Amen. Thank you for tuning us in. I'm Darrell Bailey, Servants for Christ. As we continue on in our study, The Life of the Apostle Paul, here in Acts chapter 17, we're on the second missionary journey. I'm glad for we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves, your servants for Jesus' sake. Amen. Thank you for tuning in as we look to the wonderful Word of God. Amen. Hear the life of the Apostle Paul. here as we seek the truth and proclaim hope and the wonderful word of God, amen, as we continue on in our series, Amen, The Life of the Apostle Paul. Now, the characters and the locations that will be involved in Acts chapter 17, verses 10, all the way over to verse 34. that we'll be getting in. Take your Bibles over to the Book of Acts and follow along with us as we look at the characters that will be involved in this study, Abe Man, in Paul's second missionary journey. First of all, we see Paul as one of those characters that's going to be involved, Abe Man, because in that, he is that central figure of this passage, along with his companions, traveling and preaching to the gospel cities in his second missionary journey, amen. Oh, so Silas and Timothy that we'll be seeing as Paul's companions on this journey of faith, amen, and this missionary journey. They accompany him to Berea and Thessalonica as they do this. And so as they travel along with him, the Bereans which will be the next ones that we'll see as well because the Bereans when we look and we realize that the Bereans are the Jews that are commended for their eagerness, amen, to hear the word of God and their habit of examining the scriptures daily to verify Paul's teachings here when we get over in verse 11 of Acts chapter 17. And then also we'll see the Thessalonians. Paul also preaches in Thessalonica where he faces opposition from the Jews that stir up a mob against him. Last time we were talking about that, Amen. And so when they turned the world upside down, Amen. But then also we'll be talking about the Athenians as well. in verse 16 to verse 34 because in Athens Paul engages with the philosophers and the intellectuals of that day and time and as he begins to challenge them with some of the things that are taking place of the philosophers and the intellectuals of that time at the Europagus delivering a speech, proclaiming the gospel and calling the Athenians to repentance. He's going to have some difficulties. He's going to have opposition from the Jews. And throughout Paul's missionary journeys, he always faced opposition, persecution from the Jews that rejected his message, stir up all of those that he went in their path and all of the cultural and intellectual changes. In Athens, Paul encounters a culture deeply entrenched with idolatry and philosophic philosophical speculation. He's got to navigate through these challenges to effectively communicate the gospel to the Athenians. And despite all of the difficulties and the opposition, Paul remains steadfast in his mission to preach the gospel, to reach both the Jews, the Gentiles with a message of salvation through Jesus Christ. And so as we start out, Arabagus is now called Mars Hill. And so Paul's going to go and he's going to be preaching there. Amen. And so here we talk to you today in this 17th study, Seeking Truth and Proclaiming Hope. Amen. Here in the life of the Apostle Paul from verse 10 all the way down to verse 34. Here as we look at this, May the 1st, the 23rd of Nisan, 5784, the Hebrew calendar. Here as we look at Wednesday in the Word, Amen, on our study on the life of the Apostle Paul, praise God. And so Paul's second missionary journey, as the time frame goes, when you look from Acts chapter 15 verses 36 to 41, Acts chapter 16 verses 1 through 40, and then here currently in Acts chapter 17 verses 1 through 34, we covered 1 through 10 last time, and then eventually we'll be getting on into the 18th chapter. But Paul's missionary journey, because Paul used the amazing Roman road network and sometimes by sea to travel across Israel, Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Italy. And a lot of the details that are included in the Book of Acts in very, very good details. And so he traveled over 10,000 miles by foot, and that would be equal to walking between New York and Los Angeles nearly four times. When you look and when you read the Book of Acts, you begin to realize that Paul's missionary journeys were not an easy walk. He gives us a very small insight into his journeys. And I'm glad that he tells us over in some of his writings, he said, thrice was I beaten with rods once I was stoned. And he goes into all the deeds and thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I've been in the deep. And you know what? When you look at the Bible of the book of Acts, you look at a travelogue that is full of adventure. Paul's second missionary journey had him traveling around the eastern and the Mediterranean Sea and his route started in Jerusalem and then he started north through Syria. He went west through Turkey and then even further west to Greece and finally he traveled back home along the shoreline of Greece and Turkey. When was Paul's secondary missionary journey? Well, His first missionary journey took place in approximately 4748 AD. And then a year later, he began his second missionary journey in approximately 49 to 52 AD. You can read about the second missionary journey, starting with back at Acts chapter 15, verse 36, and going all the way to Acts chapter 18. During this time, He revisited some of the churches where he had previously preached. And I'm glad that he checked on a lot of the new believers to make sure they were still learning from sound teaching. Ain't it good that, you know what, it doesn't matter. Some people, they like who they like. But when we all minister, that's the number one point, that we all come together and we support one another. As we try to support our pastor, Keith Dempsey, amen, along with all of the other church that supports him, that's our task. And so I'm thankful for our pastors and for our preachers and for our evangelists, amen. And as we go forward in our missionary journeys of Paul, in this second missionary journey, as we go forward, praise God, and look and realize that of all of this time, the travelers were Paul, Silas, Timothy, Luke, Priscilla, and Aquila. And so again, as I told you, Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Jerusalem, and about 2,800 miles. Wow. So right in this area that we'll be looking at here, that covers the second missionary journey of Paul where he got off to a poor start because they had left Antioch In Syria, they had traveled the entire length of Antolia, but in all of that time, there had not been a single convert. Instead, they found the Lord closing doors at every turn. They'd come all the way to the coast and now had gotten on a boat heading west so that they came to Europe. And in their arrival at Philippi, a man that we see. And so as they went forward, praise God, in their journey, praise God, trying to go forward. We look and we're reminded that Philippi was a cold city back in Acts chapter 16. And so when we look at the places in Apollyon, and back in the last time that we dealt with Acts chapter 17 verses 1 through 10, Apollyon, Thessalonica last time, but here, pick it up in verse 10, will pick up with Berea and then go to Athens, amen. And so in this timeframe, how that Paul, what all he went through in these travels, amen. And then on further down here into Athens, amen. His timeline that we've mentioned last time, that as he was converted on the road to Damascus in AD 37, And then he spent three years in Arabia. where the Lord going to school to the school of Hard Knocks out in the desert with just him and the Lord. And I'm glad he began to learn the things that he needed to know. He preaches and ministers in Tarsus and surrounding regions. He really relocates to Antioch in Syria, travels with Barnabas to visit Jerusalem, brings a brings a famine relief offering. And then in AD 46 and 47, the first missionary journey with Barnabas lasts about one to two years. And then AD 50, He