READ Acts 17
As Paul continues his journey, he establishes churches.

INSIGHT
It is often necessary to establish common ground with others in order to win an audience for the Gospel. Paul uses a point of common ground when he begins talking to the people of Athens about the idol bearing the inscription: “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD” (17:23). Catching their interest, Paul develops his argument to present to them the living Christ (vv. 30-31). This skillful message is used by the Holy Spirit to bring men and women to Jesus Christ.

PRAYER
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
May the Lord rejoice in his works.  
He looks at the earth, and it trembles;
He touches the mountains,
And they pour out smoke.  
I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.  
May my meditation be pleasing to him;
I will rejoice in the Lord.  
May sinners vanish from the earth
and wicked people be no more.  
My soul, bless the Lord!
Hallelujah! (Psalm 104:31-35).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin and in fellowship with Him:
For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person — though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
God has spoken once;
I have heard this twice:
Strength belongs to God,  
And faithful love belongs to you, Lord.
For you repay each according to his works
(Psalm 62:11-12).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

• The courage to follow God’s leading
• The salvation of your neighbors
• Your activities for the day

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” (Acts 2:32-33, 36).