WEBVTT

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 And turn, if you will, to Acts chapter 17. I get up early on a Sunday morning and do the children's sheets.

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! Thankfully what rarely happens, happened this morning, that you begin to look at your sermon and your sermon kind of falls apart before your very eyes.

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 And so this is half of what you should be getting, but otherwise you'd be here until about one o'clock.

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 And so I don't know whether we'll get to the other half, but we'll see.

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 And because of that I've done an outline, which I don't normally do, but you'll be able to follow the outline.

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 And many people consider Christianity to be a primitive idea.

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 Churches like ours are often pigeonholed as those Christians who are intolerant, closed-minded.

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 And we're told, aren't we, sometimes that we have unevolved views of human sexuality.

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 And back in AD 50, the Apostle Paul's missionary journey that we've been tracing led him to a Greco-Roman city that was the ancient equivalent, really, of a city like London.

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 And that city was called Athens in Greece.

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 Athens has been the foremost city in the world since the 5th century BC.

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 And even after the Roman Empire swept through it, Athens is granted kind of special status in the Roman Empire.

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 Athens is a free city.

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 It boasted a rich philosophical tradition.

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 Wonderful literature.

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 Wonderful art.

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 Notable achievements in human freedom.

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 F.F. Bruce has summarised the intellectual significance of Athens saying this.

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 The sculpture, the literature, the oratory of Athens in the 4th and 5th century remain and surpassed.

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 In Philosophy 2, she took the leading place.

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 Athens is the native city of Socrates and Plato.

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 And it was still, in Paul's age, a leading centre of learning.

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 We describe it as a great university city.

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 Just before we walk through Paul's time in Athens, we see in the first half of the chapter, in verses 1 to 9, he's been in Thessalonica.

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 His mission team have gone to this city of Thessalonica.

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 They've seen great fruit as they preach among the Jews and God-fearing Greeks.

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 But that fruitfulness, people responding to the good news, is met with jealousy by other Jews.

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 They eventually end up driving him out of town.

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 And so there's fruitfulness and opposition.

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 Those same two things that go hand in hand.

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 His team have driven out.

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 Verses 10 to 15, they spend their time in Berea.

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 And they meet there, people who are eager to search the Bible.

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 They want to see, is what Paul's saying true?

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 But then Jews come from Thessalonica and they stir up trouble once again.

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 So Paul's got to move on.

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 We read in verse 15, they escort him to the coast of Athens.

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 But Silas and Timothy stay in Berea.

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 As he waits in Athens, Paul decides to go for a walk around the city.

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 He's heard of Athens.

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 Everyone's heard of Athens.

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 And now Paul has got the chance to encounter this great city for himself.

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 How did he respond?

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 That's the question I want us to ask.

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 How did Paul respond to this great city of learning?

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 And seeing how he responds, we've got to ask ourselves, how do we respond to our great city?

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 The first thing we see is in verse 16.

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 Can you see, Paul is distressed.

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 That's the key word there.

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 Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked.

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 And distressed within him.

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 As he saw that the city was full of culture, literature, art.

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 Now what does Paul see?

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 He sees full of idols.

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 And there's so much that Paul could have seen, isn't it?

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 So much beauty in the culture.

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 He could have visited stunning buildings like the Parthion,

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 the Agorah, the cultural centre, the marketplace, the gathering place of ideas.

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 Where great works of art was painted.

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 There was in little porches gatherings of people discussing philosophy.

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 Teachers gathered their group of disciples to teach and exchange the latest ideas.

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 It would have been of great interest to an intellect like Paul.

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 He could have visited the various schools of philosophy.

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 He could have stopped off at the galleries, admired the art, looked at the buildings, loved the literature.

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 But they're not the primary things that struck the Apostle Paul.

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 As he walked around the city, more than anything else, he was struck by the idolatry.

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 And he saw it everywhere.

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 The city was buried under idols.

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 Roman satirists of the time quipped,

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 It's easier to find a god than a man in Athens.

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 The Greeks had gods for absolutely everything.

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 Go home, Google Greek gods and see the list that comes up.

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 And Paul, as he walked around Athens, saw these little shrines, little temples, little monuments,

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 built to honour and attribute glory.

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 Imagine, a monotheistic Jew,

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 believing in one god who made the heavens and the earth,

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 who's now at an encounter with Jesus Christ.

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 And he's come to realise that this god, the Lord of heaven and earth,

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 exists in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

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 And this god has sent Jesus into the world

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 to provide a way that you and I can worship him.

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 And to enjoy him.

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 And no one in Athens seems to know about it,

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 or care about it.

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 And Paul is majorly distressed by it.

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 There's this compound going on in Paul's heart.

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 He's got a passion for the name of the one true God,

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 and he's got a burden for the blindness of these people.

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 And as that combination works,

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 there's passion for the glory of God in the person of the Lord Jesus,

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 and this profound sadness about the people of Athens.

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 It causes him to be deeply moved.

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 And there's a great challenge, isn't there?

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 Paul's faith shaped how he viewed this world.

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 Paul's faith shaped how he viewed this city.

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 He would have seen the beautiful buildings,

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 the art, the literature.

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 But the problem was that the people of Athens

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 were using all those God-given gifts

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 to give glory to idols.

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 They were using their God-given gifts

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 to serve everything

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 apart from the one who gave them those gifts.

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 All that intellectual ability.

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 All those giftings given to them by God,

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 but they refused to give that God glory.

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 Does that remind you of anywhere?

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 How do you see the city that we live in?

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 What do you see through the architecture?

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 And through the intellect?

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 And through all the culture that's here?

