Engaging Modern Idols: A Call to Faithful Witness

Do we worship idols today? What do those things look like? Could it be the idol of chasing success? The large corporate salaries? The newer cars? I go to the neighborhood up above and every other driveway has a Tesla in it. Is it the idol of comfort? Big homes, long weekends, the quiet life dream? How about the idol of identity wrapped up into politics, culture, or self -expression? [00:39:42] (41 seconds)  #ModernIdolsExposed

Secondly, not only is Paul stirred to action, he builds a bridge. Paul begins with his speech with respect. I'm going to show you three things he does. Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Oropagus and said, People of Athens, I can see that in every way, you are very religious. Check this out. He doesn't mock their idols. They are very religious. We are friends with us for this long, We don't offer theminkenbach. He doesn't point, what are you thinking? He acknowledges them that they're very religious. Respect opens doors. Contempt closes them. We begin conversations not by tearing people down, but by affirming their search for meaning, identity, and belonging. [00:55:23] (57 seconds)  #RespectOpensDoors

Then Paul connects their story to God's story. He doesn't start with a critique. He starts with connection. He doesn't lower the truth. He lowers the barriers. Whether it's conversation about parenting, work stress, politics, or cultural change, we can connect those realities to the hope of Jesus Christ. [00:57:20] (26 seconds)  #ConnectingStoriesToGod

God is not small. He's not local. He's not man -made. Think of his audience, how they're hearing this. He is not confined to a shrine, a denomination, or a culture. He is Lord of all creation. Notice he does not start with Israel's story because they would not know what he's talking about, but with the story of the whole world. He goes back to Adam. [00:58:32] (31 seconds)  #DependentOnTheGiver

Every breath you take, every heartbeat, every paycheck, every sunrise is a gift. I think we reformers are good at that. And recognizing it. God is not needy. He needs nothing from us. He needs anything from us. It begs me. but we are utterly dependent on him. Paul dismantles the idea of self -sufficiency. Everything flows from the giver's hand. [00:59:28] (33 seconds)  #UnityInOneCreator

Every culture, every language, every people group comes from the same creator through this one man. Hear this, racism, classism, tribalism crumbles before this truth. There is one bloodline, one origin, and one God. Nations rise and fall, but humanity is united by God's design and purpose. [01:00:31] (29 seconds)  #GodIsNearToAll

He's not out there somewhere. God did this that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him. Though, he is not far from any one of us. He is close. He is not distant. He wants to be known. [01:01:04] (17 seconds)  #IdolatryShrinksGod

``The gospel always calls for a response. Indifference is not an option. Proof: the resurrection. Paul stakes everything on that historical fact that Jesus rose from the grave. Look how Paul shifts from explanation to command, an imperative here: now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Repentance means more than just regret; it's a change of mind, heart and direction, turning from idols to the living God. [01:03:46] (53 seconds)  #FaithfulInSharingTheGospel

Our role is not to control the outcome but to share the message faithfully. Conclusion here you got the misfits up there there there there's your gospel team Monroe is changing but beneath the growth and diversity one truth remains every heart longs for the living God and the good news is he made himself known in Jesus. [01:06:17] (40 seconds)