Thanks to Pastor Rick Hunter of CityChurch for his sermon on Acts 17:16-34, where Paul had a unique opportunity to preach to a group of well-educated men who did not know the Bible. This sermon sounds very different from those he preached in the Jewish synagogues but contains the same Gospel message. As Christians present this good news to people of all backgrounds, we can learn much from Paul’s ability to deliver an unchanging message in a form that was accessible to his audience and even persuasive to some of them, who went away wanting to hear more.
After noting how little the people had accomplished, in Haggai 2:1-9 God told them to be strong because of his presence with them.
In the thanksgiving section of Paul's letter to the Colossians, he recognized their faith and love, which were based on their certain hope.
If you have ever compared your life to someone else's (who hasn't?), you need to hear Jesus' reply in John 21:20-25 to Peter's curiosity...