Do turn to Act 17. Act 17. And it will probably be four weeks. I think sometimes it's easier to get into a chapter than a whole book. And before we kick off, it's prayer meeting on Wednesday. So we're on Zoom still for prayer meeting. It's been great that actually more people have been able to gather with us in prayer meeting in that way. We do come this Wednesday at 8pm.
So what I want to do this morning is I just want to set the scene really. It's not as structured as it normally is. I want to spend most of our time the next couple of weeks looking at the sermon itself perhaps, taking it point by point, going through the great points that Paul makes in this sermon as he speaks to the city of Athens.
But really what I want to do this morning is I want to look at what the city of Athens has got to say to Paul, first of all.
Because before Paul even opened his mouth, before Paul said anything to the city of Athens, the city of Athens had got quite a lot to say to Paul and it made quite an impression on him.
We're told there in verse 16 of Acts 17, if we take that as our text, that while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, while he's on his city break in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him.
As he saw that the city was full of idols.
I don't think I've met anyone who would admit to being a philosopher.
People don't admit to that today.
And yet we're all philosophers of some sort.
Anyone who's got a point of view that they want to get across is a philosopher.
Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells is as much of a philosopher as Bertrand Russell or Jean-Paul Sartre.
Anybody who's been tempted to write in to the editor, to ring up a phone in, or to shout at the radio, is a philosopher of sorts.
We've all, each one of us, have got an approach to life, from the youngest to the oldest.
All of us have got a point of view.
I think there are even fewer people who like to be thought of as religious.
I ask people, you're Christian, oh I wouldn't call myself religious.
Do you go to church? Oh no, I'm not religious.
But if your view of the world includes God, or for that matter even leaves him out, you are religious.
Atheism is a religion.
Atheism requires just as much faith to disbelieve in God.
As to believe in God.
And so in a sense this morning, we're all philosophers, and we're all religious people, whether we want to admit it or not.
And there may be differences in how well thought out you are, and thought through you are, how well expressed your views are.
But each one of us will have a view of life, a point of view.
Each one of us will have a philosophy.
Every one of us has got a religion of some sort.
And the question is, how do we know who's right, and how do we know who is wrong?
And actually, does it really matter anyway?
As long as you're sincere.
Isn't that the big thing?
As long as it means something to you, that's the big deal.
What does it matter what you believe?
If your religion is a help and a comfort to you, well that's what counts anyway.
That's the kind of thing I'm told all the time.
I hear that a lot.
Well, Paul, we all worship the same God, really, at the end of the day.
Allah is just another name for God, isn't it?
All religions lead along the same path.
All religions lead to the same place in the end.
That's the air that we breathe.
And very often, we're put in our place.
And when you say, well, hang on a minute, no, that isn't actually true.
They say, well, nobody's got a monopoly on the truth.
It's sheer arrogance, isn't it, for you to think that you have the truth.
Every single one of us has got our different insights.
And what we've got to do is we've got to throw them all into the kind of melting pot.
And that is the kind of new enlightened way of thinking.
There's nothing new under the sun.
Because that would describe exactly the attitude that the Apostle Paul faced in Acts 17.
20 centuries ago, when he turned up in Athens,
he faced the same attitude that you and I face today.
So look at verse 21.
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
It was like stepping into a supermarket.
You know one of the giant supermarkets?
There's one, isn't there, in Austerle there.
And you go, it's absolutely massive on two levels.
A giant supermarket.
And going to Athens was like going to a giant religious supermarket.
It wasn't kind of a Lidl or an Aldi.
It wasn't a kind of Tesco even.
It was kind of more upper class philosophical supermarket.
It was more kind of a bit above Waitrose.
Kind of Fortnum or Mason.
The greatest thinkers in the history of the world used to peddle their philosophy in the marketplace of Athens.
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle.
All the great thinkers were there.
But of course that was in the past.
That was long gone.
And so when now Paul turns up in the philosophical supermarket of Athens,
there's just well-known brand names.
There's just the Epicureans and the Stoics.
And the Epicurean approach to life was, well, life is to be enjoyed.
And so enjoy it.
And the Stoic approach was quite the opposite.
Life was to be endured.
So just endure it.
Endure it.
And you pay your money and you take your choice.
And so in Athens, it's estimated there are about 3,000 different shrines when Paul visited it.
It's a little bit like rural Wales.
