Acts 17. Nick is going to come and read that for us. We did Acts 16 last week. We've jumped
the visit to Thessalonica and we're going to jump to Athens. Partly because during the
summer you remember we went through the book of Thessalonians, so we've kind of covered
that a little bit. So, yeah, Nick is going to read for us now. You can just give the page
numbers and the letters. Thanks.
So I'm reading from Acts chapter 17 and starting at verse 13 to the end of the chapter and that's
on page 1113 in the Red Church Bible. Burgundy colour, I suppose. Thank you.
When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea,
they went there too, agitating the crowd and stirring them up. The brothers immediately
sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. The men who escorted Paul brought
him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full
of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the
marketplace, day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers
began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, what is this babbler trying to say? Others remarked, he seems
to be advocating foreign gods. This was because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the
resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him,
may we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas
to our ears and we want to know more, to know what they mean. All the Athenians and the foreigners
who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, men of Athens, I see that in every way
you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship,
I even found an altar with this inscription to an unknown god. Now what you worship as something
unknown? I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of
heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands as if
he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man
he made every nation of men that they should inhabit the whole earth. And he determined the time set for
them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps
reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from them. For in him we live and move and have our
being. As some of your own poets have said, we are his offspring. Therefore, since we are God's offspring,
we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by man's design
and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of
this to all men by raising him from the dead. When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them
sneered and others said, we want to hear more on this subject. At that, Paul left the council. A few men became
followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysus, a member of the Areopagus, and also a woman named
Damaris, and a number of others.
Thank you.
Thanks very much, Nick.
Kirstie's just handing around some pens and sheets there if anybody would like to take notes.
And again, if there's any questions that arise from this morning, please feel free to talk with me
afterwards. Or at least you can raise them on our Wednesday evening studies where we follow up
on the section. There's further questions about it and application and how it applies to us. So you can
have a look at that. Or you can meet with us on Wednesday as we do that.
Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for this book of Acts. Thank you for everything that is there for us to read and to learn. We pray that it would not just be history, just mere information, but that these words would be life-changing.
We pray that we would be life-changing. We pray that we will be different people from what we hear today, that your spirit would change us. And we pray for your help in this this morning. In Jesus' name. Amen.
well, I think you all have heard of Albert Einstein, responsible for E equals MC2 or MC squared, is it? See, when they introduce letters into maths, it gets a bit confusing.
but Albert Einstein was one of the greatest scientists, one of the most brilliant minds that the world has ever known.
He's also famous for writing what has become known as the God Letter.
You might have seen it on some of the news channels.
It went on sale this week on eBay and the bidding started at $3 million if you're interested in buying his letter.
Well, in the letter he wrote this.
The word God is for me nothing more than an expression and product of human weaknesses.
The Bible, a collection of honourable but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish.
No interpretation, no matter how subtle, can for me change this.
A great mind expressing his views on God.
Now, I think that reflects the general mind of people living in Ireland today.
We've come of age, we've graduated from childish thinking.
We've moved on from God.
We've no reason for God.
We've learned to live without God.
But that's actually nothing new.
Because this was the culture that Paul found himself in when he went to Athens.
Athens was the intellectual capital of the Roman Empire.
It was the place where all the big universities were.
It was home to great philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.
It was the gathering place for the great minds and thinkers to hang out.
Verse 21.
All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.
I think that has to be one of the best descriptions of university and college life, doesn't it?
Spending their time doing nothing but drinking coffee and talking.
Spending their time doing nothing but thinking about the way, if you're in university, you can get me back afterwards.
But for all of their thinking and for all of their talking, it seems that they just had no place for God.
They were living their life without any reference to God.
He was simply pushed out of the box.
