Opening Prayer

Note to leader: before the prayer and the beginning of worship, take a moment to encourage God’s people to settle into God’s Spirit, to breath, to be open to Christ’s presence.

Almighty God,

you are the maker of all things
and the giver of life and breath.

You are not far from each one of us,
and yet we often live as though you are distant.

When we keep our faith contained,
draw us into your wider world.

When we hesitate to speak or act,
give us courage shaped by your Spirit.

Gather us in this time of worship,
that we may recognize your presence,
be formed by your truth,
and be sent as witnesses to your grace.

Through Jesus Christ,
who calls us into the world you love.

Amen.

Call to Worship

Based on Psalm 66

selected verses

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of God’s name.

We give glory to the One whose works are mighty.

Come and see what God has done—
whose deeds among us inspire awe.

God has brought us through trial and testing,
through fire and water, into a place of abundance.

Bless our God, O peoples;
let the sound of praise be heard.

God has kept us among the living
and has not let our feet slip.

Come and hear, all who seek God,
and we will tell what God has done.

God has listened to our prayers
and has not withheld steadfast love.

Come, let us worship the living God.

Hymn of Praise

God of Grace and God of Glory, GTG #307

Assurance of Grace

Hear the good news:

The God who made the world and everything in it
is not far from each one of us.

In Jesus Christ,
God has made grace known—
not hidden, not distant, but near.

Where we have been silent, God speaks mercy.
Where we have held back, God offers new life.

We are forgiven.
We are restored.
We are sent to live in the freedom of God’s grace.

Thanks be to God.

Trusting in God’s grace and mercy, let us confess our sins and brokenness together.

Responding to God’s Grace

Unison Prayer of Confession

God of mercy,

you are not far from us,
yet we live as though you are distant.

You call us into the world you love,
yet we keep our faith hidden.

We remain silent
when we are called to speak,
and we speak without love
when we are called to reflect your grace.

We cling to what is safe and familiar,
rather than trusting your Spirit at work beyond us.

Forgive us
for the ways we withdraw,
for the risks we refuse to take,
and for the witness we fail to offer.

Shape us again by your Spirit,
that our lives may bear the good news—
with humility, courage, and truth.

We pray in the name of Christ.
Amen.

Sharing the Peace of Christ

An Embodied Sign of God’s Grace in Christ Jesus

Friends, we have been reminded that God’s grace extends to all. We have confessed our sins, knowing that we have been forgiven and that God is making us a new creation.

In this spirit, let us share the peace of Christ.

The peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

(Share Christ’s peace in ways fitting to your community.)

The Written Word

A Reading from the Early Church

Acts 17:22–31

Paul at the Areopagus

22So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said:
“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.
23For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To an unknown god.’
What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.
24The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands,
25nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all life and breath and all things.
26And he made from one every nation of humankind to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted times and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
27that they should seek God, and perhaps feel after him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us.
28For in him we live and move and have our being,
as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
29Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.
30The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
31because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

In Thessalonica

1Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3explaining and setting before them that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
4And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
5But the Jews, becoming jealous, took along some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the crowd.
6And when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, crying out, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
7and Jason has received them; and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king—Jesus.”
8And the crowd and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.
9And when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

In Berea

10The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11Now these were more receptive than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
12Many of them therefore believed, along with not a few Greek women of high standing and men.
13But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul also in Berea, they came there too, stirring up and troubling the crowds.
14Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.
15Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

In Athens

16Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
18Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities,” because he was proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection.
19And they took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
20For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.”
21Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

Paul at the Areopagus

22So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said:
“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.
23For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To an unknown god.’
What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.
24The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands,
25nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all life and breath and all things.
26And he made from one every nation of humankind to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted times and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
27that they should seek God, and perhaps feel after him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us.
28For in him we live and move and have our being,
as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
29Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.
30The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
31because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
32Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”
33So Paul went out from their midst.
34But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Notes

v22“Very religious” preserves ambiguity. The statement can be heard as acknowledgment or critique.
v23The “unknown god” becomes a point of contact, not affirmation. Paul begins within their frame but redirects it.
v24–25God is described in terms that resist containment and dependence. Creator language undercuts temple-centered assumptions.
v26Unity of origin (“from one”) grounds the diversity of nations without erasing distinction.
v27The language of seeking is tentative (“perhaps”), yet the nearness of God is asserted without qualification.
v28Paul appropriates Greek poetry without endorsing its full framework. The line is recontextualized within his proclamation.
v29Idolatry is critiqued not only as false worship but as a reduction of divine reality to human fabrication.
v30“Overlooked” does not imply indifference but delayed judgment. The present moment is marked by a new summons.
v31Resurrection functions as both assurance and boundary. It confirms the appointed judge and provokes division.

