Greatly Distressed

Introduction

Description of (Bryant-Denny) religious service

Context — 13 (Antioch+), 15 (Jerusalem), 16 (prison)

Read Acts 17:16-34

Missionaries have wrestled with applying this passage for ages

Want to focus in on verse 16

Explanation

Setting the stage

“As you enter the city there are altars everywhere, and images of gods and heroes on every side.” — Pausanias, 2C

“It’s easier to find a god than a man in Athens.” — Petronius, 1C

Athens and Alabama are not all that different. (v. 21)

An unceasing pursuit of something that makes sense/fills the void

Are you distressed by the idols on our campus?

examples of idols — money, sex, substances, academic success, social status

Football games look a lot like worship services

My experience at the Hindu temples in Dallas this summer

The more time you spend around idols the less foreign they seem.

Downplaying looks like

I watch this show for the storyline (sex)

I’m modest compared to campus (appearances)

I’m gonna give once I get a job (money)

I use ChatGPT but I don’t lie on things that matter (success/integrity)

I’m getting drunk, but it’s college (substances)

Sadly, some of the only people who are distressed go into a silo

You can be distressed by idols without being disengaged from culture.

Paul responds by preaching Jesus, not running away or worshipping the idols

How do we shake ourselves out of the undercurrent of idolatry? I think the best solution is rooting ourselves in the truth of God (v. 24-31)

If you’re blinded to idolatry in your life, spend more time with the one who gives sight to the blind.

Getting out of the student world has helped me see more clearly some of the idols, but you can’t leave your culture so you’ve gotta seep yourself in God’s.

The more time you spend with God, the more worthy you recognize him to be.

Exhortation

Stay rooted in the worthiness of Jesus to remind yourself of the worthlessness of false gods.

Sinner — no behavior change alone, Paul didn’t want that, God is judging the earth, so he pointed people to the resurrection, you need to see that

Saints — Pray this prayer // Psalm 139:24