FAITH THAT DEMANDS A RESPONSE

A Deeper Look at the Big Screen A Deeper Look at the Big Screen

We see this longing in movies that center around the hope of finding a rescuer. Despite all the faults Hollywood has, one thing they keep getting right is longing.

We all want something to hope for. Movies may not point directly to Jesus, but the allusions are present. Morpheus from The Matrix finds hope in Neo, who sacrifices himself to free humans from oppressive machines. William Wallace unites the people of Scotland and sacrifices himself to ignite hope in his people.

Even a character as ridiculous as Kevin in the Minions movie commits a sacrificial act to save people from a hopeless situation. We can use these stories to start conversations and tell people who they have truly been longing for. We see Paul use this same method when he speaks to the Athenians about their monument to the unknown god (Acts 17:16–34).

Big Idea: How are you being smelling salts for a lost world?

Christianity: "Smelling Salts" for the People

Properly understood, Christianity is by no means the opiate of the people. It's more like the smelling salts. —Timothy Keller, pastor and author (1950—)

Acts 17:1–4 ESV

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.

Paul in Thessalonica

Paul now finds himself in the significant city of Macedonia the center of Greek culture and commerce, with a diverse population which included a significant Jewish component (1 Thess. 2:14-16). Surely it was a difficult three day walk there from Philippi not to mention the pain from their recent beatings. Thessalonica would eventually become an important center for the gospel. Possibly the missionaries had access to some horses that might have eased the usual week long Journey from Philippi.

Spent many days reasoning with the Jews in the synagogue. (reasoned from the scriptures)

Proving from scripture that it was necessary for Jesus to suffer and die.

PERSUADED: (apeisthesan) Description for the way Paul presented the Gospel.

2 Big Hang ups for the Jews

Accepting the Gentiles into the grafting of the body without the requirement of the law.

The resurrection of the physical body.

IT WAS NECESSARY FOR CHRIST TO DIE, BE BURIED, AND BE RISE AGAIN

NOTE: This was the standard Christian Apologetic towards Jewish People.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION

Christian Leader from Asia Critiques Our View of Suffering

Ajith Fernando, a Christian leader from Sri Lanka who ministers to the urban poor, writes:

The church in each culture has its own special challenges—theological blind spots that hinder Christians from growing to full maturity in Christ …. I think one of the most serious theological blind spots in the western church is a defective understanding of suffering. There seems to be a lot of reflection on how to avoid suffering and on what to do when we hurt. We have a lot of teaching about escape from suffering and therapy for suffering, but there is inadequate teaching about the theology of suffering ….

The "good life," comfort, convenience, and a painless life have become necessities that people view as basic rights. If they do not have these, they think something has gone wrong …. One of the results of this attitude is a severe restriction of spiritual growth, for God intends us to grow through trials.

How do people come to faith in Christ?

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Faith comes through hearing the gospel of Christ. So, if faith comes through hearing the gospel proclaimed, it’s not wonder that our western culture is faced with declining numbers of people coming to faith in Christ at an alarming rate. Why? We have developed a Christian culture based on our own comfort and needs.

NOTE: We want a Church that is filled with programs to meet our needs and give us fulfillment. What Paul is offering to the Jews is a suffering Christ who died on a cross to bring about their redemption and on the other side of the cross is the very real assurance of our own suffering for the sake of Christ.

RESULT OF PAUL’S REASONING?

Acts 17:5–9 ESV

5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 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.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

The Jews were jealous

Took wicked men and formed a mob

Attacked the house of Jason

BAD Characters: These are crude people who hung around the marketplace because they had nothing else to do.

NOTE: The Jews wanted to demonstrate that these men were disturbing the Pax Romana. (Roman Peace) They knew that this was the one thing that Rome could not tolerate nor turn a blind eye towards.

MIXED RESULTS: Paul’s gospel was preached not merely with words but with power, therefore many believed. The message of the gospel will always bring mixed results.