Notes

v02–03Paul’s method is described as reasoning “from the Scriptures,” not merely appealing to them. Explanation and demonstration are held together.
v03“It was necessary” signals theological necessity, not mere circumstance. Suffering and resurrection belong to the identity of the Christ.
v05–07The charge against Paul is political: allegiance to “another king.” The gospel is heard as a rival claim to imperial authority.
v06“Turned the world upside down” reflects perception rather than endorsement. The accusation captures the disruptive force of the message.
v11The Bereans are commended not for immediate agreement but for examination. Receptivity and discernment are held together.
v16Paul’s provocation is internal before it becomes public. The sight of idolatry unsettles him at the level of spirit.
v18“Babbler” suggests one who picks up scraps of ideas. The dismissal reflects both curiosity and contempt.
v22“Very religious” preserves ambiguity. The statement can be heard as acknowledgment or critique.
v23The “unknown god” becomes a point of contact, not affirmation. Paul begins within their frame but redirects it.
v24–25God is described in terms that resist containment and dependence. Creator language undercuts temple-centered assumptions.
v26Unity of origin (“from one”) grounds the diversity of nations without erasing distinction.
v27The language of seeking is tentative (“perhaps”), yet the nearness of God is asserted without qualification.
v28Paul appropriates Greek poetry without endorsing its full framework. The line is recontextualized within his proclamation.
v29Idolatry is critiqued not only as false worship but as a reduction of divine reality to human fabrication.
v30“Overlooked” does not imply indifference but delayed judgment. The present moment is marked by a new summons.
v31Resurrection functions as both assurance and boundary. It confirms the appointed judge and provokes division.
v32–34Responses vary—mockery, delay, belief. The text does not resolve the outcome into a single pattern.

Vocabulary

v23ἄγνωστος (agnōstos)
“Unknown.” Indicates lack of recognition or knowledge rather than absence of existence.
v25θεραπεύω (therapeuō)
“To serve” or “to attend.” Here used in the sense of ritual service rather than healing.
v27ψηλαφάω (psēlaphaō)
“To feel after” or “to grope.” Suggests searching without full clarity.
v30ὑπεροράω (hyperoraō)
“To overlook.” Can imply passing over without immediate action.
v31πίστις (pistis)
“Assurance” or “proof.” Here functions as a guarantee grounded in the resurrection.

Vocabulary

v02διαλέγομαι (dialegomai)
“To reason” or “to discuss.” The term implies exchange and argument rather than monologue.
v03δεῖ (dei)
“It is necessary.” Often signals divine or scriptural necessity within Luke-Acts.
v05ζηλόω (zēloō)
“To be jealous” or “to be zealous.” The term can carry both envy and fervor, depending on context.
v06ἀναστατόω (anastatoō)
“To unsettle” or “to disturb.” Literally suggests upheaval or disorder.
v11ἀνακρίνω (anakrinō)
“To examine” or “to investigate.” Used in legal and evaluative contexts.
v16παροξύνομαι (paroxynomai)
“To be provoked” or “to be stirred sharply.” The term conveys deep internal agitation.
v18σπερμολόγος (spermologos)
“Babbler.” Originally one who picks up seeds; metaphorically, one who gathers fragments of ideas without coherence.
v23ἄγνωστος (agnōstos)
“Unknown.” Indicates lack of recognition or knowledge rather than absence of existence.
v25θεραπεύω (therapeuō)
“To serve” or “to attend.” Here used in the sense of ritual service rather than healing.
v27ψηλαφάω (psēlaphaō)
“To feel after” or “to grope.” Suggests searching without full clarity.
v30ὑπεροράω (hyperoraō)
“To overlook.” Can imply passing over without immediate action.
v31πίστις (pistis)
“Assurance” or “proof.” Here functions as a guarantee grounded in the resurrection.
v34κολλάομαι (kollaomai)
“To join” or “to attach.” Indicates relational and communal alignment, not merely intellectual agreement.

Gospel Reading

John 14:15–21

The Promise of the Advocate

15“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he remains with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. 19Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21The one who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you have known me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Seeing the Father in the Son

8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak from myself, but the Father who remains in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if not, believe because of the works themselves.

The Promise of Greater Works

12“Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

The Promise of the Advocate

15“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he remains with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. 19Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21The one who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.”
22Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

Peace Given, Not as the World Gives

25“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
28You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe. 30I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.”