And when I was growing up, it's not the same yet.
But still the same in some parts of Mid Wales.
You go to the little villages and there are as many chapels as there are pubs.
There's a chapel on every street corner.
Now there are carpet warehouses or different things.
But in Athens, there was a shrine on every street corner.
Any amount of choice.
It was like a supermarket full of philosophy and religion.
And you paid your money and you got your choice.
And whatever happened to grab your fancy,
whatever kind of religion you might like,
whatever suits you,
whatever kind of God you wanted to believe in,
well, there was plenty of choice in Athens.
And that's how it was.
You could shop around for a God or a religion.
And so I think this passage has got a great deal to say to you and I
when we live in a multicultural, multi-faith society.
This passage has got a great deal to say to us
about what is the place of the gospel of Jesus Christ in society today.
It says a lot to us about how we're to conduct ourselves as Christians
in a multi-faith, multicultural society.
And so I want to look this morning at Paul
before we come to what he's got to say.
And so let's see, how did Paul behave himself
in that kind of society?
Look at verse 16.
First of all, Paul is pained.
He is pained.
Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens,
his spirit was provoked within him
as he saw that the city was full of idols.
He's got a few days off.
He's got time to kill.
He does a little bit of tourism.
He's waiting for his friends, Silas and Timothy,
to catch up with him.
And so he goes sightseeing in Athens, like you may have.
And we're told he waited in Athens
and his spirit was stirred up within him.
His spirit was provoked within him.
Why?
It's a really strong expression.
He was pained and angered
by what he saw to the very depths of his being.
Now why was that?
Why was it when he went around Athens
that there was something within him
that pained him to the very depths of his being?
I think there's two reasons.
First of all, he stirred in his heart
by the plight of the people.
By the plight of the people
because he could see that
for all their sophistication,
for all their philosophy,
and for all their religion,
they just didn't know God.
So just look at verses 22 and 23.
Paul says,
For as I passed along and observed
the objects of your worship,
I found there also an altar
with this inscription,
For as I wandered around the city,
your beautiful city,
I found there also an altar
with this inscription,
to the unknown God.
As I wandered around the city,
your beautiful city,
I found something that sums it up for me.
As I wandered around the streets of Athens,
I came across an altar
to the unknown God.
And that says it all,
doesn't it, Athenians?
Because here were people
that prided themselves
on their philosophy,
the greatest thinkers
that the world has ever seen
lived in Athens
through the centuries,
but for all their philosophy
and all their religion,
these people,
they were ignorant of God.
They didn't know God.
And not only were they
ignorant of God,
but it does seem,
doesn't it,
that there's an uneasy awareness
amongst them
in their hearts
and in their consciences.
They're aware
that they're not right
with this God
that there is.
And so Paul says,
doesn't he,
I found,
can you see it in verse 23,
an altar.
And I think that
must be significant.
He doesn't say,
I saw a plaque on a wall.
He doesn't say,
I saw a statue.
He doesn't say,
I saw a pedestal
or some monument
to the unknown God,
but I saw an altar.
What does an altar speak of?
It speaks of sacrifice.
An altar speaks of atonement.
And so that is common
to all the religions
of the world,
the need to get right
with God
through sacrifice.
And Paul says,
as I wandered through
your beautiful city,
for all your philosophy
and for all your religion,
you don't know God,
do you?
You don't know God.
And you're not right
with God.
And it may be
that you've come here
this morning
or you're watching
on the internet
and you've got
a point of view
and you've got
an approach to life
and you've got
a philosophy to life
and maybe you're religious,
you're very religious
and yet God
is not real to you.
He's an idea
in your head
but you don't know Him.
And you know
that you don't know Him.
And you can talk
about Him maybe.
That's perhaps
why you're here.
But you don't know Him
and God is a stranger
to you.
And not only
are you ignorant
of His presence
in your life
and not only
is He distant
and vague
and far away
but also you know
in your heart of hearts
that things actually
are not right
between you and God.
And there's a problem
between you and God
and you know
that that's there.
And that is how
it was in Athens.
And as Paul realized
that he was moved
to the depth
of his being
because of it.
Because he saw
people were without God
and they were without
hope in this world.
And they had religion
up to the eyeballs
but they didn't have God.
They were lost.
That's the Bible word
that sums it up
of course.
They were lost.
And they were lost
in terms of
a relationship
with God.
