Revelvant

Welcome

“Good morning, my name is Troy Stanley, and I’m the Lead Pastor here at FCCCB.

I’d like to welcome all of our guests here today!

And I’d like to say hello to everyone watching this online.

I want to start today by saying that it is so important to be in tune with the world and culture around us.

We have to be able to live in the world but not be of the world

We have to be able to remove barriers to those that are seeking God because “our message never changes but the way we communicate has to”

Transition

Have you ever visited a foreign country or better yet lived in a foreign country?

Introduction

ICR Story

Valerie’s Nursing home story

Lost language story

Truly I tell you one of you will betray me.

Introduce Paul

Three languages

Had the best education

Had influential friends

Traveled the world

Was a great writer

Was great at using all the resources at his disposal to accomplish his mission

Let’s open open our Bibles or Bible app and turn to

1 Cor. 9:22-23

I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Paul was a man that understood the importance of being relevant, removing barriers and changing his methods to reach as many as he could.

In the past six months the Church has produced more media than Hollywood

Let’s take a look at a time in his ministry when he was in a foreign land and delivered a sermon that changed lives.

Explanation

Turn to Acts 17:16-32

In Athens

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. (Paul’s Heart was broken.)

17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. (What was Paul doing? Preaching the gospel!)

19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god.  (Paul observed and understood their culture)

So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring,

(Called them to action)

we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

Pauls heart was broken

Paul observed and understood the culture and beliefs of those in Athens

He preached the truth and called them to action.

Application

What breaks your heart?

People that deny that there is even a possibility that there can be a God

People that are chasing the “Dream” of success at the expense of their lives and their families blind to the blessing that they already have

Missing the wealth of life that is right in front of them.

People that once believed bur God but changed their mind for some reason

Tell Jon the guitar player story

What do you observe today that can be used to minister with? (unknown god)

GK Chesterson said

“When Man ceases to worship God he does not worship nothing but worships everything.”

Those who will not believe in God will still cry out “Oh My God” “Tell the killer whale story”

Mother Nature Worshiping the created instead of the creator

Those who will believe that mother nature is a being but not believe in God

Those who believe in love but have never understood the love

They may have seen it but attribute it to something other than God

Self Sacrificing people

People that risk their live for others

Doctors

Nurses

Military

Those working to save the virus Crisis

How can we call people to action today?

Make friends with Those that don’t believe

Tell the truth like Paul did

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

Live a life that represents God well

Be a person that people notice that you’re different

They will outright ask you why you are different

Don’t be shocked by people's sin

There is no sin that God can’t handle

It is reasonable that they believe their sin is not a problem

Jesus came full of grace and truth

Start with grace truth will follow

Take the risk and out right ask if believing in God is an option for them.

Offer God to them

Allow me to offer God to you right now.

“Therefore since you are God’s offspring,

You should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands that you repent. For he has set a day when he will judge you with justice by the man he has appointed. (Jesus) He has given you proof of this by raising him from the dead.”

Let me Pray!