so while Paul was in Athens waiting for his team to come there'd been persecution in Thessalonica
so he had to leave there and go down to Athens and as he's waiting for his team to join him
he begins to engage with these great thinkers to talk with them debate with them discuss with them
and there's three things that we're going to look at this morning just to kind of
keep it all together the first is this how we replace God the reason for God and our response
to God so three things how we replace God the reason we need God and then our response to this God
so first of all how we replace God look at verse 16 while Paul was waiting for them in Athens he was
greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols literally everywhere you looked every corner
that you turned there was an idol representing a certain God they had sex gods they had war gods
they had money gods they had work gods they had every kind of God and with every God there was an idol
and we're told there that Paul was greatly distressed it means he was he was really angry
he was bubbling up inside he wasn't temper like he didn't go around smashing them
but he was deeply upset inside himself that the people of this great city had replaced God
with their own gods and isn't that exactly what we have in Ireland today
we don't just remove God we replace him with something else or someone else
there's a book it's a collection of essays called no gods but God and one of the authors
Richard keys he writes this and I think it just sums it up so clearly he says when we cease
to worship God we do not worship nothing we worship anything we do not just eliminate God in other
words we don't just push God out of out of the way we don't just close them outside the door
he says we erect God's substitutes in his place and these God's substitutes are what we call idols
and it seems the whole city had not only removed God but they had replaced God with something else
we see this in verse 18 there were a group of epicurean and stoic philosophers who began to dispute with Paul
now epicureans were people who believed that there were gods who kind of maybe started the world but
they were kind of a way out there they were just remote and and took no interest in the world or interest in
people's affairs a little bit like people today then there were the stoics they were people who believed
that the world was controlled by the gods but they were impersonal and you couldn't relate to them
and so they entered into this debate this discussion with Paul and some of them asked what is this babbler
trying to say they thought Paul was a little bit uneducated what kind of degree does he have to be
talking to us others remarked he seems to be advocating foreign gods he's got another one it's not just
we've got a few here he's bringing another god along they said this because Paul was preaching the good
news about Jesus and the resurrection you see these great thinkers with these brilliant minds being able
to grasp great big issues had not only removed Jesus Christ from their thinking but they had replaced Christ
with a whole lot of ideologies we might call it intellectual idols it was simply their human attempt to try and
explain life the world the universe without any kind of reference to God whatsoever
somebody like Richard Dawkins or any of his atheist followers would fit into that category
and I don't think that the people of our land today are any different and we're no different
and you might say well Johnny I haven't got any idol if you go and look in my garden you might kind of
find a little gnome or something like that but that's about it I don't have a carved or or sculpted image
in my garden or in my house but we've all got idols again the author Richard Keyes he explains it like this
he says an idol can be a physical object it could be your car it could be a property your home a person
your spouse or one of your children it could be an activity sport or some other hobby it could be a role
an institution it could be an institution it could be the church a hope an image an idea a pleasure
or a hero anything can substitute for God
now none of these things that I've mentioned are wrong but when they become more important to you
than God then they become an idol because you're making it as important as God
so instead of looking to God for meaning and purpose
well we look to our own little idols the things that are important to us
we look to things like friends and family hoping that in them they'll satisfy us
maybe if I could get a wife or a husband or a boyfriend or a girlfriend if I could have that
then I'll be satisfied
or maybe we work to we look to work and leisure and if I can get that degree if I can get that
qualification if I can have that job if I can have that salary if I can have those things
then my life will be fulfilled and it seems like we stuff our lives with idols with God's substitutes
longing for peace longing for happiness longing for joy if only we could get that then I will be okay
you see for all of our clever thinking and talking we've not just removed God
we've just replaced God with something else or someone else
but you know what when we replace God with with something else
it's it's something counterfeit it's it's not the real thing
it's always going to fail you it's never going to deliver what it promises you
because it can't because it's not God it's a replacement it's instead of
look at verse 22
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and he said
men of Athens I see that in every way you are very religious
now I'm sure some of these great philosophers and thinkers were a bit put out by
that you wouldn't want to describe yourself as being religious religious is a dirty word
nobody wants to be thought of religious nobody wants to be called a holy Joe anymore
because we've moved on we've grown up we've we've moved away from childish thinking
we've we've managed to live life without God we don't need him anymore
but you know what we actually are all religious
and the reason is is because we all worship something
look at what Paul says in verse 23
he says for as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship
I even found an altar with this inscription to an unknown God
now what you worship is something unknown I'm going to proclaim to you
now people might be moving on in their thinking in our land
and people might stop worshipping God as we would say
they might stop going to church
they might read their Bible
they might think the value of praying anymore
they kind of have left all of that behind
but actually people continue to be very religious
they still worship other things
to worship something
simply means to give your life to something
in the hope
that our emptiness will be fulfilled
and our longings will be satisfied
we're all worshippers
we are all religious people
it's just we worship different things
but being fulfilled and being satisfied
these are only things that God can provide
when we worship him
so first of all Paul kind of sets out his stall
and he shows us how we have all replaced God
with something else or someone else
and now he shows us the reason for God
he shows us who God is
and why we actually need God
we can't afford to replace him
three things
first God is the creator of all life
verse 24
the God who made the world and everything in it
is the Lord of heaven and earth
and does not live in temples built by hands
now
to say that in a university setting
to talk that way to your friends
to say that God created the world
whoa
people just can't handle that anymore
God
don't be so silly
don't talk like that
and they simply want to remove God
out of the equation
well let's go down that route for a minute
let's remove God
from the equation of how the world came to be
and what are we left with?
