Redirecting Worship: From Idols to the True God
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth that everyone worships something, whether they realize it or not. Worship is not limited to religious practices; it is the act of giving ultimate importance to something or someone in our lives. This could be anything from money, power, comfort, or even our own achievements. The challenge lies in recognizing these idols and redirecting our worship to the one true God who alone is worthy of it.
We delved into Acts 17, where Paul arrives in Athens, a city filled with idols and intellectualism. Despite the impressive structures and philosophies, Paul identifies their pursuits as idolatry. He sees the Athenians' worship of various gods as a symptom of their deeper longing for the true God. Paul’s spirit is provoked not out of anger but out of love and a desire to introduce them to Jesus Christ, the only one who can truly satisfy their need for worship.
The message challenges us to examine what provokes our spirits. What stirs us deeply often reveals what we truly worship. If we are indifferent to the idols around us, it may be because we share in those same idols. The antidote to this indifference is genuine worship and a heart aligned with God’s love for people.
Paul’s approach in Athens teaches us the importance of listening before speaking. He engages in meaningful conversations, understanding the context and beliefs of those he speaks to. This is a model for us in sharing the gospel today. We are called not just to preach but to listen, to enter into the conversations God is already having with people, and to speak the truth of the gospel with love and intentionality.
Finally, we are reminded that the gospel is not just good advice; it is good news that requires proclamation. True love compels us to speak, to take risks, and to bring Jesus into every relationship. Our lives should proclaim the kingdom of God, and we should be willing to sacrifice our comfort and control for the sake of His mission.
Key Takeaways:
- Everyone Worships: Worship is not just a religious act but a reflection of what we prioritize in life. Anything we desire more than God becomes an idol, and recognizing this helps us redirect our worship to Him. [20:20]
- Provoked by Love: What provokes our spirit reveals what we worship. Paul was provoked by the idolatry in Athens, not out of anger, but out of love for the people and a desire to introduce them to Jesus. [33:42]
- Listen Before You Speak: Effective evangelism involves listening to understand the conversations God is already having with people. It’s about entering into dialogue, not just preaching at others. [41:47]
- The Gospel Requires Words: The gospel is good news that must be spoken. While our actions matter, they must be accompanied by words that proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ and His resurrection. [51:04]
- Intentional Living: Our lives should reflect the kingdom of God. We are called to take risks and bring Jesus into every relationship, allowing His love to compel us to speak and act for His glory. [57:26]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [07:44] - Introduction to Acts 17
- [10:24] - The Influence of Athens
- [14:59] - Indifference vs. Love
- [17:47] - The Idolatry of Athens
- [20:20] - Understanding Idolatry
- [24:33] - Money as an Idol
- [27:23] - The Nature of Idols
- [30:32] - Pluralistic Society
- [33:42] - Provoked by Love
- [37:51] - The Heart of Worship
- [41:47] - Listening to Understand
- [45:16] - Paul's Approach in Athens
- [48:15] - Meaningful Conversations
- [51:04] - The Necessity of Words
- [54:50] - The Power of the Resurrection
- [57:26] - Questions for Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Acts 17:16-34
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Observation Questions:
1. What did Paul observe in Athens that provoked his spirit, and how did he respond to it? [17:47]
2. How did Paul engage with the people of Athens, and what was his approach to sharing the gospel? [41:47]
3. What was the reaction of the Athenians to Paul's message about Jesus and the resurrection? [54:50]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does the sermon suggest that everyone worships something, and how does this relate to the concept of idolatry? [20:20]
2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between what provokes our spirit and what we worship? [33:42]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that listening is an important part of effective evangelism? [45:16]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: What are some things you might be tempted to prioritize over God, and how can you redirect your focus to Him? [20:20]
2. Consider what provokes your spirit in your daily life. How might these feelings reveal what you truly worship, and how can you align your heart more closely with God's love for people? [33:42]
3. Think about your conversations with others. How can you be more intentional in listening to understand the conversations God is already having with people around you? [41:47]
4. Identify a relationship in your life where you can take a risk to bring Jesus into the conversation. What steps can you take this week to initiate that dialogue? [51:04]
5. Reflect on the idols present in your community or society. How can you lovingly address these idols in conversations with others, following Paul's example in Athens? [27:23]
6. How can you ensure that your life proclaims the kingdom of God in both words and actions? What specific changes might you need to make to live more intentionally for His mission? [57:26]
7. Consider the idea that the gospel requires proclamation. How can you overcome any fears or hesitations you have about speaking the truth of Jesus Christ to others? [51:04]
Devotional
Day 1: Worship Reflects Our Priorities
Worship is not confined to religious acts; it is a reflection of what we prioritize in life. Anything we desire more than God becomes an idol, and recognizing this helps us redirect our worship to Him. In our daily lives, we often find ourselves giving ultimate importance to things like money, power, or personal achievements. These can become idols when they take precedence over our relationship with God. The challenge is to identify these idols and consciously choose to place God at the center of our lives. [20:20]
Isaiah 44:9-10 (ESV): "All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?"