attends the Jerusalem Council. In 1851, he leaves on to the second missionary journey, which we're on right now. That trip lasts two and a half to three years, including 18 months at car rent. And then in 1854, he leaves on his third missionary journey. That trip lasts more than four years, including all of the surrounding areas of Ephesus. And then he's arrested in Jerusalem in AD 58, put on trial before the Roman governor Felix, and then AD 58 to 60, he's held in Caesarea for about two years. And so here we see the timeline of Paul's missionary journeys. Here are some actual pictures of Berea. This city was about 50 miles southwest of Thessalonica, Amen. And I'm glad that it was located in a quiet, out-of-the-way place, lying on the eastern slope of the Olympian Mountains, and next to a well-watered plain. And it was well off the Aenean Way, that is, the major Roman road running through the country. Paul probably chose Bari because it was out of the way. And so, thinking of the opposition in the other towns, when he was over in verses 1 through 9 of Thessalonica, Man, he had to take off because, I'm going to tell you, when he left Thessalonica, boy, I'm going to tell you something, he was in trouble. And so more than anything else, he wanted to preach the gospel so the lost men could be saved and he could preach more freely and reach more people if there was peace. The church was founded on Paul's second missionary journey. And I'm glad that when we look at this, we see that all that was described that took place there here among the Bereans. The Bereans were one of the most noble of the people during that time. They were a noble people. And I'm thankful for them, A-Man, because when we look and we realize the importance of the people, A-Man, of Berea, I'm glad that here it comes to a time where Paul's gotta escape by night. And when he escapes by night, Paul and Silas, amen, in verse 10, that we open in, they're concerned. They had to get on out of Thessalonica, amen. And so here when we look and we look at the wonderful word of God, but before we go any further, let's open up with a word of prayer, amen, as we look at the painting, the Rembrandt painting, of the Apostle Paul here. Here, a statue that is over around in Berea, an altar which refers to an unknown God, because here a lot of them had, even the Athenians had statues of all kinds of gods, a God for everything, amen. Listen, if the 4th of July was coming up, they would have a God for the 4th of July. They'd have a God for everything. And so here is one of the altars of that timeframe that was in Berea. And so, as we said, all of the pictures of this, and we'll start out with it in just a moment. Amen. But first, let's have a word of prayer before we go any further. Heavenly Father, we're so thankful for your wonderful word. I pray God that will not take too long. But as we get into our Bible study tonight, that God, that you'll bless us, use us for your honor and glory. And all that we do, may you receive all the glory and honor. May a lost person listen to this message. May it find a place in their heart to change them, to bring them into the place of grace where, Lord, they can be saved and be renewed and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. And so, Lord, I pray tonight, this Wednesday in the Word, that you'll touch those that are watching and those that are listening because the Lord has something for them. Lord, right now, Lord, you want someone to react. You want someone to make a move because you're ready to make a move. Lord, as you make the first move, I pray they'll make the second move tonight as you teach them from the wonderful word of God from the book of Acts in Jesus' mighty name. Amen. All right, let's get into a little worship. Haven't done this in a while, but I'm glad. We'll have a little bit of worship before we get into Acts chapter 17, verses 10 through 34. And then we'll get right on into the wonderful word of God. Amen. This house that I live in, I know will decay. These old walls will grow weaker with time. But I don't need to worry while I'm Here on earth for my real home is up there on high. My real home is up there on high. Where no teardrops can dim my eyes. For it'll be springtime forever as a million years go by. home is up there on high. I belong to a king who calls me his own. His great wealth can't be measured. I find he has built a great mansion, not made with earthly hands. That's my real home. Up in heaven so high. My real home is up there on high. Where no teardrops can dim my eyes. It will be springtime forever as a million years go by. Yes, my real home is up there on high. Yes, my real home is up there on high. Amen. Praise the mighty name of Jesus, amen. As we look and realize that here, as we get into the wonderful word of God, amen, as the city of Berea was 50 miles southwest of Thessalonica, amen, I'm glad that we come upon that night escape. that of Paul and Silas, amen, in the wonderful word of God. As we take up the scriptures, amen, first of all, one of the first things that we see here in Berea, that it was the receptive city. It was a noble people, praise God, in verses 10 down to verse 15, amen. Here as we look and seek the truth in Berea, praise God, because as we look, we begin to realize that what the greatest thing about this in verses 10 through 15. First of all, we see the eagerness of the Bereans. The Bible begins to deal with us about this. Secondly, in verses 13 all the way down to verse 15, we're going to see the opposition and the protection, amen, as we seek truth and Berea. Do you know that you've got to seek the truth somewheres? Because the truth is one of the most important things in our life today, amen. And so when we look at the wonderful word of God, amen, we see that truth that is right here. Thank God, as he tells us, he said, and the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea. We're talking about they were sent away from Thessalonica. who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. He goes on, these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, searched the scriptures daily, and whether those things were so. Verse 12, the Bible says, Therefore many of them believed also of honorable women, which were Greeks, and of men not a few. And so they had both men and women, praise God, that the Word of God is telling us about. And so when we look at the difference here, praise God, we see a society, amen, that had a purpose, amen. Because a lot of times when we get to go through the things of life, amen, first of all, Paul and Silas made a not escape. Remember, they were not in Jason's house when the mob stormed it back in Acts chapter 17, verses 5 and 6. When they returned, Jason and the Christian brothers naturally related what had happened and the decision was made that it would be best for Paul and Silas to escape by night. And so the bravery of the believers, Jason had been put under a security bond, which meant he was not a, it was not a house to, or a welcome to preachers anymore. Can you imagine? There's a lot of places where probably somebody's not welcome. But the fact is they had to escape by night indicates that Jason, right along with the other brothers, showed an enormous courage in helping Paul and Silas escape. You know, all believers need some courage. How many would have the courage to risk their lives or imprisonment to help other believers? I remember when I used to when I got out of the military, I'd drive up a man and I'd drive up over past 14th Street to go to work in Atlantic Steel, where I worked for several years. when I got out of the military, and I would drive past the abortion clinic, and they would be Christians that had their bodies laid all over the ground, all the way out to every piece of ground that when somebody walked in there, they had to walk on bodies, because I'd look out there, man, and those people were laid out where every stitch of the ground was covered by a body. Boy, I'm going to tell you something, that takes some courage. sometimes to stand up against something today. But you know, how many women, so many do not even have enough courage to witness for Christ and they fear ridicule and embarrassment, which I'm going to tell you something, the purpose for the escape was to save the lives of the preachers. And their minds were upon not so much about saving their lives as upon continuing to grasp the opportunity to preach the gospel. And so people are lost and without Christ, doomed to sin and shame, death and judgment. And Paul wanted to live in order to reach them with the news of salvation. Hallelujah. They could be saved from sin and death. But I thank God as soon they entered Berea and they went into the synagogue to share the gospel. Amen. And so as the God-fearing people of Berea They began to, noble people that had a concern about God and things of God, they stand in awe in rivers before knowing that God alone is the answer to the longing, amen, that is in their soul and the ills of their society and of the world out there, amen. And so a noble people that were receptive, hallelujah, amen, to this. And so, but when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, that 50 miles, and stirred up the people. Bible goes on in verse 14. