Scripture Union Daily Guide July 13, 2025 (Sunday) Devotional Message
Today’s Daily Guide 13th July 2025 Reading By Scripture Union
TOPIC: Effective Witnessing
Opening Prayer
Dear Lord, expose me to your truth as I read your word in Jesus name.
Bible Text
Acts 17:16-34
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[b]
29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Meditation Question
► Q5: Is there any warning for me to heed?
► Q7: What truth is God revealing to me in this passage?
While in Athens, Paul observed that the city was full of idols. How did he respond (Acts 17:16-17)? To be effective witnesses, we must be observant, listen to the world around us and respond compassionately.
The Athenians were well educated but spiritually lost, trapped in paganism, and ignorant of the one true God (Acts 17:18). But they showed readiness to learn (Acts 17:18-21). This gave Paul a good opportunity to present the gospel to them (Acts 17:22). This shows that some people we meet daily, can be enlightened but spiritually ignorant and lost.
Read Acts 17:22-31 again and note the strategies that Paul employed in witnessing to the Athenians. Notice how he contextualized his message, quoting Greek poets that the people were familiar with. To be effective witnesses we need to know the scriptures, be able to respond to questions and arguments of the people (Acts 17:19-20). But we also need to speak persuasively and convincingly, using the language, illustrations, and concepts that the target audience are familiar with. Early Missionaries to Africa used the same approach and so did Jesus, our Master (John 4:5-29).
And So
In your witnessing and mission endeavours, always think of ways to establish rapport with your audience.
Insight
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
HYMN – Victory over sin
1. Thanks be to God for the victory over sin;
Thanks for His Word and the teaching therein;
Thanks for His Son whom He sent to proclaim
Tidings of good, and the earth to reclaim.
Refrain: Sing loud hosanna! Sing loud hosanna!
The victory’s gained o’er sin;
Loud swell the anthem by angels and by men;
Glory to God for the victory over sin.
2. Thanks for the gift of His loved, His only Son;
Thanks for the work which on earth He begun;
Thanks for the peace which it brings to the soul,
Working for Jesus, His love to unfold.
3. Thanks for redemption, and purchase by His blood;
Thanks for the love He has taught in His Word;
Thanks for His Spirit, forever to reign,
Peace on the earth, and good will unto men.
Closing Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to maintain all necessary disciplines that will make me an effective witness for you in my generation
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Amos 1-3.
One Year Bible Reading Plan – Hard Copy version
2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 9-12
National Prayer Bulletin – Sun Jul 13, 2025
PRAYER FOCUS
SU BRETHREN: SPIRITUAL GROWTH
“To ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”. Col 1:9-10
THANK GOD FOR:
* The grace to grow spiritually
PRAY FOR:
* The brethren will be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
• Increased desire and passion for the brethren to pray, study and obey God’s word.
• The life, character and beauty of Christ will be reflected in our lives, families and ministry.
• We will live to please God and be fruitful in every good work
Scripture Union is an international, interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God. (Scripture Union Daily Guide July 13 2025)