Mars Hill People

Child of the Gods

Dylan asks me “If you were a child of one of the gods, which one would you choose?”

He is reading these books, Percy Jackson books, where the kids are all half-human half-mythic-gods. Percy is the son of Poseidon, so he has water powers. Children of Zeus have lightning powers and can fly, children of Hades have zombie powers, etc…

“If you were a child of one of the gods, which one would you choose.”

What a great question. In reality I totally nerded out with the boys, Logan joined in and what he would choose.

I wanted those Zeus lightning powers, so I can go full Palpatine, and the power to fly.

And then I asked, Dylan, you know I am a child of a god, the God, the real God. And because I am His child I do have powers: immortality, the faith to move mountains, resurrection power, and that’s just the start.

The truth is I just nerded out and we moved on. I missed that opportunity to point to God… and to check in with my kids on there walk with God, on there relationship with the living God.

We get these questions, not just from kids, but questions from our friends and all those around us. Wide open doors, invitations for us to point to God, the true God. Because every person ever created has the question branded on their heart and it comes out in different ways:

Paul goes to Athens

Acts 17:16 ESV

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.

Athens. The cradle of democracy, but also a center for Greek worship. All that Greek Mythology you studied in school… that’s all there! The foremost Greek city, they were fighting the Persians before the Spartan 300. Rome actually allowed Athens to carry on as a free allied city within the empire, so great was their respect for the city. Leader in literature, oratory, philosophy. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle… all from Athens.

That is the scene, the legacy Paul walks into, and like a native New Yorker, perhaps, they have no doubt they are the center of the world when it comes to religion and philosophy.

The streets are full of statues of the gods, temples of the gods.

And don’t picture white marble (that’s what left after the paint stripped off through the centuries). In Paul’s day all those statues would have been painted vibrant colors.

Paul’s spirit was “provoked” by seeing all this idolatry. An inner anguish, a sharp poke to his soul. He sees the most beautiful, the most elaborate, the most gorgeous statues and buildings he has ever seen… and it is in homage to false and empty gods. And so he is driven, not only to witness to the Jews in the synagogue, but to every one he sees.

Acts 17:17 ESV

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.

First of all, how awesome that there is a synagogue in Athens! We see God’s hand at work in the Diaspora, in scattering the Jews to every nation, he also prepares the pathway for the gospel. Even his punishment is preparation for his salvation!

But in addition to his normal practice in the synagogue, Paul is preaching in the marketplace. He goes to the mall! He is the crazy guy on the soapbox in the corner “reasoning”.

But Athens is the place for this. Remember, center of reasoning, center of philosophy. Socrates taught in the marketplace in Athens, and the allusion there may be purposeful.

My college student center was like this, there was always someone willing to debate you. There are some philosophes ready to engage.

Acts 17:18 ESV

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.

Epicurean - they are known for their pursuit of happiness and contentment through detachment… and denial of divine interference in human affairs. Pleasure-seeking Deists. Think Ben Franklin.

Stoics - they believe in logic and discipline and to achievev pantheistic harmony with the divine being.... which they actually called “logos” or word. But they meant it in a very different way, more like a World-soul. Think very serious hippy.

Strong opinions about how the world does and should operate. And they hear a new idea, a new opinion, a bit crazy. They call him a “babbler.” That’s rude. But since this is Athens, anything new on the theological and philosophical front would be interesting.

They may believe he is preaching about two new gods “Jesus” (masculine name in Greek) and his consort “Resurrection” (anastasis, feminine in Greek).

So they drag Paul up to the place. The Areopagus.

Literally “The Hill of Ares”, Ares who is called “Mars” by the Romans, so sometimes “Mars Hill”.

Looking out, over Athens… there’s the Acropolis over on the next hill just to the east.

Alternatively, there was an administrative body that took its name from the place, so it may have been dragging Paul before the people of the same name, the government of Roman Athens.

But place or people, Paul is at Mars Hill, and he has the pulpit.

Speech… speech… speech… speech.

How often are you given a platform like that?

Acts 17:19–21 ESV

And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

So Paul gets this golden opportunity… and he begins to teach.

There are a million and one things we could learn from Paul in this sermon. This is one of my absolute favorites, we could spend weeks here. Let’s limit this to three things.

Pay attention to where Paul starts.

Pay attention to where Paul ends.

And pay attention to where God is.

The Sermon

Acts 17:22–31 ESV

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 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. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 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, 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, 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.’ 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. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 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.”

I hear a sermon like that and I expect every one to repent and believe.

But of course, humans are humans. And humans in 1st century Athens can be just as jaded as 21st century Coloradans.

The Result

Acts 17:32–34 ESV

Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

People believed, and a church was planted in Athens. Praise God. This is gospel, this is evangelism. This is preaching.

I am so thankful that Luke captured so much of what Paul had to say here. This is so fruitful for us in learning how to witness, how to teach, how to preach, how to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now remember, I said I would limit myself to three things?

Where Does Paul Start?

Where does Paul start? In Athens, sure. On Mars hill. Okay. But where does he start?

Where did I start today? With a ridiculous story. There’s a moment of connection, and it maybe the most important question of your life… or just something you are familiar with, a shared experience, a shared funny. But something that catches your attention.

Because you live in a world where everything is competing for your attention. That was true then too.

And so where does Paul start? He starts where they are. He starts with something familiar to them… and that says something about who they are.

Acts 17:22–23 ESV

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 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.

Have you seen that altar? If you’re familiar with the altar, I bet you’ve seen it. Ever wondered what that altar meant?

People are now asking themselves that question. What does it mean?

Some might pipe up, “they wanted to cover all the bases, and not anger any gods that got missed when they made all the statues, so this one is kind of a catch-all just-in-case statue.”

