Religious?

Good morning everyone, have Acts 17 open in front of you, this is where we're going to be today.

And here's what I want to do as I start, I want to tell you about my good friend called Gordon.

Gordon is a pastor in another part of the city.

Gordon and his family just live around the corner from us in Libertin.

Gordon's a really good friend and here's why I love Gordon, I love his passion for Jesus.

And here's what he started doing on Tuesday afternoons over the last couple of months.

He gets on a bus at Libertin, jumps on it, he pays the fare and he makes his way all the way down to Edinburgh University campus.

And here's what he's doing, he's talking to people.

So no agenda really, he's just talking to people.

He's lovingly interested in what is going on in people's lives.

So he asks them, tell me about some of the biggest problems that you're facing in your life right now.

What are they?

Tell me about some of your biggest fears.

It's amazing, he was telling me the other day what's coming back.

I'm sure it won't surprise you.

Mental health concerns, the pain of loneliness, the worries about the cost of living.

Am I going to be able to finish this degree?

What comes after it?

But here's what he does.

He concludes every single conversation with this question.

He says, would you consider yourself a religious or a spiritual person?

So he's telling me the other day, he's spoken to 25 students over the last couple of months.

Which I think is pretty good going actually, 25 students.

Question for you, how many of them do you think identified as Christian?

None of them.

None of them.

I wonder how that strikes you this morning.

Maybe it's something you identify with.

Maybe you're here and you would say, that's exactly where I'm at.

I just want you to know you're so welcome here.

I love that you're here.

Or maybe you listen to it and it causes you to despair.

Here's my reaction to it.

I heard Gordon say it and immediately I'm asking the question in my mind.

I wonder if it's the one that hit you.

That when it comes to reaching people in our city, for whom Jesus just isn't even on the radar.

Can Christianity cut it?

In the book of Acts, last week, do you remember where we were?

Here, flick back to the first half of 17.

We can kind of get our heads around the fact that the gospel, the message of Jesus,

made a big splash in a place like Thessalonica.

I can kind of get your head around that one, okay?

Because verse 2 of chapter 17, come with me.

What do these people know?

What do these people have?

What do these people know inside out?

What do these people devote themselves to?

Do you see the words?

Scriptures.

The Scriptures.

This is what the people in Thessalonica have.

So if you like, the religious kindling was already there for Paul to kind of use it and

place it and pray that the Holy Spirit would take it and get the Jesus fire started, yeah?

But Athens, this is a different ballgame completely.

This is the intellectual capital of the world we're talking about here.

This is the place where culture is shaped, just to throw some names at you.

This is Plato.

This is Aristotle.

This is Socrates.

All these years later, we've even heard of these guys.

This is Athens.

This is where the leading thinkers of the day all come together to do their thing.

And I think somebody rightly compared the Athens then, everything that it represented,

to the Oxford and Cambridge of today.

I think that's a pretty good comparison if you're trying to get your head around it.

So can Christianity cut it in a place like Athens?

The message of Jesus, the gospel, will it run out of gas?

Has the gospel made its match?

Here's why whoever you are here today, whatever you think about this God,

whatever that survey would find you, I want you to listen to what this passage is telling you.

It's telling you that nothing is going to stop the Spirit of God doing the work of God

as he takes the Word of God, where we read about the Son of God,

and he applies it to the hearts of people all over the world despite their background.

This should give us confidence, I take it today, that the gospel works.

And it's because of who this God is,

and it's because of who you and I are as human beings.

Here's what I loved being reminded of this week.

Ready for this?

One truth to carry with us through this.

Everyone's a worshiper.

Everyone's a worshiper.

Everyone's worshipping something.

What was that Bob Dylan song?

We have a certain era.

You've got to serve somebody.

Right?

Maybe the Lord, maybe the devil, but you've got to serve somebody.

Everyone's worshipping something.

So there's that inbuilt desire,

one that's hardwired into the DNA of every single human being

that longs to find something to live for.

You see, in Athens, hardly anybody's heard of Jesus,

and yet the local comics in the day used to joke about the fact that it was a city

where it was more likely that you were going to bump into a god than you were to a man.

