Click here to see the sermon discussion questions or see them listed below. We highly encourage you to listen, think, and talk about the sermon. These are questions you can reflect on by yourself, with your family, or with your small group.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Athens was a center of learning and education, representing the pinnacle of mankind’s intellect and achievements.  And yet, it was also the home to over 30,000 idols, including one to an “unknown god”.  Does it surprise you that the “intellectual elite” would also be extremely religious?  Why or why not? 

2. Although very religious, do you think the Athenians were really searching for the one true God?  If not, what were they searching for?

3. In 21st century America, the extent of our idolatry is no different than it was in 1st century Athens.  However, today, rather than worshiping idols outside of ourselves, 21st century man worships himself; me, myself, and I.  Why can we never be satisfied with this kind of worship?  Why do we do it?

4. Pagan worship is always transactional; the worshiper must give, or do something to satisfy their deity in order to get some kind of blessing in return.  How is Christian worship different?  Does God need anything from us?  Why then do Christians sometimes resort to transactional worship?  

5. Paul reminds the Athenians that all humanity started as one, and that it is God and not man who determines the timeframes and boundaries of the nations.  How should the rise and fall of great civilizations throughout history, break down human pride and cause us to seek a Creator?

6. When Paul addresses the Athenians, he doesn’t mention God’s love, grace, substitutionary atonement.  Instead he calls the people to repent.  Why is it critical to understand first and foremost that we are all sinners who need to repent?  Does forgiveness, grace, atonement make sense to “good” people? 

7. When the Athenians heard Paul speak of the resurrection, some mocked him.  Was their mockery understandable?  If sin, repentance, and the resurrection can be off-putting to the unbeliever, how can we tactfully downplay or even avoid these topics in our evangelistic efforts? Obviously this is a “trick” question!  How does Romans 1:16 address this question