I'll tell you what we're left with
chance
we're a random collection of atoms
that came from nowhere
and somehow all came together
and then exploded into this life giving force
all by itself
and the end product
which is all these multiple forms of life
all over the place
in all their wonderful design
and everything else
are just here
but they're under nobody's control
it all just happens
it's all an accident
it's all random
that means you and I are all accidents
we've come from nowhere
and we're going nowhere
but just open our eyes
and our ears
look at the delicate beauty
that there is
from the smallest flower
to the intricate design
and order
of our huge universe
and the galaxy
it all points to a creator
to somebody who's in control
even scientists are beginning
to step over
and they're beginning to say
yes there is
an intelligent designer
they mightn't say it's God
but there is intelligent design
and look what it says
at the end of verse 24
and God does not live
in temples built by hands
God the creator
can't be man managed
or downsized
so that we can put him
into a little box
or fit him into
into some little cupboard
and shut the door
when we don't need him
when it comes to thinking
about how the world came to be
let's shove God away
to one side
we can't do that
he is our creator
and he controls
the world
in which we live
we can't remove God
we need God
otherwise life is just chance
it's random
it's an accident
the second thing he says
is that God is
the centre
of all life
or we might say
the source
of all life
verse 25
and he is not served
by human hands
as if he needed anything
because he himself
gives all people
life and breath
and everything else
God is at the very centre
he sustains
and he maintains
all of life
he is the source
of life
and again
if you're to talk to people
they just can't handle that
people don't like
to think
that somehow
God is
the giver of life
and at the centre
of life
and they want to
replace God
and kind of move him
out of the picture
well again
let's do that
for a minute
let's replace God
and well
who are we going
to put instead
into the centre
well let's put ourselves
into the centre
and what do we get
when we're at the centre
of life
we get disorder
and chaos
let me give an example
the way the planets
are set out
the sun
in our solar system
is at the centre
of our universe
and the planets
all the planets
they all orbit
the sun
the sun is here
and all the planets
orbit the sun
that's what gives us
the seasons
that's what keeps
everything the way it is
and keeps everything
in order
now let's just change
that order around
a little bit
let's take the sun out
and let's put the earth
into the middle
and let everything else
revolve around
well what would happen
you don't have to be
a scientist to know
that everything
would just fall apart
well that's what happens
when we put ourselves
at the centre
when we move
the sun
s-o-n
out of the centre
and put ourselves
into the middle
we get chaos
and disorder
but look at who
this God is
the end of verse 25
it says that he gives
all people
life
and breath
and everything else
God sustains us
in every way
not just physically
but also morally
God is at the centre
of our life
without him
we do not exist
and without him
we descend
into chaos
and disorder
we can't replace
God
we need God
the third thing
then
verse 26
is that God
is the purpose
of all of life
he gives us meaning
verse 26
from one man
this is Adam
he made
every nation
of people
that they should
inhabit the whole earth
and here for me
something so exciting
he determined
the time set for them
he determined
when each person
was going to be born
and if that doesn't
blow your minds away
look at the rest of it
and he determined
the exact places
where they should live
when you were born
and which nation
you would be born into
and which country
you were going to live
you see what happens
when people
remove God
out of this
they say
no we don't want
the God
who kind of controls
thing
and God
who determines
my life
and tells me
what happened
and what's going
to happen
let us be the
master of our
destiny
let us be the
ones who decide
what happens
well I'll tell you
what happens
when we do that
emptiness
remember what we
said
without God
we've come from
nowhere
we're going
nowhere
and such a view
just leaves
all of life
empty of purpose
and meaning
we've just
arrived here
and we're going
nowhere
but
verse 26
he has
determined
the time
set for us
and the exact
places
where we should
live
that means
our whole
life
has meaning
and purpose
that means
our whole
life
is in
control
and that
purpose
look at
verse 27
God did
this
so that
people
would
seek
him
and perhaps
reach out
and find
him
though he
is not
far from
each one
of us
God
has designed
and ordered
our life
and our
world
in such
a way
that we
would reach
out to the
God who
gives us
purpose
verse 28
for in
him
we live
and move
and have
our being
we were
made
to be in
relationship
with this
creator
life
giving
God
this is
where we
find our
meaning
and our
purpose
and the
good news
is at the
end of
verse 28
he's not
far from
