Acts 17:22-34"So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god. 'What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us for "'In him we live and move and have our being';
as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed his offspring.'Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he command all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, "We will hear you again about this'' So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them." (ESV)
The Athens had idles for everything
Paul talked to them about the unknown God to tell them about all the powers he has and everything he has done
God's Authority
God has the authority to tell you to repent
Acts 17:23-24 "For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man..." (ESV)
He says they are very religious
God made the entire world and everything in it
He has the authority to tell you to repent
Very simple but very powerful
There would be nothing without God
God is the reason we breath
Acts 17:27-28 "that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are indeed his offspring.'"
In God we live
God's appointment
Acts 17:31 "...because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
There is a day of judgment coming
It's an appointment every single one of us will keep
We got an appointment to keep
God's assurance
Assurance that there is going to be a judgment day Acts 17:31 "...because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
Raising Jesus Christ from the dead is showing us he has authority, appointment, and assurance
How assured are you? The death of Jesus Christ assures us
1st reason to repent God has authority
2nd reason to repent God's appointment cause we have an appointment to be judged
3rd reason to repent God assures us that there will be a judgment day 3 possible responses
Acts 17:32-34 "Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, 'We will hear you again about this.' So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed..."
Total rejection
Not totally rejected but not believing
some join and believe
Facebook link
https://www.facebook.com/jenachurchofchrist/videos/595639517824860/
Speaker: John Barker
Notes by: Elysia and Aerial Norman