Notes

v16–17The Advocate is both given and known; presence is described as both with and in.
v18“I will not leave you as orphans” frames departure in relational terms rather than spatial absence.
v20The layered “in” language (Father, Son, disciples) resists simplification.

Notes

v01“Do not let your hearts be troubled” addresses inner disturbance directly without removing its cause.
v02“Many dwelling places” leaves the nature of these spaces undefined, emphasizing presence over structure.
v06“The way, and the truth, and the life” gathers multiple claims without separating them; access to the Father is relationally defined.
v07–11Mutual indwelling between Father and Son is asserted without explanation, inviting recognition rather than analysis.
v12“Greater works” are promised without specification, creating expectation without detail.
v13–14Asking “in my name” ties prayer to alignment rather than formula.
v16–17The Advocate is both given and known; presence is described as both with and in.
v18“I will not leave you as orphans” frames departure in relational terms rather than spatial absence.
v20The layered “in” language (Father, Son, disciples) resists simplification.
v23Divine dwelling shifts from place to person; presence becomes internal rather than localized.
v27Peace is distinguished from worldly peace without defining either fully.
v28“The Father is greater than I” stands alongside earlier unity statements without resolution.
v30The “ruler of the world” is introduced without elaboration, functioning as a looming presence rather than a defined figure.
v31Love is expressed through obedience, linking relationship and action.

Vocabulary

v16παράκλητος (paraklētos)
“Advocate.” One who comes alongside—helper, counselor, or intercessor.
v17πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας (pneuma tēs alētheias)
“Spirit of truth.” Associated with revelation and recognition.
v20ἐν (en)
“In.” A term of relational participation, used repeatedly in layered ways.

Vocabulary

v01ταράσσω (tarassō)
“To trouble” or “disturb.” Indicates inner agitation or unrest.
v02μονή (monē)
“Dwelling place.” A place of abiding; relational as much as spatial.
v06ὁδός (hodos)
“Way.” A path or means; here both direction and access.
v06ἀλήθεια (alētheia)
“Truth.” Not merely factual correctness but revealed reality.
v06ζωή (zōē)
“Life.” Participation in divine life rather than mere existence.
v16παράκλητος (paraklētos)
“Advocate.” One who comes alongside—helper, counselor, or intercessor.
v17πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας (pneuma tēs alētheias)
“Spirit of truth.” Associated with revelation and recognition.
v20ἐν (en)
“In.” A term of relational participation, used repeatedly in layered ways.
v27εἰρήνη (eirēnē)
“Peace.” Wholeness or completeness, distinct from mere absence of conflict.
v30ἄρχων (archōn)
“Ruler.” One who exercises authority; here undefined in scope.

Public Gospel

Sharing God’s Word Together

  1. What do you notice about how Paul engages the people of Athens? What stands out about his tone, his starting point, or the way he enters the conversation?
  1. Where do you see parallels between Athens and our world today? What are the “altars” or competing voices people are responding to in our context?
  1. Paul begins with connection before proclamation. Why does that matter?How does his approach challenge or affirm the way we think about sharing faith publicly?
  1. What makes a “risk” righteous rather than reactive or reckless? How do we discern when to speak, when to act, and how to do so with both courage and humility?
  1. Where in your life are you tempted to keep faith private or hidden? What fears, assumptions, or habits shape that instinct?
  1. What is one right-sized risk you feel called to take this week? A conversation, an action, or a step of presence—where you trust that God is already at work?

Hymn of Reflection

We Are Called, GTG #749

Affirmation of Faith

Spoken together.

We believe in God,
who made the world and everything in it,
who gives life and breath to all people,
and who is not far from each one of us.

We believe in Jesus Christ,
who reveals the fullness of God’s love,
who calls us to live that love in the world,
and who sends us as witnesses to his grace.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
who abides with us and within us,
who gives us courage to speak and act,
and who guides us in truth.

We believe the gospel is not hidden,
but lived and spoken in the world God loves.

We trust that God is already at work among us,
and we are called to join in with faith and hope.

Amen.

Prayers of the People

Let us pray for the church, the world, and one another.

God who is near,

you give life and breath to all,

and you are not far from each one of us.

Hear us as we pray.

Send us into your world,

and hold us in your grace.

(pause)

Lord, make us faithful witnesses.

For this world,

full of voices, questions, and searching hearts—

for those seeking meaning,

and those unsure what to trust—

Make yourself known.

Draw near in ways they can recognize.

