Take It To The Streets | Acts 17:16-34

INTRO: Acts 17 - Context/why

Preached during interview. Must have been decent. Y’all hired me.

1st Sunday of June.

If you forgot it.

Lydia/slave girl/ jailer.

Leave to Thessalonica

Jason

Acts 17:6–7 “6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.””

Have turned the world upside down - How awesome would that have been!?

Acts 17:11–12 “11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.”

This is the model

Acts 17:16–21 “16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.

1. The Idols Around Us Should Stir Us (v.16–17)

Las Vegas. - here too.

17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.

18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.”

When you’re filled with the Spirit, silence is not an option.

JW story -

spirit was provoked…city was full of idols - Are provoked when we see idols of our days. To go reach people with the Gospel?

Epicurean and Stoic - Two different type of philosophers.

Resurrection was an important distinction. They did not believe in the material. Christianity, has always been concerned with both the spiritual and material.

What breaks your heart is often where God wants to use your voice.

Acts 17:22–34 “22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 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. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 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, 27 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, 28 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.’ 29 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. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 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.” 2. The Gospel Demands Engagement (v.18–21)

God isn’t far off, He is ready for you to find Him.

The unknown God you’re searching for is Jesus.

What’s your unknown God? That you are worshipping without relizing it? See what is dominating your time and money. 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.”