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 Through everything that's so impressive

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 and sometimes so intimidating in London?

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 There are idols everywhere in London.

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 When we define an idol as anything

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 which takes the place of God,

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 an idol is anything

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 which takes the central place

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 in every human's life

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 that only God should have,

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 we suddenly see there are idols everywhere.

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 When we define an idol

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 as anything that takes up God's place,

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 we see, don't we,

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 that there are many people in London.

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 There are many people on our streets

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 who we work with in our schools

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 and God is not at the center

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 of their affections and their love.

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 In fact, there are many, many things

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 at the center of their affections.

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 And as I've cycled around Ealing this week,

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 the question I've been asked

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 as I've studied Act 17 is this,

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 is there any part of me

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 that's distressed about it?

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 And my own answer is this,

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 nowhere nearly enough.

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 That actually I've become accustomed

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 and I sit way too easily

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 with all the idolatry

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 that's all around me.

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 And that shouldn't be the case,

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 should it?

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 That I should be more burdened

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 for this borough,

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 for this city.

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 And so one of the applications

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 of Act 17 is this,

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 we must pray,

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 Lord, give me eyes

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 to see this city

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 as you see this city.

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 And give me a burden

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 for the idolatry

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 that is all around me.

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 So how does Paul respond

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 to the impressive city of Athens?

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 First, he's distressed,

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 but the second key word

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 is it moves him,

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 that distress,

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 to action.

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 And so we go to

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 verses 17 to 21.

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 Because of this distress,

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 he goes to the local synagogue

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 and he reasons with the Jews

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 and the God-fearing Greeks.

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 But as well as that,

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 he goes not only to the synagogue,

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 but he goes to the marketplace.

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 And day by day,

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 distressed and motivated

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 to action,

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 he goes out

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 and he speaks

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 a simple message

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 that is summarised

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 for us in verse 18.

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 Can you see it?

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 It's a beautiful summary.

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 He preaches the good news

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 about Jesus,

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 and the resurrection.

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 Isn't that a lovely summary?

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 We keep getting them,

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 don't we,

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 in the book of Acts.

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 The good news

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 about Jesus

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 and the resurrection.

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 You cannot speak

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 of the resurrection of Jesus

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 unless you speak

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 of the death of Jesus,

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 can you?

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 And the coming of Jesus.

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 He speaks of all it accomplished

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 and all it meant

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 and we're told

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 that he's doing this

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 to a group of Epicurean

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 and Stoic philosophers.

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 They begin to debate

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 with him

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 with mixed reactions.

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 They're the two great

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 schools of thought

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 of the day,

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 each with their own answers

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 to the big questions

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 of life.

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 The Epicureans

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 believed in gods,

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 but those gods

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 are so remote

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 that they would take

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 no interest in you.

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 And those gods

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 had no influence

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 on human affairs.

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 The world was

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 random chance,

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 no survival

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 of death

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 or judgment.

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 So even though

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 they believed in God,

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 their God was so remote

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 you could just

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 get on and enjoy your life.

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 Do you remember

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 on the buses

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 years ago,

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 isn't it?

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 There is probably

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 no God

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 so just enjoy your life

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 the atheists put up.

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 In many ways

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 it's Epicurean.

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 They criticised

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 Athens

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 they mocked

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 these little temples

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 that were there

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 and people seeking

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 to bring the needs

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 of gods

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 by bringing food to them.

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 And we'll see

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 how Paul picks up

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 on that in a little while.

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 The Stoics,

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 we still use that word

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 today, don't we?

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 They believed

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 that the human race

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 came from one origin

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 and through

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 kind of logic

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 and discipline

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 they believed

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 you could live in harmony

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 with this natural order.

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 But the world

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 was governed

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 by an impersonal force.

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 they believed

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 that God

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 was like the soul

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 of the world

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 he pervaded

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 everything to some degree

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 and in a fatalistic way

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 they believed

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 humanity's job

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 was basically

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 to suck it up.

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 To roll with the punches

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 To be stoical

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 in how

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 the slings

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 and arrows

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 of outrageous fortune

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 affected you.

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 It led to this kind of

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 prized attribute

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 of being self-sufficient.

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 You're self-sufficient

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 as fate plays its way

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 out in your life

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 so you get the stoic

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 mentality of today.

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 I can do it myself.

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 And Paul gets

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 into debate with them

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 about the good news

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 of Jesus

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 and the resurrection.

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 They invite him

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 to the Areopagus

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 a kind of official

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 city council

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 that meets

00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:47.340
 a court

00:12:47.340 --> 00:12:47.820
 that sought

00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:48.240
 the welfare

00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:48.800
 of the city

00:12:48.800 --> 00:12:49.960
 and in verse 20

00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:50.519
 they say

00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:51.460
 you're bringing

00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:53.019
 some strange ideas

00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:53.820
 to our ears

00:12:53.820 --> 00:12:55.220
 and we would like

00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:55.420
 to know

00:12:55.420 --> 00:12:56.000
 what they mean.

00:12:57.580 --> 00:12:58.019
 Verse 21

00:12:58.019 --> 00:12:58.420
 tells us

00:12:58.420 --> 00:12:58.759
 that the people

00:12:58.759 --> 00:12:59.200
 of Athens

00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:00.080
 they love

00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:00.759
 this kind of thing

00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:01.800
 they love new ideas

00:13:01.800 --> 00:13:02.900
 they love

00:13:02.900 --> 00:13:03.740
 sitting around

00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:04.519
 listening to

00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:05.420
 the latest fad

00:13:05.420 --> 00:13:06.800
 or philosophical

00:13:06.800 --> 00:13:07.560
 proposition.