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea, but Silas and Timothus abode there still. And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed and they departed. And so I'm glad when we look We see the night escape by Paul and Silas. We look at the concerned, receptive, and God-fearing, seeking truth people in verse 11 of the Bereans. And then an honest and decisive people. They believe what proved to be true, amen, in verse 12. And I'm glad that they were a courageous, protective, helpful ministry people, hallelujah. When we see this, We're reminded that how important the word of truth is, amen, that spiritual receptivity. I'm glad that the Bereans were receptive, amen, people to the truth. They were people with even a well-balanced temperament. Amen. They were not negative and sour. They were not downcast and critical. Amen. They were not full of pride and superiority. Amen. They were not holier than thou, ignoring or neglecting. They were people concerned about the welfare of others. Amen. And I'm glad they were people that were open and receptive both to other people and to the truth. Amen. That were welcoming and hospitable, soft and warm. They listen and they begin to hear the word of God, amen. And I'm glad that they were considerable and charitable, praise God. You know what? The word of God is the truth. And the noble people, they seek the truth. They seek it honestly, praise God. I'm telling you, when you're talking about being careful about what you say when you talk about it, I heard about these three prisoners that were going to be put to death by a firing squad. One of them was American. One of them was a Canadian and the third one was a fool. Well, the American was the first to be executed. As the firing squad took aim, the American yelled out, Tornado! And everyone ran for cover. The American escaped. Well, we look and the Canadian was to be executed next. As the firing squad took aim, the Canadian yelled, Earthquake! and everyone ran for cover and the Canadian escaped. Well, finally, the fool was the last in line to be executed. As the firing squad took aim, the fool yelled out, fire! And that was the end of him. You see, the lesson of that story is to be careful what you say, because words are important. And as Christians, we should be very careful about what we say when it comes to sharing the gospel. We cannot mince words. We must tell the truth and the truth of the gospel. You know what? These people out here today, they're all worried about, you know, what's going on at their place. You know, I could probably care less because every one of us have our own purpose, where we're supposed to be. I'm not where I used to be because that's not where I'm supposed to be. I'm where I am now because that's where I'm supposed to be currently in my ministry that the Lord has for me. He's got others doing what they're supposed to be doing. Paul had a hardship, but for this reason many Christians sometimes they keep silent. And because of the trouble that was in Thessalonica, Paul was asked to leave and the unbelieving Jews stirred up the city against him by spreading lies and distortions of the truth. And so, I'm glad that we look and realize that Paul and Silas by night under Berea, it doesn't mean that they were failures, but Paul faced just about everything, including persecution, riots, opposition, stoning, being asked to leave, and yet he was not a failure at all. And I'm going to tell you, no matter who's out there, God used him greatly and God can use you greatly. You're not a failure. Don't listen to somebody who says, oh man, you ought to be having so many such and such saved. When you're feeding the church, that's what you need to focus on. Don't worry about somebody giving you a hard time about this or that. Amen. God can use everybody for their purpose. And so the Jews in Berea were more noble than the Thessalonican Jews. And I'm glad that that word noble means to be prudent. They were fair, they were open-minded, well-mannered, they were generous, high in their rank, and they were teachable, praise God. They were willing to learn what Paul had to say. I'm glad that many of us today, when we look and realize that as they departed under the cover of darkness for security reasons, it didn't mean that they were failures, amen. I'm glad that when we look at the attitudes that we all should have in our lives, We ought to have an attitude that is receptive to God's word, amen. Each and every one of us, that we need to be receptive to the wonderful word of God, amen. Here, as we go forward, amen, we need to continue to be the Bereans, we're teachable people, blessed because of their attitudes and their actions, amen. And I'm glad that they didn't have this know-it-all attitude. You know, sometimes you run into these younger people Maybe it might even be how that sometimes when your teenagers go through their time of being a teenager, they know it all. Well, there's a lot of folks out there today that they know so much and talk so fast that they can't listen to those that know more. and be able to take in the wisdom that they need to take in. And so that's in all of our cases. Me too. I need to listen to those ones that know the word of God that are my inspiration. Most of them already passed on. And so, you know what? I'm glad that when we have that attitude, we need to be receptive to God's word, amen. But also, we need to be eager to learn the truth. And I'm glad that that's the most powerful thing that we can do. Paul was burdened about the hardness of the Jewish people to the gospel that he desired to reach them for Jesus Christ, amen. And so in doing that, I'm glad that we need to be searching for the truth, amen. And so every one of us, John chapter 5 says, search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. And so I'm glad that when we look and realize that the search, as we search the scriptures, Paul welcomed this message for these wonderful Bereans, amen. And so the truth is what we need to do today. We need to search the Bible, and that's exactly what the Bereans did during their time, amen. We need daily praying. We need daily cross bearing, praise God, that we go forward and have And so I'm glad that every one of us, when we look and realize that we need the discipline of self-denial, carrying our cross daily, and I'm glad that it's not a step-by-step process where we do one and then move on to another and then another. No, no, no, no, no. We are to do all these things at the same time in order to have that spiritual balance in our life. Don't think that you can live this way in your own power because you can't. It takes the grace and the power of God to develop this discipline as we control ourselves, our flesh with the Holy Spirit. That's a full-time battle in itself that never ends. And so it's sad to say that each and every one of us, as we go through this, this battle of winning, That what is it all about? Amen. It's all about being able to let the Lord lead us