To God Be the Glory | -kjv-bible-studies

To God be the Glory

A Bible Study for Women using the authorized King James Bible, the only inerrant

Word of God

By Patricia Dowers

Introduction

This Bible Study examines an event that took place in Athens, Greece during the ministry of Paul the Apostle. Paul was in Greece on his second missionary journey preaching and ministering in the synagogue to the Jews in Berea (Acts 17:10-12). He was forced to flee when certain Jews from Thessalonica, offended by the preaching of Christ, followed Paul to Berea to do him harm (v. 13, 14).

I hope this study will give us the opportunity to learn how walking with the Lord involves trusting Him when He closes and opens doors. Missionaries know this truth very well from experience but we must also apply it to our own lives.

Gods plan is more intricate than we can imagine. Being part of that plan is exciting but can also be a little daunting if we forget that God is in control. He is the “Gatekeeper” in a sense, constantly before us opening and closing doors to keep us on the right path. We do not need to know the plan. We just need to know our part.

I hope you are blessed by our “visit” to Mars Hill to see how God closed and opened doors for Paul.

Please note: In this study, as in all others, it is important to read all Scripture references for yourself that you may know what God has to say.

Session 1

The Apostle Paul certainly had experiences with open and closed doors. Perhaps you have had the experience where you are following the Lord and suddenly a door closes that is generally open to you. Or perhaps a door persistently remains closed that you hoped the Lord would open. Closed doors always bring us up short. They can be confusing and frustrating. They rarely have signs of explanation. Why does this happen?

This study is not just about God’s closed doors but also His open doors. We can be assured that God closes doors to accomplish His perfect will. As believers, we know that closed doors are always for our good (Rom. 8:28). As we read in Acts 17:14, Paul was separated from the missions team and escorted from Berea to Athens for his safety. Here was a door that slammed shut and required quick decisions.

Please read Acts 17:15-18 aloud with your group. Paul arrived safely in Athens but immediately sent his escorts back with a message to send (v.15) Timothy and Silas back to him with___________. The Bible does not tell us why these men didn’t accompany Paul in the first place but apparently Paul needed them quickly. Perhaps Paul needed Timothy’s interpreting services, as Timothy was Greek or perhaps he felt he needed Timothy’s credentials as a fellow Greek to get their “foot in the door”, so to speak. Most likely Paul saw that the field was so ripe that there would be much work for all of them. At any rate, Paul saw Athens as an open door and settled in to wait for his team. The Lord, however, had other plans.

I believe it would serve us to take some time to remind ourselves of what we know about the Greeks of this time. Most of us learned this information in our high school ancient history class and wondered why it was important to know. Well, here we are using it to understand whom Paul was dealing with when he walked through the “open door” onto Mars Hill.

At this time in history the Greek states had been conquered and occupied by Rome. Generally Rome allowed her conquests to live life as usual as long as they paid tribute and submitted to Roman authority. Thus these Athenians were continuing to practice their own pantheistic worship (v.16).

Paul began by speaking to the Jews in the synagogue but it soon spilled out into the marketplace. Here he gained the attention of the Greeks. Many Greeks at this time fell into one of two general philosophic categories. Acts 17:18 tells us they were the:

The Epicureans believed in getting all the pleasure they could out of life at the moment. In other words they were the “eat, drink and be merry” crowd. The Stoics believed in stern self-sufficiency and self-repression. They were the “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps” crowd. Paul, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, sparked the interest of both of these groups. What did they think of him in v.18?

Join me in Session 2 and we will find another open door.

Session 2

Please read Acts 17:19-23 aloud with your group. Verse 19 tells us they brought him (Paul) unto Areopagus. This was a hill in Athens dedicated to pagan gods and their altars of worship. It was also a place where the scholarly citizens of Athens gathered to debate their different philosophies and religious beliefs. Areopagus was named for Ares, the Greek god of war. The Romans called it Mars Hill after their god of war. Either way, it was appropriately named because I’m sure that fruitless word battles occurred daily on its slopes.

In verse 19 what were they interested in learning from Paul?

In verse 20 why was this important to them?

Athenians prided themselves on dwelling in the seat of knowledge. Therefore, any new doctrine was of prime interest to them. Verse 21 tells us that not only Athenians were there but also strangers, or visitors from other places. All were gathered to hear ________ _____ _________. What an open door for Paul!