each one
of us
he came
in the
person
of his
son
Jesus
Christ
he's
there
you see
we can't
reject
God
we can't
push him
out of
the equation
we need
God
we can't
replace him
because if we
are to remove
God
if we are to
replace him
if we are to
reject him
then we lose
everything
verse 29
therefore
since we are
God's offspring
we should not
think that the
divine being
is like gold
or silver
or stone
an image
made by man's
design
and skill
now isn't
it absolutely
crazy
it's daft
of us to
think that
our idols
will give
us
what only
God can
give us
it's ridiculous
to think that
we would look
to something
that we would
set up as
being God
over and
above our
creator
God
we're living
a lie
if we think
our God
replacements
are going to
satisfy us
and fill us
the gods
that we make
they can't
give us
life
they don't
control
life
they will
only destroy
our life
so Paul
he sets
out
he says
look
we've all
replaced
God
with
something
else
or
someone
else
but let
me show
you now
who God
is
the creator
of life
the centre
of life
the purpose
of all
life
we can't
do without
him
we need
him
so third
what is our
response
to this
God
what are we
to do
well verse
30
in the past
God
overlooked
such
ignorance
but now
he commands
all people
everywhere
to repent
repentance
is not
just saying
sorry
we can all
say sorry
and just
carry on
but it's
much more
than that
repentance
is also
about
replacement
when you
think
repentance
think
replacement
it means
turning away
from our
idols
and turning
to
the living
Jesus
something we
do
every day
it's not
just something
we do
just to
become a
Christian
we have
to repent
every day
it means
removing
our God
substitutes
it means
removing
our idols
the things
that we
trust
the things
that we
build our
lives on
the things
that we
look to
for meaning
and purpose
we
turn away
from them
and we
replace
them
with the
living
Jesus
who alone
can fill
us and
satisfy us
we make
him
the centre
of our
lives
and please
note
this is not
an optional
extra
verse 30
see what it
says
he commands
all people
everywhere
to repent
it's a
command
it's not
if you
would like
to
an absolute
and radical
call
to change
our lives
to reorientate
our lives
to make
Jesus
central
that means
that Jesus
becomes more
valuable to
you than
any relationship
that you are
in or could
wish for
it means
that Jesus
is more
precious to
you than
any desire
or any
other dream
that you
might have
rather than
worship
something else
or someone
else
we are to
worship
the risen
Jesus
Christ
and the
reason we
are to
repent
look at
verse 31
is because
God promises
to judge
the world
verse 31
for he
has set
a day
when he
will judge
the world
with justice
by the
man he
has appointed
who's that
man
well he
has given
proof of
this to
all people
by raising
him from
the dead
it's Jesus
Christ
and this
is not
fantasy
this is
reality
God
has set
a day
just as
the children's
referendum
is going to
take place
on Saturday
the 11th
of November
2012
the day
has been
set
the referendum
is going
to happen
so God
has set
a day
in his
diary
and this
is not
just for a
few people
it's for
everyone
look at what
it says
verse 31
God will
judge
the world
no race
or religion
will be
excluded
all people
will face
the judgment
no one
is going
to be
excused
go back
to the
beginning
of verse
30
it says
in the
past
God
overlooked
such
ignorance
God in
his mercy
did not
give us
what we
deserve
but now
that he's
told us
that his
judgment
is coming
now that
Jesus
has risen
from the
dead
now that
he's
given us
proof
there's
no more
excuses
the world
needs
to repent
you see
removing
God
replacing
God
is not
just a
way of
life
it's not
just another
option
that we
can take
it's an
act of
serious
rebellion
it is
rejecting
God's
good and
loving rule
over our
lives
it's
resisting
his
kind
and
generous
care
over our
world
and God
looks down
on him
and he
says I'm
not going
to allow
you to
remove me
and to
replace me
forever
I'm not
going to
allow the
disorder
and the
chaos
to continue
I will
not be
treated
as second
best
I will
not be
pushed
out
it's
my world
and you
are my
people
and I
will come
and judge
and so
we all
need to
repent
and replace
our idols
our God
substitutes
with the
risen
Jesus
he is the
only one
who can
fulfill our
deepest
longings
he is the
only one
who can
forgive us
when we
fail
so he
sets it
out very
clearly
these are
the gods
that we
replace
we remove
God out
and we
set up
our own
gods
but look
at who
God is
the creator
of life
the sustainer
the giver
of all life
he gives
us purpose
we can't
afford to
leave him
out
and what's
our response
to this
we need
to repent
to remove
the things
that we
hold so
dearly
and put
Jesus
the risen
Jesus
at the
very centre
of our
lives
well let's
do that
now
in the
quietness
as we
pray
let's
just make
this
a personal
time of
confession
of repentance
turning away
from
what we
see is
important
and making
Jesus
the very
centre
of our
lives
let's
just do
that now
in the
quietness
so
there
if
you
can
say
only
to
just do
and
like
a
better
so
to
can
and
it
so
and
it
especially
you
and
you
and
you
a
the
every
very
day