But he connects with something in their life, a question they are asking, or have asked. It’s a little loose thread he can pull on. If you have no connection to or with someone, why would or should they listen to you?

Paul starts where they are. He starts with their questions.

And then turns and points to God:

Acts 17:24 ESV

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

Look, all… God. He’s going to say more about that God. How He is different than the other gods you are serving. Not made by human hands, not created, He is Creator. Not trapped in time, He made time! He made you!

Paul starts where they are.

But then where does he go? Where does he land? You could get the idea from “start where they are” as something that might lead to a “wishy-washy” kind of sermon without any meat. A feel good story.

Nope. Where does Paul land? Where does he end up? Pure gospel.

Acts 17:30–31 ESV

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 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.”

Woah! Calm down Paul. He is bringing fire and brimstone. Righteousness and judgment and “REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR!” Recall that Luke is summarizing here, and this isn’t Paul’s last word to the people in Athens. People ask and followup. I am certain Paul gives them more information on how exactly they can be on the right side of that judgment, how they can seek His righteousness, how they can enter into his resurrection.

But Paul follows in the footsteps of Jesus. It does no one any favors to shyly avoid this truth: a day of judgment is coming. Repent!

If you’re headed in the wrong direction, you are headed for destruction. Make another choice friend!

Paul starts where they are at.

He ends with a call to repentance and salvation.

That’s a model for salvation right there.

Start where they are. You connect, authentically, with people. You hear their stories. You see there statues. You see the ways in which they are “religious”, because even your atheist friends have their ideas about the world and the universe and what it all means and what there place in it is… and they have their unanswered questions.

You start with their questions, you start where they are.

And then you point them towards God. Look! Look at where He is in my life. Look at His answers to those questions, let’s ask Him that question together.

And at some point, at the right time, we let them know what God has let us know about the future. Judgment is coming… but you don’t have to fear that day.

Where is God

All of that may still sound hard and scary. That’s okay. We can do hard and scary things through Him who strengthens us.

But Paul gives such beautiful language here to where God is through all of this, through all of human experience. This is one of my favorite mental images of where God is. It helps me personally in my devotional life, in my walk with God. It helps me as I speak with others about salvation. May it help you.

Paul describes God in all his majesty. Creator, not served by human hands, not needing anything, making man of every nation, allotting their time and dwelling places…

Acts 17:26 ESV

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,

Why do live where you live? God. Why do you live when you live? God. Why did He do that?

For a purpose. Specifically, for this purpose:

Acts 17:27 ESV

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,

That they should seek God. That’s why you live where you live, when you live. That you should “seek”, search for, long for God.

And perhaps feel their way toward him. An eyes closed kind of searching, like groping in the dark. Finding, feeling your way. Sometimes seeking God feels that way doesn’t it. I’m looking, I’m searching, I’m asking, I’m wondering, I’m questioning, I’m feeling my way towards Him.

And there’s a beautiful little word here. Perhaps feel their way toward Him. Because not everyone is feeling their way towards Him, though that is their Created Purpose… there is a beautiful hope in that word “perhaps”.

The loving Father standing “hoping” their child will reach out for them, waiting for that day, longing for that day… knowing that the day they perhaps feel their way toward him… they will find him.

For what’s the true? Is God far away?

He is actually not far from each one of us. He is right there.

I picture the rebellious teenage son who has screamed every obscenity at his dad, rejected him in every way that a human can. Spit and reviled him. The Dad is there, patiently waiting for the day his son realizes that he is loved, that he needs his dad’s help, anyway for whatever reason that his son, whom he loves, would perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.

He is never far from any one of us.

That They Should Seek God

What a model.

Now picture this. You are with your friend. You don’t know if they are a Christian. If you love them, you should make it a priority to find out what they believe. It matters!

Ask them questions. Hear their story. It matters. And that’s a starting place. You start where they are, with their questions, large and small. Who is God? or What the Fork, Fork?

That can be scary… because what if you don’t have the answers? What if you have trouble pointing them to God, can’t say the “right” thing. And you want to someday lead them where Paul leads them: to repentance and salvation, to confessing Christ as Lord and Savior.

Woah! I don’t know how to get all the way there???

Picture this. Behind your friend, next to your friend, is God. Jesus. Heavenly Father. Holy Spirit. And God is eagerly, not passively, waiting right there...

He is actually not far from each one of us.

And He has placed you there, and your friend there.. for what purpose. That they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.

He is right there waiting.

He Is Not Far From You

But I’ve been talking about how “you” can share the gospel with your friend… and we (I) can fall so easily into this trap in the church. The assumption that you have already encountered God in a personal way.

Let’s not do that. Whether you are catching us on Facebook and have never stepped into a church, or you have been here a million times… doesn’t matter.

You are right where you are for this purpose. You are right when you are for this purpose: that you should seek God… all those questions within you, the searching within you, the longing within you, that is placed in you by God that you might long for Him, search for Him...

And find Him. For He is right there with you. Longing to save you, to give you His righteousness and welcome you into life forever, life abundant as it was meant to be lived!

He, God himself, Jesus, died for you to make that possible. Was risen from the dead to prove that its true… and He invites you to follow Him as Lord and Savior.

I call you Savior… because I know that I need saving. And I know that you died on the cross for me. Lord forgive my sins and make me clean.

I call you Lord… because you are God… and because I will follow you, obey you, imitate you… that’s how life is meant to be.

If you prayed that with me, I would love to follow-up with you to make sure you get all the support you need, answer any more questions… and if you have a Christian in your life… tell them that you prayed this prayer. You will absolutely make their day!