Proclaiming Truth in a Confused Culture
Summary
In Acts 17, Paul finds himself in Athens, a city filled with idols, and his spirit is provoked by the pervasive idolatry. This passage serves as a backdrop for understanding our current cultural context, which is marked by a loss of truth and a sense of reality. We live in a world where truth is often seen as relative, and reality is questioned, leading to a society that is confused and disoriented. This cultural milieu is not new; it echoes the challenges faced by Paul in Athens, where he encountered a society that was religious yet disconnected from the truth of the Gospel.
Our response to this cultural context should not be one of admonition or accommodation. Admonition, which involves condemning the culture, only alienates those we are called to reach. Accommodation, on the other hand, dilutes the Gospel to make it more palatable, but in doing so, it loses its transformative power. Instead, we are called to proclamation. We must boldly and lovingly proclaim the truth of the Gospel, recognizing that it is the power of God for salvation.
Paul's approach in Athens provides a model for us. He begins by acknowledging the religious nature of the Athenians and uses it as a bridge to introduce them to the true God. He speaks of God as the Creator and Sustainer, emphasizing His transcendence and immanence. Paul does not shy away from the reality of judgment and the need for repentance, but he does so in a way that is engaging and respectful.
In our proclamation, we must be motivated by a desire for the glory of God and a love for those who are lost. Our world is broken, and the Gospel is the story of how God is remaking His broken world. We must be clear about the problem of sin and the solution found in Christ. This is not a time for timidity or compromise; it is a time for courage and clarity in proclaiming the truth.
Key Takeaways:
- Cultural Context and Idolatry: Just as Paul was provoked by the idolatry in Athens, we too must recognize the pervasive idolatry in our culture today. This idolatry manifests in the form of relativism and a loss of truth, leading to a society that is confused and disoriented. Our response should be rooted in a deep understanding of the Gospel and a commitment to proclaiming it boldly. [01:11]
- Avoiding Admonition and Accommodation: Admonition, which involves condemning the culture, only serves to alienate those we are called to reach. Accommodation, on the other hand, dilutes the Gospel to make it more palatable, but in doing so, it loses its transformative power. We must avoid these approaches and instead focus on proclamation. [20:23]
- Proclamation of the Gospel: Our proclamation should be motivated by a desire for the glory of God and a love for those who are lost. We must be clear about the problem of sin and the solution found in Christ. This is not a time for timidity or compromise; it is a time for courage and clarity in proclaiming the truth. [31:09]
- Engaging with Culture: Paul's approach in Athens provides a model for us. He begins by acknowledging the religious nature of the Athenians and uses it as a bridge to introduce them to the true God. He speaks of God as the Creator and Sustainer, emphasizing His transcendence and immanence. We must engage with our culture in a way that is respectful and loving. [37:17]
- The Power of the Gospel: The Gospel is the power of God for salvation. It is the story of how God is remaking His broken world. We must be clear about the problem of sin and the solution found in Christ. Our proclamation should be rooted in a deep understanding of the Gospel and a commitment to proclaiming it boldly. [42:16]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:28] - Introduction and Context
- [01:11] - Paul's Provocation in Athens
- [02:20] - The Unknown God
- [03:34] - Reactions to the Resurrection
- [05:15] - Cultural Context Today
- [06:44] - Reality and Relativism
- [08:49] - The Loss of Truth
- [10:19] - Spiritual Warfare
- [11:43] - The Question of Reality
- [13:01] - Virtual Reality and Identity
- [15:13] - Morality and Ethics
- [16:49] - History and Truth
- [19:44] - Responding to the Challenge
- [20:23] - Avoiding Admonition
- [26:06] - The Danger of Accommodation
- [31:09] - The Call to Proclamation
- [37:17] - Engaging with Culture
- [42:16] - The Power of the Gospel
- [50:03] - Bravery and Valiant for Truth
- [52:23] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Acts 17:16-34
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Observation Questions:
1. What was Paul's initial reaction when he saw the city of Athens filled with idols? How did this reaction influence his actions? [01:11]
2. How did Paul use the Athenians' religious nature as a starting point for his message about the true God? [02:20]
3. What were the different reactions of the Athenians to Paul's message about the resurrection? [03:34]
4. How does Paul describe God in his speech at the Areopagus, and what key attributes does he emphasize? [02:56]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might Paul have chosen to begin his message by acknowledging the Athenians' religiosity rather than immediately condemning their idolatry? [37:17]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that modern culture is similar to the culture Paul encountered in Athens? [05:15]
3. How does the sermon define the difference between admonition, accommodation, and proclamation in the context of engaging with culture? [19:44]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the primary motivation for proclaiming the Gospel, and how does this relate to Paul's approach in Athens? [34:30]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own environment. Are there "idols" or cultural norms that provoke your spirit as Paul's was in Athens? How do you typically respond to these? [01:11]
2. Consider a time when you felt the need to either admonish or accommodate cultural beliefs. How might you instead focus on proclaiming the Gospel in a way that is both bold and loving? [19:44]
3. How can you use aspects of your culture as a bridge to share the Gospel, similar to how Paul used the Athenians' altar to the unknown god? [02:20]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being motivated by a desire for God's glory and love for the lost. How can you cultivate these motivations in your daily life? [34:30]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you might be tempted to compromise the Gospel to make it more palatable. How can you address this temptation with courage and clarity? [26:06]
6. Think of a person in your life who is confused or disoriented by the relativism of today's culture. How can you engage them in a conversation about the truth of the Gospel this week? [06:44]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s call for bravery in proclaiming the Gospel. What is one step you can take this week to be more courageous in sharing your faith? [50:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing Cultural Idolatry
In Acts 17, Paul is deeply moved by the idolatry he witnesses in Athens, a city filled with idols. This mirrors our current cultural context, where truth is often seen as relative, leading to confusion and disorientation. Today, idolatry manifests in the form of relativism and a loss of truth. As believers, we are called to recognize these idols and respond with a deep understanding of the Gospel, proclaiming it boldly in a world that is spiritually lost. [01:11]
"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." (Romans 1:21-23, ESV)
Reflection: What are some modern "idols" in your life that may be distracting you from the truth of the Gospel? How can you begin to address these distractions today?
