Adult Electives will help you to passionately follow Jesus through increasing your Bible knowledge, promoting spiritual growth, training you to apply biblical wisdom to every area of your life, and equipping you to make disciples.
Adult Electives are free courses offered throughout the year, made available to anyone in the church or community who would like to: LEARN - Grasp the big picture of God’s Word and your part in it; APPLY - Rightly handle the truth of Scripture and apply it to life; GROW - Develop a solid foundation of biblical doctrine, worldview, and discernment.
Preaching the Gospel of Christ on the American Areopagus: Timely Lessons from Acts 17
March 2 - April 13 | 9:00 am | Room 214 | led by Christian Blumenfeld
In Acts 17:22-34, Luke records Paul’s masterful approach to evangelism before the esteemed members of the Areopagus in Athens. Though the passage takes only a few minutes to read, it offers profound insights and a practical framework for preaching the gospel with confidence, courage, and clarity.
First-century Athens, though under Roman rule, remained the intellectual heart of Greek philosophy, tradition, and religion. The Areopagus, a “high court” of elite scholars and thinkers, was tasked with preserving and defending classical humanistic disciplines. When Paul stood before this council, he wasn't just introducing a new religious idea, he was directly challenging their beliefs on God, creation, providence and final judgement. His message compelled them to confront the limitations of their own worldviews in light of the truth of supremacy of Christ.
While Paul’s sermon led many to faith, the broader ideological conflict between Greek philosophy and the gospel was far from resolved. The principles of Greek humanism endured, evolving under different names and movements, a foundational and significant shaping of what we now recognize as the Western thought.
Today, the gospel of Christ is challenging the American Areopagus. Secular philosophies continue to dominate public discourse, shaping culture, education, and policy. Yet, Paul’s evangelistic method—engaging through dialogue, building on common ground, and using logical reasoning—remains a powerful model for presenting the gospel effectively. His approach provides us with a time-tested strategy for proclaiming Christ in an age obsessed with the worship of Self.
Join us as we seek to learn from Paul how to effectively preach the gospel to our contemporary stoics and epicureans at the workplace and around the Thanksgiving table.
Resources and Links:
CLICK HERE for supporting resources and materials for the elective, Discipling As You Go.
How to Get Involved
Adult Electives are FREE and there is no registration required, so come to the class—or classes—you like!
Questions?
We will be happy to answer any questions you might have:
Christian Blumenfeld
Adult Elective Ministry Leader
Email Christian
Tim Bruns
Pastor of Adult and Care Ministries
815-459-1095 x329
Email Pastor Tim