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Church of Christ
Sermons and Lessons for 2012 |
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Bobby Stafford |
We Are Not In Kansas
Anymore (Download
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Evangelism |
July 29, 2012 |
Sunday AM Sermon |
We’re Not in Kansas Anymore
Introduction:
From USA Today,
Tuesday, September 13, 2011: “More Americans tailoring religion to
fit their needs.” The article says new research indicates that one
day 310 million people might have 310 million religions. It further
states that people are making up God as they go.
From the New York Times,
a lament from columnist David Brooks on the findings from the
recently released research led by Christian Smith in the book
Lost in Transition, the third in a series of reports
from the largest study of its kind on American youth. Result? The
almost complete inability to think and talk about moral issues.
After rape and murder, they had a hard time even thinking what else
might fall into the “moral” category, much less what might be
immoral. Their default position? Moral choices are just a matter
of individual taste. “It’s personal,” the respondents typically
said. “It’s up to the individual. Who am I to say?” Another
typical response. “I would do what I thought made me happy or how I
felt. I have no other way of knowing what to do but how I
internally feel.”
These two articles impress upon us the fact that we have moved from
an Acts 2
cultural context to an
Acts 17
cultural context. Or as Dorothy discovered, “We’re not in Kansas
anymore.”
So
what is the context of
Acts 2?
Peter and the apostles are addressing devout Jews who have journeyed
to Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Pentecost. The audience
believed in Jehovah, the creation, the inspired Scriptures, and
prophecy, especially about the coming of the Messiah.
But what is the context of
Acts 17?
Paul on Mars Hill in Athens addresses philosophers of many different
stripes. Here the truth was relative and idols to gods littered the
landscape.
As
James White described them – “. . . the average person
wouldn’t know Abraham from an apricot.” Paul knew this wasn’t
Jerusalem!
Our world has changed greatly in the past fifty years. We are in
Athens on Mars Hill, not in Jerusalem. Many people in our country
don’t believe in the God of the Bible; don’t believe the Bible is
different from any other book; don’t believe in heaven and hell . .
. We can learn a great deal in examining how Paul approached the
citizens of Athens. This will help us better approach the citizens
of our country today.
Text:
Acts 17: 16-21
Body:
I. A Proper
Attitude
(Verses
16-21)
-
Paul had been
preaching the gospel in Thessalonica and then in Berea. He had
to make hasty departures in both cities due to the reaction of
some to his preaching.
-
His next stop in
Athens, a city of artistic beauty, especially seen in its
statues of Greek gods and its magnificent temples. There were
so many statues that it has been described as a “forest of
idols.”
-
But Paul doesn’t
see this artistic beauty. Instead his spirit is provoked within
him. He is greatly distressed. (Verse
16) Note:
In our culture today, we need to open our eyes and look around
us. Don’t stick our heads in the sand. The religious landscape
should cause us to be distressed as well.
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Why was Paul
distressed? The glory that was due to God alone was being given
to idols, false gods. (Jeremiah
10:5,
I
Corinthians
10:20)
How true that is today in America. People will worship almost
anything except Jehovah.
-
Paul looked for
opportunities. (Verse
17) He went
to the synagogue, Jews’ marketplace, and agora – the center of
public and business life. These were good places to go to tell
people about Jehovah. He had to tell them about Jehovah before
he could tell them about Jesus!
-
Paul “reasoned”
with them. He wanted to show them the reasonableness of the
Biblical God. Note: Today we need to stress that reason and
faith are compatible. (Isaiah
1:18)
-
Paul talked with
adherents of two popular philosophies of the day. (Verse
18) Some
mocked him as the “babbler,” a seed picker. The idea or
teaching refers to one who picks up one seed here and another
one there. He spouts them off without understanding them.
Note: People will make fun of our beliefs today as well:
Creation; Adam and Eve; worldwide flood; a day of judgment; an
eternal soul . . .
-
They took Paul to
the Areopagus, the hill of Ares, Mars Hill. (Verses
19-12)
Athenians wanted to know if what Paul was proclaiming was good
or not. They wanted to understand and then evaluate. Not
having heard the doctrine of Christ, they wanted to know more.
Conclusion:
There are people in our country who indeed want to know the doctrine
of Christ. Let us be ready and able to tell them.
Bobby Stafford
July 29, 2012
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