Paul in Berea

Paul found more noble Jews in the Synagogue

Eagerly received the word

Examined scripture daily for themselves (this is not just a cursory look at scripture)

Many believed including high standing Greek men and women.

NOTE: Again when things are going good for Paul and his friends the opposition comes down to cause conflict and problems, is this not the same thing that happens today with the Church.

How many of us would love to have a “Berean” bible study group

Acts D. Preaching in the Agora (vv. 16–21)

SUPPORTING IDEA: When ministering to intellectuals, don’t use “church language,” but reason from as much common ground as you can find. Make your way as quickly as possible to Jesus and the resurrection.

Paul in Athens

There is something compelling about Paul in Athens, possibly all of Paul’s ministry up to this point is leading to what many people have considered Paul’s Magnum Opus.

Of course Paul would have heard about Athens from childhood. This is a completely free thinking and proudly independent city. It boasted the rich philosophical tradition inherited from Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, of its literature and art, and of its notability.

First and foremost was the beauty and culture of the city. The acropolis, the town’s ancient citadel, which was elevated enough to be seen from miles around, has been described ‘one vast composition of architecture and sculpture dedicated to the national glory and to the worship of the gods. Perhaps Paul lingered at the agora, with its porticoes painted by famous artists, in order to listen to the debates of its contemporary statesmen and philosophers.

Acts 17:16 ESV

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.

NOTE: Paul’s spirit was provoked when he saw a whole city full of idols. How is our spirit provoked within us when we see all of the idols in our culture today that people are worshiping other than the God of the bible?

Up to this point team leadership has has dominated the book of Acts.

This is the first time we see Paul going it alone. Luke brings out Paul’s indignation at the pagan society and culture that were all around him. Like Jeremiah of old, he could not subdue the very fire within his bones and was infuriated with the idolatry all around him.

PROVOKED: The greek verb paroxyno, for which parxysm comes, original medical associations and what use of a seizure of or epileptic fit. It also meant to ‘stimulate’, especially to ‘irritate, provoke, rouse to anger.

Trip to Rome

While in College I made a visit to Rome with a singing group that sang in cathedrals and places of worship throughout Italy. While at the Vatican I was struck by all of the statues of former popes that were peering down on us, at the entrance to the Vatican is a huge statue of Peter whose toes have been so touched by people that they have been rubbed off.

Next to the Vatican is a museum that highlights and celebrates many of the great Roman and Greek gods and emperors throughout history, that are mingled with depictions of Christ. Now, what is wrong with this picture. My spirit was provoked within me when I saw all of the idols. Now, at the very end of the tour was a lone painting that showed the heads of the idols broken before the foot of the Cross.

Paul’s spirit must have sunk when he saw all of the idols in the middle of this famous city.

Acts 17:17 ESV

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.

NOTE: You would have thought that Paul would find those within the Synagogue who would share Paul’s outrage at all of the false God’s that were being worshiped in Athens.

Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers

Epicureanism is a philosophy which stresses the importance of 'training one's desires'. ... concerned with the health of the soul. The Epicureans considered the gods to be so remote as to take no interest in, and have no influence on, human affairs. The world was due to chance, a random concourse of atoms, and there would be no survival of death, and no judgment. So human beings should pursue pleasure, especially the serene enjoyment of a life detached from pain, passion and fear.

Stoic philosophers, in contrast to Epicureans, believed that there are many things outside of our control in life, and therefore many things which could befall us and make our lives very difficult. The Stoic philosophers of the porch next to the agora acknowledged the supremacy of God but in a pantheistic way, confusing him with the ‘world soul’. This is why the world for them was determined by fate, and human beings must pursue their duty, resigning themselves to live in harmony with nature and reason, however painful this might be and develop their own self-sufficiency.

NOTE: So here you have two secular schools of thought both trying to make sense of the world and everything in it apart from a biblical revelation. Is this not the same thing the world faces today.

