That Strange Teaching Acts 17:16-34 (pew Bible p853) Resisted Received Ridiculed.

That Strange TeachingActs 17:16-34 (pew Bible p853)

Resisted

Received

Ridiculed

That Strange Teaching

AthensKnown for its culture and educationVery religious/spiritualLooking for the latest religious idea

“The Greek religion…was a religion which ministered to art and amusement, and was entirely destitute of moral power…One wit jested that in Athens it was easier to find a god than a man”—Warren Wiersbe

That Strange Teaching

AthensDevoted to idolatryDevoted to philosophy—Socrates, Aristotle Epicureans—marked by indulgence

Pleasure was the highest and most sought

Stoics—marked by self-disciplineTo understand life—remove your desires

Paul is in front of the councilGetting his license to preach publicly

That Strange Teaching

What was this “Strange Teaching”?

Acts 17:16-34Introduction—v22-23

He put them at easeComplimented them—“I notice that you are very

religious in every way”Spoke to their particular circumstances

Their religious practices The “unknown god”

That Strange Teaching

We need to be people who put people at ease around us!—be positive

We need to speak to people where they are at!

Epicureans today—trapped in self-indulgence

It leads to obesity, binge drinking, abuse, addictions

Are we able to filter through the signs and reach the problem?—give hope?

That Strange Teaching

Stoics today—trapped in discipline

Over-exercised, over-worked, need a soldier’s mentality just to make it through the day

Bodies that look like the sculptures of the Greek Gods

Keeping up appearances

The health, fitness and image industries that lead us in a spiral down into behavioural and eating disorders

Can you love them for who they are without heaping more expectations on them?

That Strange Teaching

IntroductionBody—v24-31

God made everything and orders everythingCan’t be confined to man-made things

God made you for a RelationshipHe wants a relationship with YOUEverything around us points to HimIn Him we move, live, exist—He is not distant

Don’t worship idolsDon’t focus your attention on things—man-madeBut on Him—Who made it all

That Strange Teaching

Conclusion—v29-31There is a day of Judgement Coming

You will be judged by your relationship in HimThe Person who will judge us is Jesus

The ResponseSome ridiculed—called him a babblerSome believed and became disciples

That Strange Teaching

Application for Today

Introduction† Use movies, music, anything that will get them

relaxed† Keep your ears, eyes open for what people

are saying† Study and learn our culture so that we know

enough to be dangerous on most subjects

That Strange Teaching

Message † Relationship—ruined by an enemy

† We’ve been manipulated, exploited, out-manoeuvred into lives that are enslaved to our indulgences and excesses

† Excess hides our pain and numbs the levels of anxiety

† The answer?† We don’t have the answer BUT we know someone who

gives PEACE and POWER to overcome them† We have peace with God which gives us peace in

adversity

That Strange Teaching

Message† Revelation—God loves you!

† He wants to heal, transform, meet with you† People flocked to see Jesus because of His

miracles, but † They were convinced about God because of His

love

That Strange Teaching

Response

That Strange Teaching

Response—Respond to the love of God and embrace the solution † Jesus is calling revolutionaries who will stand

in His Peace and Power† If you embrace the solution—Jesus’ death

and resurrection—He will never leave or forsake you

That Strange Teaching

Conclusion † The world is out of control BUT you can

change the world† How? † One life at a time. Starting with yours!† Transformation starts with your life being

transformed† Others are changed because we are changed† The more you are changed—the more you’ll

become an agent of change for God† People will look at your life and see God

That Strange Teaching

How will you respond?† Are you here and considering exchanging

your life for Jesus’ life in you?† Are you saved but living in anxiety and

defeat?† Are you saved but needing a fresh anointing

of the transforming power of Jesus’ Spirit in you?

† Are you God’s agent of change?

Good News! Jesus is here and wants to have an intimate relationship with you!