03.15.2009 Acts 17 - Paul - When in Athens - Reason...

03.15.2009 Grace Summit Sermon - Acts 17 - by Mike Marette from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

Talking with our son and daughter in law - their church did a program - "Religion is a Lie!" - the point is to talk about how it is about a relationship Christ - not a religion. I guess this works really well in urban areas - but they were in an area where people didn't get it and were just offended by it. It was not the right approach for the circumstance...

The Gospel message is offensive in some ways - it is a difficult message to hear.

The truth that Jesus is the only way to God does not go over well in this society - that is why we need to approach in speaking it in a winsome way. We can't compromise the gospel message - but we shouldn't offend by the way we present it .

This is Athens - it was similar in a lot of ways to America today. Athens was filled with many different belief systems. It is almost a 'have it your way' spirituality. Paul in Athens - how to communicate that Christ was the only way to a culture that believes that all ways are valid.

He started in Antioch - and this time goes by land to Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch Pisidia(?) - then on to Philippi, Berea, Thessalonica - and then down to Athens.

Acts 17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

Everywhere you go in Athens, there were temples to idols - so much so that Paul was disturbed on the insides - kinda like traveling through Pennsylvania - and you enter a restaurant - and everyone is wearing a Steelers' jersey - and you have your Browns jersey on - that is what it must have been like for Paul.

17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.

The first place he went was to the synagogue - that is where he had the most in common. He knew there would be some who would be open and ready to receive the message. Every city - that is where he starts. And usually, there is a handful or so of those who come to Christ.

And everyday, he would go into the market (agora) that was filled with idols. We need to understand - we are not - not one believer who is simply called to ministry within the church - every believer is called to ministry in the marketplace - in the outside world. You have a calling to reach out to folks who live in the market.

I don't think that this means that we need to go to Giant Eagle and witness to the people shopping there. They will kick you out eventually.

But our lives are filled with markets - for those of you who work - the first place would be the place where you work. You are with these people 8-10 hours/day. You have the opportunity to build relationships and to meet needs in these lives. It doesn't mean that you witness every day. But you can have the purpose of being a testimony of Christ. Then you can build relationships and do things outside of the work situation - where you can influence these folks for Christ. We have this responsibility. Let me say this: if you are wondering how to do that - we have plenty of resources - A couple years ago we had a series - Just Walk Across the Room - how to connect with people and share the gospel message with them.

The second 'marketplace' would be the community. There are two aspects - your neighborhood - and the second would be schools. Those are two primary aspects of community. Those are the opportunities to rub shoulders with people. Putting 4 kids through school - we had a lot of opportunity.

The third would be 'leisure activity.' This would be a growing area - The Natatorium, kids in sporting events, - a marketplace to connect and rub shoulders and to purposefully think - how do I bring the gospel message? We all have a responsibility to reach out in an appropriate way.

That doesn't mean you have to sit down and BLEAH - blurt it all out. You might invite them to a church picnic or a church bowling time (March 22, 6-8 pm!). Think through how to sensitively bring this message to others. Paul entered their world.

There is a fourth world - the online market. Some of you who are younger - it might be a market to reach people in.

Acts 17:18 - 18 And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. And some were saying, "What would this idle babbler wish to say?" Others, "He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,"-- because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? 20 "For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; we want to know therefore what these things mean." 21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

This is America at its finest! The talkshow capital of the Roman world! People arguing all day long!- This is the Areopagus - Mars Hill - this is where the council of Athens would gather. They asked Paul to talk about it - it wasn't a trial.

Paul bridged the gap - he entered into their world and opened an area for him to speak. This is a unique way of bridging the gap to the gospel.

22 And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects.

Isn't it interesting - there is nothing but idolatry! We as Christians - we come in and say - You idol worshipers! You wicked sinners! We are known for what we are AGAINST! Paul does something different. He finds common ground. He understands that he is an invited guest. He is showing common courtesy and decorum. He understands the culture he is in - and is invited to speak - and he speaks in a way that is culturally acceptable.
When the Japanese car companies started in America, there was a movie that came out - the workers tried to learn the customs of their bosses - learning to bow as a greeting and such. If you go into another culture, you need to learn to find a common ground - a point of connection.

23 "For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.

He is going through - he is looking - (we would shield our eyes from the idols - Paul kept his eyes open!) - There was a god to make a sacrifice to for any area of life. Anything you could imagine - there was a god. The Athenians thought - what if there was a god we were missing? So they made an altar to The Unknown God. Paul finds a common ground. It is from this point that Paul begins to proclaim this message.

It is easy for us, at times, when we present the gospel - to talk AT them - Paul talks WITH them. Let me tell you about this unknown God. Paul entered their world, found common ground - and began to proclaim the truth. In order to reach people with the message that Christ is the only way - we must enter their world. We do it without being corrupted by it - but at some point, we must proclaim the truth -

24 "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

He goes to the beginning to proclaim this truth. We tend to go immediately to the cross. Paul understands that this is a different world view - and this is probably a condensed version of what he said - probably just the highlights written. Paul tells them that God is the creator of all things. Our gospel is about church - it is a small gospel when all we are doing is trying to get people into church. Nothing wrong with that - as they can hear about the larger gospel at church - but Paul's gospel was about the universe! Paul was not arguing about whether the earth was 10,000 or 10 billion years old. Even my dentist - went to Yellowstone and told me how he was saying to his kids - Do you think this was an accident? No! There has to be something large and greater.

25 neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things;

The Athenians thought they could serve the gods with temples. But the true God is outside of creation! He is transcendent (that is the theological term) - he does not fit into a box.

26 and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined [their] appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation,

Not only is He creator - He reigns over everything that exists. The Athenians had a god for everything - Paul presented a God who was God over everything.

27 that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us

When we talk to people today - they do not know Who God is. There is not a clear understanding. They have heard some stories...

Paul goes on to say - this God who created everything and reigns over everything - He wants to have a relationship with you!

When you are involved in presenting the message to someone - you do not bring God to someone- God has already been there. God is working - and He is bringing you to them. You just open your mouth. You need to come alongside what He is doing.

Paul talks of this separation -

28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His offspring.' 29 "Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.

He is showing them the futility of what they worship.

First, he finds a common ground

God wants to have a relationship

They are sinners and what they are living for is not going to cut it.

30 "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent,

He is not afraid to tell them that they must repent and turn. He comes to a point - they are living for the wrong things and a decision must be made. We mustn't stop when it comes to the decision point. When the right time comes - we need to bring people to the decision point.

31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead. "

He even mentions judgment!

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some [began] to sneer, but others said, "We shall hear you again concerning this."

Some will sneer - and some will believe

33 So Paul went out of their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

If we wish to communicate Christ to a culture that believes that all ways are valid

We must find common ground

Enter their world without compromise

Share the offense of the gospel without being offensive. Let's pray...