These gods, or as the passage says, to get into it, it says idols.

Now, what's an idol?

Try not to think miniature Buddha.

Get it way bigger.

Way bigger.

What's an idol?

It's something that I'm ploughing myself into

because I'm convinced that that is the thing

that will in turn provide me

with satisfaction and meaning and pleasure in my life.

It's an idol.

It's an idol.

You've got to see before it's a physical thing.

It's a heart thing.

There was a female American tennis player years ago called Chris Avert.

She was one of the greatest singles players the women's game has ever seen.

She gave a fascinating interview towards the end of her career.

A journalist asks her,

how are you feeling about retirement?

And she said she was petrified.

Why?

And this was her line.

Because tennis makes me feel like I'm somebody.

Isn't it fascinating?

Tennis makes me feel like I'm somebody.

You take the word tennis out,

insert in it whatever you will.

Is that not what we're all longing for?

Is that not the thing we're all searching for,

that we're pursuing?

Is it not why people in our city

are throwing money at cars?

Is it not why people in our city

are queuing outside the Apple store

to get the latest iPhone?

If you get caught up in that trap,

when it comes out,

got an iPhone myself,

nothing wrong with an iPhone.

Is it not why people plow themselves

into showing themselves in the best light

on social media?

Is it not why the house market

in our city right now is bonkers?

Because people are throwing money at things,

thinking if only I get that,

then that will provide me with the lifestyle

that I want to get the things

that I need in my life.

Is it not why the magazines at WH Smiths

are full of celebrity magazines?

Because we want to know

what that life is like.

Is it not why the magazines

are also full of self-help and image?

Is it not why we still talk about

this thing called midlife crisis?

Because people hit post 45,

having run hard at life for a season,

and get to a point,

they think to themselves,

when the monotony of it kicks in,

that they stop and say,

what on earth is my life all about?

Edinburgh's full of idols.

Our hearts are full of idols.

Everyone's a worshipper.

The question is not if we're worshipping.

The question is what we're worshipping.

I love C.S. Lewis.

This is the most over-quoted thing

I've ever heard,

but I tell you it

because I think he gets it

bang on the money.

Here's what he says about human beings.

And I love C.S. Lewis

because he just makes observations

about human beings

that we know are true.

He said this,

we are half-hearted creatures,

fooling about with drink and sex

and ambition when infinite joy

is offered us.

Like an ignorant child

who wants to go on

making mud pies in the slum

because he cannot imagine

what is meant by the offer

of a holiday at the sea,

we are far too easily pleased.

What he's saying is that

we were made in the image of God.

We were made to know him.

We were made to enjoy him forever.

But what's happened is

the sin in each of our hearts

has bent us in on ourselves

so that we take the good things

that God gives us

and we make them God things.

The tragedy of humanity

is that we prefer to worship

the created

rather than the creator.

And that's idolatry.

Athens is a city full of gods

because its people's hearts

are full of idols.

And so here goes Paul

into this city

with the message of Jesus.

Really quickly Paul,

Luke tells us

four things happen to Paul

when he hits Athens.

We'll run through these

really quickly, okay?

Here's number one.

His heart breaks.

Verse 16.

He's waiting for Silas and Timothy

to come from Thessalonica.

You see?

And he goes sightseeing.

So verse 16.

Luke wants us to know

what's going on in Paul's heart.

Are you going to come with me

and see the words here?

He wasn't impressed.

Do you see the words?

He was distressed.

Because the praise

that God alone deserves,

the people of Athens

are taking it

and they're giving it

to something else.

The word distressed,

it's almost like,

it's like a jealous yearning for.

Remember,

Paul's grown up steeped

in the scriptures.

God has consistently said

all the way through

the Old Testament,

I will not give my glory

to another.

You will have no other God

before me.

I will be number one

in your life.

Long to be number one

in your life.

And you can imagine Paul

then he's with each

passing idol

saying to himself,

God alone should get

that praise.

the God alone

who has made you

so that you would

give him that praise

and you would enjoy

him forever.

You see the idolatry

that's going on in Athens,

it breaks Paul's heart.