You could substitute today a number of modern day schools of thought such as pragmatism, utilitarianism, atheism, agnosticism, communism, or more recently the critical race theory.

While engaged in a dialogue with these people they call Paul a babbler, less a term of derision than a description of his philosophy. Though hardly philosophical allies, both the Epicurean’s and the Stoic’s attributed some order and design to their way of thinking. These seemingly sophisticated thinkers saw Paul as somebody who had picked up bits and pieces of philosophy with no coherent system.

NOTE: The Areopagus is both a hill and a formal name of a court that met on that hill where new ideas and thoughts were brought to be discussed. The Parthenon stood just off in the distance with the Agora just below. Even today the Greek supreme court is called the Areopagus.

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Since entering the ministry I have dedicated my life to fulfilling the command in 1 Peter 3:15. The mandate to be prepared to give a reasonable defense has not changed. However the way we present the gospel does.

Lesslie Newbigin,made the following statement. "The shift from rocking chairs on the front porch, to fenced-in backyards, to living rooms with big screens, to individual handheld devices, must lead Christ-followers to look up and around, staying present in the broader community in which one lives

Christianity today finds itself at the fringes of society, it is seen as implausible, undesirable, or both. I have found that people are less concerned today with whether someone can give them a scientifically reasonable argument for the existence of God as they are to the authenticity and genuineness of the one who is presenting the argument.

We are all called to know how to defend our Faith

NOTE: The thing that sets Christianity apart from every other world religion is that it has Jesus at the center.

What keeps people from putting their faith in Jesus?

Spiritual Blindness (Ephesians 6 “We do not fight against flesh and blood”)

Faulty view of what it means to be a Christian (Bad theology, character of God, Salvation)

Those who have had a bad experience in the Church

Moral (believing in Jesus changes everything, pick up your cross daily and follow me. Becoming a Christian changes everything)

Joshua Harris; Marty Samson, Ravi Zacharia (singer song writer) Struggling with Christian faith or seemingly walking away from the Christian faith.

“There always has been and always will be those who walk away from the Christian faith.” (Judas)

Are more people walking away or are we just more connected with social media and technology? We have a celebrity approach to Christianity and our Christian leaders. We have failed to help people give a reasonable defense for why they believe what they believe.

NOTE: Remember Paul’s initial reaction to Athens was a spirit that had been provoked. Look at how Paul responds now that he has the floor of the Areopagus to give a defense for the Gospel.

Paul’s Apologia in Athens

3 Questions we must ask

1) What does this person believe

James 1:19 ESV

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

The importance of listening is paramount when it comes to discerning what a person believes. After listening a persons perspective and belief we must dig a little deeper.

2) Why does this person believe?

This phase attempts to determine how what a person believes is deeply intertwined with their social and personal history. We work to understand why a person has embraced the convictions that he or she has embraced and why they see other’s as unreasonable.

3) Where do we agree with this person?

This is where we begin to discern where a persons worldview overlaps with the Christian worldview. For example in many Asian religions such as Buddhist, Shinto, Confucianism, they hold to a set of moral laws and guidelines for how they live their lives much like Judeo Christians do, they see their religion as transformational as do Christians.

4) Based on this knowledge how should I proceed?

With this person, at this time, under these given circumstances, what is the one thing I should say?”

Acts 17:22 ESV

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

1. God provides the launching pad we must point them to the creator.

Acts 17:23 ESV

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.

Note: Paul was not calling them to a religion, Paul seems to be playing on the irony that the Greeks set up alters to unknown Gods in an attempt not to leave any Gods out of the list. Now Paul wants to introduce them to a God that is completely unknown to them. Perhaps Paul changes the gods plural to god to clarify the significance.

Paul seeks to answer 3 longing questions of Mans Heart

Acts 17:24–26 ESV

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,

Where did we come from?

*God as creator of the Universe

Paul begins by setting up the doctrine of God’s creation. We even hear echoes of Stephens Apologetic in Paul’s as he explains the God who made the world and everything in it. Virtually every line contradicts the beliefs of his audience.

