers on their own ground, matching logic with their logic, and philosophy with their philosophy.  {8Red 55.2}  

Consider the Following

Evangelize by doing “hangouts” with a group of bikers? Talk about Jesus based on a movie? Accept that my listeners worship a multitude of gods and talk to them about one of them to get to Jesus?

We must speak to others about what they know, not what only we know.

Creation is the common point that Paul used. He presented the Creator God, and even used references to Greek poets to reinforce his thinking.

Thursday - December 6, 2023

Crossing the Line - Present Christ. Acts 17:28-34

 “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead” {Acts 17:31}

Carrying the Mind of the Hearers Beyond the Earthly and the Heavenly Ministration of Christ

As with holy boldness Paul proclaimed the gospel in the synagogue at Thessalonica, a flood of light was thrown upon the true meaning of the rites and ceremonies connected with the tabernacle service. He carried the minds of his hearers beyond the earthly service and the ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, to the time when, having completed His mediatorial work, Christ would come again in power and great glory, and establish His kingdom on the earth. Paul was a believer in the second coming of Christ; so clearly and forcibly did he present the truths concerning this event, that upon the minds of many who heard there was made an impression which never wore away.  {AA 228.3}  

Elevating the Human Race to Honor is Only through the Study of Philosophy and Science

Jesus, whom Paul was about to present before the Greeks in Corinth as the Christ, was a Jew of lowly origin, reared in a town proverbial for its wickedness. He had been rejected by His own nation and at last crucified as a malefactor. The Greeks believed that there was need of elevating the human race, but they regarded the study of philosophy and science as the only means of attaining to true elevation and honor. Could Paul lead them to believe that faith in the power of this obscure Jew would uplift and ennoble every power of the being? {AA 244.2}  

Christ's Centered Preaching with Reasoning from the Scriptures

For three successive Sabbaths Paul preached to the Thessalonians, reasoning with them from the Scriptures regarding the life, death, resurrection, office work, and future glory of Christ, the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Revelation 13:8. He exalted Christ, the proper understanding of whose ministry is the key that unlocks the Old Testament Scriptures, giving access to their rich treasures.  {AA 229.1}  

As the truths of the gospel were thus proclaimed in Thessalonica with mighty power, the attention of large congregations was arrested. "Some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few."  {AA 229.2}  

Consider the Following

Sooner or later, the time comes to move from common ground to new teachings. After all, we achieve nothing by always talking about common ground. The Holy Spirit will show us the moment and how we should openly present Jesus.

When the time came, some laughed, others preferred to continue talking at another time. A few were immediately convinced ( Acts 17:34).

Everyone heard the same thing, but not everyone reacted the same way. Our responsibility is to present Jesus most appropriately. The result will depend on the heart of each listener.

Friday - December 7, 2023

Insights and Further Study

Seek Opportunities in the Neighborhood.-- Opportunities are within the reach of everyone. Take up the work that should be done in your neighborhood, for which you are held responsible. [NOTE: FOR DETAILED COUNSEL ON THE METHODS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF NEIGHBORHOOD MINISTRY OF KINDNESS, SEE WELFARE MINISTRY.--COMPILERS.] Wait not for others to urge you to take advance steps. Move without delay, bearing in mind your individual responsibility to Him who gave His life for you. Move as if you heard Christ calling upon you personally to awake out of sleep and to exert every God-given faculty in doing the utmost in His service. Look not to see who else is ready to catch inspiration from the word of the living God. If you are thoroughly consecrated, through your instrumentality He will bring into the truth others whom He can use as channels to convey light to many souls in darkness.  {AH 488.1} 

Let Christian Families Enter Dark Counties.--God calls for Christian families to go into communities that are in darkness and error, and work wisely and perseveringly for the Master. To answer this call requires self-sacrifice. While many are waiting to have every obstacle removed, souls are dying without hope and without God in the world. Many, very many, for the sake of worldly advantage, for the sake of acquiring scientific knowledge, will venture into pestilential regions and endure hardship and privation. Where are those who are willing to do this for the sake of telling others of the Saviour? Where are the men and women who will move into regions that are in need of the gospel, that they may point those in darkness to the Redeemer?  {AH 488.2} 

Questions to Ponder

1. How are we going to seek other people when we still need to be purified as what inspiration says, "the closing work for the church is the sealing of the 144,000"? (See 3T 266-267)

2. How did Paul reach the unreachable people? 

3. What lesson can we learn from his experience in Athens?

4. For whom does the "Unknown God refer to" as used by Paul? Is it the common understanding of that time? (Note: people believe in many gods - which is unknown to them as well)

5. What principles that Paul set to have talking points where he can introduce the true God?

6. Why are logic and philosophy in some cases, especially to the heathen essential as an effective approach?

7. Based upon the statement above, {AH 488.1-2}, what are the methods that are effective in reaching out to the unreached people?

From the Pen of Inspiration

“New methods must be introduced. God's people must awake to the necessities of the time in which they are living. God has men whom He will call into His service, —men who will not carry forward the work in the lifeless way in which it has been carried forward in the past.......

In our large cities the message is to go forth as a lamp that burneth. God will raise up laborers for this work, and His angels will go before them. Let no one hinder these men of God's appointment. Forbid them not. God has given them their work. Let the message be given with so much power that the hearers shall be convinced” Ellen G. White (Evangelism, p. 70)

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