Sixth Sunday of Easter (2026)

What Difference Does It Make?

From Self-Made Truth to the Risen Lord

Acts 17:22–31 Supplementary text: 1 Peter 3:15-22 and John 14:15-21

GOAL:

That the hearers would repent of the idols they place before God and live confidently in their new identity in Christ, who through His resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit calls them to live for Him.

MALADY:

Because our sinful hearts place self, feelings, and personal desires above God’s Word, we create modern idols that distort truth, damage our relationships, and lead us away from repentance and faithful living.

MEANS:

Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the gift of Baptism, God gives us a new identity and the indwelling Holy Spirit, who calls us to repentance, anchors us in the truth of His Word, and empowers us to live no longer for ourselves but for Christ.

——————

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Introduction – A City Full of Idols

When St. Paul arrived in Athens, he didn’t step into a quiet, empty town. He walked into one of the most impressive cities in the ancient world.

Full of ideas.

Full of culture.

Full of religion.

And everywhere he turned, he saw one thing above all:

A city full of idols.

Everywhere he looked:

shrines,

altars,

temples,

images,

gods.

Reading between the lines in Acts, St. Paul was deeply distressed.

Not annoyed.

Not irritated.

Distressed.

Because the people were worshiping things that could not save them.

And at first glance we might think:

“Well… that’s ancient paganism. We don’t really struggle with that anymore.”

But we do.

We just build different idols now.

Not statues made of stone.

But idols made of self.

Because whatever rules the heart becomes the god.

In our culture today, the supreme authority is often:

my feelings,

my desires,

my truth,

my preferences,

my outrage,

my experience.

And once feelings become supreme God’s Word takes second place.

The Idol of Self (Malady)

So, Paul says to the Athenians:

“I see that in every way you are very religious.”

And they were.

But religion alone does not save. Because sinful people are very good at creating — gods they can control.

That’s what idols are.

A god we can shape.

A god who agrees with us.

A god who never confronts us.

A god who asks nothing difficult of us.

And we do the same thing.

We may not bow before carved statues, but we bow before ourselves all the time.

—And here is how it shows up. We put feelings above truth.

“If I feel hurt, I must be right.”

“If I feel justified, I must be innocent.”

“If I feel offended, then someone else must be guilty.”

And suddenly emotions become infallible.

Feelings become lord.

And the thing we refuse to surrender becomes our idol.

Ignoring God’s Word

This is why we struggle so deeply with forgiveness.

And with putting the best construction on things, as the Eighth Commandment requires.

Because our feelings tell us:

“Hold onto the hurt.”

“Assume the worst.”

“Protect yourself.”

“Defend yourself.”

“Stay angry.”

And we listen. Even when God says otherwise.

Even when Christ commands forgiveness. Even when Scripture calls us to gentleness, patience, and mercy.

Because sinful hearts always prefer self-rule over surrender.

And that is exactly what Paul saw in Athens.

People trying to create

meaning,

purpose,

security,

and truth apart from the living God.

But idols never save.

They only enslave.

And beneath all idolatry is fear.

Athens was full of fear.

Fear of displeasing the gods.

Fear of missing the right ritual.

Fear of uncertainty.

And modern idols create fear too.

Fear of rejection.

Fear of discomfort.

Fear of losing control.

Fear of being wrong.

Idols demand everything and give nothing back.

If you recognize yourself in this, that’s the Holy Spirit already at work—exposing idols so Christ can forgive and free you.

For you see, He doesn’t expose those idols to crush you, but to pull you out from under them and place you back under a gracious Lord who died and rose for you.

The God We Cannot Recreate

So back in Athens Paul does something remarkable.

He points them away from themselves.

Away from their idols.

Away from self-made truth.

And toward the living God.

“The God who made the world and everything in it…”

This God is not created by human hands.

He is our Creator.

He is our Lord.

Our King.

He does not conform Himself to us.

He calls us to conform to Him.

And that is hard for sinful hearts.

Because we want a god who reflects us.

But the true God is Holy.

The true God speaks truth.

The true God calls sinners to repentance.

You see, all that fear and idolatry comes from trying to build our own little gods. So Paul lifts their eyes to the God they did not make.

The Risen Christ Reveals the True God

This is where Paul drives everything toward Jesus.

God now commands all people everywhere to repent.

Why?

Because a day of judgment is coming.

And God has appointed the Judge.

And then Paul says:

“He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

And that changes everything.

Easter and the resurrection means:

Jesus is not merely a teacher.

Not merely a moral example.

Not one opinion among many.

He is Lord.

The resurrection means your feelings are no longer your lord—Jesus is.

Not a cruel lord, but the crucified and risen Lord who laid down His life for you.

And that changes everything.

Baptized into a New Identity

This brings us to Peter in our second reading today.

“Baptism now saves you…”

Not because water itself is magical.

But because Baptism joins you to Christ.

To His death.

To His resurrection.

To His victory.

This is identity language.

This means you are no longer defined:

by your emotions,

by your past,

by your anger,

by your desires,

by your fears.

Because you now belong to Christ.

In Christ the old self dies.

A new creation rises.

And because Christ is risen,

you now live differently.

