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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 Audio)     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.
  • 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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