In the book of Acts we see mainly two different ways of preaching the gospel, one to the Jew and another to the Gentile. Peter in his sermons on Pentecost in Acts 2 and 3, quoting from Moses, the Psalms and the prophets. Stephen in Acts 7 gave a very condensed wrap-up of Israels history that and proved that all of God’s dealing with them culminated in Christ. Everyone knew the scriptures because they were taught in the synagogues from childhood on. As the all books in the bible contain scriptures that point to the Messiah, they used them extensively and effectivly. The synagogues offered the platform gathering and their order of worship made room for men to share the word. All they had to do was quoting these scriptures and then present Christ crucified and resurrected as the gospel events were still in living memory.
Up until the early 20th century the evangelist borrowed heavily from their approach and used the law to establish that everyone is a sinner in need of a savior. This method was somewhat similar to the message Peter preached to the Jew. Most people went to church or would have had some form of religious upbringing. They could base their teaching on a foundation that had been established since the reformation. Wesley, Whitfield, Edwards, and Finney were famous for employing this method and people repented and believed in great numbers.
Some evangelists and ministries still use this method, and they too see some results. This method is good and effective only as long as you can assume that most of the hearers indeed have in themselves a rudimentary foundation of scripture and have been in an environment where biblical values were commonly accepted. Ray Comfort uses this method and I love to watch his videos, but you see that there are many who do not feel bound to the 10 commandments he quotes.
Since the latter part of the 20th century this foundation has been gradually eroded. We no longer can assume that Gen Z holds what was commonly accepted in the 1950ies. This includes views about gender, sexual identity and orientation, marriage, behavior of men and women, the value of life, property, parents, authority, government and so on. There is little common ground you can use as a standard to show people that the failed against them, leading them into conviction. You can still use this method to people with a little bit of Christian background, but the man and woman you meet on the street by and large no longer buy into it. They would ask you to define what gender is, and challenge your assumed views on the aforementioned things, trying to entangle you in a discussion if they are at all willing to listen to you.
So what shall we do? Thankfully the bible gives us a few examples how Paul preached to the Gentiles in Lystra and Derbe and later on Mars Hill in Athens. Quoting the Old Testament would only be effective to the God-fearing Gentiles who joined the synagogues, but it would be of no-effect to the idol-worshipping heathen outside. They had no knowledge of the scriptures and needless to say that they felt any obligation to keep them! He could not bring them under conviction by using Peters method in Acts 2 and 3.
A closer study of Acts 14 and 17 shows that he applied a different method.
As he could not hold them to the OT scriptures he found a way to hold them to what they believed.
The Greeks where pantheists and believed there was a god to be worshipped for anything and everything in life. At least they had an understanding that there are gods, though they were worthless idols. They knew what worship was though it was towards false gods.
It was a distorted and perverted worship, a strange blend of asceticism and unbridled debauchery but at least he could assume that they had an idea of what a god is and what worship means. These false gods were somehow related to creation and provision of means to live and enjoyment. Despite this multitude of gods, there was still an altar to an unknown god, just in case the known gods did not cover everything that there was to be considered in life. Paul perceived that with all their worship, the Athenians were still left with a void that kept them searching for the unknown God and drove them to always come up with new philosophic ideas.
The Holy Spirit prompted him to exploit this fact, so he opened with the introduction of this unknown God.
He pointed out that he is the God of heaven and earth, that is far too big to dwell in temples made with hands. He is the live-giver; he made man and all the nations, and determines their times and boundaries. As he also stated in Romans 1, there is the witness of creation:
Romans 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
The witness of creation is sufficient according to God’s word, we do not need to be afraid of what evolutionists and atheists throw at us in defiance, we can assume that every human being deep down in their heart know that there is a creator God and that there will be a judgment, regardless what they claim to believe.
This invisible God gave man the desire to seek and find him.
He could not be found in past ages, but now that Christ has become man and was crucified, resurrected and ascended to the right side of God the father, he could also be found.
Paul also knew that apart from the revelation of the messiah in the law and the prophets, there would be still some vague revelation to the gentiles outside of Judaism. Being a well read both in the holy scriptures and in secular Greek literature, he cited from the sixth-century BC Cretan poet Epimenides of Cnossos:
Acts 17:28 "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.”
The works of this ancient writer were far from inspired, but here God inserted a snippet of divine truth that Paul could use in his sermon.
It is always helpful to seek common ground to establish more biblical truth on top of it.
Now he proclaims God’s amnesty to them. If they are willing to repent, they will be spared judgment and condemnation to hell. This is proven by the fact that Christ is risen from the dead, because death has no power over him.
At least four people got saved, praise God!
There are several things we can apply in preaching the gospel to those who had little exposure to the gospel message.
1.\tHe perceived that they were religious, but in the wrong way, they were superstitious, and he dared to tell them into their faces. He knew full well that They could have grabbed him and judge him, as they held power and judgment.
2.\tHe had knowledge about their religion, culture and philosophy and used it in preaching.
3.\tHe introduced God as creator and provider (Acts 14:15, Acts 17:24)
4.\tProclaimed Christs forgiveness,
5.\tjudgment, death, and resurrection
I think we do good to use different methods depending on who our audience is and rely on the Holy Spirit to give us clues about them that we can build biblical truth on.
Last not least, preaching the word is not everything, our faith must express itself in good works and We should exercise faith for signs and wonders by the Spirit of God (Romans 15:18-19)