Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Intro:
A. Lets not assume everyone knows who “God” is and what "God” is like
Illustration: Aunty Jessica’s Do you know God?
She wrongly assumed that my cousins knew not only which God but also what He is like.
She wrongly assumed that my cousins knew who God is and what He is like.
The issue is not first and foremost who is God (Khrisna vs Buddha vs Jesus etc), but what does the term “God” even mean (person vs force etc)
“God” means different things to different people depending on their worldviews e.g.
Atheism, agnosticism, deism e.g.
(Epicureans), pantheism (e.g Stoics), polytheism
Atheism,
e.g.
Atheism, agnosticism, deism, dualism, pantheism, polytheism
agnosticism
deism
dualism
pantheism
polytheism
Practical implications for evangelising e.g pantheists and polytheists - they may misunderstand and ‘wrongly’ agree to “Jesus is God”!
“God” means different things to different people
The issue is not first and foremost who is God (Khrisna vs Buddha vs Jesus etc), but what does the term “God” even mean (person vs force etc)
polytheists may add Jesus to existing altars alongside other gods
pantheists already affirm that you, me, trees outside are all god, so why not Jesus?
B. Lets start from scratch
Very often we talk to non-Christians as if they were already Christians.
We use our Christian jargon and terms thinking that they understand when they don’t.
Foundation needs to be laid first before the building can be constructed e.g. even the word "god" needs to be properly explained first.
See Paul’s example here in Athens.
- the issue is not first of foremost whether "Jesus is God".
The issue is what does the word "God" even mean.
- even the word "god" needs to be properly explained first.
- This foundation needs to be laid first before the building can be constructed.
Paul's speech here provides us with a rare opportunity to see how Paul engaged with people with zero background in Christianity.
Zero knowledge of the Bible.
- Paul's speech here provides us with a rare opportunity to see how Paul engaged with people with zero background in Christianity.
Zero knowledge of the Bible.
Paul starts from scratch: What is God like?
I'll summarise in 4S: Separate, Self-sufficient, Sovereign, and then there’s a bonus S.
What is God like?
1. Separate ()
“He is the God who made the world and everything in it.
Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples,
24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it.
Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples
God is firstly a personal being separate from creation
Contrast pantheism
Pantheists don't believe god is a person but our entire reality.
A personal being separate from creation
believe in the unity and divinity of all things.
So basically God is everything, and everything is God.
Together god consists of all of us.
Contrast pantheism: unity and divinity of all things.
So basically God is everything, and everything is God.
Together god consists of all of us.
Idolatrous humans imagine us to be on the same level as God
(or for God to be on the same level as us.)
Pantheism: all of us are god.
Polytheism (many gods): god is like us.
Since so many different humans must be so many different gods.
But there is no one like God.
The universe cannot compare with Him
since so many different humans must be so many different gods.
The universe cannot compare with Him
The universe is not co-eternal like God.
God must be far superior to the universe to create it.
God is omni-present.
He is everywhere.
But the universe cannot contain Him.
- And He created it from nothing.
All this.
Billions of galaxies, God created them all just like that.
Just think how powerful God is.
How awesome He must be.
- Yes God is omni-present.
He is everywhere.
But the universe cannot contain Him.
So if even the highest heavens cannot contain God, how can man-made temples or church buildings contain Him?
God is one of a kind.
Totally in a class of His own.
Separate.
- No one comes close to Him in this.
God is one of a kind.
Totally in a class of His own!
There is no one like God.
He is separate.
2. Self-sufficient ()
25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs.
He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.
All of us have needs
physical needs e.g.
Food, drink, rest etc.
emotional needs e.g.
Approval, companionship and love etc.
We are not broken.
We were never designed to be self-sufficient but to ultimately need God.
The Greek gods had needs
in terms of drama, they were very similar to us
Had superpowers but they were essentially humans!
Super-humans!
the kind of relationship the Greeks had with their gods was: you scratch my back, I scratch yours e.g
You provide food for the gods in their temples and they'll bless you
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