and guide us. Amen. If you're unwilling to suffer physically in order to be a disciple of Christ, you will not be much of a disciple because people today suffer physically to engage in sports. But tell them to suffer like that for Christ and they will be complaining. Boy, I want to tell you, they can sit hours upon hours at concerts. They can sit hours and hours at ballgames and all. But boy, when it comes to the house of God, they can't even bless Him with their presence because they, they've taken their kids to the ballgame and they're not going to the house of God anymore. You know what? We got to take up the cross. And it means to identify with the Lord and his message. And when the Lord used the imagery of the cross, people understood exactly what he was trying to teach them. Death on the cross was the form of execution used by the Roman for the dangerous criminals of that day that they carried their own crossbar to the place of execution and it began to signify. the submission to Rome's power, and these people saw the scores of criminals bearing the cross to the place where they were to be executed, and they witnessed scores of crucifixion, and some even by the side of the roads that led in and out of the cities. And when Jesus was a young lad, about 11 years of age, Judas the Galilean had led a rebellion against Rome, and he had raided the Roman armory, at Sepphoris, which was only four miles from Nazareth in Jesus' hometown. The Roman vengeance was swift and sudden. Sepphoris was burned to the ground and its inhabitants were sold into slavery. Two thousand of the rebels were crucified on the crosses, which were set in lines along the Roman road of the roadsides that might be dreadful warning to people that attempted to rebel. So to take up our cross means to be prepared to face things like that for the loyalty of Jesus Christ to endure the worst. Amen. identify with Jesus and his followers praise God and so I'm glad as we take up the cross it does not mean that we're bearing one's particular hardship in life like poor health or abuse or unemployment or invalid parents or unsafe spouse or rebellious child. The cross is always an instrument of sacrifice and death not just an object to carry or to bear But I'm glad that the Christian is to die mentally and actively denying ourselves daily as we let the mind of Christ and the mind of humbling ourselves to the point that it fills our thoughts every day. I'm glad that each and every one of us as we go through life, that we're reminded of that. And so, the Bereans as they studied this. Secondly, in verses 16 through 21, the Athenians or the Athens, the great intellectual and philosophical city, the preacher's urgency and the various audiences who it is that needs the gospel. First of all, we begin to see some of the different audiences that was going to come forward because there were several different audiences in Athens, Amen. The first audience for the gospel was those of the religionists, amen, that began to come forward. They were the religionists of that day. The second one was the God-fearing people that we're going to be reading about. Then there was the average persons or citizens of that time frame as well. Then there were the Epicureans. Epicureans are the pleasure seekers of that time in verse 18. Then there was the Stoics. are the self-discipline in verse 18 of that time and then there were the philosophical questioners of Christ all the way from verse 18 down to verse 21 that we see these six different variety of audiences that were in Athens that Paul was going into. Paul's address to the Oropheus that he has here which is to the right that picture of that building which is now called Mars Hill that we observe the culture of that time that is taking place from 16 to verse 21 all the way down to verse 31 proclaiming the unknown God that we get into and look at because Stoism and Epicureanism here is the new philosophies of that day founded by Zeno the Stoic philosopher who believed that humans should not pressure desires like power and wealth because these are dangerous and so the ultimate good is seeking knowledge and showing no emotions toward pleasure or pain. Then the Epidurisms founded by Epidurus The Epidurian philosophers believe that the only real things are those that we can experience with our five senses. Amen. The ultimate good is seeking pleasure and achieving in harmony of the body and the mind. It sounds like these things when they got on YouTube and all these others were, oh man. Let me get out here and oh I can do all of these things within myself and I can make myself great and successful and I can take on anything and all of this mind over matter stuff and everything. Oh my goodness, we see so much of that philosophy all over the world today. It'll take you straight to the depths of hell if you let them. Amen. But Paul was up against these two Epidurians and the Stoics that were influential philosophers of that day and of that time. And so all the schools of ancient Greece and Rome were full of them, of all the similarities of these teachings and beliefs. Amen. And so it's sad to say that this pursuit of pleasure, And the avoidance of pain that was of the Epidurians, amen, that they indulged in and tried to go and do, praise God. And then as we see also that of the Stoisms as well. of how that they looked at life, amen, that they should not pressure desires like power and wealth, amen. There was an importance of accepting what you cannot be changed and focus on what one could change is how that they went about things advocating for the principles of governing the universe. They believe in the existence of a divine rational principle of the cosmos and so They basically, unlike the Epidaurus, the Stoics believed in fate and the providential order of things. And so here we see, as Paul was going up against all these philosophers, it says in verse 16, now while Paul waited for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews and with the devout persons and in the market daily with them that met with him. He goes on, he says, then certain philosophers of the Epidurians. and of the Stokes, it encountered them and some said, what will this Bibler say? Others, some, he seemeth to be a settler forth of strange gods because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection. And so they didn't understand the marvelous word of God. And so when we look and realize he goes on and they took him and brought him unto Arachamagus, saying, may we know what this new doctrine whereof thou speakest is, which is Mars Hill. And so, for thou bringest certain strange things to our ears, we would know therefore what these things mean. And so when we look at this and we begin to realize that as we get into that 16th Amen, we see the message of Paul was in Athens and how that he began to look and go into a great city, Athens, that's in the sunset of glory. Because throughout ancient history, Athens had been one of the most glorious of the world of cities. Literature, art, architecture, All of these flourished prosperity that was rampant everywhere in Athens. But as history has always proven, when a people gain prosperity, most of them become arrogant and self-sufficient. And you know what? When you begin to focus on the sins of the world and the things that are out there instead of God, you're going to be changed and begin to be so numb from the gospel and the spirit that the more that you take in that sin, the more numb that you'll become. And so you'll become complacent. You'll become selfish, amen. And so when we look at the spiritual fiber and the physical hardness of the Athenians that deteriorated at that time, Paul's visit, the city was the greatest university center of the world. But its citizens lack spiritual unity and purpose and behavior. And so there were many gods and there were many men, and men did little else than exercise their mental faculties, debating the merit of philosophies, reality, and of gods. And so I'm glad that when we look, Paul was the messenger that needed to come to Athens. and deal with these intellectuals and this cultural center of