Rob's Expository Sermon Preparation | Acts 17:17–34

Introduction:

· How do move out of the church, into the world: Neighbor: Secular humanist or Teen depression

WE’RE GOIN TO SEE THREE THINGS: THE GOSPEL ENGAGES THE CULTURE, COUNTERS THE CULTRUE, AND CHALLENGES THE CULTURE

I) The Gospel Engages the Culture (vv. 16-21)

A. Everyone Worships: The Gospel Enters a Secular Culture

i. The Marketplace represents the Ideals of the culture (vv. 16-18)

1. The Agora was a place of business, art, worship, philosophy (PICTURE)

2. So, the philosophers of the day are there, as they represent these ideals

ii. The Marketplace reveals the idols of our culture (vs. 16)

1. Idols represent our longings, contentment, fulfillments, meaning, etc.

2. DIAGNOSIS: Sports stadiums; campaign signs; banks, universities, etc.

3. EXAMPLE: David Foster Wallace – “everyone worships.” (vs. 22)

B. Learning to Engage a Secular Culture

i. We may discern the message of our culture (vs. 28)

1. Paul quotes poets and philosophers, showing that he discerns their voice

2. APPLICATION: Rather than avoid or “baptize” cultural products, we should learn to see them as cultural products that tell the story

PAUL SHOWS US HOW TO ENGAGE OUR CULTURE – BUT WE ALSO SEE HOW HE COUNTERS THE MESSAGE OF HIS CULTURE

II) The Gospel Counters the Culture (vv. 22-30)

A. The Case for the Created Gods (AREOPAGUS PICTURE)

i. The glorious gods of Greek culture ? (PICTURE)

1. Greek gods dwelled in manmade temples of grandeur

2. Since gods controlled all things no one knew how they’d behave

ii. The Limits of these gods

1. A logical Problem: How do offspring create their deities? (vs. 29)

2. A Spiritual Problem: All that majesty in a little itty living space”

3. A second spiritual problem: fatalism enslaves us!

B. The Case for a Creator God

i. The Supremacy of God as a Creator: (vv.24-26)

1. As a creator, God’s “temple” is the universe (no temple can contain!)

2. As a sustainer, every moment of life rests in God’s sovereign care

3. APPLICATION:

i. The Transcendent has become Immanent: God creates us for Himself!

1. God is personal, He created us to find our life in Him

2. And unlike the gods of S/E, God is near, and approachable

AND THIS IS WHERE PAUL SHOWS US HOW TO CHALLENGE CULTURE.

III) The Gospel Challenges the Culture (vv. 31-34)

A. Jesus’ Resurrection Calls for A Response

i. A Day of Judgment will come, thus calling us to repent

1. A sticking point now, but not then: God will one day judge all evil

2. APPLICATION: We like to think that we will escape – but the only acceptable standard is perfect righteousness, thus, repentance is needed

ii. The resurrection vindicates all of Jesus’ claims, verifying the second coming

1. The resurrection of Jesus validates this claim of coming judgment

2. EXAMPLE: if a person talked crazy…and came back to life…

3. APPLICATION: Whether or not we like the claims of Christianity, or the ethical implications, doesn’t matter – what matters: Did Jesus rise?

B. Jesus’ Resurrection Points to The Hope Our World Needs

i. Paul’s Unfinished Message: (vv. 32-34)

1. This is the point where everyone quits listening – and Paul didn’t finish

2. Paul’s “disturbance” reflects God’s relationship with Israel & their idols

ii. The Christian Message is Hope for a Lost World

1. God rescued his idolatrous people, enslaved to idols, crushed…

2. The cross reveals God…deeply provoked, deeply loving of His people

Transition:

Conclusion

The Lord’s Table