Faith in a Skeptical World: Seeking God’s Truth

 

Summary

In a thought-provoking exploration of faith and its relevance in a modern, often skeptical society, the discussion delves into the challenging questions that many people grapple with, such as the existence of God, the resurrection of Jesus, the necessity of the church, and the veracity of the Bible. These questions are not just theoretical but have practical implications for how individuals live their lives and understand their place in the world.

The conversation begins by acknowledging the importance of being prepared to give an account of one's faith, as instructed by scripture. This readiness is not only for personal edification but also to engage with those who may harbor doubts or unanswered questions about their beliefs. The idea is to confront these questions head-on, rather than avoiding them, to gain a deeper confidence and affirmation in one's faith.

The core question posed is: What if God isn't real? This question is not just a philosophical musing but has real-world consequences. If there is no supreme being or ultimate authority, then individuals become their own gods, their own supreme authorities. This leads to a subjective morality where each person determines what is right or wrong for themselves, which can create conflict when individual beliefs and values clash within a society.

The discussion then transitions to the biblical account of Paul in Athens, as recorded in Acts 17. Paul's experience in Athens is used as a lens to examine contemporary culture. The Athenians were known for their many gods and their constant pursuit of new ideas. This mirrors today's society, where people are often consumed with the latest trends and information, whether through social media, news, or other platforms.

Paul's message to the Athenians, and by extension to modern individuals, is that God is not like the idols they worshiped—made of gold, silver, or stone, and subject to human design and skill. Instead, God is the creator of the world and everything in it, not confined to temples or reliant on human service. The biblical narrative emphasizes that God's purpose in creation was for people to seek Him, reach out to Him, and find Him, as He is not far from anyone.

The idea of repentance is also explored, not merely as an apology but as a transformative turning away from self-centeredness towards a life centered on the knowledge and worship of God. This concept of repentance is linked to the act of communion, which is presented as an opportunity to affirm one's relationship with God and to seek a deeper understanding and connection with Him.

The discussion concludes with a call to consider the implications of God's existence and the command to repent. It challenges individuals to reflect on their beliefs and to take steps towards a more profound relationship with God, emphasizing that God desires to be known intimately and personally, not as an unknown or distant deity.

Key Takeaways:

- The pursuit of understanding one's faith is not just a personal endeavor but a communal responsibility. Engaging with difficult questions about God's existence and the foundations of faith can lead to a more robust and confident belief system that is capable of withstanding the challenges of a skeptical world. This process is essential for both personal growth and for being a source of guidance to others who may be struggling with similar questions. [47:01]

- The concept of God in the Bible contrasts sharply with human-made idols and the subjective deities of ancient cultures. The biblical God is portrayed as the sovereign creator who does not depend on human recognition or temples for His authority. This understanding challenges the modern notion of self as the ultimate authority and invites individuals to seek a relationship with a God who is both transcendent and imminently accessible. [01:06:41]

- Repentance is a profound change of direction in one's life, a turning away from self-rule and towards a God-centered existence. It involves recognizing the areas where one has placed themselves or other things as supreme authorities and realigning one's values and actions to reflect the sovereignty of God. This transformative process is a key step in deepening one's relationship with God and living a life that truly reflects one's beliefs. [01:13:25]

- Communion is more than a ritual; it is a personal affirmation of faith and a declaration of one's relationship with God. It is an act that should be approached with intentionality and a desire to connect with God, not simply as a matter of tradition or peer conformity. This sacrament serves as a reminder of God's presence and the proof of His love through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. [01:17:09]

- The existence of God has profound implications for understanding justice, morality, and truth. Without a supreme standard, society is left with relative truths that can lead to conflict and disarray. The acknowledgment of God's existence provides a foundation for objective moral standards and a sense of accountability that transcends personal preferences or societal trends. [48:47]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Acts 17:16-34

