Some Things Never Change

Acts 17:17–21

Paul engages with the ideas that shaped life in first-century Athens. Surprisingly, these ways of thinking are still alive and well today. As Paul meets Epicureans, Stoics, sceptics, and curiosity seekers, we see recognisable worldviews, predictable reactions to the gospel, and a persistent human tendency to reach for meaning apart from God. The passage reminds us that cultures may change, but the core ideas people live by often do not, and it points us again to the one message that speaks to every age and every mindset: Jesus Christ and the resurrection.

Discussion Questions

1) When you share something about Jesus, do you encounter more ‘hedgehogs’ or ‘labradors’ and how do you usually respond?

• Do prickly reactions discourage you, frustrate you, or tempt you to back off?

2) Paul preached the same simple gospel regardless of whether the culture was curious or hostile. Where are you tempted to adjust, soften, or complicate the message?

3) If the gospel is simple but powerful, what is one clear, ordinary opportunity God may already be giving you to speak it?”