Spirituality vs. Christianity Acts 17
Intro…a church in Encinitas….
Celebrating Our Divinity. Loving Our Humanity. Serving Our Community. Come join us on Sunday or Wednesday. Great music, a spirited message and a joyful, loving community are waiting for you. Childcare, children’s and teen's classes are part of the Sunday celebration too. At _____________ our philosophy is based on the Science of Mind. “There is a Power in the Universe greater than we are, and we can use it.”
We believe the ultimate goal of life to be a complete emancipation from all discord of every nature, and that this goal is sure to be attained by all.
We believe in our own soul, our own spirit, and our own destiny; for we understand that OUR LIFE is God.
We believe that HEAVEN is within US, and that we experience IT to the degree that we become conscious of It.
To most people, practically anything can be considered a spiritual experience.
The perfect wave, ice cream, music, art…people actually look for spirituality/God in all kinds of other ways also...
(Mountains, Ocean, Meditation, Money, Self-Help etc.)
This is nothing new, people have been searching for a deeper spiritual meaning since the beginning of time… Adam and Eve…be like God
- Kings, rulers have worshipped other gods and even required people to worship them.
- We’ve ended up with so many different religions today because of everyone’s different search for deeper meaning and purpose, “There has got to be something out there bigger than me.”
Today I hope to show that we all have a God shaped hole in all of us.
Paul dealt with the same type of mindset in his day too…Acts 17:1-4
- Background: chap 9, Paul’s conversion, 12, Xians persecuted, 13, missionary journeys, 15, The council of Jerusalem, , 2nd missionary journey, CHAP 17, Paul’s work in Thessalonica, Berea and Athens.
What can we learn from Paul’s approach when it comes to talking about spirituality with others?
v. 2 He reasoned with them from the scriptures.
The Bible is always a good base to work from, keep it handy and memorized
v. 3 He spoke the gospel truth.
Jesus is the Christ, Messiah, not just some great prophet
v. 11 He spent time with wise people. (The Bereans)
v. 13 He preached the gospel everywhere he went, even in the midst of conflict.
Take a look at what Paul was dealing with and how he handled it:
v. 16 A city full of idols.What are the idols people worship today thinking they are spiritual?
v. 17 He reasoned with them.
Kept an open dialog. Reasoned: dialegomai, to say thoroughly, discuss in argument or exhortation, dispute, hold debate.
We can reason with others, but always be ready to defend the truth.
v. 18 He dealt with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers .
Epicureans: those who followed Epicurus. They believed happiness was the chief end of life. Who are the “Epicureans” of today?
Stoics: Their founder was Zeno…got the name Stoic from Stoa Poikile (means painted porch), a lecture place in Athens where Zeno taught.
The emphasized the rational over the emotional, be free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief. Calmly accept all things as a result of divine will.
They were pantheistic, a belief in and worship of all gods. Who are the Stoics of today?
In this context, we find Paul (in v. 19) taken to a meeting of the Areopagus (a council that had charge of the religious and educational matter in Athens)
This council met on the Hill of Ares, west of the Acropolis, also known as Mars Hill. They were dedicated to Ares, the god of war.
- Basically, they sat around , “doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.”
- They needed some godly wisdom and council and Paul was about to do just that.
v. 22-23 “Men of Athens, (friends in San Diego, spiritual seekers of Encinitas) I see that in every way you are very religious.” (He saw their numerous objects of worship.) The even had an altar to an “unknown god.”
“What you think is unknown, I will make know to you, tell you the truth. “
Remember these basic truths that Paul taught at Mars Hill: 17:24-31
v. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth…
v. 25 God gives all men life
v. 26 God created life and determines our outcomes.
v. 27 It is our job as humans to seek God.
v. 28 In God we have all we need.
v. 29 God is not an idol made of the finest materials; he is alive, living, breathing and loving.
v. 30 God commands full repentance.
v. 31 God will judge us all with justice. He is a right and fair judge.
What were the reactions? V. 32-34
1. Some sneered
2. Others said “tell me more.”
3. Some believed, a few…even Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus. That membership was a high distinction. God can soften anyone’s heart.
Conclusion …v. 34
Religion isn’t just a mystical feeling…
Christianity isn’t “PC”. It claims to be the only way to God. John 14:6
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