00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:10.619
 So they hear Paul

00:13:10.619 --> 00:13:10.959
 and they say

00:13:10.959 --> 00:13:11.419
 we want to hear

00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:12.099
 more of this.

00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:14.359
 They bring him

00:13:14.359 --> 00:13:15.299
 to the council meeting

00:13:15.299 --> 00:13:16.119
 it's an amazing

00:13:16.119 --> 00:13:16.719
 opportunity

00:13:16.719 --> 00:13:18.559
 for a guy

00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:19.019
 who's just

00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:19.799
 walking around

00:13:19.799 --> 00:13:20.319
 the city

00:13:20.319 --> 00:13:21.299
 originally

00:13:21.299 --> 00:13:21.959
 as he waited

00:13:21.959 --> 00:13:22.559
 for his friends

00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:23.099
 to arrive.

00:13:24.719 --> 00:13:25.719
 Paul distressed

00:13:25.719 --> 00:13:26.679
 by what he saw

00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:28.539
 was motivated

00:13:28.539 --> 00:13:29.519
 to simply share

00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:30.199
 the good news

00:13:30.199 --> 00:13:30.639
 of Jesus

00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:31.439
 and his resurrection

00:13:31.439 --> 00:13:32.599
 and look at the door

00:13:32.599 --> 00:13:33.039
 that's opened

00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:33.639
 before him.

00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:36.919
 And so even though

00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:38.000
 the people of this city

00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:39.339
 they scorn

00:13:39.339 --> 00:13:41.599
 and they ridicule us

00:13:41.599 --> 00:13:43.379
 for holding to the Bible

00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:44.199
 as God's word

00:13:44.199 --> 00:13:46.879
 even though some

00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:48.299
 may misrepresent us

00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:50.219
 we are called

00:13:50.219 --> 00:13:51.319
 simply to share

00:13:51.319 --> 00:13:52.120
 that message

00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:53.620
 the good news

00:13:53.620 --> 00:13:54.019
 of Jesus

00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:54.699
 and the resurrection

00:13:54.699 --> 00:13:56.799
 with anyone

00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:57.419
 who will listen.

00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:00.000
 What will be the results

00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.419
 but we don't know

00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:01.079
 what the results will be

00:14:01.079 --> 00:14:01.959
 we leave the results

00:14:01.959 --> 00:14:02.379
 to God

00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:02.839
 don't we?

00:14:03.959 --> 00:14:04.620
 But our job

00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:05.079
 as a church

00:14:05.079 --> 00:14:05.799
 is to simply

00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:06.519
 and clearly

00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:07.699
 tell the good news

00:14:07.699 --> 00:14:08.159
 of Jesus

00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:08.819
 and the resurrection.

00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:11.480
 And Paul has now

00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:13.120
 this amazing opportunity

00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:15.299
 to deliver a sermon

00:14:15.299 --> 00:14:16.139
 before some of the most

00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:17.120
 influential people

00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:17.579
 in Athens

00:14:17.579 --> 00:14:19.199
 and so I want to move

00:14:19.199 --> 00:14:20.120
 us to see

00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:21.179
 what does he do

00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:21.879
 with this speech?

00:14:22.199 --> 00:14:23.100
 He is distressed

00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:23.799
 by Athens

00:14:23.799 --> 00:14:25.639
 he is moved

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.360
 to action

00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:28.079
 but thirdly

00:14:28.079 --> 00:14:28.919
 he is wise

00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:30.360
 in how he speaks.

00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:33.439
 He's wise

00:14:33.439 --> 00:14:34.319
 in how he speaks.

00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:38.000
 Let's look at his context

00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.400
 and let's look

00:14:39.400 --> 00:14:40.080
 at his content

00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:41.720
 and then we'll look

00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:42.180
 at the response

00:14:42.180 --> 00:14:42.660
 really briefly.

00:14:43.900 --> 00:14:45.180
 Paul is really aware

00:14:45.180 --> 00:14:46.000
 as he stands

00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:46.840
 in this council

00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:47.320
 in Athens

00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:48.480
 of who he's speaking to.

00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:50.620
 When Paul is in

00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:51.200
 a Jewish synagogue

00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:51.740
 he argues

00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:52.379
 from the Old Testament

00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.940
 and they knew

00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:55.000
 he would have read

00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:55.900
 passages like

00:14:55.900 --> 00:14:56.760
 Isaiah 53

00:14:56.760 --> 00:14:57.760
 and unpacked them.

00:14:58.960 --> 00:14:59.660
 That he was led

00:14:59.660 --> 00:15:00.160
 like a lamb

00:15:00.160 --> 00:15:00.780
 to the slaughter

00:15:00.780 --> 00:15:01.740
 like a sheep

00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:02.720
 before his shearers

00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:03.220
 is silent

00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:03.860
 so he did not

00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.420
 open his mouth

00:15:04.420 --> 00:15:05.139
 he was marred

00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:06.620
 beyond all human likeness

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:08.080
 and he would have

00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:08.500
 done that with

00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.019
 the Jewish people

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.700
 because the Jewish

00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:10.120
 people knew

00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:10.660
 their scriptures.

00:15:12.300 --> 00:15:13.100
 He would start

00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:13.519
 with the Bible

00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:13.860
 and he would

00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:14.800
 unpack it to them

00:15:14.800 --> 00:15:15.879
 but here in Athens

00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:16.420
 he's dealing

00:15:16.420 --> 00:15:16.960
 with people

00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:18.220
 who don't know

00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:18.759
 their Bibles.

