Borrowed acts17

Acts 17:16-34

BORROWED BORROWED SERMONS:SERMONS:

FIRST WALK IN FIRST WALK IN THEIR SHOESTHEIR SHOES

Acts 17:16-34Acts 17:16-34

Acts 17:16-34 TNIVActs 17:16-34 TNIV In Athens 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean." 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. "People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the 24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

28 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

29 "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.“

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

Lord, help me to overcome my prejudices so that I can be more effective as your representative. Move me from my comfort zone, please. I’m ready to open my mind and my heart to the plight of those who are far from you.


● ● Paul has left a dangerous situation Paul has left a dangerous situation in Thessalonica.in Thessalonica.● ● In Athens he’s waiting for two In Athens he’s waiting for two missionary buddies to show up..missionary buddies to show up..● ● The apostle takes advantage of the The apostle takes advantage of the spare time to sun himself at the spare time to sun himself at the beach and go shopping.beach and go shopping.● ● No! Not this guy! He teaches in No! Not this guy! He teaches in the local synagogue and proclaims the local synagogue and proclaims the good news of Jesus in the the good news of Jesus in the market place.market place.

TURNING A LAY-OVER INTO A TURNING A LAY-OVER INTO A PREACHING POINTPREACHING POINT

● ● He spoke to all who would listen.He spoke to all who would listen.

● ● Philosophers overheard his Philosophers overheard his message and insisted on hearing message and insisted on hearing more…although it was confused more…although it was confused them.them.

● ● Guest speaker at the hot spot of Guest speaker at the hot spot of Philosophy and New IdeasPhilosophy and New Ideas

CARRYING THE JESUS LANTERN CARRYING THE JESUS LANTERN INTO DARK PLACESINTO DARK PLACES

● ● Although horrified and dismayed by the Although horrified and dismayed by the abundance of idols he found a way to compliment abundance of idols he found a way to compliment his audience: “I see in every way that you are very his audience: “I see in every way that you are very religious.”religious.”

● ● Surveyed the situation well enough to spot an Surveyed the situation well enough to spot an entry point for the Gospel: “I even found an altar entry point for the Gospel: “I even found an altar with this inscription: To An Unknown God”.with this inscription: To An Unknown God”.

A MIGHTY SAVVY AMBASSADOR A MIGHTY SAVVY AMBASSADOR FOR JESUSFOR JESUS

● ● Used their own story Used their own story as an introduction to his as an introduction to his message: “Now what message: “Now what you worship as unknown you worship as unknown I am going to proclaim to I am going to proclaim to you.” He used their you.” He used their current place as a current place as a launching pad for the launching pad for the message.message.

● ● Quoting a local poet Quoting a local poet (how’s that for knowing (how’s that for knowing your audience): your audience): “We are “We are His offspring.”His offspring.”

A MIGHTY SAVVY A MIGHTY SAVVY AMBASSADOR FOR AMBASSADOR FOR

JESUSJESUS

● ● ““Therefore, since we are God’s offspring…”Therefore, since we are God’s offspring…”

● ● A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY: A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY: “In the past “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. The commands all people everywhere to repent. The day of judgment is set.”day of judgment is set.”

● ● THE PUNCH LINE: THE PUNCH LINE: “He has given proof of this “He has given proof of this to all men by raising Jesus from the dead.”to all men by raising Jesus from the dead.”

AN AMAZING EVANGELIST: PAUL AN AMAZING EVANGELIST: PAUL USES THE PAGAN VERSES AS HIS USES THE PAGAN VERSES AS HIS

SERMON TEXTSERMON TEXT

To the Jews I became To the Jews I became like a Jewlike a Jew, , to win the Jews… to win the Jews… To those under the law I became To those under the law I became like one under the lawlike one under the law......To those not having the law I To those not having the law I became became like one not having the like one not having the law law ……To the weak To the weak I became weakI became weak……

I have become all things to all I have become all things to all people so that by all possible people so that by all possible means I might save some. means I might save some. I do all I do all this for the sake of the gospel, this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. that I may share in its blessings. --I Corinthians 9:20-23--I Corinthians 9:20-23

YIKES! WHAT AN YIKES! WHAT AN AMAZING AND AMAZING AND

REVOLUTIONARY REVOLUTIONARY METHOD METHOD

OUTREACHOUTREACH

RememberingRemembering that Jesus includes that Jesus includes outsiders like me. outsiders like me. RememberingRemembering the way of Jesus.the way of Jesus.

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

I choose to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

Jesus Gave His Life For Us!Jesus Gave His Life For Us!We Celebrate This OpportunityWe Celebrate This OpportunityOf Expressing Our Thankfulness.Of Expressing Our Thankfulness.

● ● Turn from people who are Turn from people who are different than usdifferent than us

● ● Don’t associate with those Don’t associate with those who are odd or on a who are odd or on a different pathdifferent path

● ● Argue our position rather Argue our position rather than hear others outthan hear others out

SO OFTEN WE MISS THE SO OFTEN WE MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OPPORTUNITY TO BE FAITHFUL WITNESSESFAITHFUL WITNESSES

● ● Walk in the other person’s shoesWalk in the other person’s shoes

● ● Try to understand why they are who Try to understand why they are who they arethey are

● ● Look for a connecting pointLook for a connecting point

● ● Know themKnow them

● ● Love even the unlovely and offensiveLove even the unlovely and offensive

PAUL TEACHES US (AND JESUS PAUL TEACHES US (AND JESUS WAS THE MASTER OF THIS) TO:WAS THE MASTER OF THIS) TO:

IT IS ANOTHER IT IS ANOTHER WAY OF PUTTING WAY OF PUTTING OTHERS FIRST!OTHERS FIRST!

● ● Hardware …nose, ear, Hardware …nose, ear, bellybutton piercings?bellybutton piercings?

● ● Blaring boom boxes and Blaring boom boxes and outrageous music?outrageous music?

● ● Massive tattoos?Massive tattoos?

IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD …HOW COULD WE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD …HOW COULD WE CONNECT WITH THESE FOLK?CONNECT WITH THESE FOLK?

BOTTOM LINE: BOTTOM LINE: It’s time to be a It’s time to be a generous generous ambassador of God ambassador of God and hang up the and hang up the judge’s black robe.judge’s black robe.

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Go and bless others. Go and bless others. Because, God can do anything, far Because, God can do anything, far more than you could ever imagine more than you could ever imagine or guess or request through you or guess or request through you toward others.toward others.

Spiritual

Borrowed acts17