the world. Paul was alone and no doubt he did as anyone would do. He toured the city. He went throughout the whole place. He began to look at when you go on vacation, you begin to tour it and you look at everything that that vacation spots got, praise God. And so he was not swept off his feet by the buildings. He was not amazed by all of the splendor of the architecture, amen. Contrary wise, what gripped him was the idol tree that was everywhere. The city was given to idolatry, and the Greek says they're full of idols. And so the ancient writers estimate that the city had thousands upon thousands of idols, one or more for every person in the city. And the idols sat everywhere, lining the streets, lining the buildings, within, without every home. And boy, how horrible that it was, that it stirred Paul's spirit, which means it aroused, it agitated him, it irritated him. And so when he began to see this, Paul could wait no longer. He had been waiting for Silas. He had been waiting for Timothy. But he could not swallow the scene of idolatry anymore that he saw in Athens. He began to reason and discuss the gospel with these men everywhere that he went. And I'm glad that he began to dispute with them. That we said in verse 17. Therefore disputed he in the synagogues with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Boy, I'm gonna tell you, he had a passion. He wanted to take the moment and the opportunity. He knew the stakes were high. The destiny of everyone that he passed, that he saw, that will lay it into balance, amen. And the destiny of everyone that he passed and he saw, praise God, all the loss that were doomed unless he could reach them with the gospel. And therefore, no matter what the cost, he had to do all that he could to reach, to help, and search for the truth for them. all of these religionists that were there. And so can you imagine the religionists were pictured there, the regular attenders that were familiar with God, familiar with the scripture, the ones that live the moral just lies, those seeking truth, they were all the logical ones that were there, praise God. And so when we look and realize of all the great heaviness upon Paul, we see the second audience of the gospel, those that were God-fearing, And so as he came to this cultural center, the religions, the God-fearing people, and they were the average persons or citizens that were there, that were looking at all of these things. But I'm glad as they turned to all of the polytheistic religions, they turned to the Jewish religion, and they were attracted with the emphasis upon one God and the laws that demanded morality, praise God. And so I'm glad when we look at of the story of what it takes to have discipleship. Many of us, amen, that we go through life, that we've got to be able to be strong and go forward no matter what, amen. You know, I'm glad that Back in the day, Christians were willing to be human torches for Nero's parties. Why were they willing to be sewn up in animal skins and thrown into the wild dogs? Why were they going through? Why were they willing to be in the arena and eaten by lions? Believers had been willing to sacrifice and suffer for Christ because they knew that to be absent from the body was to be present with the Lord. And they knew that there was a better place And there was a better place that the Lord would take them out of this old life because they would live with the Lord for eternity. They died to self in order to be and to do what God led them to do and to be what the Lord wanted them to be. And the hope of getting to see the Lord was day and to see him face to face was a motivating factor. Paul talked about the fact that his life was in constant jeopardy or danger. He said, I died daily, he said. And to be what the Lord wanted him to be and to do what he wanted him to do, Paul had to come to a point where he died to sell and was willing to lay down his life for the Savior. The scars that were on his beaten body attested to the fact that his willingness and obedience, praise God. And so we look and we realize The Bible challenges us over and over again, amen, that we can do that to be receptive to God's word. Amen. And so each and every one of us, as we seek the truth, we learn the truth. We believe the Lord. Many Jews believed as did many of the prominent Greek women and men. If you do not know Christ as your savior, then you need to trust him right now. And you need to be saved because I thank God we look and realize When the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the Word of God was preached to Paul at Berea, they came and they stirred up the people and they caused a lot of problems, amen. The urgency is missing in the world today for the lost, that we're urgently going out to share. They were the Epidurians, the pleasure seekers. They were the Stoics or the self-discipline of that time. They were the philosophical questioners of Christ at that time. Here, these two. And it goes on. For all the Athenians and strangers which were there, spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new things. And it's sad that people just want their ears tickled today. Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars Hill and said, You men of Athens, I perceive in all things that you are too superstitious, he said. For as I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription to the unknown God, which I showed you a picture of, whom therefore you eagerly worship him, declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands. Listen. Neither is worship with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he'd give it to all life and breath and all things." I'm glad. Here was the philosophical questions of Christ. Here, Paul preached on Mars Hill, God was sought by man. And I'm glad. God was not hid and he was not unknown because I'm glad he made himself known. God was the creator. He's the one that gave us everything that we have. And so thank God when we begin to look and realize that through all of these things, that the Lord was doing, amen. The first audience was the religionists. The second was the God-fearing men and women. The third was the average person of the citizen and the community. The fourth was the Epidurians and the pleasure seekers, amen. And then of all the basic beliefs that they said, oh, the world just happened by chance, by accident. Sounds like America today. Oh, man, it just big banged. It just exploded in evolution and it did everything. Oh, and it just come together. No, no, it did not. That's a lie straight from the depths of hell. No. Just like the philosopher of the Epidurians, just like the Stokes, they had their basic beliefs, but the Epidurian, their beliefs is the world happened by chance, by accident. If there were gods, they were remote, they were disinterested in the affairs of men. Man is left on his own to discover the truth and the pleasure of life. That's how the Epidurians looked at it. There's nothing after death, no heaven, no hell, no reward, no punishment. Man simply returns to become part of the dust of the earth. This is how their philosophy centers upon man. It centers upon the pleasures, both the humanistic, the materialistic, the leaving God completely out of the picture. That is how the world is today. And so man is left on his own to discover the truth and his own pleasure. Whatever pleases him, gives him in society. That's how they believed. What a shame that there's people out there. There's pleasure seekers that are left empty and dissatisfied, craving something to fill, to satisfy their lives. And therefore they never do because they don't look to the Lord for all of these things that's lacking. Amen. The Stoics, the fifth audience for the gospel was those of the rationalists, the self-controlled, the disciplined. and their belief that was formulated by Zeno of the basic beliefs of Pantheonism. God exists in everything and in everyone is what they believe. Their fiery spirit, the energy of everything and everyone is God. Sounds like a bunch of tree-huggers. Sounds like he's a bunch of green-thumbers today that are out there wanting to make