It's like the little boy
in the supermarket.
The little boy
in the supermarket
his mother was
chatting
or looking at something
and he's wandered off
and he's lost.
He's lost touch
with her
and so he
walks the aisles
of the supermarket
and this little boy
he's lost
and he's crying.
And in the end
one of the staff
kind of picks him up
and the manager
is called for
to sort things out
and the manager
asks the little boy
who's lost
in crime
where do you live?
And the boy
can tell him
where he lives.
He's got his address
memorized.
He's learned it off
by heart
and the little boy
knows his way home.
And the little boy
would know
which bus to catch.
But he's lost
isn't he still?
He's not lost
in terms of his surroundings.
He knows where he is
but he's lost
in terms of his relationship
to his mum.
He's lost touch with her.
He's lost
in terms of relationship
with the person
that matters most
in his life
his mother.
And she's not there anymore.
And he is lost
and he feels lost
and that's exactly
how it is in this city
this morning.
That we are lost
and the human race
is lost
not in terms
of our surroundings
not in terms
of our environment.
We're able to understand
aren't we
and explain the world
in which we live
better than any other
people in history.
We're not lost
in terms of our surroundings
but we are lost
in terms of our
relationship to God.
Paul is stirred
and he's provoked
in his spirit
and as he thinks
about that
as he tramps
around the streets
of Athens
the culture capital
of the world
with something new
and exciting
on every street corner
with towering architecture
and magnificent sculpture
and awe-inspiring temples
and great libraries
and centers of learning
his spirit is stirred
by the spiritual tragedy
of the city.
A city that is so wise
and yet so ignorant.
So rich in culture
and yet so poor
in spirit.
spirit.
And that is our world today.
And as we walk
around this city
our spirit
as God's people
should be stirred
at the plight of men
and women
and boys and girls.
That for all their
philosophy
and all their sophistication
and all their religion
they are ignorant of God.
And they're under
God's judgment
and their sin
is unatoned for
and they are lost
and without hope
and without God.
And I'm sure
that Paul was stirred
with compassion
for the people.
Like our Lord
Jesus saw the multitudes
and he said
they are like
sheep without a shepherd.
And Jesus saw people
didn't he
in a way that
we often don't see them.
He saw them as sheep
without a shepherd
and there's nothing
more pathetic
is there than
a sheep without a shepherd.
Who does this belong to?
There's no one.
But there's another
reason why I think
Paul's spirit
was pained
and not only because
of the plight
of his people
of the people of Athens
but also because
of the glory of God.
As Paul wandered
around the city
of Athens
he saw all the
evidences of religion
all the kind of
manifestations
of religion
and all of people's
religious instincts
and his spirit
was stirred
and provoked
to anger
even to indignation
but provoked
out of concern
for his father
in heaven
also.
Like David the psalmist
where he says
oh that
men would praise
the Lord
oh that people
would praise the Lord.
I think in the heart
of every Christian
there is that cry
isn't there?
That as we
watch the news
as we read
the internet
oh that
oh that people
would praise the Lord.
That's the answer
to their issues.
Oh that men
women who are made
in the likeness
of God
would stop
their idolatry
and their hero worship
and praise the Lord
for his goodness.
There's a cry
that the psalmist
knew
that you were made
to live
and worship
and to glorify
and to enjoy God.
I've told you
the situation
of the ugly duckling
and so
the ugly duckling
he's upset
isn't he?
Why is he upset?
Because he's not
like the other ducklings
and he looks
like the ugly duckling
and he
feels
a lack of self worth
because he's
an ugly duckling
but what was the problem
with the ugly duckling?
What was the problem
with the ugly duckling?
Do you know?
Do you know that story?
What do you reckon?
What was it, Ellie?
He didn't know who he was.
Who was he?
Who was the ugly duckling?
He was a swan, wasn't he?
And so
we live in a city
where people live
like ugly ducklings
but actually they're swans.
They were made to glorify
and enjoy God
and yet they live
kind of as earthlings,
as ducklings.
and it
should grieve us
that men and women
and boys and girls
may to honor
their father in heaven
have no relationship
with their father in heaven.
We're told that
his spirit was provoked.
Verse 16
The city is given over
to idols.
We don't often do this
but I want us to go
to Romans 1.
Let's go and try
and tease this out.
What is idolatry?
