28 June 2026 - Martin McCrory - The gods Have Come Down! Living in a Celebrity Culture

Acts 14 speaks with a steady, punchy cadence: Paul and Barnabas preach “in such a way” that many believe, and the text insists that this is not superhuman power but grace at work through men “of like nature.” Luke sets their ministry in a deliberate overlay with Jesus. Authoritative speech births belief. The Lord bears witness to “the word of his grace” through signs and wonders. Faith shows up on faces and in bodies, so visible that Paul can look intently and say, rise, and a lifelong cripple springs up. The storyline then turns and shows the other edge of the blade. The word divides the city, not deeds alone. Wisdom knows when to remain and when to flee. This is not cowardice. This is discernment.

The crowd’s cry, “the gods have come down,” unmasks a celebrity culture hungry to worship men. Paul and Barnabas tear their garments. “Why are you doing these things?” The living God gives good by giving rain, seasons, food, gladness. He leaves himself a witness in creation. So turning is required. Repentance means turning from vain things to the living God. The story rushes on. The same crowd that almost sacrifices to apostles now stones Paul and drags him out, supposing him dead. This is not light work. Yet when the disciples gather around him, he rises, and the mission moves on. The pattern holds the shape of Christ. A public death, then a rising. The cross before the crown.

The argument pushes against the stream. The crowds can be persuaded. Three billion can be wrong. Cancel culture swings from hail to jail in a verse or two. So the church is called to be crucified to the world, not courted by its applause. Fix eyes on Jesus, not icons. Iconium lives up to its name with images and myths, but Genesis corrects the record. The living God formed humanity from dust and breathed life. The true God did come down in the likeness of men. The Word became flesh. So the image that matters is Christ’s image, and the grace that commends is not the commendation of men but being “commended to the grace of God.”

The refrain that strengthens souls is not a coffee-mug verse. “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” That word does not crush the church. It clarifies the path, makes room for the strange alchemy where weakness becomes the landing strip for power. Strength in the inner man is the Spirit’s gift, not mere grit. Resurrection life looks like newness of life that smells like Jesus in ordinary places. Boldness that births belief. Repentance that actually turns. A life that refuses idols and resists praise, and keeps preaching when the rocks stop flying.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Bold speech that births belief [59:06] Authoritative proclamation is not bluster but grace-driven clarity that carries the weight of reality. When the word comes with that ring, hearts are cut and faith rises because God is addressing people, not just informing them. The church is summoned to carry a voice that sounds like conviction because it stands under the word, not above it. Boldness here is obedience to the truth that saves. [59:06]
• 2. Expect God to confirm his word [59:37] The Lord bears witness to the word of his grace, and the text will not let that slip into theory. Confirmation is God’s prerogative, not a human show, yet it is real enough to strengthen faith and open doors. The church’s task is faithful witness; God’s task is effective witness. That division of labor frees courage and kills manipulation. [59:37]
• 3. Visible faith that can be seen [01:00:57] Faith is not a secret mood but a posture that can be recognized, named, and acted upon. When trust leans into Christ, it often becomes legible in the eyes and the body before the answer arrives. That visibility is not performance, it is expectancy. Such faith gives the church permission to speak resurrection words into crippled places. [60:57]
• 4. Wisdom to flee and to stand [01:04:01] Suffering for Christ is holy; seeking unnecessary harm is folly. The pattern shows seasons to remain under pressure and seasons to slip away for the sake of the gospel’s advance. Discernment refuses bravado and refuses cowardice, choosing the path that serves the word, not the ego. Martyrdom is a calling, not a stunt. [64:01]
• 5. Crucified to crowds, fixed on Christ [01:14:57] The same hands that crown today can cast stones tomorrow, so the soul must die to the need for applause. The church belongs to the One who actually came down in the likeness of men, not to the culture’s icons. Cross-shaped freedom breaks the spell of acclaim and steadies the heart in obscurity and in fire. From that freedom flows a life that points past the messenger to the living God. [74:57]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [48:42] - Prayer and blessing for shepherds
• [49:44] - Let it be according to your word
• [50:06] - Open Bibles to Acts 14
• [52:21] - “The gods have come down”
• [52:43] - A test: refuse the accolades
• [53:28] - The living God does good by giving
• [54:27] - Stoning at Lystra and a rising
• [56:17] - Through many tribulations
• [57:43] - Living in a celebrity culture
• [58:31] - Paul’s pattern overlaid with Jesus
• [59:06] - Bold speech that births belief
• [59:37] - Signs and wonders bear witness
• [64:01] - Wisdom to stay or go
• [65:35] - Call to repent from vain things
• [69:41] - Crucified to the world
• [74:57] - Fix eyes on Jesus, not icons
• [77:16] - Resurrection proclaimed as assurance
• [78:36] - Newness of life on display
• [83:59] - Strengthened in the inner man
• [85:38] - Icon, image, and the true Maker
• [87:09] - The Word became flesh
• [87:57] - Conformed to Christ’s image
• [88:32] - Closing prayer and blessing
• [94:37] - Amen

1. How did the crowd misinterpret Paul’s healing of the crippled man, and what does their reaction reveal about their cultural assumptions?
2. What specific actions did Paul and Barnabas take to reject the crowd’s worship, and why did they emphasize their shared humanity? [52:43]
3. After being stoned and left for dead, what did Paul do next? How does this contrast with the crowd’s expectations?

1. Why do you think the crowd shifted so quickly from wanting to worship Paul and Barnabas to attempting to kill Paul? What does this reveal about human nature and cultural trends? [12:48]
2. Paul says, “We... bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God” (v.15). What makes idolatry “vain,” and how does repentance reorient a person’s life?
3. The sermon mentions that “weakness becomes the landing strip for power.” How does Paul’s suffering and perseverance in Acts 14 illustrate this principle?

1. When have you faced a situation where others praised or elevated you in a way that risked shifting focus from God? How did you respond, and what would you do differently now? [14:57]
2. The sermon asks, “Is your faith clearly seen by others?” [01:00:57] What practical step could you take this week to make your trust in Christ more visible in your relationships or daily choices?
3. Paul continued preaching even after being stoned. Where do you feel tempted to “flee” from God’s calling due to fear of opposition, and how might you lean on Christ’s strength instead?
4. The crowd’s loyalty changed rapidly. How can you cultivate a heart that’s “crucified to the world’s applause” and stays fixed on Jesus when opinions shift? [14:57]
5. Repentance means turning from “vain things” to the living God. What habit, relationship, or mindset might God be calling you to turn away from to pursue Him more fully?
6. The sermon emphasizes “visible faith.” What is one area of your life (e.g., work, family, suffering) where you need to actively “stand up” in faith, even before seeing results? [01:00:57]