Day 2: Avoiding Admonition and Accommodation
In engaging with culture, we must avoid the extremes of admonition and accommodation. Admonition, which involves condemning the culture, alienates those we are called to reach. Accommodation, on the other hand, dilutes the Gospel, stripping it of its transformative power. Instead, we are called to focus on proclamation, sharing the truth of the Gospel with love and respect. This approach allows us to engage meaningfully with those around us, without compromising our faith. [20:23]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you found yourself either condemning or accommodating culture? How can you shift towards a more balanced approach of proclamation in your interactions?
Day 3: Proclaiming the Gospel with Clarity
Our proclamation of the Gospel should be driven by a desire for God's glory and a love for the lost. We must be clear about the problem of sin and the solution found in Christ. This is not a time for timidity or compromise; it is a time for courage and clarity in proclaiming the truth. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation, and it is through this message that God is remaking His broken world. [31:09]
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16, ESV)
Reflection: How can you boldly and lovingly share the Gospel with someone in your life this week? What specific steps can you take to ensure your message is clear and rooted in truth?
Day 4: Engaging with Culture Respectfully
Paul's approach in Athens provides a model for engaging with culture. He begins by acknowledging the religious nature of the Athenians and uses it as a bridge to introduce them to the true God. He speaks of God as the Creator and Sustainer, emphasizing His transcendence and immanence. We must engage with our culture in a way that is respectful and loving, using common ground as a starting point for sharing the Gospel. [37:17]
"So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: 'Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, "To the unknown god." What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.'" (Acts 17:22-23, ESV)
Reflection: What common ground can you find with those around you to introduce them to the true God? How can you use this as a bridge to share the Gospel respectfully?
Day 5: Embracing the Power of the Gospel
The Gospel is the power of God for salvation, and it is the story of how God is remaking His broken world. We must be clear about the problem of sin and the solution found in Christ. Our proclamation should be rooted in a deep understanding of the Gospel and a commitment to proclaiming it boldly. This is a time for courage and clarity, as we share the transformative message of Christ with a world in need. [42:16]
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV)
Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of the Gospel to better share its power with others? What steps can you take to ensure your life reflects the transformative message of Christ?
Quotes
"Now, while Paul was waiting for them at Athens his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So, he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons and in a marketplace every day with those who happened to be there." [00:01:03]
"Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus said, 'Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious, for as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship I found also an altar with this inscription: “To the unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.'" [00:01:57]
"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands as though he needed anything since he himself gives to all mankind life, and breath, and everything." [00:02:20]
"And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him." [00:02:41]
"And he's actually not far from each one of us, for in Him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said. For we are indeed his offspring. Being then God's offspring we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man." [00:02:56]
"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed. And of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." [00:03:14]
"Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead some mocked, but others said, 'We will hear you again about this.' So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them." [00:03:38]
"Paul is there as we are told, waiting in Athens. Luke tells us what he saw. He tells us what he felt, and then he tells us what he did or what he said. In a sophisticated environment, in a magnificent place he was aware of the fact that it was just completely full of idols." [00:32:21]
"And the language is that of a movement that would be in the very core of His being. And what stirred him more than anything else was what Carson refers to as the de-Goding of God, that God was being robbed of His glory, that in the folly and in the confusion that was represented as it related to the reality of man and the moral interactions of men and women, and the whole unfolding of the drama of history, he stands there and he looks at it, but the thing that moves him most is a concern for the glory of God." [00:33:45]
"Paul recognizes that what he's up against, but he makes it very, very clear that they were created by God, that they were accountable to God and that they are going to face God. Do you see, if we are going to take on the challenge of the day we need to take on the challenge of the day, and we need to be prepared to say what the Bible says." [00:40:14]
"So we need to be clear that although truth has stumbled in the public square and the substitute gods that are offered in our day are worthless, in engaging with our culture it's not difficult for us to get agreement on one thing: our world is broken. It's broken." [00:41:09]
"The gospel says, no, the actual reversal of that. Doesn't it? The problem is inside, and the answer is outside. The answer is actually outside a city wall where the dear Lord was crucified, who died to save us all. And that was written by an Irish lady for boys and girls that they might get some understanding of the wonder of God's dealings in the cross." [00:45:46]
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