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3. Acts 17

4. Paul goes to Athens Acts 17 (NKJV) 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:

5. 24 “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, Paul goes to Athens Acts 17 (NKJV)

6. 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. Paul goes to Athens Acts 17 (NKJV)

7. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Paul goes to Athens Acts 17 (NKJV)

8. Responses to the Gospel Acts 17:32,34 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

9. Do some Mock the Gospel today? Yes! But, Jesus warned us that they would. John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. John 15: 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

10. They mock what the Bible says about: Marriage vs. Fornication & Adultery Homosexuality Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

11. They mock what the Bible says about: Being drunk or disorderly Drug use & substance abuse Proverbs 23:29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

12. They mock what the Bible says about: Cheating on taxes/ financially dishonest The lottery/ gambling Luke 20:25 And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the L ORD.

13. They mock what the Bible says about: Wars & violence toward another human being Abortion Exodus 21:22(a),23 “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, 23 if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

14. They mock what the Bible says about: Modesty Piercings and Tattoos Exodus 21:5 (condensed) But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever. Leviticus 19:28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the L ORD. 1 Timothy 2:9 (I desire) that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

15. Rejoice when you are mocked! Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

16. Are some today undecided about the Gospel? Yes! So they postpone taking any action Why do they wait?

17. Some want to wait… For a more convenient time. – Felix was Acts 24:25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self- control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”

18. Convenient Time We seem to find time to: Was it Convenient for Jesus: – To be beat? – To be spit on? – To be mocked? – To be scourged? – To be crucified? – To give His life? – Watch TV/ Internet – Go to ballgames – School / Work – Socialize w/ friends – Go on vacation –?–?

19. Some want to wait… To be more convinced. – Agrippa – The people of Athens Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Acts 17:32 “We will hear you again on this matter.”

20. And many will NEVER be convinced What are you waiting on? Tomorrow? What if tomorrow never comes? Prov. 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. James 4:13-14; Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

21. And many will NEVER be convinced Rich man and Lazarus – Luke 16:19-31 Luke 16:27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

22. And many will NEVER be convinced Parable of the rich fool Luke 12:18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

23. Some believe! Day of Pentecost – Acts 2 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

24. Some believe! The Samaritans – Acts 8 Simon – Acts 8 Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

25. Some believe! The Philippian Jailor & his family – Acts 16 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

26. Some believe! The people of Athens – Acts 17 Crispus – Acts 18 Acts 17:34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Acts 18:8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

27. Some believe! Saul of Tarsus – Acts 22 & Acts 9 Acts 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 9:18c and he (Saul) arose and was baptized.

28. Matthew 13 The Parable of the Hidden Treasure 44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. What does the Gospel mean to you?