New Community Church

An Unknown God, Acts 17: 16-34

With the help of the family of God Paul was sent off to Athens in order to keep him safe and to quell the tensions brought on by the false charges brought against him at Berea. Paul was distressed over the idols he saw in the city of Athens but he continued to preach the Good News as he had done in every city he visited. He caused enough interest that he was asked to speak at a meeting of the Areopagus, on Mars hill. It was a council that in earlier times regulated much of the activity and conduct in Athens but in Paul’s time dealt mostly with religious and philosophic questions. Paul in his address teaches us some useful principals. Paul used their religiosity (an alter to a unknown God) to present the Gospel. “This unknown God I present to you”, Paul tells them. Secondly, Paul quotes their own poets: “in him we live and move and have our being”, and: “we are his offspring”. Paul wants to present a single personal God that created all and controls all as opposed to a Pantheistic Stoic concept of god; multiple gods indifferent to human needs. Paul used their own Poets’ views of god to present the one true God. I taught my evangelist working in villages practicing African Animism to not ignore their view of the over all powerful impersonal being seen as god but is ineffective until approached through intermediate spirits. Their concept of an all powerful Being is the God of the Bible but as yet unknown to them as a personal, all powerful creator that saves us through Jesus and wants us to love him in response. Every culture has some concept of a god because we are created with the knowledge of a divine being. To many people in our own culture, this personal loving God is unknown. It is our God given purpose; the people of God, the church to make him known as he really is. Living Christ like lives dispels many misconceptions. Amen.

07/06/08, 11:00 AM, NCCN, Acts 17:16- 34 (1162)
God speaks to us:

INTRODUCTION: While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy, he became distressed, even angry, over the level of idolatry and over the lack of knowledge about the true God that he observed in Athens. Paul’s pastoral heart motivates his desire to spread the Gospel and fuels his dissidence over the ignorance about God. Should we be upset about the lack of knowledge about God and his Word? Yes! For too long churches have ignored the culture around them and those who live around the members. And churches have ignored the effects of the condemnation that some church members display toward all those who do not share every aspect of their belief. People are turned off by a severe, unloving, and condemning God that we as Christians sometimes convey. In the passage that we read the ignorance of the true God is because the Good News had not been presented to them; something that Paul tried to rectify with his presentation to the Areopagus.

I. Paul’s Principle of Association
A. The unknown God
1. The over ridding situation in Athens is as Luke tells us in his editorial note: “All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas”. Paul therefore put the Gospel in their context; he saw the Athenians as a religious people and associated his message with the alter to a unknown god that he saw in the city. This God that you do not know is the one I present to you; he had their attention from the beginning.

2. I taught my Nigerian Evangelists working in villages practicing African Animism, not to ignore their view of the over all powerful impersonal being seen as god but is ineffective until approached through intermediate spirits. Their concept of an all powerful Being is the God of the Bible but as yet unknown to them as a personal, all powerful creator that saves us through Jesus and wants us to love him in response. Every culture has some concept of God because we are created with the knowledge of The Divine Being.

B. Knowing God as he is.
1. Paul then proceeds to explain the God of the Bible; what Paul had learned from his study of the Word and what he had learned and experienced as the result of the Holy Spirit working in him. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit do we know God and experience God as he really is. Amen!

2. Not knowing what God is like was a problem then and it continues to be a problem today. People may react negatively to God the Father because they have negative feelings about their own fathers, or those who have had an overly strict religious upbringing see God and the church as harsh, joyless, and always finding fault; they don’t see the love of Jesus. Even the traditional church building with steeples stands in the way of the message sometimes. Misperception of God and the church of Christ is a major hurdle for people to receive the Gospel of Jesus. People don’t know what God; father, Son, and Holy Spirit are really like.

II. The Principle of Reference
A. Paul quotes two poets
Paul is anxious for the Athenians to understand what the God of the
Bible is like. Paul starts at the beginning; creation and God’s sovereignty.
He wants to convey God as a personal God ready to interact with his creation and to that end he references their own poet’s perception of god.
“For in him we live and move and have our being” and “we are his offspring”. Paul knew Creek poetry and quoted from it to convince the Athenians that God is not wood, Stone, silver or gold but a living Spiritual Being

B. Reference to the truth of creation and the nature of mankind
Paul’s reference reinforces the concept of God’s nearness and that man has the desire to know God. We are created with a need for the divine and people need to fill that empty space when it is not filled with Christ. The Athenians filled it with idolatry, philosophy, and immorality we today fill that empty space with whatever feels good. But in the end only Jesus will satisfy; only Jesus takes away the pain of loss, only Jesus takes away the pain of abuse, only Jesus takes away the pain of failure and only Jesus takes away the pain of guilt. If you believe it say Amen. We need to look at three aspects of Paul’s message to the Athenians.

III. The Message of Salvation as Delivered in Athens
A. God the creator and the controller of our lives
First. God is our creator. He made us from one man, Adam, but more importantly he makes us who we are. We have no control over who our parents are or were we are born or at what point in history.