Because I think Romans 1
is the great chapter
on idolatry.
Maybe you think
that idolatry
is something
that belongs in the past.
Let me read to you
from Romans 1.
Let me read to you
from Romans 1
just the next book
on from verse 18.
For the wrath of God
is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness
of men
who by their unrighteousness
suppress the truth.
For what can be known
about God
is plain to them
because God
has shown it to them.
For his invisible attributes
namely his eternal power
and divine nature
have been clearly perceived
ever since the creation
of the world
and the things
that have been made.
So they are without excuse
for although they knew God
they did not honor him
as God
or give thanks to him
but they became futile
in their thinking
and their foolish hearts
were darkened.
Claiming to be wise
they became fools.
And they exchanged
!
the glory of God
and they worshipped
and served the creature
rather than the creator
who is blessed forever.
and I think you see
there are two great definitions
of idolatry.
What is idolatry?
Number one
it is to make
God in man's image.
It is to make God
in man's image.
And that is what they have done.
That is what they have done
in Athens.
They have made mental images
and we laugh at that
don't we?
We think that is ridiculous.
We think it is ridiculous
to make a saucepan
and use a bit
for a saucepan
but then take the same
piece of metal
and fashion it into a god
and worship it
and bow down to it.
We know that is ridiculous.
We laugh at that.
But actually
we live in an age
where people say all the time
well I like to think
of God like this.
And you talk to them
about the God of the Bible
and they say
well no
that is not the God
I believe in.
What is that?
That according to the Bible
is idolatry.
We are not so daft
are we to make a God
of stone or metal
or wood
but we hammer out
our own idea of God
and we make God
in our image
like a kind of glorified
version of us.
And that is idolatry.
And so the God
that lots of people worship
is like that great big
Cheshire cat
in Alice in Wonderland
with just one big smile
and nothing else.
And that is the God
that people like to believe in
but it is not the God
and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Idolatry is to make God
in our image
but the other thing
that Paul says
which is so helpful
in verse 25
is that they exchanged
the truth about God
for a lie
and worshipped
and served the creature
rather than the creator
who is blessed forever.
They worshipped
and served the creature
rather than the creator.
That is idolatry.
And so that means
to live for things
is idolatry.
And that is
to find your happiness
and your goal
and your meaning for life
within the created order
within this world
is idolatry.
And so good things
that God has given to us
to enjoy
can become idols
can't they?
So think of
for some
it might be the family.
The family is a good gift
from God
but the family
being happy
that is life.
And so if the family
aren't happy
my life kind of
falls apart.
And that shows us
doesn't it?
It's idolatry.
To look for an explanation
of a human existence
and you think
well if I got this
or if I get that job
or I get that
wife
or I get that husband
or I get that relationship
that will make
everything alright.
The Bible says
that's idolatry.
Because you're looking
at creation.
You're looking at
creating order
rather than the creator.
And so work
can become the be all
and the end all
isn't it?
And my fulfillment
and work
that becomes
the great thing
or a house
or whatever it may be.
And if it is touched
and if it is affected
then my life collapses.
The Bible tells us
that's an idol.
To look to creation
and try to find
the meaning for existence
is idolatry.
And once your eyes
are fixed on this world
rather than the creator
of this world
you'll find idolatry there.
And so what's the difference
in real terms?
What am I trying to say to you?
I'm trying to say to you
first century Athens
21st century UK
there's no difference.
And so as Paul saw
what was going on
in Athens
it pained him
and it provoked him
and it angered him.
And so again
as we look at our world today
it should pain us
that Christianity
is taught on a par
with every other
Christian religion.
It should anger us.
We all worship
the same God
don't we?
Allah is just
another name for God.
that should make us
indignant
that should fill us
with a holy anger.
Oh that people
could really know
who the God
and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ is.
What are we to do about it?
And let me just
finish with this
the third thing
what does Paul do?
He's pained
he's provoked
what does Paul do?
And I want you to see
what he does
and what he doesn't do.
We're told in
verse 17
that while he waited
in Acts 17
while he waited
his spirit is provoked
and then verse 17
he reasoned
with them.
Can you see that?
He reasoned in the synagogue
with the Jews
and the devout persons.
He's provoked
he saw the plight
of the people
he saw
and knew something
of the reputation
and the glory of God
and because of that
pressure on his heart
and spirit
he reasoned in the synagogue
he spoke.