And you've got to understand

it brings God's judgment.

And so the question

I think we've got to ask ourselves

as we respond to this

is do our hearts

feel the same?

Do our hearts long

that the people of our world

lovingly

would take their eyes

off their idols

and give praise to God

alone that he deserves?

You've got to say

who's Paul emulating here?

Where's he got this from?

He's got it from

the Lord Jesus.

You know, I love it

when reading the Sporn

in Mark chapter 10

Mark 10 · chapter mention

where the rich young ruler

comes to Jesus.

What must I do?

He says,

I've kept the commands

and Jesus says,

sell all that you have

and give it to the poor

and the young man

walks away empty.

Why?

Because he had tons of stuff.

And I love it there.

Why did Jesus speak to him?

Why did Jesus tease out

the idol in his life?

Because he loved them.

I love it.

And then the same Jesus

would sit on the cusp

of the city

and would say,

Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

how often I would have

gathered you like a hen

gathers her chicks

but you would not come.

His heart breaks

for the idolatry

in people's hearts.

And that's why he goes

to the cross.

This is the gospel.

Jesus, the perfect worshiper,

goes to the cross

to die the death

and to take the punishment

that idolaters

like you and me deserve.

He takes our hell.

He dies

and he takes it

on himself

by grace alone.

His heart breaks

and I take it

that's what's going on

here with Paul.

His heart breaks.

His heart is distressed

for what's going on

in people's lives.

His heart breaks

and his eyes look.

Number two,

where does he go?

Verse 17.

He goes to the synagogue

and he goes

to the marketplace.

You see?

So what's he going

in search of?

He's going in search

of people.

Verse 17.

He reasoned.

He spoke.

Presumably he listened.

What's he doing?

I think he's just

listening for clues

as to what makes people think.

What are they doing?

What do they value?

Where are they?

Where are they?

What are they believing?

How are they living?

He's spending time

with people

so much so

that he can

get up in front

of the Areopagus

which I guess

in this day

is like a mashup

between a debating chamber,

a high court,

and a university

teaching department.

And he can say

verse 22, 23.

People of Athens,

I see

that in every way

you are very religious.

For as I walked around

and looked carefully

at your objects

of worship.

Do you see what he's doing?

He's saying

I walked around,

I listened,

I looked.

He talked,

he observed,

he engaged.

Do you know what I love?

I love how ordinary

that is.

It's not like

he's enrolled

in night classes

at the Athenian college.

Would you teach me

how the locals think?

He's not got one

of those tapes

listening to how

the locals speak,

has he?

He doesn't bring

his PhD game

to the floor.

He just spent time

with people.

You know,

comedians today

they always talk

about observational comedy.

I take it

this passage

challenges us

and calls us

to be observational evangelists.

You know,

I was spending time

with people.

I was spending time

lovingly listening

to where people are at,

what's going on.

You know,

I've got a friend

called Pete

who lives in Glasgow.

He's a fellow pastor

and also a parent.

He was telling me

the other day

what he does

to help him

get good at this

is he just blocks out

in his calendar

8.30 to 9.30

every Monday to Friday

blocks it out.

Do you know why?

School run time.

He says,

I make time,

we get there early

so we can spend time

with the parents.

I want to know them.

I want to listen

and when I've dropped

the kids off

I give myself

a good half an hour

just to be available

for people

if they want to talk.

Are you walking

that route?

I'll come that route

with you.

Just speaks to them.

Take it,

that's the heart

behind

our evangelism cards.

Just writing names

down of people.

Who can we

care and serve

this week?

Who can we invite

to come and see?

Who can we

go and get to know

and go and tell?

This is about people.

Long to hear

people,

what makes them tick.

Do you know

a wonderful way

of doing it

is you're going

to work tomorrow

listing what

makes people tick?

What did you do

at the weekend?

Wonderful opportunity.

I always find it

on a Friday

what do people ask you?

What are you doing

at the weekend?

On Monday

what do they ask you?

What did you do

at the weekend?

Two wonderful

opportunities.

You miss the boat

on a Friday

get in on a Monday.

Telling people

what you did.