Reflection: What is one thing in your life that you have given more importance to than God? How can you begin to shift your focus back to Him today?
Day 2: Love as a Catalyst for Change
What provokes our spirit reveals what we worship. Paul was provoked by the idolatry in Athens, not out of anger, but out of love for the people and a desire to introduce them to Jesus. This love-driven provocation is a call to action for us as well. When we see the idols in our own lives or in the world around us, it should stir us to respond with love and a desire to share the truth of Jesus Christ. Our response should not be one of judgment, but of compassion and a longing to see others come to know the one true God. [33:42]
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (ESV): "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."
Reflection: What is one situation or person that provokes your spirit? How can you respond with love and a desire to share Jesus with them?
Day 3: The Power of Listening
Effective evangelism involves listening to understand the conversations God is already having with people. It’s about entering into dialogue, not just preaching at others. Paul’s approach in Athens teaches us the importance of listening before speaking. By engaging in meaningful conversations and understanding the context and beliefs of those he spoke to, Paul was able to share the gospel in a way that resonated with the Athenians. This model encourages us to be attentive listeners, seeking to understand before we speak, and to share the truth of the gospel with love and intentionality. [41:47]
James 1:19 (ESV): "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."
Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where you could have listened more effectively. How can you practice being a better listener in your interactions this week?
Day 4: Proclaiming the Gospel with Words
The gospel is good news that must be spoken. While our actions matter, they must be accompanied by words that proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ and His resurrection. The message of the gospel is not just good advice; it is transformative news that requires proclamation. True love compels us to speak, to take risks, and to bring Jesus into every relationship. Our lives should proclaim the kingdom of God, and we should be willing to sacrifice our comfort and control for the sake of His mission. [51:04]
Romans 10:14-15 (ESV): "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'"
Reflection: Who is one person in your life that needs to hear the gospel? What steps can you take to share the good news with them this week?
Day 5: Living Intentionally for God's Kingdom
Our lives should reflect the kingdom of God. We are called to take risks and bring Jesus into every relationship, allowing His love to compel us to speak and act for His glory. This intentional living requires us to be mindful of how we spend our time, resources, and energy. It challenges us to prioritize God's mission over our own comfort and control. By living intentionally, we become vessels of God's love and truth, impacting the world around us for His kingdom. [57:26]
Colossians 3:17 (ESV): "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can be more intentional in reflecting God's kingdom? How can you take a step towards living more purposefully for His glory today?