Send us into your world,

and hold us in your grace.

(pause)

Lord, make us faithful witnesses.

Lord, make us faithful witnesses.

For places of conflict and division,

where truth is distorted

and fear shapes the conversation—

Raise up voices of clarity and compassion.

Guide communities toward justice and peace.

Send us into your world,

and hold us in your grace.

(pause)

Lord, make us faithful witnesses.

Lord, make us faithful witnesses.

For those who speak in public spaces—

leaders, teachers, advocates, and neighbors—

Grant wisdom to listen well,

courage to speak truth,

and humility to act with grace.

Send us into your world,

and hold us in your grace.

(pause)

Lord, make us faithful witnesses.

Lord, make us faithful witnesses.

For our own lives,

where we hesitate to speak

or struggle to act—

Give us courage for right-sized risks.

Help us trust that you are already at work,

and that we do not go alone.

Send us into your world,

and hold us in your grace.

(pause)

Lord, make us faithful witnesses.

For those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit—

for those facing illness, grief, or uncertainty—

Be near to them.

Sustain them with your presence,

and carry them through.

Send us into your world,

and hold us in your grace.

(pause)

Lord, make us faithful witnesses.

For those who feel unseen or unheard—

those pushed to the margins

or overlooked in the crowd—

Draw them into your mercy.

Remind them that they are known and loved.

Send us into your world,

and hold us in your grace.

(pause)

Lord, make us faithful witnesses.

For this community,

and for the life we share together—

Form us as a people whose faith is visible,

whose love is active,

and whose witness reflects your grace.

Send us into your world,

and hold us in your grace.

(pause)

Lord, make us faithful witnesses.

For the prayers we carry in silence—

(A time of silent prayer)

God who is near,

you hear the prayers we speak

and those we hold within.

Receive them in your mercy,

and continue to send us into your world,

through Jesus Christ,

who reveals your love to all.

Send us into your world,

and hold us in your grace.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

We pray together, saying:

(The Lord’s Prayer is prayed in the words familiar to the community.)

Hymn of Sending

Lord, You Give the Great Commission, GTG #298

Sending

Go now into the world God has made—

not as strangers,
but as those who know
that God is not far from us.

Live your faith in the open,
with courage and humility.

Take the risks that love requires,
and trust God with the outcome.

Speak with grace.
Act with integrity.
Walk with hope.

And may the God who gives life and breath,
the Christ who calls and sends,
and the Spirit who abides with you,
go with you now and always.

Amen.

Reflections for Later

For Newcomers

You may not be sure what you believe, or where you belong. That’s alright.

In Athens, Paul spoke to people who were already searching—people with questions, curiosity, and even uncertainty. He didn’t begin by correcting them. He began by noticing. By honoring their search.

The claim of the gospel is not that you have to find God on your own. It is that God is already near to you.

Closer than you think.
Present in ways you may not yet recognize.

Faith begins not with certainty, but with openness.
A willingness to listen.
A willingness to wonder.

You are welcome to begin there.

For Those Rooted in This Community

It is possible to be deeply formed in faith, and still keep it contained.

Paul did not remain in the safety of familiar spaces. He stepped into the public square—into a world full of competing ideas, questions, and assumptions—and trusted that God was already there.

The challenge is not simply to believe, but to live what we believe where others can see it.

Not loudly or forcefully,
but clearly and faithfully.

Where have you grown comfortable keeping your faith private?
Where might God be calling you to take a right-sized risk—
to speak, to act, to show up differently?

The gospel you carry is not meant to be hidden.
It is meant to take shape in your life.

For Churches Without a Pastor

The witness of the church has never depended on one voice.

In Athens, Paul spoke—but the gospel did not remain with him. Some were curious. Some believed. A community began to take shape.

The work of faith belongs to the whole people of God.

You do not need a single leader to carry the witness.
You already have what you need:

A shared story,
a living faith,
and a God who is near.

As you gather, serve, and speak together,
trust that your life as a community is itself a public gospel.

Others will see.
Others will hear.

And God will continue to work through you.

Need Help?

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Rights and Use

© Church Commons. 2026

Written by Rev. Matthew J. Skolnik unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.


These materials may be used and adapted for worship and educational purposes within Christian communities. They may not be sold or redistributed for commercial purposes without permission.

Resource Details

Date: May 10, 2026

Scripture: Acts 17:22-31

Theme: Public Gospel (Psalm 66, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21)

Lectionary: RCL Year A

Scripture on this page is from The Shared Word Translation (SWT), an ongoing translation project within ChurchCommons.org.