Listening to people

what they did.

What's going on

in their lives.

But do you see

how Paul looks?

He looks.

And number three

his mind thinks.

How can I connect

these people

with the Bible story?

He's got a grasp

of a biblical

world view.

You know I love

how he convinced

this morning

that the world

the Bible describes

as the world

that you're living in.

Are you convinced

that the biblical

world view

is the best?

It makes sense

of life.

That God

by his grace

has opened our eyes

to see it.

I was thinking

this week

but for the grace

of God

what are the things

that I would be

pursuing in my life?

By his grace

he's opened my eyes

to see that this

Bible story

this world

that I'm living in

he helps me

understand it.

The world

that the Bible

describes

I'm convinced

that it

makes sense

of the world

in which you

and I live

every day.

And so what he does

is he takes Athens

and he tries to

connect them

into the biblical

world view.

Do you see

it's in

verse 23

he spots

an idol

with a line

on the front

to an unknown

God.

This is what he

quotes.

I take it

what's going on

here

the Athenians

are just

spreading their

bets.

They set up

an idol

to a random

God

just in case

they've

accidentally

missed one

out

and they

offend

them.

Your hearts

are so full

of idols

says Paul

that you

worship a

God

you don't

even know.

And here's

his end.

How much

more then

should you

worship the

God of the

Bible

the creator

of the

world

who has

made himself

known?

And I

take it

this is the

whole point

of what

Paul does

here is

he just

talks about

the God

who has

made himself

known.

And it's

such an

important point

that we

understand

what he's

doing.

You know

one of the

toys that's

been passed

down through

our children

is Mr.

Potato Head.

Remember him?

Mr.

Potato Head

a classic

timeless toy.

Why it's so

much fun?

It's Mrs.

Potato Head

as well

isn't it

now?

You can

make Mr.

Potato Head

look however

you want him

to look

can't you?

Take his

nose out

put it

where his

arms should

be.

Mustache

on or

off.

Angry

eyes or

normal eyes.

You can

make Mr.

Potato Head

look however

you want

him to

look.

But you

can't do

that with

God.

It's like a

WhatsApp chat

isn't it?

Where you

can see but

you cannot

comment.

You cannot

make it

fit to

your own

image.

God has

made himself

known.

Right?

He's revealed

himself in

creation.

He's revealed

himself in

his words.

He's written

because we're

made in his

image.

Our

consciences.

What we

understand to

be right and

wrong.

Again it

comes from

the fact that

God has

made himself

known and

he's revealed

himself supremely

in the person

of Jesus.

If you hear

today and you

wonder what is

this God?

Who is this

God?

What is he

like?

You look at

Jesus Christ.

He's the

image of the

invisible God.

What Paul

does in

verse 23 is

he connects

Athens to

Genesis.

You spend

your time

trying to

make a

home for

your God

so that

they can

live in

your world.

But let me

tell you about

the God of

the Bible who

made you and

you're living in

his world.

You spend

your time

making your

own gods,

making gods

in your

image.

But let me

tell you about

the God of

the Bible who

made you and

made you in

his image.

That yes, I

was reading a

stat this week

that if the

chemical elements

of your body

were lumped

together and

sold you

wouldn't have

enough money

to buy two

flat whites.

But make no

mistake that

you're matter

that matters.

Why?

Because you're

made wonderfully

and beautifully

in the image of

God.

And it's why

it's so important

isn't it when we

look at stuff

that's going on

in America that

will probably

come here that

we understand

that from the

moment of

conception every

life matters.

Every life

matters.

And you can't

help but not

get involved in

that.

That every life

whoever you are

has value,

has dignity,

has worth.

Not because you

earned it.

Because this God

made you in his

image.

Paul is saying

the very breath

that you breathe,

God who created

all things,

gave you that

breath.

The very food

that you eat,

God who makes

all things and

sustains all

things,

he's given you

life.

You see what

he's saying?

It's what

scientists today,

I take it they

observe when they

call what's going

on in the world,

they call it

fine tuning.

And as a result,

because you're

made in God's

image, you're

accountable to

him.