The point here is that history has meaning and is lasting only as salvation history and that is what the Bible is all about; God dealing with mankind. We do not always know it or see it but God intervenes in human affairs to accomplish his purposes; God is in control. Does God bring us evil? No! God is good all of the time, Satan and sin causes evil, pain and destruction in the World but God takes those events and turns them to the good of his Kingdom and for the good of his people (Rom. 8: 28 “…in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” That is you and me! Amen.

God’s love for us should be a great comfort and a confidence booster; we go forward in an uncertain and unpredictable world knowing that God works for good for us his people. God’s working for good may not always be obvious to us but God calls us to trust him and to live by faith. But why does God work good for us? God has chosen us from the beginning of time and he wants us to seek him. God wants to interact with us, his people.

B. God wants us to seek him and he is close to us.
Second. Paul points that out to the Athenians he says: God created you and set the time and place for your lives “so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out to him and find him though he is not far from each one of us” (v.27). Paul here is referring to Isaiah 55: 5-7 particularly v. 6. “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

That truth is a great comfort to us as well God says to us: “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear” (Isa.65:24)
God anticipates our prayers and answers us quickly; he can’t get closer to us than living in our hearts as he does.

C. God calls us to repentance and offers us salvation
Third. God calls us to repentance. Paul say to the Athenians: In the past God overlooked the ignorance of idolatry but now he calls us to repent because there is a day for judgment by the man (Jesus) he has appointed.

That call for repentance comes to us as well because we have idols still. We could call them misplaced priorities. Do we put all of our efforts into knowing God and making him known? Do we use all of our means that God gives us as a trust to use to build the Kingdom of God? Do we use our time, our jobs, and our talents for the glory of God? We know that we have not always put our whole heart into living as Christians. We still live in a broken world, in our old bodies, and there is a battle going on in us between the new person that Jesus makes us to be and the old person we used to be, we are carnal and rebellious still. But we have the power! Amen. The Spirit helps us and draws us closer to God and Jesus forgives us and removes whatever our short comings from us as far as east is from the west. Amen! The call for repentance is not condemnation, only non Christians feel that way because they have not given it to Jesus. No mater what it may be, when you give it to Jesus there is no judgment; Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).

CONCLUSION: The response in Athens was very limited. We see that only two are mentioned by name and a number of others. According to Luke’s editorial note (v.21) The culture of Athens was such that people spent all their time listening to and discussing the latest ideas. That could be one reason. It does not appear that Paul established a church there and Paul did not spend much time there. Yet tradition tells us that there was a church and that Dionysius, one of Paul’s fist convert was the Bishop of Athens. The point is that God calls, the Holy Spirit convicts, and we must respond with belief in Jesus.I thank God that all of you here have responded to God. Praise the Lord!

Baptism: Tamara Puff, July 06, 2008, 11:00 AM church service.

Farmers Market: July 11, 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM, see Gremar and or Barb for donations of baked goods, crafts and for volunteering.

Women’s Bible Study: There are two Bible Studies available this summer. The study in Fremont, see Janeis for details (1-616-550-4544). The study in Newaygo, see Dawn for details (1-231-452-0648)

Fund Raiser for New Roof and addition: All summer. Take note of the pledge cards now available. Please consider a pledge to improve our facilities, enhancing our worship and outreach.

Church Service: 11:00 AM Sunday, Phone 231-652-9900, msgs. checked periodically.

They Received the Message with Eagerness Acts 17:1-15

Paul, Silas and Luke had worked about three months in Philippi when they were released from prison and ordered to leave the city. Paul however was not going to go quietly; he pointed out they had treated them unlawfully by publicly beating Roman citizens without a trial (Acts 16:37-39). Christians turn the other cheek but at the same time we should claim our rights. Take note that the narrative changes to the third person indicating that Luke stayed behind in Philippi but apparently Timothy joined them. The theme of acceptance and rejection of the Gospel message continues in Thessalonica and Berea as well as the principal; preach the Gospel in and out of season (II Tim. 4: 1-3). As was the case in Thessalonica rejection of the Gospel is usually not because people believe the Gospel to be untrue, Paul had convincing evidence as we have today but that other factors cause people to reject Christ. In this case jealousy, they were protective of the Jewish religion as they understood it and they did not want change. It was like it is today, people hold onto traditions at all cost. Berea however was different, here people “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures everyday.” We have freedom of religion; as a result we hear the message on a continual basis, on our radios and TV’s, in our churches and from friends and family. Do you respond with eagerness to the Gospel message? Are we ready to live the message of Jesus in season and out of season; when it is convenient and not convenient? Are we ready to be rejected by someone for no other reason except not willing to hear the truth? As with Paul and companions it takes the fellowship of the family of God to deal with the reality of those three questions.