00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:21.500
 They don't know

00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:21.960
 the Old Testament

00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:22.360
 scriptures.

00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:23.480
 They wouldn't know

00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:24.360
 Isaiah 53

00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:26.040
 and so he starts

00:15:26.040 --> 00:15:26.540
 verse 22

00:15:26.540 --> 00:15:27.180
 can you look with me?

00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:27.899
 Men of Athens

00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:29.160
 I perceive in every way

00:15:29.160 --> 00:15:30.600
 that you are very religious

00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:33.480
 for as I passed along

00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:35.120
 and observed the objects

00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:35.740
 of your worship

00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:37.120
 I found also an altar

00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:37.779
 with inscription

00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:39.259
 to the unknown God

00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.680
 what therefore you worship

00:15:40.680 --> 00:15:41.440
 as unknown

00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:42.580
 I proclaim to you.

00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:47.340
 Paul is in one of those

00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:48.680
 souvenir knick-knack shops

00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:49.240
 you know like there are

00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:49.820
 in central London

00:15:49.820 --> 00:15:50.259
 in Athens

00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:51.659
 he goes in

00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:52.840
 there's little statues

00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:53.899
 there's little kind of

00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:54.700
 snow globes

00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:55.360
 like there are

00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:58.060
 and as he walks around

00:15:58.060 --> 00:15:59.279
 he finds this little souvenir

00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:00.299
 these little idols

00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:00.879
 that are for sale

00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.600
 and he picks it up

00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:02.720
 and he sees there's

00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:03.740
 an inscription on the bottom

00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.220
 that says

00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:05.179
 to the unknown God

00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:10.039
 these Greeks

00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:10.779
 in Athens

00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:11.720
 so fearful

00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:12.679
 of the gods

00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:15.139
 there are so many gods

00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:16.000
 they're paying homage to

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:16.899
 there might be one

00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:17.579
 that they've missed out

00:16:17.579 --> 00:16:18.179
 there might be one

00:16:18.179 --> 00:16:19.059
 that they don't know about

00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:20.139
 they haven't heard of

00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:21.220
 and just in case

00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:22.399
 they get on the wrong side

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:23.019
 of this god

00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:23.879
 they've missed out

00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:25.179
 through ignorance

00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:25.980
 they've offered

00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:26.959
 an altar

00:16:26.959 --> 00:16:27.500
 saying

00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.860
 this is to the unknown God

00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:30.940
 just to cover their bases

00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:33.759
 and Paul sees this

00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:34.940
 and he starts to engage

00:16:34.940 --> 00:16:35.180
 with it

00:16:35.180 --> 00:16:35.740
 these people

00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:39.200
 FF Bruce again says this

00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:40.080
 this shows the value

00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.440
 of finding a point of contact

00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:42.300
 with your hearers

00:16:42.300 --> 00:16:43.860
 insights from the world

00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.519
 around us

00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:45.879
 from general revelation

00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:48.840
 Paul meets these people

00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:49.519
 with language

00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:50.840
 that is familiar to them

00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:54.139
 he turns to their own poets

00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:55.440
 for their own idolatry

00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:56.380
 and he uses it

00:16:56.380 --> 00:16:57.580
 so he can engage

00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:58.780
 in a way that is relevant

00:16:58.780 --> 00:17:00.160
 and appropriate

00:17:00.160 --> 00:17:02.220
 with the good news

00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:02.540
 of Jesus

00:17:02.540 --> 00:17:03.140
 and the resurrection

00:17:03.140 --> 00:17:07.519
 and so we must think

00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:09.200
 we must think carefully

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.840
 about our context

00:17:10.840 --> 00:17:14.200
 about our friends

00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:16.440
 about our neighbours

00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:19.559
 about our colleagues

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.440
 and something that's

00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:20.980
 really helpful

00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:22.460
 is to look for

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:23.460
 gospel

00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:24.960
 analogies

00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:25.640
 in our culture

00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:29.440
 yesterday morning

00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.680
 I went to Park Run

00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:31.759
 it was

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.000
 it was a pretty depressing

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.940
 morning on that front

00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:36.900
 but why do people

00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:37.860
 who go to Park Run

00:17:37.860 --> 00:17:38.779
 love Park Run

00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:41.140
 why do people

00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:42.140
 who go to Park Run

00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:43.360
 talk about it

00:17:43.360 --> 00:17:44.640
 in a boring way

00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:45.640
 what is it

00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:46.660
 that they're looking for

00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:47.660
 what is it

00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:49.860
 about this culture

00:17:49.860 --> 00:17:51.060
 that there is

00:17:51.060 --> 00:17:52.920
 of a group of people

00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:54.060
 who religiously go

00:17:54.060 --> 00:17:54.640
 the same time

00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:55.400
 every week

00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:57.380
 who are desperate

00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:59.019
 for community

00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:01.940
 who share this joy

00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.560
 with one another

00:18:02.560 --> 00:18:04.400
 what are they looking for

00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:05.740
 what is behind that

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:08.980
 in the films

00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:09.860
 that you watch

00:18:09.860 --> 00:18:12.320
 what is the story

00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:13.300
 that is behind

00:18:13.300 --> 00:18:14.000
 the films

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.720
 what are

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:16.860
 what is the why

00:18:16.860 --> 00:18:18.360
 behind the TV programme

00:18:18.360 --> 00:18:19.480
 that you and your

00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.620
 colleagues talk about

00:18:20.620 --> 00:18:23.240
 yesterday morning

00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:23.519
 I was

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:26.140
 I had to do some work