There is only one God, not many; he does not live in temples like those standing on Mars Hill; he is not served by human effort; he knows not special people (like Jews or Gentiles) he shows no partiality, he doesn’t see color or race, or religion, or creed, since all are made by God and for God.

The Athenians believed they had originated from the soil of their homeland and were different than other peoples. Paul pointed to the common ancestor (Adam) and indicated the times and boundaries of people that are in God’s hand.

NOTE: This blows the whole idea of a critical race theory out of the water. There is only one race, the human race made in God’s image and for God’s purpose. We have turned the human race into a blasphemy of our own design for our own selfish purposes and gains.

Acts 17:27–28 ESV

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.’

2. God provides the canvas we must point them to the light.

John 8:12 ESV

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

One of the very first acts of God’s creation was to create light, followed by darkness. The very picture that we will see throughout all of scripture to describe good and evil, sin and righteousness, right and wrong.

Where are we going?

*God is the Sustainer of life

He is not served by human hands as if he needs anything from us, he gives all men life and breath and everything. God continues to sustain our life which he has created and give to his creations. Every breath we breath everyday is a breath from God.

*God is the Ruler of all the Nations

God determines how long a nations will exist, God determines the day’s and months and years of our life. No one decides this for themselves, God is in control. He determined how far the Roman or the British empire, or Hitler’s Third Reich would go before it came to an end. Now Paul brings everything down to the one key thought of knowing God and worshiping Him as the God of the universe.

NOTE: The purpose in all of this is revealed at the beginning of verse 27, “that we might seek after Him and perhaps feel our way towards him.

Plato’s "Allegory of the Cave" is a concept devised by the philosopher to ruminate on the nature of belief versus knowledge. The allegory states that there exists prisoners chained together in a cave. Behind the prisoners is a fire, and between the fire and the prisoners are people carrying puppets or other objects. This casts a shadow on the other side of the wall. The prisoners watch these shadows, believing them to be real.

Plato posits that one prisoner could become free. He finally sees the fire and realizes the shadows are fake. This prisoner could escape from the cave and discover there is a whole new world outside that they were previously unaware of.

This prisoner would believe the outside world is so much more real than that in the cave. He would try to return to free the other prisoners. Upon his return, he is blinded because his eyes are not accustomed to actual sunlight. The chained prisoners would see this blindness and believe they will be harmed if they try to leave the cave.

*God is the Father of Humanity

The first part of Acts 28 comes from the Cretica a Hymn to Zeus, to be sure that both of these lines were directed at Zeus in Greek literature, but Paul applied them to the Creator of whom he spoke. It is amazing that Paul quotes two pagan poets here in his apologia.

NOTE: Paul states that God is not far from each one of us, for in Him we “live” and “move” and have our “being”.

Acts 17:29 ESV

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.

The absurdity that Paul highlights is to think that as His offspring we could think of God in terms of gold, or silver, or stone. Paul has quoted their own poets to expose their own inconsistency.

3. God provides the resurrection we must point them to Jesus.

How are we going to get there?

Acts 17:30–31 ESV

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.”

*God is the Judge of the World

Paul now emphasizes a personal relationship with Jesus.

God makes people - people do not make God!

Ignorance must come to an end because God has now revealed himself to his creation not only in the Old Testament scripture, but also in the life and death of His Son. Universalism is a lie. God will not eventually find some way to bring all people to himself.

NOTE: Paul told the mob at Lystra the same thing, people are lost because of natural revelation, in the past people could complain about excuses for not knowing, however, in Romans 1 Paul tells us that all of humanity has seen God through his creation therefore, we are all without excuse.

It is not that God did not notice the sin, or that he turned a blind eye and excused the sin, but in his forbearing mercy he did not visit upon it the judgement that it rightfully deserved. But, now he calls all people everywhere to repent, the time of ignorance is passed.

The judgement is coming and the resurrection of Christ is the proof that no one will be exempt from the authority of Jesus Christ.

