Gospel for all People
Series: For all People
Speaker: John Lau
Date: 8th August 2021
Passage: Acts 17:1-34
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 When you hear the name Athens, what comes to your mind?
00:00:06 --> 00:00:12 Is it the place where the Olympic Games, which many of us have been watching, stutter?
00:00:13 --> 00:00:17 Or an excellent place to visit when we can travel again?
00:00:19 --> 00:00:25 Maybe it's a place you call home, a place related to your family and ancestry.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:33 We have been looking into the second half of the book of Acts,
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 seeing how Paul and his companion bring the gospel,
00:00:37 --> 00:00:43 the good news of Jesus' saving works through his death and resurrection to all people.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:53 Last week, we were at Philippa, where Paul met with a businesswoman that traced purple quartz,
00:00:53 --> 00:00:57 a slave girl that was exploited, and a brutal drailer.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:05 God's mercy reached out to all of them, all different types of people, and their lives changed.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:11 Today, we left Philippa and carry on traveling south.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 After passing through Thessalonica and Beria,
00:01:16 --> 00:01:21 where Paul speaks to Jews and Gentiles, men and women, we will get to Athens.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:29 Athens reminds me of the elites, the top of the tops, the best of the best,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:33 elite thinkers, elite athletes, elite cultures,
00:01:34 --> 00:01:39 the political and intellectual capital of the great nation of Greece.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:45 We see from last week that God's saving grace is for all people,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:52 the upper class merchandisers, the lower class slave girls, and even the middle class jailers.
00:01:53 --> 00:02:00 But God's gospel is also for the elites, the thinkers, the government officials and politicians.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:05 God's gospel is for everyone, for all people.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:14 To the God-feeling or the religious, men and women, ordinary or prominent,
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 Paul proclaims the same gospel to all these people.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:26 But not all of them have the same response as Lydia and the jailer from chapter 16.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:34 Please turn with me to Acts 17 and go to the St. Paul's apps for today's outline.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:41 Let's find out how God's gospel applies to all people and how should you respond.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:49 Luke, the author of Acts, told us at the beginning of the chapter 17,
00:02:49 --> 00:02:54 when Paul and his companion come to Thessalonica in verse 2-3.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:58 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue,
00:02:59 --> 00:03:04 and on three Sabbath days, he listened with them from the scriptures,
00:03:04 --> 00:03:11 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and raise from the dead.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:15 This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah, he said.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:21 This custom of Paul going first into the synagogue,
00:03:21 --> 00:03:26 the cultural and religious meeting place of the Jews,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 is shown in verse 1, verse 10 and 17,
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 in Thessalonica, Berea and Athens.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:39 This meeting place were not exclusively for Jews only.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:45 They also have God-fearing prominent Greeks.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:52 Jews and Greeks were together learning from the scripture,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 the Old Testament part of our Bible today,
00:03:56 --> 00:03:57 about the Jewish God.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:02 They had to go to the synagogue to learn about the scripture
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 because they were not as privileged as us,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 who has readily easy access to the Bible.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:14 On the other hand, they have the privilege of meeting
00:04:14 --> 00:04:19 and physically interacting with each other to learn about God,
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 which I believe many of us long to be in
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 for our current fight against COVID.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 God sent Paul to the early Christians
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 to make sure they do not just know him intellectually.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:38 He wants them to interact with him relationally.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:42 Moving them from being persuaded
00:04:42 --> 00:04:46 to joining as fellow disciples of the faith.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 God's intention for all people
00:04:50 --> 00:04:55 to be interacting with him relationally never changed.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 Throughout his journey from Philippa to Athens,
00:05:04 --> 00:05:08 Paul proclaims Jesus Christ as a savior
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 and speaks about the necessity
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 of his suffering and resurrection.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:17 The topic of suffering always seems to come
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 to go hand in hand
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 when a discussion about religion and God.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 I believe that reflects
00:05:23 --> 00:05:28 one common narrative of human being.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:34 All people, being good or bad,
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 intelligent or simple-minded,
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 Western or Oriental,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 whatever background, whatever culture,
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 all share the common goal in life.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 I may have to ask Randy to help me go to the next slide.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:52 Thank you.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:56 We ask the common question,
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 how can we avoid unnecessary suffering
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 and have a good and happy life?
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 If you ask anyone,
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 even the words of the criminal,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 do you wish to be happy?
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 No one would say,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 I do not wish it.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 If you ask a criminal,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 why do you commit the crime?
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 He or she may say,
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 so I can have what I do not have.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 But why do you wish to have
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 what you do not have?
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 Because it feels bad not to.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 They think getting what they want
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 will make them happy.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 They want to be made happy
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 by what is wrong and terrible
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 is the least of their worries.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 For it is good to be happy.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:51 Whom Paul encounters in the marketplace of Athens
00:06:51 --> 00:06:55 typify this pursuit of life's common goal.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 In verse 16,
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 while Paul was waiting for them in Athens,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 he was greatly distressed
00:07:02 --> 00:07:05 to see that the city was full of idols.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 So he listened in the synagogue
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 with both Jews and Godfinged Greeks,
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 as well as in the marketplace day by day
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 with those who happened to be there.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:22 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 began to debate with him.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 Some of them asked,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 what is this Babylon trying to say?
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 Other remarks,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 he seems to be advocating foreign gods.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 They say this because Paul was preaching
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 the good news about Jesus
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 and the resurrection.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:42 Paul met two groups of philosophers
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 in the marketplace
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 in a very simplistic way.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 If you ask the Epicurean philosophers,
00:07:55 --> 00:07:58 what makes a happy life?