Earlier on
in chapter 17
he's been chased out
of the synagogue
by an angry mob
and so for him
it's quite dangerous
to go to
the synagogue.
He looked at Athens
he saw the idolatry
he felt for the people
he's concerned about God
and so he moves out
and he speaks.
He reasons.
He doesn't shy away.
He doesn't go into the ghetto.
He doesn't keep his head down.
He goes to the marketplace
where people's thoughts
and philosophies
are being formed
where people are influenced
and he contends.
He doesn't sit back
and he reasons
and he speaks
the word of God.
And I think it's a really
sorry thing
when the church
just sits there
and takes the punches
and waits to be asked
to speak.
it has been disgraceful
I think that Christian leaders
have sounded like
health and safety experts
during COVID
and not preaching
the gospel
and not proclaiming
the claims of Christ.
But just notice with me
what he doesn't do
and I love this
what does he refuse to do?
He refuses to toss
the gospel
into the melting pot.
He refuses to say
it's just one of the options
he's on a par
with everything else.
Let me read to you
from verses 19.
And they took him
and brought him
to the Areopagus
saying
may we know
what this new teaching is
that you're presenting
for your brain
some strange things
to our ears
we wish to know
therefore
what these things mean
and all the Athenians
and the foreigners
who lived there
would spend their time
in nothing
except telling
or hearing something new
and then verse 22
so Paul standing
in the midst
of the Areopagus
said
men of Athens
I perceive that in every way
you're very religious
for as I passed along
and observed
the objects of your worship
I followed also
an altar with this inscription
to the unknown God
what therefore you worship
is unknown
this I proclaim to you
the God who made the world
and everything in it
being Lord of heaven and earth
he doesn't live in temples
made by man
he says to them
doesn't he
you don't know
what you're talking about
you're absolutely clueless
let me tell you
you're ignorant of God
and
you know that you're
ignorant of God
because I found an altar
saying to the unknown God
and you admit it
you don't know God
so let me tell you about him
and Paul isn't the slightest
but impressed by their learning
or intimidated by it
he's not threatened by it
and he doesn't say
well let me give you
my point of view
the gospel isn't
the point of view
the gospel is the truth of God
and they say
but no one has got a monopoly
on the truth
and Paul says
listen you don't know
what you're talking about
you've not got a clue
let me tell you about him
he's not the slightest
but intimidated
or threatened
by the great intellectuals
of Athens
and look at verse 29
he says
doesn't he
verse 29
being then
God's offspring
we ought not to think
that the divine being
is like gold
or silver
or stone
there's something
marvelous about that
you oughtn't to think
of God like that
he's talking to the greatest brains
in all the world
the philosophers of Athens
the greatest intellectuals
of the age
and he says
you've not got a clue
and I think you know
that kind of pressure
you know
what it is
don't you
to be threatened
and intimidated
like Paul could have been
but do you know
what it is
to have the confidence
in the gospel
Paul could have
taken them
on their own ground
he could have
spoken philosophically
to them
he was bright enough
he was trained
like they were
he was an intelligent man
but just
look with me
as we close
what was his message
his message was
don't you love it
at the end of verse 18
Jesus and the resurrection
he's not intimidated
he's not afraid
he's got confidence
in the message
was he open to misunderstanding
yeah they misunderstood him
verse 18
they think he's speaking
about two different gods
a kind of twin deity
they totally misunderstood him
and people
misunderstand us
he was the object
of contempt
and ridicule
what does this
babbler say
verse 18
but he knows
that what these people
need to hear
is not philosophy
and it's not mere religion
but what these people
need to hear
is that
the gospel
is about the God
the only God
that there is
the one true
living God
who's revealed himself
in a man named Jesus
that is the message
that God has made himself
known in time
and space
in Jesus Christ
and how do we know
that that is the message
well because God
has raised him
from the dead
and God
has singled
Jesus Christ
out
out of
all of humanity
and he singled him
out from all the great
gurus
and all the great
philosophers
of the ages
and God has singled him
out by raising him
from the dead
and so Paul
told them about
Jesus and the resurrection
and he wouldn't be
shifted from it
and that is the message
we proclaim
to our multicultural
multi-faith society
let's pray
of the Holocaust
and the
Holocaust
and the
Holocaust
and the
Holocaust
and the
Holocaust
and the
Holocaust
and the
Holocaust