As Paul entered the city he saw the statues, the altars and the shrines that were dedicated to a great number of deities. It was said that in the city of Athens there were more gods then people. It was the custom of the Greeks and others to dedicate an altar even to an unknown god so that they would not offend some deity by missing him.

This was the situation in which Paul would meet these people, where he would be "connecting to people where they were." Have you been in this situation or one like it? Maybe it is a family member, relative, friend or even a complete stranger, and you know that there is no hope of salvation unless one is brought to saving faith in Jesus Christ. That is when we have to "connect to people where they are".

The Areopagus was in ancient times a judicial council of the Athenians. They held their meeting on Mars hill and one could still go there to this day and see where they sat on stone benches in the open air. We are not sure if Paul was there on trial or because these men only wanted to know more about his teaching. These men had power to be the judge and jury and they could have had him thrown in prison. One thing is sure: whether they heard him formally or informally he was addressing a select company of the world’s wisest men who loved to hear something new so they could discuss it. Paul now stood in the middle of the council. He used this opportunity to preach repentance and faith. He had seen the statues, the altars and shrines and knew that these men were religious and that they didn't want to offend any of the gods.

As disciples of Christ we are to do as He tells us, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark 16:15) and, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Just as Paul did, we are to spread the gospel. At the same time we need to meet people where they are. So if a person is a total unbeliever or a person that has fallen away from the faith, we still need to share with him the powerful gospel of Jesus Christ, for through it the Holy Spirit can and does work faith. And both pastor and member alike should not be discouraged, for it is like planting a tree. A tree needs constant care and attention even after it starts to produce fruit.

So it is with every individual, when the seed of the gospel has been planted it needs our care and attention. Paul set forth the true God to the tribunal of the Areopagus, so that they might know Him and honor Him. Paul had learned to take sinners as they were because he knew that the gospel had the power to transform them. You and I will meet people that may be worshiping some god, and we need to be ready to share with them our faith so they may learn about the true God that made heaven and earth and may share in that valuable treasure of the forgiveness of sins and salvation in Jesus Christ, our Savior.

John E. Merseth, Sr. is pastor of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Weston, Ohio.