As St. Paul writes in

Romans 12:2 EHV

2 Do not continue to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…

That renewal of the mind is the work of the same Spirit Jesus promises in John 14.

The Holy Spirit Dwells in You

Jesus says in John 14:

“I will not leave you as orphans.”

He gives you the Holy Spirit.

Which means Christianity is not:

“Try harder.”

It is:

“Christ now lives in you.”

Let me illustrate what it means that Christ now lives in you.

In our culture, the idol of self says, ‘Trust your feelings. Follow your heart.’ That sounds nice, but it’s like trying to find your way with a broken GPS. Sometimes it gets you close; other times it sends you straight into a ditch.

Jesus doesn’t leave you with a broken GPS and say, ‘Just do your best.’

He gives you the Holy Spirit.

Think of the Spirit as an internal compass the Father places in you at Baptism—not a compass pointing to how good you are, but a compass pointing to Christ.

On our own, the needle swings wildly—

toward anger, self-pity, pride, fear. But the Spirit re-magnets the needle to point to true north—to Jesus.

So when your feelings scream, ‘Stay angry, protect yourself, hold the grudge,’

the Spirit quietly pulls the needle the other way: ‘Forgive, as you have been forgiven.’ ‘Put the best construction on things.’ ‘Trust the promises of the risen Lord, not the panic of your heart.’

The Spirit does not erase feelings. He reorders them under Christ. He dwells in you to pull you away from the idol of self and back to the risen Lord again and again.

You see, the Holy Spirit:

convicts,

comforts,

guides,

strengthens,

and sanctifies.

The Spirit reshapes the heart.

Het teaches us to surrender idols.

teaches us to forgive.

teaches us to love truth more than feelings.

teaches us to live not for self—but for Christ.

You see, the Holy Spirit doesn’t come to make you stare at yourself more, but to fix your eyes on Jesus.

The Spirit teaches us to live not for self—but for Christ. Because whatever rules the heart becomes the god, and the Spirit is always turning your heart back to Christ.

What Difference Does It Make?

So what difference does it make that Jesus lives?

It means we no longer belong to the idols we created.

You no longer have to worship self.

You no longer have to follow every feeling.

You no longer have to create your own truth.

Because Christ is risen.

And the risen Christ reveals:

who God is,

who you are,

and how you now live.

And because He lives,

you are free.

Free to repent.

Free to forgive, as we pray: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Free to speak truth.

Free to put the best construction on things and not tarnishing someone’s reputation.

Free to live differently from this evil, pagan world lives.

Because whatever rules the heart becomes the god. And now Christ rules your heart.

From Self-Made Truth to the Risen Lord

Athens was full of idols.

Our world is too.

Only ours are more sophisticated.

More personal.

More hidden.

And just as deadly.

Yet the risen Christ still comes.

He Still gives His Spirit.

Still creates new hearts.

Still calls us and all sinners to repentance.

He still forgives and calls us to forgive others.

He Still baptizes.

And now—

Because Christ is risen— you no longer live for yourself. You live for Him. And He lives for you.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayers of the Church

Risen Lord Jesus Christ, You have conquered sin, death, and the grave, and through Your resurrection You call us away from the idols of this world to live as Your redeemed people. Confident in Your mercy and guided by Your Spirit, we bring our prayers before You.

A brief silence

For the Church

Lord Jesus, keep Your Church faithful in a world filled with false gods and self-made truths. Guard us from placing feelings, desires, or human wisdom above Your holy Word. Through pastors, teachers, missionaries, and all who confess Your name, continue to call sinners to repentance and faith in the crucified and risen Savior. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For Repentance and Faith

Holy Spirit, expose the idols that cling to our hearts—pride, anger, selfishness, fear, resentment, and the desire to justify ourselves. Lead us daily to repentance, and turn our hearts again toward Christ alone. Teach us to trust Your truth more than our feelings and to live under the gracious rule of our risen Lord. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For Christian Living

Gracious Father, You have joined us to Christ through Baptism and given us a new identity as Your children. Strengthen us to live according to that identity. Help us to forgive as we have been forgiven, to put the best construction on everything, and to reflect gentleness, patience, and mercy in our words and actions. By Your Spirit, teach us to live no longer for ourselves but for Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For the Nations and Those in Authority

Lord of heaven and earth, You have determined the times and places in which we live so that people may seek You and know Your truth. Guide the leaders of nations with wisdom and justice. Restrain evil, protect the vulnerable, and preserve peace where there is conflict and unrest. Lead all people to recognize that true hope and lasting security are found only in You. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For Those Burdened by Fear and Anxiety

Compassionate Savior, many hearts are weighed down by fear, uncertainty, guilt, and shame. Remind all who struggle that You have not left them as orphans. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, comfort them with Your presence, strengthen them with Your promises, and direct their hearts away from fear and back to You, the risen Lord who reigns over all things. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

For the Sick and Suffering

Merciful Lord, You are near to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. Grant healing, patience, and peace to those who are ill, recovering, grieving, or troubled, especially: Kim, Michelle, Amy, Pastor Greg, Vern, and those whom we name in our hearts… Sustain them by Your Word and assure them that nothing can separate them from Your love in Christ Jesus. Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord, who taught us to pray…

Our Father who art in heaven…