Paul's Sermon on Mars Hill
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class began with a brief announcement about upcoming youth and family camps before moving into prayer and a heartfelt intercession for a young man named Carlos battling stage‑4 cancer. After the prayer, the teacher introduced the setting of Mars Hill, showing maps and photos of the historic site where Paul stood to address the Athenians. The lesson then focused on Acts 17:22‑28, unpacking Paul’s description of an "unknown God" and his argument that this God is the creator and sovereign who is omnipresent—present in the highest mountains, the deepest oceans, distant galaxies, and even the microscopic world. The teacher highlighted the theological concepts of omnipresence and God’s nearness, illustrating them with examples such as Everest, the Mariana Trench, the nearby galaxy NGC 6822, and electron microscope images of atoms. He emphasized that God’s presence is not only everywhere physically, but also evident in the order and beauty of creation, challenging the notion of random chance. The discussion concluded by linking Paul’s appeal for the Athenians to "seek God" with the believers’ own call to recognize God’s active presence in every aspect of life. The class reinforced the biblical truth that God is "not far from each of us" (Acts 17:27‑28) and encouraged participants to reflect on how this awareness shapes daily worship, prayer, and community involvement. The session ended with a reminder of upcoming church events and a closing affirmation of faith in the Lord’s sustaining power.
Key Scriptures
Yet he is actually not far from each of us
For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, for we are indeed his offspring