#### Observation Questions
1. What was Paul's initial reaction when he saw the city of Athens full of idols? How did he respond to this situation? ([51:50])
2. According to Paul, what is the nature of the God he proclaims compared to the idols worshiped by the Athenians? ([01:02:35])
3. What does Paul say is the purpose of God's creation and the boundaries He has set for nations? ([01:05:55])
4. How does Paul describe the concept of repentance to the Athenians? ([01:12:51])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize that God does not live in temples built by human hands and is not served by human hands? What does this imply about the nature of God? ([01:02:35])
2. How does the idea of being "ignorant" of the very thing they worship challenge the Athenians' religious practices? What does this reveal about their understanding of God? ([01:00:37])
3. What does Paul mean when he says that God did all of creation so that people would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him? How does this relate to the concept of a personal relationship with God? ([01:05:55])
4. How does the call to repentance in Paul's message differ from a simple apology? What does true repentance involve according to the sermon? ([01:12:51])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you have placed yourself or other things as supreme authorities? How can you realign your values and actions to reflect the sovereignty of God? ([01:13:25])
2. How prepared do you feel to give an account of your faith to others? What steps can you take to become more confident and affirmed in your beliefs? ([47:01])
3. In what ways do you see the modern culture's obsession with trends and information mirroring the Athenians' pursuit of new ideas? How can you focus more on seeking God rather than being consumed by the latest trends? ([52:58])
4. Consider the concept of repentance as a transformative turning away from self-centeredness. What specific actions can you take this week to turn towards a life centered on the knowledge and worship of God? ([01:13:25])
5. How do you approach communion? Is it a personal affirmation of faith for you, or has it become a matter of tradition? What can you do to make your next communion a more intentional and meaningful act of connecting with God? ([01:17:09])
6. Think about the implications of God's existence for understanding justice, morality, and truth. How does acknowledging God's existence provide a foundation for your moral standards and sense of accountability? ([48:47])
7. Identify one person in your life who may have doubts or unanswered questions about their faith. How can you engage with them in a meaningful conversation about the existence of God and the foundations of faith? ([47:35])

Devotional

Day 1: Engaging Faith in a Skeptical World
Faith is not a solitary journey but a collective endeavor that requires grappling with difficult questions and doubts. Engaging with these challenges not only strengthens personal beliefs but also equips believers to guide others seeking answers. [47:01]

James 1:5-6 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."
Reflection: What doubts or questions about your faith have you been avoiding, and how can you approach them with the intention of strengthening your belief?

Day 2: The Sovereignty of the Creator
The biblical God is a sovereign creator, distinct from human-made idols, calling for a shift from self-centeredness to a God-centered worldview. This understanding invites a relationship with a God who is both transcendent and imminently accessible. [01:06:41]

Isaiah 40:25-26 - "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."
Reflection: How does recognizing God as the sovereign creator influence your daily decisions and the way you view your role in His creation?

Day 3: The Transformative Power of Repentance
Repentance is a radical reorientation of life, turning away from self-rule to embrace a God-centered existence, acknowledging God's sovereignty, and realigning one's life accordingly. [01:13:25]

Ezekiel 18:30-31 - "Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit."
Reflection: Identify an aspect of your life where you have been the ultimate authority. How can you begin to turn from this and realign your life under God's sovereignty?

Day 4: Communion as Personal Affirmation
Communion is an intentional act of faith, affirming one's relationship with God and seeking a deeper connection with Him, beyond mere tradition or conformity. [01:17:09]

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 - "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf."
Reflection: How can you approach your next communion with a deeper sense of intentionality and personal connection to God?

Day 5: The Implications of God's Existence
Acknowledging God's existence provides a foundation for objective moral standards and a sense of accountability that transcends personal preferences or societal trends. [48:47]

Micah 6:8 - "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Reflection: Consider a recent ethical decision you faced. How did, or how could, the acknowledgment of God's existence influence your choice and actions?

Quotes

1) "If there is no God, well then you are your own God, you're your own supreme authority. If there's nobody to give you a standard of what is right and what is wrong, then you get to decide for yourself." [48:47] (Download)

2) "We can know not only that He is real but that we can know Him and know Him for ourselves. We're going to talk about how Paul is being sent into this culture that is pretty similar to our own in a lot of significant ways." [50:41] (Download)

3) "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. He is not served by human hands as if he needed anything." [01:02:35] (Download)

4) "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. For in him we live and move and have our being." [01:06:41] (Download)

5) "He wants to be known and not just heard about, not just read about, not just you could probably recognize him from a distance. He wants you to know him, to experience him." [01:10:13] (Download)

6) "Repentance often does include an apology, but it is not a surface level 'hey God'. It is... embracing fully, trusting in this idea that not only are you real, not only are you knowable, but you're mine." [01:14:02] (Download)

7) "We have a God that intentionally placed himself in the hard questions because you can't know him just by hearing about him. You have to wrestle with him, you have to experience him, you have to know him." [01:15:21] (Download)

8) "In our culture today, we're really taught that we are our own gods... if you have the ability to not only create gods but then if you have the authority to give them authority over your life, then who's really the boss?" [56:17] (Download)

9) "We need to be ready as believers, we need to be confident and affirmed in ourselves, and ready to embrace those hard questions. What if God isn't real? What would that mean for us today?" [47:35] (Download)

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Transcript
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