Paul’s opportunity reminds us that we need to be prepared at a moment’s notice to share the Gospel.

Please read with your group Psa. 119:46, II Tim. 4:2 and I Pet. 3:15. Share with your group how unexpected opportunities to share the Gospel were presented to you.

In Acts 17: 22 we see that Paul was given a place in the center or midst of the hill. This was probably a place for a respected speaker and was not Paul’s usual experience. To be invited and to have everyone’s attention was an opportunity Paul would not take lightly and as we shall see, he pulled no punches.

What does Paul tell the men of Athens in the first sentence of his address?

Paul begins with his own observation of his surroundings. I am sure the masonry and marble statuary were very beautiful. They probably kept the landscaping pleasing as well. After all, this was the place that represented all the religious knowledge they had gathered over centuries. This was a tourist attraction and a university for young scholars. The Athenians were probably all set for the usual flood of compliments and praise. Instead, this stranger called them superstitious. What!! I suspect if Paul had not followed up quickly with his next two sentences he would have been running down Mars Hill for his life.

When the Holy Spirit prepares the heart and mind to hear the Gospel, unexpected things happen. There is a certain eagerness and anticipation to hear the truth. The truth of the Gospel is recognized for what it is and the new believer in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ is born. Please read John 16:13 and 14. These are the words of Jesus describing the work of the Holy Spirit. Verse 13 says He will guide you _____ ___ _________. This however, was not the case for everyone on Mars Hill, as we shall see in later sessions.

Now that Paul had the attention of his audience he presented them with another observation. In Acts 17: 23 we learn that Paul discovered a certain altar with an unusual inscription. It read, “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD”.

It was no accident, I am sure, that Paul’s journey up Mars Hill passed by this particular altar. The Lord was with him all the way putting into his heart and mind and placing before his eyes all that he would need to address the Athenians.

Another man in the Old Testament had a very important job to do with no personal skills to do it. Please read Exo. 4:10-12 and learn what God had to say to Moses when he was sent to speak to Pharaoh.

The Lord also gave words to Ruth before Boaz to accomplish His will, and words and courage to Queen Esther before King Ahasuerus. (You may read these accounts in the books of Ruth and Esther). The Lord will never expect us to accomplish His will without giving us the tools we need. We get these tools from Scripture. If His Word is written on our hearts the Holy Spirit will use them in the moment they are needed. Please copy II Tim. 2:15 in the space below.

The Athenians, superstitiously, were worried that somehow there was a god out there that they had not heard of. Not wanting to offend him they gave him an altar. Paul, through the Holy Spirit, picked up on this and announced he would tell them Who He was. They were all ears!

Session 3

We left Paul in Session 2 declaring to the Athenians “Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you” (verse 23). Recorded in Acts 17:24-30 we have Paul’s sermon to this group of knowledge seekers. Please read these verses aloud with your group.

What a tough crowd. These people were already impressed with their own worldly knowledge. Some may have been already offended and closed off to anything new. Some may have been bored, not really expecting anything that would make a personal difference to them. Others may have been very curious but not hopeful that Paul had anything for them better than what they had. Still others may have been hungry for truth and purpose. Actually this is not unlike those who hear the Gospel today.

Paul did not hesitate or try to size up his audience. The message of the Gospel is straightforward, easily understood by anyone and does not need to be retrofitted to any particular group.

Please read II Cor. 4: 3-6 aloud with your group. Hear we see there are outside forces attempting to interfere with imbedding the truth in the heart and mind.

Please answer the questions below.

In II Cor.4:3 To whom is the Gospel hid?

In verse 4 who is blinding the hearts of them which believe not?

In verse 6 Who shines the light in our hearts to dispel the darkness?

Also in verse 6 what does the light give us?

Please notice in Acts 17: 24 Paul begins at the beginning. We cannot witness effectively to others about Jesus, the Son of God, if they do not first believe there is a God. So Paul first introduces the Athenians to God, the Creator.

He is the God Who made ________________________.

Next Paul shares the attributes of God.

He is Lord of _________________________.

He dwelleth not in ___________________________.

In verse 25 Paul tells them God needs nothing from us but He is the source for all that we need.

Seeing He giveth to all ____________________________.

Paul goes on in verse 26 to say God is determines the peoples and boundaries of all the earth and their destinies (Deut. 32:8 and Col.1:16).