You see,

he even quotes

some of their

own poets to

help them see

that deep down

you all know

this to be true.

Something in you

that clicks with

what I'm saying.

But you see

what he's doing?

He taps into

what they are

doing and he

unearths their

inconsistencies and

he lovingly and

logically connects

them to the

Bible story.

So simple and

yet so brave to

do it.

You know,

comedian Frank

Skinner, who

from what I can

tell has got some

kind of belief in

God.

I love this story.

He was debating

with a friend of

his who refused to

believe that God

created the world.

So the two of them

are going back,

back and forth and

his friend said,

we're getting

nowhere with this,

listen, do you

fancy a cuppa?

So his friend goes

away and puts the

kettle on, turns

around and gets

back into the saddle

of the conversation

and they chat some

more and all of a

sudden they hear

the kettle, it

pings and his

friend comes out

with the line, I

better go and see

to that cup of

tea because that

cup of tea won't

make itself, will

it?

To which Frank

Skinner simply

said, why not?

You know, there's a

simple logic to what

Paul is doing here.

He's taken something

unknown, something

people haven't quite

thought about and

he's just bringing

out the simplicity

of it.

his mind thinks

and then lastly,

his number four,

his mouth speaks.

You see verse 18,

Paul's taken to the

Areopagus and you

see how he's been

taken there by the

people who heard him

speak in the

marketplace.

I was thinking

about this week,

this wasn't part of

the script, this

wasn't part of the

plan, this wasn't

the diary that Paul

would end up getting

this opportunity to

speak and yet to

see how God is

sovereign over every

single incident.

Becky Manley

Pippert in her

wonderful book,

Out of the Salt

Shaker and Into

the World, she

calls these kind of

things the divine

appointments, love

that, as if to say

there is no such

thing as chance.

Every single person

that we come across

in our lives is

somebody who God

has ordained would

be there and it

changes how you

think about your

life, doesn't it,

what you do.

Paul preaches the

cross, I take it

Luke's focus here

is on the

resurrection because

that's the thing

that brought the

sneers, you see

verse 32, quite

literally they

burst out laughing,

that's what that

sneering word means,

they burst out

laughing.

Who is this

babbler?

The image there,

I think the word

is of a little

pigeon going around

just picking up

little seeds,

different seeds and

trying to cobble it

together in its

mouth, that's what

they're saying of

Paul, he's just

picking up threads

and nonsense and

trying to patch it

together and make

something.

The Greeks thought

that any notion of

an afterlife was

laughable, but what

does it prove?

It proves the

resurrection that

this Jesus, we

will all need to

give account to

him for how we've

lived before him

and God has raised

this Jesus and

seated him in the

place of all

authority and one

day he will return

and I want you to

hear those words

and perfect justice

will be done when

this King Jesus

returns.

Perfect justice.

We've seen in the

world this week,

haven't we?

Soldiers being

caught and the

only reason they

were caught is

because we happen

to see it on the

CCTV.

Makes you think,

doesn't it, what on

earth is going on in

the world right now

in that part of the

world that we will

never see and no

one will know about

except those who've

been murdered.

But this God sees,

he sees everything

and one day perfect

justice will be done

by King Jesus.

The fact that he

has not come yet is

nothing to do with

his incompetence as

we thought about a

few weeks ago, it's

to do with his

mercy.

He longs for people

who are lost in

idolatry to come to

know him.

People sneer,

others mull, we

want to hear you

again in this, I

take it that's what

that means.

People think there

might be something

in this, can I

rethink it through?

Let me just say we

flagged this book

last week and it

really hit with a

lot of people which

is wonderful and I

bought 25 copies

that are out the

front, just grab

your own, put a

little donation in

if you want, it's

just called Are

You 100% Sure You

Want to Be an

Agnostic?

And it's a

wonderful little

book that just

takes you through

some questions.

If you're in this

category of mulling,

we might want to

hear you again on

this, is there

something in this

Christianity business

will really help you

think through some

big questions you

might have.

But as we draw

this to a close,

do you see how

other people join?

verse 33, people

believed.

Have a look at the

two people who Luke

specifically mentions at

verse 34.

