Open Heaven For Teens 3rd April 2024 – Evangelism: Known To Unknown

Open Heaven For Teens 3rd April 2024 By Pastor E.A Adeboye And Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye

TOPIC: Evangelism: Known To Unknown

MEMORISE: For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. Acts 17:23

READ: Acts 17:22-28
[22]Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
[23]For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

[24]God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
[25]Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

[26]And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
[27]That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

[28]For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

OPEN HEAVENS FOR TEENS DEVOTIONAL APRIL 3, 2024 MESSAGE

In today’s Bible reading, Paul wanted to win a community for God. He noticed that the people had already set up an altar dedicated to an ‘unknown God,’ so he decided to start from there. When you want to catch a fish, you need a bait to attract it into your net or hook; this is similar to evangelism. To approach people with the message of the gospel, find a possible point of interest, and they will warm up to you.

I remember a colleague of mine at the University of Lagos who had an academic challenge. One day, I approached him and told him how I was helped with my Ph.D. thesis. Then he asked, “Who helped you?” I replied, “Professor Emmanuel. He told me to separate my theories, solve them independently and bring the answers together to finalise the equation.” My colleague was very curious about meeting this knowledgeable Professor, and that was how I got his attention.

By the time I was done explaining that Jesus showed me the answer to my thesis through the parting of the Red Sea in the book of Exodus, he already understood who Professor Emmanuel was. Today, by the grace of God, my colleague is born again.

KEY POINT
Approach a new convert from the area of his interest, and then the Holy Spirit will do the rest.

HYMN 16 – BREATHE ON ME, BREATH OF GOD

1. Breathe on me, Breath of God;
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.

2. Breathe on me, Breath of God:
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.

3. Breathe on me, Breath of God
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.

4. Breathe on me, Breath of God;
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19 Luke 10:13-37

Open Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.