Quotes
"Right? Areopagus? Areopagus? We'll go with it. Good morning. My name is John Allen. Welcome to Risen Church. I am glad you are all here. If it is your first time, thank you for coming. It is an honor to have you. I want to let you know that you are absolutely welcome here. And I also want to let you know that what we do here isn't just like an event. You're not just an audience. In fact, when we were worshiping here, we are actually joining the choir. In fact, when we worship, when we praise Jesus, what we are doing is entering into the throne room of heaven and joining with the angels and the church, the ancient church of all time around the throne of God. And he is the audience. It's an audience of one. And so we like to say here that church is not simply an event that you attend. It's a people that you belong with. It's a family that you partner together on mission with. And so this is the power of what we do." [00:01:00] (60 seconds)
"God, we thank you that we can come behold you together. Lord, I pray that this morning there would be a stirring in the souls of the people here, that our spirits would be quickened to the realities of eternity. Lord, I pray that this would not just be a ritual that we go through, but it would be a true experience of the King of glory, the King of eternity, the purpose of eternity, the story in which we find ourselves. Lord, I pray that you would give us eyes to see you, ears to hear you, and hearts to receive what your Spirit has to say to us even this morning." [00:04:00] (42 seconds)
"So we're continuing through our series this morning in the book of Acts called Commissioned. And so the big idea behind this whole series, and even the book of Acts, and honestly the entire Bible, is that if you are in Christ, if you are really a Christian, if you are filled with his spirit, then you haven't just been saved from hell. That is true. That's a thing. But it's not all it is. You haven't just gotten your like get out of hell free card kind of thing, okay? Which, by the way, it wasn't free. It cost the most valuable person his life. It's costly. It's valuable. And yet, you're not just delivered from hell. You're delivered unto an eternally significant purpose even now on the earth." [00:06:41] (55 seconds)
"Everybody worships. Everybody. Atheist, agnostic, everybody worships. Point two, what provokes your spirit is often a symptom of what you worship. You want to know whether you worship God? What matters? What provokes you in this world? Deep. Number three, don't just preach, listen. And number four, don't just listen, preach. Say preach. How long do you guys want to be here this morning? Say preach. Preach. All right. Now, as we'll see, this isn't just a lesson on how to share the gospel. It's a challenge to us all about what we actually even believe, what we care about." [00:13:00] (57 seconds)
"Paul sees all of this as he enters in. He sees all of these structures and megaliths and all this stuff and he's immediately impacted. And what it says is that he sees all this and immediately he refers to it as idol worship. Now that's interesting. He calls it idol worship. Like he's not commenting on how primitive they were. He's talking about how seemingly advanced they were. And he refers to their ambitions as idolatry. Now that's fascinating. Like the city was full of impressive idolatry. So like get this. This wasn't a bunch of like primitive people somewhere trying to hack out a living in the forest." [00:18:43] (47 seconds)
"Think about what an idol is. It's anything that you want more than you want God. Anything that you want more than you want God is an idol. And this is not just for like unchristians. This is something that is a temptation that's continually set before even the most mature believer. It's a struggle that we all, that's why Jesus is continually saying fix your eyes on me. Behold me. Find your satisfaction in me. Seek the love of God which is what you're actually after because after all, all sin is trying to fill legitimate needs in illegitimate ways." [00:20:13] (41 seconds)
"Listen, worship is the antidote to indifference. So every day, Paul engages in dialogue with people in the city. He goes in, he befriends them, he loves on them. He doesn't start by just preaching at them. He goes in with spiritual ears, listening to understand the conversation that God's already having with them. I told you before that effective evangelism involves entering the conversation God's already having with people, meeting them where they are and pointing them to Jesus through it. It's less about a debate and way more about entering a dialogue that God's already having with your friends, neighbors, co-workers, relatives, acquaintances." [00:39:16] (40 seconds)
"Share the gospel often and when necessary, use words. Like, I get what that quote is trying to deal with. It's trying to deal with hypocrisy, right? But it's also, hear this, nonsense. Like, the gospel is good news. It requires words, not just action. It means speaking up, which is part of the action. J.D. Greer puts it like this. He says, to share the gospel often and when necessary, use words. It's like saying, share your phone number often and when necessary, use digits. You know why that doesn't work? It's because the gospel is good news." [00:49:51] (33 seconds)
"The gospel is that you cannot do that and God had to be what you couldn't be in your place. This is the gospel. It is good news that God became a man, lived the life we couldn't live, died the death we deserve to die, conquered death in the grave through the resurrection, paving the way to eternal life with God the Father, that it starts now. Not just one day when we die, but it starts the moment we place our faith and hope in what Christ did for us at the cross. We're delivered then from eternal hell and unto eternal life. And he fills us with his spirit and he aligns us with his what is true and he empowers us for his purpose, even now." [00:50:01] (45 seconds)
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