And again, nothing is,

no name is wasted

here.

Don't just skip over

the names, think about

what's going on, right?

The two people,

Damaris.

So Luke's dignifying

her by mentioning her

name.

Again, what we saw

about the counter-cultural

nature of the gospel,

because Athens in

particular, a woman's

role was to serve her

husband and her home,

whereas the man, I

take it, was expected

the boys will be boys.

And Luke is saying,

Jesus rescued Damaris,

and I'm honouring her

by telling you about

her response of faith.

But talking to which,

who's the other guy?

Dionysus.

This guy who was named

after the Greek god of

wine and revelry.

And maybe he lived

right up to that name,

we don't know.

Maybe he was caught up

in the worship of those

gods, thinking that

those things would

fulfil and satisfy him.

Because that's essentially

what an Epicurean is,

if you're wondering

about that.

What's life about?

It's about squeezing

as much pleasure as you

can out of it.

Right?

I take it as what

young people today

call YOLO, right?

You only live once.

I've got to squeeze

as much pleasure

out of life as I can,

possibly, because time

is short.

God, I've heard that

one before, people

living for that.

But his story, I take it

as he comes to believe,

is that of Psalm 4.

That God, you filled

my heart with greater

joy than when

their grain and

new wine abode.

There is a greater

pleasure in

Dionysus' life.

But more importantly,

do you see what

he's part of?

And Luke wants us

to see this.

What is he part of?

He's part of the

Areopagus.

Can Christianity

cut it?

The Dionysus says,

yes it can.

I've heard no message

like the risen Jesus.

You know, just as we

close, let me take you

back to my mate

Gordon.

Remember him?

He's doing his thing

down Edinburgh

Uni campus on a

Tuesday afternoon.

Spoken to 25 people.

And he has spoken

to 25 people.

One said, no sorry,

none said they were

Christian.

Question, I've given

away the answer.

How many people do

you think said they

were atheist?

One.

Now in my day when I

was at university,

that would have been

at least double digits

there.

But one person said

they were.

Which means that the

other 24 he told me

said they were open,

curious or agnostic.

Is that not

interesting?

Is that not

interesting that all

these years later,

when you ask people

what their lives are

all about, what they

believe, what they're

doing, that people

still go, I don't

know.

I don't know.

Friends, what an

opportunity we have

right now to display

the countercultural

nature of who our

God is.

Because what does

Paul do?

He says to people who

said that they worship

an unknown God.

He says, let me

declare to you the

God who's made

himself known.

Everyone's a

worshipper.

the question is,

what are you

worshipping?

Just close with

this lovely line

from Richard

Chevenot Trench.

An Anglican

Archbishop from

way back in the

day said this,

none but God

can satisfy the

longings of an

immortal soul

that as the heart

was made for him

so only he

can fill it.

So let us just

be quiet then,

just as we close

and sing our

song and then

we'll spend time

together.

I take it as God's

word has gone

forth.

His spirit will be

taking it and

moving amongst us.

So why don't we

just be quiet and

now is a wonderful

opportunity to think

about the things

we've been speaking

about this morning.

Where do you stand

before this God?

And then I'll pray.

And so Father,

I pray particularly

this morning for

those who would

not know you.

Oh Father,

I pray that by

your spirit as

your word goes

forth today that

you would make

yourself known.

That as the old

hymn says,

flowers unfold,

hearts unfold like

flowers before you

responding to the

sun of day.

Lord, would you

shine on hearts

today and open

blind eyes and

unblock deaf ears

to understand who

you are.

Just thank you for

your word,

Heavenly Father.

give us confidence

today that wherever

we are in the world,

whoever we're

rubbing shoulders

with, that your

gospel is sufficient

and your word is

true.

And Father, I pray

that you would help

us to compassionately

love the people of

our city, in our

offices, in our

universities, in our

homes, in our

streets, in our

communities.

Father, would you

help us display the

compassion of Christ.

Christ.

So Father, I pray

that you would be

with us as we

finish this morning,

as we spend time

together.

Lord, would you

glorify yourself.

We pray these things

in Jesus' worthy

name.

Amen.