First: the judgement will be Universal God will judge the world. The living and the dead, the high and the low, will be included; nobody will be able to escape.

Second: it will be a righteous judgement, he will judge with truth and justice and all secretes will be revealed. There will be no possibility of any miscarriage of justice in the court room of God.

Thirdly: it will be definite, for already the day has been set and the judge has been appointed. And although the day has not yet been revealed, the identity of the judge has been. God has committed the judgement to His son, and he has given proof of this publicly to everybody by raising his son from the dead. By the resurrection Jesus was vindicated, and declared to be both Lord and judge.

All nations have been created from the first Adam; through the last Adam all nations will be judged.

What about the last judgment? Will our sins be remembered? Will they be revealed? Anthony Hoekema puts it wisely like this: “The failures and shortcomings of . . . believers . . . will enter into the picture on the Day of Judgment. But — and this is the important point — the sins and shortcomings of believers will be revealed in the judgment as forgiven sins, whose guilt has been totally covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.”

Picture it like this. God has a file on every person (the “books” of Revelation 20:12). All you’ve ever done or said (Matthew 12:36) is recorded there with a grade (from “A” to “F”). When you stand before “the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10) to be judged “for what [you have] done in the body, whether good or evil,” God will open the file and lay out the tests with their grades. He will pull out all the “F’s” and put them in a pile. Then he will take all the “D’s” and “C’s” and pull the good parts of the test out and place them with the “A’s”, then put the bad with the “F’s.” Then he will take all the “B’s” and “A’s” and pull the bad parts out of them and put them in the “F” pile, and put all the good parts in the “A” pile.

Then he will open another file (“the book of life”) and find your name, because you are in Christ through faith. Behind your name will be a wood-stick match made from the cross of Jesus. He will take the match, light it, and set the “F” pile, with all your failures and deficiencies, on fire and burn them up. They will not condemn you, and they will not reward you.

Then he will take from your “book of life” file a sealed envelope marked “free and gracious gift: life!” and put it on the “A” pile (see Mark 4:24 and Luke 6:38). Then he will hold up the entire pile and declare, “By this your life bears witness to the grace of my Father, the worth of my blood, and the fruit of my Spirit. These bear witness that your life is eternal. And according to these you will have your rewards. Enter into the everlasting joy of your Master.”

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:33 ESV

33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

CLOSING

Towards the beginning of my time as a student pastor I took a group of students from Cisco Texas to Glorieta N.M. for youth camp. We stopped off at my home town in Hobbs N.M. and crashed on the floor of my home Church growing up. I left out early the next morning to go get some breakfast before everyone woke up.

I began to drive around my old hang outs in Hobbs, and, at each stop I recalled all of the horrible things I had done while living in Hobbs. All of the bad relationships, wild parties, and broken lives left in the wake of my time growing up. I began to hear a voice in the back of my head telling me, you are not good enough, you have nothing to offer these students, look how bad a person you really are.

The further I went through town I began to recall all of the people who came to minister to me in the depth of my sin and shame. I remembered Kent Waldrop who was a young college student whose dad owned a furniture store in town. Kent offered me a summer job after I had gotten in trouble around town. Kent spent time sharing the love of Christ reminding me that I was not broken beyond repair. I remember Jay Hammond, he was one of my early bible study teachers who was also my barber. Jay and his wife used to invite me over to their house on the weekend to give me a place to go where I was safe and loved. Jay came to visit me after my granddad died and I had gotten in trouble with the law.

The last stop I made before heading back to the Church was at the cemetery where my grandmother and granddad are laid to rest. I sat beside their grave by this time in tears. I remember the many weekends I would stay at their house sitting at the kitchen table while my grandmother shared with me the truths of God’s word as we shared my favorite blue bell ice cream.

These were the Paul’s in my life. You see these people were the smelling salts in my life. They woke me up from my drunken stupor. God has called us to be smelling salts to the world.