00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:27.140
 on the kind of

00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:28.019
 hedge at the front

00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.539
 of our house

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.200
 and my neighbour

00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:30.539
 came across the road

00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:32.140
 he'd been in Japan

00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:32.779
 he was kind of

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.640
 mocking my work

00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:34.620
 in the garden

00:18:34.620 --> 00:18:36.180
 and he said

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:37.420
 Japan is

00:18:37.420 --> 00:18:38.059
 you know the amazing

00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:38.779
 thing about Japan

00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.779
 he says there's temples

00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:40.259
 everywhere

00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:41.059
 I couldn't believe it

00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:42.680
 I absolutely fluffed

00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:43.079
 the message

00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:44.299
 I said why do you think

00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.440
 what's behind that

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:47.059
 he said I don't know

00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:48.119
 I said well people

00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:49.139
 I thought I'd be

00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:50.059
 Paul in Athens

00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:52.279
 but what's the why

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:53.240
 behind that

00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:55.960
 and we have to work

00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:56.519
 hard at that

00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:56.960
 don't we

00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.960
 with our friends

00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.759
 in our culture

00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:00.200
 with the people

00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:01.319
 what is the why

00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:02.079
 behind what are they doing

00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:03.039
 why do you do that

00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.779
 we're so reluctant

00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:04.639
 to ask that

00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:06.559
 there are illustrations

00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.599
 everywhere aren't there

00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:08.279
 in our city

00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.480
 in what we watch

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:10.419
 in what we read

00:19:10.419 --> 00:19:11.319
 in the architecture

00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:13.619
 and Paul says

00:19:13.619 --> 00:19:14.460
 think carefully

00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:15.119
 about it

00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:17.759
 how can we engage

00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.439
 where our friends

00:19:18.439 --> 00:19:19.619
 and family are at

00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:21.639
 notice not only

00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:22.220
 the context

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:22.899
 but the content

00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:23.419
 of the sermon

00:19:23.419 --> 00:19:24.359
 there's five things

00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:24.939
 number one

00:19:24.939 --> 00:19:25.740
 he tells them

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:27.059
 God is your

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.939
 creator

00:19:27.939 --> 00:19:31.379
 verse 24

00:19:31.379 --> 00:19:32.179
 the God who made

00:19:32.179 --> 00:19:32.559
 the world

00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:33.259
 and everything in it

00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:34.399
 being Lord of heaven

00:19:34.399 --> 00:19:34.720
 and earth

00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.419
 does not live

00:19:35.419 --> 00:19:35.980
 in temples

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.779
 made by man

00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:38.279
 nor is he served

00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.179
 by human hands

00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:40.340
 to which the Epicureans

00:19:40.340 --> 00:19:40.920
 would be saying

00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:41.600
 our man

00:19:41.600 --> 00:19:44.360
 the Epicureans

00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:44.700
 they would say

00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.240
 God doesn't live

00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:45.900
 in a little temple

00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:46.980
 he's far off

00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:50.940
 he would say

00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:51.880
 this God

00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:52.660
 is not interested

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.480
 in interacting

00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:54.299
 with humans

00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:57.860
 this one God

00:19:57.860 --> 00:19:58.900
 who created everything

00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:01.580
 but the idea

00:20:01.580 --> 00:20:01.980
 that God

00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:02.539
 didn't dwell

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.100
 in temples

00:20:03.100 --> 00:20:04.100
 made by human hands

00:20:04.100 --> 00:20:04.860
 would have led

00:20:04.860 --> 00:20:06.200
 this group of Epicureans

00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:07.380
 to prick up their ears

00:20:07.380 --> 00:20:10.840
 it's so encouraging

00:20:10.840 --> 00:20:11.380
 to you and I

00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:12.240
 Herman Bavinck

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:12.940
 says this

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:14.220
 there is nothing

00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:15.900
 in this universe

00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:17.560
 that is atheistic

00:20:17.560 --> 00:20:20.600
 that is a brilliant line

00:20:20.600 --> 00:20:21.720
 there is nothing

00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:23.380
 in this universe

00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:24.760
 that is atheistic

00:20:24.760 --> 00:20:25.600
 you get that

00:20:25.600 --> 00:20:27.720
 if you get that

00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:28.540
 that transforms

00:20:28.540 --> 00:20:29.300
 how you speak

00:20:29.300 --> 00:20:29.900
 to others

00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:31.060
 God is your

00:20:31.060 --> 00:20:31.640
 created

00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:33.000
 and you cannot

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.760
 move

00:20:33.760 --> 00:20:35.840
 you cannot move

00:20:35.840 --> 00:20:36.340
 without being

00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:37.199
 suffocated

00:20:37.199 --> 00:20:38.039
 by the revelation

00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:38.539
 of God

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:42.159
 you can deny it

00:20:42.159 --> 00:20:42.799
 but that doesn't

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:43.539
 deny the reality

00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:43.899
 of it

00:20:43.899 --> 00:20:47.220
 the people

00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:47.679
 who we live

00:20:47.679 --> 00:20:48.079
 amongst

00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:48.980
 the people

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:49.539
 who we work

00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:49.839
 amongst

00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:51.439
 they are surrounded

00:20:51.439 --> 00:20:52.579
 by God's revelation

00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:55.619
 it is inescapable