everything green. Hey, I'm all for the environment. I'm all for taking care of the environment, amen. But I'm going to tell you something, when you change the ways of life before it's ready for it, when you're not planned for it, man, I'm going to tell you something. Yes, we need to take care of ourselves better. We need to take care of creation, God's creation better. We need to take care of this planet better. But listen, out of pantheism, Fatalism, whatever happens, occurred because it was supposed to happen. That's how the Stoics believed. There's no good or evil in the world. That's how they believed things to transpire and to be, amen. They think things the way they are and happen the way they do because they're destined. That's how they believed it to be. There's nothing anyone can do about it. That's how they believed, the Stoics believed. And so, can you imagine? First, some people try to control their destiny. They discipline. They control themselves. They use all the reasoning powers and energy at their disposal. They try to control their destiny and their fate, attempting to make only good things happen. They even deny themselves the simple pleasures and joys of life. Amen. They repress all their feelings, their emotions, and all only for the signs of weakness. But a person tries to be self-sufficient, indifferent to pain, when you cannot do anything without the Lord's help. Some people, they reason that they can do nothing about their fate. Therefore, they just live doing little or anything. They take whatever comes as their destiny and the life that they're supposed to live. And so the discipline, the self-control, and the legalists often ache for release, for a spirit of joy and of rejoicing. And so these, when we see all of them, not only the Stoics, not only the Epidurians, but that sixth of the gospel that was the physiological questioners. of Christ during that time, amen, that we see that were coming about. And so the Epidurid and the Stoic philosophers confronted Paul and some mocked him to his face, calling him a babbler. And others took him more seriously, saying that he was presenting a new strange God to the people. Paul endured the mockery. He stood his ground. He refused to be dismissed. He wanted the chance to preach the gospel so that they might be saved, praise God. And what a dynamic example for us. willing to bear the mockery in order to try and reach some of the mockers for Christ. It was Jesus and the resurrection that confounded the philosophers. And Paul was proclaiming Jesus as the personal God, the God who is vitally interested in our lives, interested enough to come to earth and to live and to die for us. The God that is so interested in us that he has ordained a day when he will resurrect all of us to face him and give an account of our lives when the rapture takes place. And when we go to the wedding feast with the Lord, amen, the philosophers brought Paul to Arapagus, which was Mars Hill for Greek. It was not known whether Paul was asked to share his God with the congregation of all the interested philosophers of the city or before the official court of the city. But whatever the case, He would be surrounded by a throng of people who had followed him to Mars Hill, and Paul was anxious to preach the gospel. Amen. I thank God he was like a soldier that was marching in, left, right, left, left, right, left, ready to get the job done and preach the gospel to them and the great need of the philosophers that was clearly stated. Praise God. And I'm glad that one day all searching ended up empty for so long that they found meaning in life only by listening to a new novel of ideas that were hopelessly in discovering the one all bracing being of the truth. And so I'm glad that here when we look. And we realize that as Paul began to address him at Mars Hill, he goes on, And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation, that they should seek the Lord, if happily they might feel after him and find him, though he be not far from every one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being, as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring. For as much then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold or silver or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commanded all men everywhere to repent. because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men that he hath raised him from the dead." Boy, these philosophers were astute. God guides the history of all men and nations. Amen. God has a great purpose for creating man to seek and to know him as he's talking about. And God now demands repentance from these ones. God has appointed a day to judge the world. Praise God. Oh, I'm glad. When we look and we begin to realize here Paul stood in the midst of Mars Hill, he was ready to preach. He stood where so many of the world's great philosophers had stood, the philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. He had expounded the great thoughts of the great truths of God and the official court sat before him as a large crowd of interested philosophers and poets and citizens that were all surrounding him and praise God as there they sat and stood, all the heathens, void of any knowledge of a living and true God. And they were about to hear the most glorious news that had ever been proclaimed. God had revealed himself, made himself known to man. He had sent his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, praise God, into earth to save man from sin and death and judgment to come. And God was deeply concerned with the welfare of man. Paul's message included about several points, amen. That they were superstitious. They were very religious. Amen. The fact that man is religious and superstitious reveals that he's searching for God. And so they're restless. They're searching for peace and life with God. They're hungry, seeking to have God's care and protection. They're seeking to have God's understanding. Amen. God is not hid. He's not unknown. But I'm glad. that as Paul had walked out throughout all of the great city of Athens, looking at everything like we do when we're on vacation, he had read many of the descriptions and some of the monuments that they said that there is to an unknown God. I'm glad the people acknowledge that there was an unknown God and they worshipped him, but they did not know him. None of the gods satisfied the people. Their lives, their religions were still empty, missing. But Paul, he declared that he knew the unknown God, he personally knew him, and that it was he who Paul, as he began to declare the wonderful word of God, amen. God unto salvation, everyone praise God. And so God is the creator that he said in verses 24 and 25. Paul declared the points as God as a creator. God made the world and all things therein. There's only one God, one who's supreme and absolute, powerful, encompassing, created the cosmos and the universe, created everything in the world, amen, created man and himself. And so, I'm glad that out of all of this, if there's only one supreme God, then there's no other gods. And all other gods are false. They're only the creation of man's mind and the object of man's desires. The men of every generation need to heed For men worship so many false things and idols in this world today. They worship the bass boats. They worship the rifles and their bows when they go out hunting. Listen, when you put it in place of God's place, you need to get into the house of God and don't be skipping out while hunting. God never said that you could have Sunday off to go hunting. But if you're on vacation, yeah. But you need to give the Lord the first place in your life. And that is the throne that you sit on. men of every generation need to heed. And so God is the Lord of heaven and earth. He's the master. He's the ruler of all. Praise God. And I'm glad that he's the creator, that not the created. He does not dwell in temples made with man's hands. Amen. Men worship what they have made with their hands and their minds and some manmade religion or some kind of manmade thing in the world. But whatever it is, it's false. And the