1. Read Acts 17:16-34.
   1. How is the scene in Athens similar to this time in history, specifically in our city? Are you distressed that people are worshipping an unknown god? Are you seeing your city through gospel eyes or worldly ones that are desirous of its idols?
   2. What moves you with compassion to the point that you are ‘distressed’ and have to do something about it?
2. Look again at Acts 17:24-31.
   1. What attributes of God are listed there? Which of the attribute listed connects most deeply with you? How do these attributes (and others in Scripture) shape how you relate to God? How does knowing who God is help you to better understand yourself?
   2. What attributes of God are challenging or frustrating to understand? Consider this statement: “If God were small enough to be understood, he would not be big enough to be worshipped” (Evelyn Underhill).
   3. What questions do you have about God that haven’t been or can’t be answered?

How can you live by faith (Romans 1:17, Hebrews 11:1) yet also find a place for reason and rational argument (Proverbs 1:7, Colossians 2:3)? Are these two concepts mutually exclusive or compatible as you see them through the lens of Scripture?

3. If religion asks is, “What is true?”, what question does the gospel ask?
4. If the gospel is fundamentally an announcement about the good news of Jesus and not an explanation, how do you personally answer the question Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?”
5. What statement does Paul make that ends the discussion? (Hint: it’s where Paul always heads in any discussion and where God’s greatness is most on display.) Where do you usually head when having a discussion with someone who needs to hear the gospel? What can you learn from Paul’s approach in Athens?

This week, pray for the complete removal of any area of your life where religion or philosophy is overriding or pre-empting faith in Jesus. Pray that you will fully live as someone created by a glorious God to be known and loved by him. Ask God to alert you to any way you can engage those who are worshipping unknown gods.