00:20:55.619 --> 00:21:00.299
 I think this is so

00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:00.579
 encouraging

00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.139
 because it

00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:01.819
 it is saying

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:03.219
 that we know

00:21:03.219 --> 00:21:03.719
 something

00:21:03.719 --> 00:21:04.479
 about the

00:21:04.479 --> 00:21:05.139
 unbeliever

00:21:05.139 --> 00:21:06.439
 that the

00:21:06.439 --> 00:21:07.119
 unbeliever

00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.919
 spends all

00:21:07.919 --> 00:21:08.379
 his time

00:21:08.379 --> 00:21:08.859
 denying

00:21:08.859 --> 00:21:10.559
 upon himself

00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:13.379
 God

00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:14.079
 is a creator

00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:16.119
 Paul doesn't

00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:16.679
 just establish

00:21:16.679 --> 00:21:17.000
 that God

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:17.619
 is the creator

00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:18.679
 he presents him

00:21:18.679 --> 00:21:19.459
 as the sustainer

00:21:19.459 --> 00:21:19.899
 of all life

00:21:19.899 --> 00:21:20.719
 look at verse 25

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:23.319
 he's not served

00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:24.519
 by human hands

00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:24.960
 as though he

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:25.519
 needed anything

00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.360
 since he himself

00:21:26.360 --> 00:21:27.339
 gives to all mankind

00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:28.420
 life and breath

00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:29.019
 and everything

00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:34.579
 Paul starts by saying

00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.480
 the God I'm speaking

00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.220
 about is the Lord

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:37.160
 of heaven and earth

00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:38.980
 the one who made

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.460
 the world

00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.400
 and everything in it

00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:41.059
 and he is the one

00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:41.839
 that gives you life

00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:42.360
 and breath

00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:43.220
 and he upholds

00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.160
 this whole world

00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:46.539
 in him you live

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.000
 and move

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:47.759
 and have our being

00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.860
 as one of your own

00:21:48.860 --> 00:21:49.500
 poets have said

00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:52.259
 thirdly he says

00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.259
 and God has got a purpose

00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:53.960
 for creation

00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:55.819
 verse 26

00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:56.900
 from one man

00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.660
 and every nation

00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.240
 of mankind

00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:58.960
 to live on all

00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.740
 the face of the earth

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:01.039
 having determined

00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.180
 allotted periods

00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:03.259
 and the boundaries

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.200
 of their dwelling places

00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:05.500
 that's an amazing verse

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:05.839
 isn't it

00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:09.240
 the reason you are here

00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:09.680
 this morning

00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.160
 is why

00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:10.940
 because God

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:12.420
 has allotted periods

00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:13.039
 and the boundaries

00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:13.799
 of your dwelling place

00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:15.039
 the people that you live with

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.799
 the people that you live amongst

00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:18.980
 he's put them where they are

00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.420
 wide

00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:20.559
 so that they should seek God

00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.660
 and perhaps feel their way

00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.240
 toward him

00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.279
 and find him

00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:24.440
 yet he's not far

00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.240
 from each one of us

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:26.200
 for in him we live

00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:26.539
 and move

00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.200
 and have our being

00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:29.039
 even as some of your own

00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.660
 poets have said

00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:32.380
 it's a stoic poet

00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:33.099
 that he's quoting

00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:35.259
 we are his offspring

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:36.960
 and so the epicureans

00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.559
 they would have had

00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.400
 their ears perked up

00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:38.660
 before

00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:39.720
 but suddenly the stoics

00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.240
 are interested

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:44.620
 can you notice with me

00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.960
 the point

00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:47.079
 that the apostle

00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:47.799
 is making

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:50.960
 he is saying

00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.420
 that God

00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:51.980
 the creator

00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:52.799
 and sustainer

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.539
 his purpose

00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:54.420
 is to bring

00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:55.720
 his created people

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:57.259
 into some sort

00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.299
 of right relationship

00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:58.860
 with him

00:22:58.860 --> 00:23:02.539
 he set up our lives

00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.120
 in such a way

00:23:03.120 --> 00:23:03.819
 that this life

00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.640
 will cause us

00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.880
 to be reaching out

00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.400
 to something

00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:07.240
 beyond ourselves

00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:10.460
 look at how

00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:11.180
 this is worded

00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:12.259
 God did this

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:12.820
 so that they would

00:23:12.820 --> 00:23:13.500
 seek him

00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.400
 and perhaps

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.480
 reach out for him

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.259
 and find him

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:17.080
 to find God

00:23:17.080 --> 00:23:20.640
 the language

00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:21.580
 is boiled down

00:23:21.580 --> 00:23:21.880
 isn't it

00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:22.440
 to some extent

00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.779
 but just that thought

00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.720
 that our God

00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.560
 is creating

00:23:25.560 --> 00:23:26.640
 and sustaining

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:28.299
 and ordaining

00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:30.400
 all things

00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:32.600
 that people might

00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:33.320
 reach out for him

00:23:33.320 --> 00:23:34.000
 and find him

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:36.640
 that is extraordinarily

00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.380
 encouraging

00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:39.940
 in the things

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.700
 that your friends

00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.360
 and your family

00:23:41.360 --> 00:23:42.000
 and your neighbours

00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.840
 devote themselves

00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:43.180
 to

00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:44.120
 what are they doing

00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:45.759
 look behind

00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.559
 the why

00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:49.240
 what are they doing

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:50.039
 they are

00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.819
 seeking

00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:54.519
 Ecclesiastes tells us

00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.080
 that God

00:23:55.080 --> 00:23:55.940
 has set

00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:56.720
 eternity

00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:57.880
 on the hearts

00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:59.380
 of every human being

00:23:59.380 --> 00:24:02.440
 there's a homing

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:02.980
 device

00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:04.740
 there's a calling

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.340
 device

00:24:05.340 --> 00:24:05.960
 to God

00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:09.259
 Paul then moves on