only creation of man himself and cannot do any good beyond this world because there's only one God. And he's the creator of man, and he's not the created. And so, God is the self-sufficient one, praise God. He is that one. God's the giver of life and breath and of all things, amen. Everything that man has that concerns man comes from God's hand. God is not remote, off in space somewhere. Unreachable, praise God. He's actively involved in the life of man, even in the very breath of man, in the giving of all things out there today. And so, I'm glad James says every good perfect gift is from above and and cometh down from the father of life with whom is no variables neither shadow of term and so God guides the history of all men and nations from one source, from God himself. It's appointed time to live, and we're within the bounds of that, amen, as we see this right here, praise God. And so God is in control of human history, both the nations, both individuals. He rules over, he guides, directs, keeps everyone within those bounds. And I'm glad that we so desperately need for man to put their trust in God, even in the White House, so that they may come to know his personal care and all of their lives, praise God. Amen. And so I'm glad God has a great purpose for creating man, that man might find and know God, that we should never have turned away from God and fallen into idolatry. God's not far off. He's near to every one of us. He can be found. How close is he? It is in God that we live and move. and have our being, he and his works and for all of us, because I'm glad we can see how he gives and sustains our lives every day. God, man is the offspring of God. Therefore, man is responsible for seeking God. And so I'm glad if man is the offspring of God, then idols are less than man, for idols are made of the mind of man. And if man is the offspring of God, then something created by man is less than God. God is above everything man makes and to exalt the works of man's hand above God is to degrade the exalted position of both man and God himself. Amen. And so when we look we see that he tells us about repentance. God now demands that all men repent. There are two reasons why man is to repent. Man is to repent because of his sin and idolatry, and man is not to worship idols of any sort. And so, and we look at this, repentance, to change, to turn, to change one's mind, to turn one's life, is to turn away from sin and turn it towards God. The change of mind and forsaken of sin, praise God. Amen. And so, The change is turning away from lying, from stealing, from cheating, the immorality, the cursing, the drunkenness, all of the other sins that are out there right now because repentance involves two terms. There's a negative turn away from sin and there's a positive toward God. And it is turning to God away from sin, whether sins of thought or action. Amen. Repentance involves those two terms. Repentance is more than sorrow. Sorrow may or may not be involved in repentance. A person may repent simply because he wills or acts to change. Or a person may repent because he senses an agonizing sorrow within. But the sense or feeling of sorrow is not repentance. Listen to me. Repentance is both the change of mind and the actual turning of one's life away from sin toward God. Amen. That is what he's talking about. Finally, judgment in verse 31. God has appointed a day to judge the world. And I'm glad the word appointed is very significant that you see in verse 31. The day of judgment is set already. It's already been determined. Why? Because the judgment concerns righteousness and how men have lived and behaved. Life does not cease at the grave. The Epidurians and the pleasure seekers, nor does life just pass into one large ball of energy with everyone entering into God. Life is purposeful with means. It is planned and is guided by love and care. It's just and it's righteous. Amen. And so I'm glad the judge is Jesus Christ as the man ordained by God. And the surety of judgment is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Amen. And so the result, Paul was interrupted. He was stopped from completing everything. Because as we look in Athens, the final part, in verse 22 down to verse 34, as we continue on the preaching to a heathen people, the responses and the results, the mixed reactions. And some did believe in verse 34 that we see, he says, and when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. And lastly, how about certain men clave unto him and believed among the witch was Dionysius and Aeropapcat and a woman named Demarius and others with them. Paul delivers a sermon to the Athenians like no one ever had because here He tells them about the unknown God whom they worship ignorantly. And when he gets done, some believe and some don't. And you know, that's life. Some mocked, they mocked the resurrection. Most of them felt life just ceased at death or else a person passed into some fluffy cloud, some half slumber, half conscious state of being. The idea that life would be so purposeful, that a man would exist forever, that he would literally arise from the dead and live in a perfect state of being. Some put off making the decision. They were thoughtful, trying to look at the message and the implications, what a life living of righteousness would mean. Amen. And so out of all of this, the results that were taking place with all of these ones, Paul turned away from them. He had done his duty. He proclaimed the message of salvation. Now it was up to the audience to repent or not, you know. Some believe Dionysius was one of the judges of the great courts of Athens. Demarius was the name of a woman, respectable woman of Athens that would not have been in the market crowd listening to Paul, but she was probably a woman of immoral character. But there were also others that were saved, but they were unnamed. Boy, does it remind us of so many things that are out in the world today. Why? Because when we look and when we're reminded of some of the things of Athens that transpired. Every one of us as it goes forward and we realize how powerful that the Lord is for each and every one of us as we go through life. Man, you know what? I'm glad that Robert Saucy tells the story of a patient in a Turkish hospital that received a Bible. And when he returned to his home, his new book created some controversy. The Muslim teacher in the village snatched it from his hands, tore its pages, threw them into the streets, and a passing grocer collected the pages of scripture that was scattered all over the town. He used the pages as wrapping paper in his store. And by this mean, the pages of the Bible were distributed all over the town of the Muslims that had shopped at his grocery store. And when the Bible agent arrived at a later time in the town, willing to distribute Bibles at a later time when it was allowed, he found scores of people that were eager to buy the scriptures for themselves. because the torn pages of the scriptures had whetted the appetites for the Word of God. Athens, Greece, we find the Americans of our day have the same attitudes as the Athenians of the past. Paul's adventure in that city gives us the insight of what one man of God can accomplish for Jesus Christ. He stirred him up, praise God! Woo! Thank God! After departing from Berea, Paul went to Athens, which was 200 miles away from Berea. He went over to the very city of philosophy. But he was getting a job done, praise God, because each and every one of us as we go through life, as he dealt with these Stoics and Epidurians and these philosophers and all the things that they meant and what things that it caused. You know what I mean? Because let me tell you something. What good is it to have the wisdom of an engineer that can construct homes, buildings and bridges, but not have wisdom to gain an eternal home in heaven? What good is it to have the wisdom of a famous doctor that can repair the heart or cure diseases, but not have the wisdom to find healing for a sinful heart and a sin sick soul? What good is it to be able to lay up temporary riches on earth, but not to have wisdom to lay up eternal