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To an Unknown God: Paul in Athens

Acts 17:16-34 New Testament PrincipleCourage

Paul stands on the rocky Areopagus and speaks boldly to the council of Athens, with the Parthenon on the hill behind him.

While Paul waited in Athens, he was upset to see the city full of idols. He talked about Jesus and the resurrection in the synagogue and the marketplace, and the city's thinkers brought him to a council called the Areopagus. Paul bravely stood up and said, "I found an altar that says, 'To an unknown god.' I will tell you who He is." He told them God made the world and gives everyone life and breath, and He raised Jesus from the dead. Some laughed, some wanted to hear more and some believed. God gives us courage to tell others about Him.

Courage is doing what's right even when we're afraid. Because God is real and Jesus is risen, we can be brave enough to tell others about Him, kindly and clearly, whether they laugh or listen.

  1. CreationGod made it (this lesson)
  2. FallWe broke it
  3. RedemptionJesus fixes it
  4. RestorationJesus makes it new

Memory verse

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.”

Romans 1:16 BSB

Christ Connection · The gospel

Paul's sermon starts with the Creator and ends at the empty tomb. The "unknown God" has made Himself known in Jesus, and the proof is the resurrection (Acts 17:31). That good news is what made Paul brave.

Acts 17:30-31; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 1:18

The Big Story · Creation

The God who created the world and every nation wants people everywhere to seek Him and find Him. He has made Himself known by raising Jesus from the dead, and He calls all people to turn to Him.

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Paul went to the city of Athens. It was full of idols. Paul was upset, so he told people about Jesus. The leaders took him to a big meeting on a hill. Paul bravely said, "I saw an altar that says, 'To an unknown god.' I will tell you who He is!" He said God made the world, gives everyone breath and raised Jesus from the dead. Some people laughed. Some wanted to hear more. And some believed! God gives us courage to tell others about Him.

Memory verse

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God.”

Adapted from Romans 1:16

Start here

Ask, "Have you ever been scared to say something because people might laugh?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today Paul spoke to the smartest people in a big city. Some laughed. Let's see what he did."

Bible story 6 min

Paul went to a big city called Athens. He had to wait there for his friends. So he walked around and looked.

Everywhere Paul went, he saw idols. There were statues of fake gods on the streets. There were big temples. It made Paul very sad.

So Paul talked about Jesus. He talked in the market every day. He told people that Jesus rose from the dead.

The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.

Try an activity

Act it out 10 min

You’ll need: A cardboard box and a paper sign

  1. Choose Paul, two thinkers, Dionysius and Damaris. Everyone else is the council.
  2. Act out the skit. The box with the sign is the altar.
  3. Switch so more kids get a turn.
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More lessons on Courage

The same principle in other Bible stories.

Elisha and the Chariots of Fire2 Kings 6:8-23The king of Aram sent a huge army to capture Elisha. In the morning, Elisha's servant saw soldiers all around the city and was terrified. Elisha said, "Don't be afraid! Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." God opened the servant's eyes, and the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire. God is with us, so we can be brave.Old TestamentCourageThe Church BeginsPeter and John Heal a ManActs 3:1-4:31; Isaiah 35:5-6Peter and John healed a man who couldn't walk, in the name of Jesus. When leaders told them to stop talking about Jesus, they bravely said, "We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."New TestamentCourageSeeing God's WorldWhy Am I Here?Esther 4:1-17; Esther 5:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-10When an evil plan threatened God's people, Mordecai told Queen Esther, "Who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther bravely went to the king, and God used her to save His people. God made each of us on purpose, for good works He prepared ahead of time, and He gives us courage to do them.Old TestamentCourageEsther Saves Her PeopleEsther 2:1-9:32; Hebrews 4:16Wicked Haman planned to destroy all of God's people. Queen Esther was afraid, but she asked her people to fast and pray, then bravely went to the king. God was quietly at work all along, and He turned the whole plan upside down to save His people.Old TestamentCourageBaby Moses in the BasketExodus 1:15-2:10; Hebrews 11:23Pharaoh ordered that Israel's baby boys be thrown into the Nile. But Moses' mother bravely hid him, then put him in a waterproof basket by the river. God protected him through his sister Miriam and even Pharaoh's own daughter. God is with us, so we can be brave.Old TestamentCourageDeborah and BarakJudges 4:1-24; Judges 5:1-31A cruel king with 900 iron chariots ruled over Israel. God told Deborah that Barak should lead an army against him, and God would give them the victory. Barak was afraid to go alone, but he went. God sent a storm, and the chariots got stuck in the mud! We can be brave because God goes before us.Old TestamentCourage