00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:10.000
 from this purpose

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.559
 and creation

00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:13.220
 to humanity

00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:13.819
 that humanity

00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.480
 has got a problem

00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:17.359
 verse 28 and 29

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:19.640
 what we've done

00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.880
 is domesticated

00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:21.200
 God

00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:21.539
 hasn't it

00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.700
 we've sought

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:24.099
 we've not sought

00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:24.819
 to take our lead

00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.440
 from God

00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.299
 but we've shaped

00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:26.980
 and fashioned

00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.539
 this God

00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:27.940
 into something

00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.740
 less than he is

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:31.420
 we've tried

00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:34.420
 to make God

00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:35.160
 in our image

00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:38.539
 we've shaped

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.259
 and we've fashioned

00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:40.120
 little idols

00:24:40.120 --> 00:24:42.200
 that are such

00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:43.299
 a poor echo

00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:44.700
 of what deep

00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.240
 down

00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:46.220
 we know better

00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.460
 than

00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:48.700
 that we've not

00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.519
 related rightly

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.200
 to this God

00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.019
 and God is calling

00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:52.059
 all humanity

00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:52.700
 to repent

00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:55.039
 the God

00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:55.600
 who made

00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:56.600
 everyone

00:24:56.600 --> 00:24:59.080
 the God

00:24:59.080 --> 00:25:00.100
 who is upholding

00:25:00.100 --> 00:25:01.240
 everyone's life

00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.120
 who is worthy

00:25:02.120 --> 00:25:03.220
 of worship

00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:04.880
 of everyone

00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:07.279
 and yet

00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:07.880
 everyone is not

00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:08.460
 worshipping him

00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:11.480
 and those who are

00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.400
 not worshipping him

00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.220
 and relating to him

00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:13.480
 rightly

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.039
 that God

00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.980
 is calling them

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.559
 to repentance

00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:16.960
 to repent of that

00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:17.840
 to turn away

00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:18.319
 from that

00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:19.860
 to take the idols

00:25:19.860 --> 00:25:20.299
 down

00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:22.579
 for Paul says

00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:23.180
 God has fixed

00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:23.700
 a day

00:25:23.700 --> 00:25:24.159
 to judge

00:25:24.159 --> 00:25:24.440
 the world

00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:25.019
 with justice

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:27.700
 and that's

00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:28.500
 Paul's gentle

00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:30.259
 and yet

00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:31.079
 faithful way

00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:31.740
 of introducing

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.159
 the problem

00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:32.579
 of sin

00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:35.379
 and then the fifth

00:25:35.379 --> 00:25:35.619
 point

00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.059
 of the content

00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:36.599
 of this sermon

00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:38.079
 is the solution

00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:39.099
 to humanity's

00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:39.419
 problem

00:25:39.419 --> 00:25:42.099
 the man

00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:42.419
 that God

00:25:42.419 --> 00:25:42.859
 has appointed

00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:44.500
 and around

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.059
 whom judgment

00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.940
 will revolve

00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:47.460
 the one

00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:47.859
 who is

00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.720
 authenticated

00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.480
 by God

00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:49.980
 by means

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:50.660
 of his resurrection

00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:51.400
 from the dead

00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:53.420
 and Paul probably

00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.019
 said a lot more

00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.500
 here didn't he

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:56.620
 think about it

00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:57.440
 we can read this

00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:58.019
 sermon in a minute

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.480
 or two

00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.360
 but he probably

00:25:59.360 --> 00:26:00.059
 said a lot more

00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:00.579
 and what Luke

00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:00.839
 has done

00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.620
 is he summarised

00:26:01.620 --> 00:26:02.120
 this account

00:26:02.120 --> 00:26:05.200
 he summarised

00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:05.620
 this account

00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:06.180
 to the point

00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:06.960
 where a reaction

00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.740
 is provoked

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:10.700
 and so we know

00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:11.200
 that if he's been

00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:12.099
 speaking of resurrection

00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:12.640
 he's obviously

00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:13.099
 been speaking

00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:13.860
 about the death

00:26:13.860 --> 00:26:14.500
 of Christ too

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:16.720
 but what Luke

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.579
 does is he shows

00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:18.420
 us the reaction

00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.160
 that comes

00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:21.500
 and when Paul

00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.220
 comes to

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.400
 the work

00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:23.800
 of Jesus

00:26:23.800 --> 00:26:24.360
 Christ

00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:26.040
 there's a great

00:26:26.040 --> 00:26:26.380
 reaction

00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:26.840
 that's often

00:26:26.840 --> 00:26:27.200
 the case

00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:27.560
 isn't it

00:26:27.560 --> 00:26:30.140
 I find

00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:30.960
 when I speak

00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.400
 with people

00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:31.640
 who aren't

00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:31.900
 Christians

00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:32.840
 they're very

00:26:32.840 --> 00:26:33.460
 very happy

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:33.920
 for me to

00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:34.340
 talk about

00:26:34.340 --> 00:26:34.740
 church

00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.500
 I think

00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:35.759
 it's a bit

00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.040
 quirky

00:26:36.040 --> 00:26:36.340
 but they

00:26:36.340 --> 00:26:36.759
 quite like

00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.000
 it

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.060
 they're

00:26:38.060 --> 00:26:38.300
 willing

00:26:38.300 --> 00:26:38.580
 for me

00:26:38.580 --> 00:26:38.900
 to talk

00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:39.120
 about

00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:39.660
 God

00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:42.279
 but until

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:42.740
 we stand

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.220
 fast on

00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:43.920
 the uniqueness

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:45.259
 and the work

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:45.620
 of Jesus

00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:46.000
 Christ

00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.620
 that's where

00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:47.160
 the reaction

00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:47.600
 comes

00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:48.019
 isn't it

00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:50.380
 and so Paul

00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:51.080
 has an awareness

00:26:51.080 --> 00:26:52.300
 of his context

00:26:52.300 --> 00:26:54.420
 and he covers

00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.420
 the main points

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:55.900
 of the gospel

00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.660
 in his content

00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:58.200
 and then in verses