treasures in heaven by serving Christ? Praise God. Well, the Athenians thought Paul was a fool, but I'm glad that as we get ready to close out and as we get closer, the results of the message that when we see, we get to the Romans road. I'm glad and wise old man, he retired and he purchased a modest home near a junior high school. He spent the first few weeks of his retirement in peace and quiet. spreading around his workshop. That was, of course, until the school year began. But on the first day of the school, three young boys full of spit up energy from a full day of having to be inside the classrooms of the school, they came down the street that afternoon. And as they walked down the street, they beat rhythmically on every trash can they passed. And day after day, it was the same thing, beating, clanging, pounding on the rhythm of the cans as they walked down the street. Bing, bing, bing, bong, bong, bong, bong. Finally, the old man felt it was time for action. The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the young musician. And as they worked their way down the street, pounding a tune, ding, dong, bong, bing, bong, on the cans, the old man stopped them and he said, you kids sure are having a lot of fun. And I like seeing young people like you express themselves. That ain't what you thought you was going to hear him say, was it? In fact, I used to do the same thing when I was your age. Will you do for me a favor? I'm going to give every one of y'all a dollar if you promise to come around every single day and you do your thing. And the kids were so elated. They continued to do a bang up job on them trash cans. And after two weeks, the old man greeted the kids again. But this time he had a sad expression. Oh, he said, oh, my goodness, this this recession is really putting a big dent in my income. From now on, I'm only able to pay you 50 cents to beat on the cans. And so the boys, they were not pleased, but they did accept his offer and they continued their afternoon concert. And then a few days later, the old man, he approached him again as they drummed their way down the street on all of the cans. And he said, look, My social security check just isn't stretching far enough with the expenses, so I'm not going to be able to give you more than 25 cents a day. Will that be okay? What? Just a crummy quarter, the boys explained? If you think we're going to waste our time beating these cans around for a quarter, you're nuts. No way, mister. We quit. And the wise old man enjoyed the peace and serenity for the rest of his days. You know what? The Bible says, if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that give it to all men liberally and unbreathed not, and it shall be given to him. And so we need to have that kind of wisdom because the gospel has the power to reach all that are high, all that are low and all that are unsaved. And I hope and pray. that we all can catch on to the wisdom of God and share what Paul did that day when he preached the most magnificent message that he could ever preach in his life. And so I'm glad that it reminds me of the story of the atheists and the Christians that were engaged in an intense public debate. On the blackboard behind the podium, the atheist printed in these large capital letters, GOD, G-O-D, IS, I-S, NO, N-O, WHERE, W-H-E-R-E, exclamation point. And when the Christian arose to offer his rebuttal, he rubbed out the W. that was at the beginning of the word where and he added that letter to the preceding word no. And then the statement said God is now here. Paul exclaimed that the Lord can be found and he wants to be known by mankind and he's not far from us. He is here. I'm glad that we're nothing without God and cannot do anything without his help. John said, I'm the vine, you're the branches. He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. For without me, you can do nothing. Job said, in whose hands is the soul of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. Boy, you know what? Paul concluded by telling them, the Athenians, that since God created man, he cannot be in the form of an idol made by man. And so, boy, did he He reached some, and he reached some, and there's some that he didn't reach. Men are responsible to repent and turn to Christ for salvation. And Paul spoke of the resurrection again. And so I'm glad that when we look, we've got three key areas that Paul addressed. Sin, repent. Righteousness, which is justice and purity. And judgment, that Lord will judge. These are the same areas in which Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would convict people. with sin to repent, righteousness of justice and purity and judgment the Lord will judge. And so I'm glad we see the response, the response of derision. We see that of those mocking and we see many that delayed. Charles Spurgeon told the story of a ship that was in Central America that was lost at sea. She was in serious condition and going down in the water because she had sprung a leak. She hoisted a signal of distress and a ship came close to her and the captain through his trumpet asked, what's wrong? And the reply was, we're in bad repair and going down. Well, okay. Well, the captain said, well, you know what? But he said, wait until morning. And the captain on board of the rescue ship shouted out, let me take your passengers on board now. And the reply, however, was, wait until morning. Once again, the rescue captain cried, you had better let me take your passengers on board now. And again, the reply was, wait until morning. But about an hour and a half later, the locks of the sinking ship were gone and no sound was heard. And she and all on board had gone down to the family's abyss, to those without Christ. Do not say, wait until morning, to the Lord. Trust in him today. Don't delay. Don't miss the opportunity that you've got right now. For every Christian ought to know the gospel, to be able to explain. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Romans 3.23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. And then Romans 5, 8. But God committed his love toward us, and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 10, 9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10, 13. For whosoever, you can put your name in there, shalt call upon the name of the Lord, shalt be saved. The Romans wrote, would you make that commitment that I talk about? understanding that I'm a sinner, but believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross, amen, to free me from the punishment of my sins. I now receive him as my Lord and Savior. And from this day forward, I desire to live to please Christ and in placing my trust in him for the gift of eternal life, amen. Would you, before it's too late, would you make that change? Because he said, if thou shalt confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and shall believe in the heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. How can we emulate the Bereans in our own ways as Christians and search the scriptures and discern the truth by prioritizing our Bibles, our teachings, and our standards? What is our practice and beliefs of society that can parallel with Paul's encounter that he was at in Mars Hill. We deal with materialism, idols, human achievement, and all of these many things in the world. But what ways can we effectively engage with those who hold different worldviews? Paul's example of the gospel message, well, we can understand their perspective by finding common ground as we present the gospel in a compelling and mighty awesome manner of letting our life because you can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips a man would you as I close out Heavenly Father Thank you for the wonderful powerful message that Paul preached in Acts chapter 17 and Lord I pray as we go our separate ways tonight that you'll take this Word of God and change somebody's life even though that we've been doing a Bible study and you can save somebody through a Bible study. Let it be now, Lord, because as you make a move, let them make a move. In Jesus's marvelous mighty name, we pray. Amen. God bless you.