Episode Becoming Fully Alive: Acts 17 | Week 1
"The glory of God is a human fully alive." This is a paraphrase of something an early church Father wrote, and it sounds inspiring! We go through our lives often wishing there was more. Let's explore what it means to step into the abundant life God offers, by considering a very famous speech from Acts 17 that's full of some pretty surprising and often humorous moments. And through this, we will discover what it looks like to walk through life with God, and become more fully alive.
Chapter 1
What’s the difference between being alive and being fully alive? Join the group this week on Discover the Word for a series called “Becoming Fully Alive—A Study of Acts 17”. Daniel Ryan Day leads Elisa Morgan, Rasool Berry, and Vivian Mabuni in discovering what it means to be fully alive—what that looks like and what it doesn’t.
Chapter 2
Do you stay up to date on the latest trends or do you know someone who does? Well, join the Discover the Word group as they explore how chasing after things like the latest trends can actually make it more difficult to experience the full life that God offers. Be part of the group as they continue their study of Acts chapter 17.
Chapter 3
What are some things that you would say get in the way of becoming fully alive? In this conversation, your Discover the Word study partners Daniel, Elisa, Rasool, and Vivian explore some of the leading first century philosophies that were in competition with Paul’s teaching about Jesus. Join them to discover how many of these same philosophies are still present in our world today.
Chapter 4
Can you recall a time when someone was willing to listen to you – without making you feel judged and trying to argue with you about your experience? Well, in this part of this Discover the Word conversation, explore the compelling way that Paul met the Athenians right where they were in Acts 17. Discover how this can help you meet people where they are today and how that can provide an opening to share the gospel with people who may not yet agree.
Chapter 5
What do you do when you need help – with family, with a problem, with the weather? Well, in this Discover the Word conversation, the group explores some of the different things that Acts 17 says people in the first century turned to for help. And discover how Paul communicated the best place to go for help in becoming fully alive.
About This Episode
- Show Notes
Receive
In this series we explore the insights from Acts 17 that help us understand how to become fully alive. Becoming fully alive is not a perfect process and it can even involve rejection. What we choose to do to find fulfillment is important. And some things actually prevent us from stepping into the abundant life God offers. Paul met the Athenians where they were in Acts 17 in order to prepare them to receive the good news about how to walk through life with God, which shows us how we can meet people where they are to do the same.
Reflect
- Read Acts 17. As you reflect on the Scripture for this episode, what stands out to you?
- What’s the difference between being alive and being fully alive, based on Paul’s teaching in Acts 17?
- What are you doing to feel fully alive right now and how well is it working?
- What gets in the way of you becoming fully alive in Jesus – pursing pleasures or your own abilities or something else?
- How can you best present the gospel to others who may not agree with you about it?
Respond
(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God)
“Jesus, I want to be fully alive in you. Help me to draw closer to you and pursue you before anything else. Help me let go of the things that prevent me from being fully alive in you. Lead me to meet others where they are in order to share the good news about our ability to become fully alive in you.”
Gain more encouragement to become fully alive in God with these recommended resources.
Mentioned in this episode:
Listen:
Read:
- Lands of the Bible: Then and Now by Dave Branon
Watch:
- In Pursuit of Jesus – An Episodic Journey Around the World to Uncover the Impact and Influence of Jesus (Hosted by Rasool Berry)
- Looking for Answers (Acts 17:22): A Short Video Devotional from Our Daily Bread Ministries
This Week's Featured Resource
Habits for the Spiritual Life from Reclaim Today
Explore creative ways to connect with God in the ordinary, extraordinary, everyday moments of life. Reclaim Today is our ministry for people in their 20s and 30s—offering encouraging resources like prayers, Scripture meditations, devotions, articles, and spiritual habits.