In verse 27 Paul begins to introduce them to a personal God. The Lord wants us to know that He is not __________________________________.

Verse 28 goes on to say that God is sustaining and caring for every part of their physical life and reminds them their own poets referred to this. Obviously the desire to know a personal God was not new to them as poets generally write about the longings of the heart.

Next we have the part of Paul’s sermon that begins to close down some of the hearts and minds of his listeners. He tells them in verse 29 God will not share His worship with any graven god or image. The offspring (created) of God must only worship the one, true Creator-God. I can just imagine what was going on in the minds of many who heard these words. “ What about our traditions? What about this mountain of knowledge we have gathered over centuries? What about this beautiful hill that we created to serve these many gods? Does Paul just expect us to walk away from all of this? Who does he think he is?” Does this sound familiar? Human nature does not change through the years and there are always people willing to follow the lies even after being presented with the Truth.

Now, in verse 30, Paul is ready to tell them about Jesus. For those who were still open and listening Paul explains that they must repent or change their mind about the direction away from God they had been going. This was something God “winked at” (God is merciful) in the past but now He _____________.

In Acts 26:16-18 Paul relates his original mission from the Lord received on the road to Damascus. Please read this verse aloud with your group. Here Paul defines repentance as turning from darkness and the power of Satan to faith in Jesus Christ.

Please join me in Session 4 as these Athenians discover the only One Who can reconcile them to Holy God.

Session 4

Below, you will find an old hymn written by the blind but prolific hymn writer, Fanny Crosby. Please ask someone in your group to read the words aloud.

To God Be the Glory

Frances J. Crosby, pub.1875

To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done.

Please read Acts 17:31-34 aloud with your group. Verse 31 is actually a continuation of verse 30 which we dealt with in the last session. Why is God calling on man to repent (v. 30)? Because no man or woman can reach God’s standard of holiness. I Tim. 6:16, reveals to us some of the attributes of God’s holiness that separate Him from mortal, sinful humans. Please list those attributes below. I count at least six.

Even Moses, the spiritual leader of God’s people, had to be hidden in the cleft of the rock when the glory of the Lord passed by (Exod. 33:20-23). But now God has provided the only Way that sinful man can approach Holy God. This is the Gospel; that God provided His own Son, Jesus Christ, as the perfect blood sacrifice to take away the sins of the world. Please copy John 3:16 in the space below.

Let us look back at the beginning of verse 31. Paul tells the Athenians that God has appointed a day when all of the unsaved world will be judged. All who are not covered by the blood of the Lamb will be judged for the sins they committed and the imputed sin from their father, Adam, they were born with. Please read I Cor.15: 21,22.

as in Adam, ____ ________.

even so in Christ shall all ____ ______ _________.

God’s standard for judgment is the righteousness of His perfect Son, Jesus. God’s perfect blood sacrifice is Jesus, Whom He raised from the dead (as we read in the latter part of verse 31).

Before we leave verse 31, there is one more word we need to look at and that is “assurance”. What is our assurance? Assurance is the promise of God that Jesus was buried baring the sin of the world and raised up from the dead in holy perfection, conquering sin and death for us all. Please read Rom. 5:6-11 aloud with your group.

What do we need to do to receive this assurance of forgiveness from sin and eternal life? ONLY BELIEVE IT! Please read the following verses: John 3:15,16; John 11:25; Acts 16:30,31; Gal. 2:16 and 20; Eph. 1:13; and Eph. 2:8,9.

What was the part of Paul’s sermon the Athenians had the most trouble in understanding? For the answer, please look at Acts 17:32. The answer is the resurrection of the dead. This was something outside their realm of experience and knowledge as is the case in most unbelievers. Verse 32 tells us some mocked. This is a typical reaction to sharing the gospel that many of us have experienced.

What was the other response?

This is putting off dealing with it for any reason. Remember, it is still unbelief until it is belief. You know which it is in your heart and more importantly, the Lord knows.

Conclusion

Paul left them at this point, but this is when the Holy Spirit continues His work. Verse 34 tells us that certain men believed and among them was a woman named Damaris. We know nothing more about her but I imagine she had a longing spirit searching for truth and found it when the Holy Spirit touched her heart. I hope she went home and made a difference in her world. I hope you are inspired to as well, and…

to God be the Glory.