00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:59.019
 32 to 34

00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.720
 as we wrap up

00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:00.200
 he gives us

00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:00.740
 the response

00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.240
 what should we

00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:01.660
 expect

00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.920
 verse 32

00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:05.900
 some sneered

00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:08.200
 and they mocked

00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:08.640
 Paul

00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:10.140
 saying

00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:11.279
 what a load

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.660
 of rubbish

00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:14.639
 people who

00:27:14.639 --> 00:27:15.019
 think we're

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.519
 crazy

00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:17.720
 others show

00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.180
 an interest

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.660
 we read in

00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:19.519
 verse 32

00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.240
 we want to

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.740
 hear you again

00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.399
 on this subject

00:27:21.399 --> 00:27:25.420
 nearly always

00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:26.039
 people who

00:27:26.039 --> 00:27:26.759
 become Christians

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:28.299
 it is a

00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:29.420
 slow process

00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:31.559
 it is

00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:32.940
 very unusual

00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:34.079
 in my experience

00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:34.399
 that people

00:27:34.399 --> 00:27:34.920
 become Christians

00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:35.359
 suddenly

00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:39.240
 some sneer

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.759
 some mock

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.059
 some are

00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:40.359
 interested

00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:40.879
 but in verse

00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:41.300
 34

00:27:41.300 --> 00:27:41.780
 can you see

00:27:41.780 --> 00:27:42.360
 it wonderfully

00:27:42.360 --> 00:27:43.800
 some believe

00:27:43.800 --> 00:27:47.100
 against all

00:27:47.100 --> 00:27:47.520
 the odds

00:27:47.520 --> 00:27:48.140
 they believe

00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:48.740
 one of them

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.300
 is actually

00:27:49.300 --> 00:27:49.720
 a member

00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:49.960
 of the

00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:50.560
 Areopagus

00:27:50.560 --> 00:27:52.700
 another is

00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:53.300
 this woman

00:27:53.300 --> 00:27:54.000
 Demaris

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:56.780
 and so

00:27:56.780 --> 00:27:57.560
 all through

00:27:57.560 --> 00:27:58.620
 this initial

00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:59.360
 eyes open

00:27:59.360 --> 00:27:59.980
 walk through

00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:00.440
 the city

00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:02.400
 the distress

00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.020
 that Paul

00:28:03.020 --> 00:28:04.140
 feels

00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:05.640
 motivates him

00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:06.460
 into gospel

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.020
 action

00:28:07.020 --> 00:28:08.520
 he goes

00:28:08.520 --> 00:28:09.100
 to the synagogue

00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:10.060
 and he tells

00:28:10.060 --> 00:28:10.480
 them about

00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:10.960
 Jesus

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:12.700
 he goes

00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:12.980
 to the

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.480
 marketplace

00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:14.140
 and he

00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:14.799
 tells them

00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:15.400
 about Jesus

00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:16.240
 and people

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.759
 laugh

00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:17.500
 and some

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.059
 are interested

00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:19.299
 but some

00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:19.759
 believe

00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:23.519
 how do we

00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.379
 make disciples

00:28:24.379 --> 00:28:24.980
 of the Lord

00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.319
 Jesus

00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:25.900
 in healing

00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:29.019
 we see

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.519
 our culture

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.279
 through God's

00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:30.660
 eyes

00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:34.539
 that it is

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.140
 not honouring

00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.460
 God

00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:37.680
 the God

00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:37.980
 who has

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.599
 made them

00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:38.960
 the God

00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.599
 who sustains

00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:39.779
 them

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.079
 the God

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.259
 who has

00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:40.799
 given such

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.420
 gifts to

00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:41.680
 people

00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.539
 is not

00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:43.059
 receiving

00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:43.779
 the honour

00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.599
 that he

00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.079
 deserves

00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:46.919
 and we

00:28:46.919 --> 00:28:47.240
 ponder

00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.519
 that

00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:47.819
 and we

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.119
 pray

00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:48.519
 about that

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:48.859
 until it

00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:49.399
 moves us

00:28:49.399 --> 00:28:49.879
 to distress

00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:52.500
 and we

00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:52.919
 trust that

00:28:52.919 --> 00:28:53.539
 God still

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:53.899
 works

00:28:53.899 --> 00:28:54.500
 powerfully

00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.059
 through this

00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:55.839
 message of

00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.179
 Jesus

00:28:56.179 --> 00:28:57.519
 and the

00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:57.919
 resurrection

00:28:57.919 --> 00:29:00.819
 because this

00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.579
 little message

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:03.699
 is the power

00:29:03.699 --> 00:29:04.179
 of God

00:29:04.179 --> 00:29:04.859
 unto salvation

00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:07.119
 and God

00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:08.039
 still uses

00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:09.619
 that simple

00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:10.459
 gospel message

00:29:10.459 --> 00:29:12.159
 to change

00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:12.599
 lives

00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:14.539
 to transform

00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:15.219
 eternities

00:29:15.219 --> 00:29:17.299
 as we've seen

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.799
 already this

00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.059
 morning

00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:19.619
 let's pray