06/29/08, 11:00 AM, NCCN, Acts 17:1- 15 (1161)
God speaks to us:

INTRODUCTION: The leaders of Philippi released Paul and Silas but they were not going to go quietly; they pointed out that they treated them unlawfully by publicly beating Roman citizens without a trial (Acts 16:37-39). Not that they would take further action but Paul shows us that we have rights and even though we turn the other check we should claim our rights. I remember preaching the gospel in an African village; during the event a man entered the crowd and started to beat one of the women listening. Her husband, a follower of traditional African religion did not want her to hear the Gospel. The next day I and the evangelist went to the village chief to complain that the husband’s action was against the freedom of religion law of the country that the chief was required to uphold. It was with in our rights to complain about persecution because of the Gospel. Back to the passage: Take note that the narrative changes to the third person indicating that Luke stayed behind in Philippi but apparently Timothy joined them. The theme of acceptance and rejection of the Gospel message continues in Thessalonica and Berea as well as the principal; preach the Gospel in and out of season (II Tim. 4: 1-3).

I. Rejection and Inconvenience
A. Thessalonica
In Thessalonica Paul and his companions went to the synagogue first; Paul had a heart for his own people. Apparently a large number of people believed what Paul told them about Christ both Jews and Greeks, God fearers, men and women.

2. We are told that the Jews were jealous because people believed the message so they hired unscrupulous men to stir up a riot in the city.
They succeeded in starting a riot by bringing false charges against Paul and the new believers.

B. False Charges.
1. The mob tried to find Paul but could only find Jason, the person in whose house they were staying. Jason is one of their own so the city officials made him post a bond and let him go. In this case the city officials followed the law, but I suspect that would not have been the case if Paul and his companions were the ones arrested.

2. As it was the brothers, the new believers, one could say the family of God or the church helped Paul, Silas, and Timothy escape under the cover of darkness.

II. Acceptance and Convenience
A. Berea
1. The brothers sent them off under the cover of darkness to Berea the next town down the road. Here the response to the gospel was different because “they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul was saying was true” The evidence is in the Word of God.

2. All that we know about Jesus and about God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is found in the Bible. Amen? Knowing the Bible and reading the Bible everyday is a must for Christians. As I said last week knowing the Bible does not save you, only Jesus Christ and our accepting him as our Lord and Savior saves us! But what we know about Christ and his salvation comes from the Bible. Study it!

B. Outside opposition
1. As soon as the Jews in Thessalonica heard that the Word of God was being preached in Berea they went to start trouble there. Satan doesn’t let up and he will use every means to stop the spread of the messages of Jesus.

2. This continues today, when you live the Christian life, and especially if you promote the Gospel of Jesus as many of you do, Satan will try to stop you. But “the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world” ( I John 4:2-6). Troubles we will have but victorious we will be. Amen.

III. The Proclamation of the Gospel and the Family of God
A. Accepting the message with eagerness.
1. What about you? The message of Jesus came to you and did you receive it with great eagerness? Yes you did! That is why you are here today! Amen. The Gospel message is continually presented to us in this church. Amen. Do you continue to receive it with great eagerness? When it comes to the Word of the Lord I don’t think we can have too much enthusiasm. Amen?

2. What Scriptures do you read and study daily? How do you know if I am telling you the truth? I hope you do study and I pray to God that by the Spirit I teach you the truth!

B. Rejection
1. Part of that truth is the proclamation of the message of Jesus. We do that as a church and we do that as individuals and there will be those who accept the Word. Praise the Lord! But there will be those who reject the Word. We see rejection and acceptance in Paul’s time as we read it this morning but we also experience it here and now.

2. Rejection is hard to take, we lose friends, sometimes family members and we feel alone and lost. But that is where the family of God comes in. We saw that in our passage this morning; the brothers, members, helped Paul escape and encouraged him by traveling with him all the way to Athens over 200 miles from Berea.

C. The Family of God.
1. Last week I said that church attendance does not save you. We are saved by faith in Jesus; good works don’t save us either, we are saved by trusting in Jesus who gave himself for us. Amen.
But that does not mean that the family of God is not important.

2. This is where we come to be encouraged, to be accepted no matter what our short comings, to be loved and to find friendship. Because that is what the people of God are supposed to do, we are to be the body of Christ in the world. People should see Jesus here, see Jesus in us, hear Jesus in our words, and see Jesus in our actions. Amen?

CONCLUSION: Together you and I, all of us forgiven sinners make up the church. The role of the church then is: one: to glorify God by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus, proclaim salvation in Jesus Christ alone. Two: to glorify God by assimilating all those, no matter of the past or whatever problem they face, who receive the message with eagerness? Third: encourage study of the Word and provide a way to study the Word of God. Fourth: to encourage all those who belong to this body and especially those who are rejected those who are ill, those who are in relational difficulties, in financial difficulties, and in personal difficulties. The church, the people of God, all of us here are to be encouragers and build each other up. One word; love each other as Jesus loves us, unconditionally, Amen.