Acts 17:16-31 Following Christ in a Pluralistic Society

Five Words to Follow Christ in a Pluralistic Society

Jesus and the Resurrection (the Gospel) are a foreign language 17:18

Boldness (Acts 16-17)

Will lead to pushback by people who are offended by the Bible’s claims. Some will believe and others reject. Don’t let hostility stop the Gospel

Brokenness (17:16)

He saw the idols and it broke his heart about the lostness condition of the people. Rejection of biblical truth should not frustrate you. It should cause you to ache for the lostness.

Urgency (17:17)

The more we move into post Christian, the less biblical literacy we get…We have more access to information, but we don’t know what is important. We don’t know that we don’t know

Respect (17:22)

He looked for a point of contact. He started with their longing for God.

1 Peter 3:15-16

2 Timothy 2:25

Gentleness, kindness, and respect…

There are angry clashes on gay marriage right now…

Student (17:23)

Paul was a student of culture (of Athens). We need to be a student of culture. Culture is the overflow of what is in our heart. Paul could speak to their culture and heart.

Where did Paul go to speak to these people

Summary of the Sermon (17:24-26)

He took them to the Bible – quotes of OT

“The God who made the world and everything in it —He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands.” (Acts 17:24, HCSB)

“God who made the world and everything in it.”

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1, HCSB)

“When I observe Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You set in place,” (Psalm 8:3, HCSB)

“This is what God, Yahweh, says— who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk on it —” (Isaiah 42:5, HCSB)

“does not live in shrines made by hands”

“Lord of Heaven and Earth”

“This is what the Lord says: Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house could you possibly build for Me? And what place could be My home?” (Isaiah 66:1, HCSB)

“Neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives everyone life and breath and all things.” (Acts 17:25, HCSB)

“Neither is He served by human hands…He does not need anything”

“source of life and breath”

“Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7, HCSB)

“From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.” (Acts 17:26, HCSB)

“From one man”

“So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.” (Genesis 1:27, HCSB)

“He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth”

“These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their family records, in their nations. The nations on earth spread out from these after the flood.” (Genesis 10:32, HCSB)

“appointed times and the boundaries”

“You set all the boundaries of the earth; You made summer and winter.” (Psalm 74:17, HCSB)

“Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket, when I determined its boundaries and put its bars and doors in place, when I declared: “You may come this far, but no farther; your proud waves stop here”?” (Job 38:8–11, HCSB)

“He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:27, HCSB)

“They might seek God”

“But from there, you will search for the Lord your God, and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29, HCSB)

“The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God.” (Psalm 14:2, HCSB)

“I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.” (Proverbs 8:17, HCSB)

“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13, HCSB)

“For the Lord says to the house of Israel: Seek Me and live!” (Amos 5:4, HCSB)

“He is not far from each one of us”

“The Lord is near all who call out to Him, all who call out to Him with integrity.” (Psalm 145:18, HCSB)

““Am I a God who is only near” —this is the Lord’s declaration—“and not a God who is far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places where I cannot see him?” —the Lord’s declaration. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” —the Lord’s declaration.” (Jeremiah 23:23–24, HCSB)

Biblical faith… If you follow Him…

He quotes their culture (17:28)

He challenged their understanding (17:29)

Habakkuk 2:18-19

By human imagination and art.

Epimenedes – history of his solution to plague problem legend

It is either God or you…

17:30-31

“before the Lord, for He is coming— for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with His faithfulness.” (Psalm 96:13, HCSB)

“before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world righteously and the peoples fairly.” (Psalm 98:9, HCSB)

Is this a new method of preaching to postmoderns? Once you know God on His terms, ignorance is over. To constant turning and re-turning is a call to repentance.