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 They will mostly answer,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 the pleasure of the body.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:07 And to the Stoic,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 what things makes a happy life?
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 They will say the virtue of the mind.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 There are two groups of people
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 who sit at the opposite end
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 with competing views.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 But they both pursue the same thing,
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 the happiness of life.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 And because of this common pursuit,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 they are never mutually exclusive.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:36 All humans fall between these two ends.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 One end promotes that
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 God has no interest in or influence
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 on the affair of man.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:49 The gods are supremely happy and serene
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 for they are not bothered by humans.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 There is nothing to fear or worry
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 about God or afterlife.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 When one dies, all is over.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 Both body and soul are gone
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 and no future punishment to worry about.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 The Eastern religion of Taoism
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 and some New Age religion
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 that pursues tranquility of soul
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 sits at this end.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:19 They understand the world around them
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 by sense perception.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 Truth is what they can feel and touch.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 What is natural to their senses
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 must be true.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 The world is a garden,
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 not a jungle.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 Enjoyment of life
00:09:36 --> 00:09:40 and happiness
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 comes from a community
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 of good friends
00:09:43 --> 00:09:47 as their essential pleasure.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 Men and women
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 with equal status
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 in a standard way
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 of life
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 helps them
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 to shelter
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 and protect the fearful.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 We find it very hard
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 to bear
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 to be restricted
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 from staying in contact
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 and enjoying close interaction
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 with friends
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 and other humans,
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 which is most likely
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 because this kind of value
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 in our mindset.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 If at this end
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 is the enjoyment of life,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 the opposite end
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 is to endure life.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 When the goings get tough,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 the toughs get going.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 Kind of attitude.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 The body and physical world
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 are evil
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 and stop us
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 from thoroughly
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 enjoying the spiritual,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:39 where our mind
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 will return to
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 after death.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 So we should work hard
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 at putting our minds
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 over our body.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:48 However,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 life is also
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 based on fate.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 We are all actors
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 in a drama
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 chosen by the author
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 of life.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 If it is a short drama,
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 then in a short one.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 If it is a long,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 then in a long one.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:09 If it is the author's
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 pleasure
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 that you should
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 and as a poor man,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 see that you will
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 act it well.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 Or a disabled person,
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 or a ruler,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 or a private citizen.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 Your life is to act well
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 the given part,
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 but you have no business
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 choosing which part
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 to play.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 to play.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 The supreme God,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 or guiding principle,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 determines everything
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 that happens
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 in the world.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 So,
00:11:40 --> 00:11:43 whatever will be,
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 will be.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 To them,
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 God is not just
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 playing with our lives,
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 but also embedded
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 in everything
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 we can find
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 in this world.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 It manifests itself
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 into a different God
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 for different people
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 and culture.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 People at this end
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 tend to be
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 very religious.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 And a lot of
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 world religions
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 fall into that.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 Religious people,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 no matter from the
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 East or the West,
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 tend to think that
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 to ensure prosperity
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 and blessing
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 for their life
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 is to do good deeds
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 or offer up
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 offerings.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 If God is happy,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 human will get
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 happiness
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 and good fortune
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 in return.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 Otherwise,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 we will get
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 what we deserve
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 for upsetting God.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 We all
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 live through life
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 trying to find
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 a happy middle.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 And in our
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 current climate,
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 it is much
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 harder to come by.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 Paul's speech
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 at the
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 Aragogos
00:12:58 --> 00:13:02 in Athens
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 and what he said
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 to the
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 Thessalonians
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 and the
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 Berians
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 explicitly
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 and implicitly
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 point to a
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 different perspective
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 of life.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 And the
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 ultimate answer
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 to our
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 shared pursuit
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 of a happy
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 life.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:23 to the
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 Jew
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 and
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 God-feeling
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 Gentiles
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 in Thessalonica
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 and
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 Beria,
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 Paul spoke
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 explicitly
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 in verse 3
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 to say that
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 this Jesus
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 I am proclaiming
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 to you
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 is the Messiah.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 And the
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 summary
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 by those
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 unfriendly
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 Jews in
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 verse 6
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 to 7
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 say this,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 this man
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 who have
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 caused
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 trouble
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 all over
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 the world
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 have come
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 here
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 saying that
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 there is
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 another king
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 one called
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 Jesus.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 In
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 Athens
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 he spoke
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 implicitly
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 without
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 mentioning
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 his name
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 or quoting
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 any scripture
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 that Jesus
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 is the
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 only answer.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 Paul then
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 stood up
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 in the
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 meeting
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 of the
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 area
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 of
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 this
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 and said
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 people of
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 Athens
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 I see that
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 in every
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 way
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 you are
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 very
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 religious
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 for as
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 I walk
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 around
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 and look
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 carefully
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 at your
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 objects of
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 worship
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 I even
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 find
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 an altar
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 which
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 was
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 which
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 this
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 inscription
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 to an
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 unknown
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 God.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 So you
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 are ignorant
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 of the
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 very things
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 you worship
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 and this
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 is what
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 I am
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 going to
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 proclaim
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 to you.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 The
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 God
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 who
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 made
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 the
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 world
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 and
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 everything
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 in it
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 is
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 Lord
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 of
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 heaven
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 and
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 earth
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 and
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 does
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 not
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 live
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 in
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 temple
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 built
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 by
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 human
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 hands
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 and
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 he
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 is
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 not
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 served
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 by
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 human
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 hands
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 as
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 if
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 he
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 needed
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 anything
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 rather
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 he
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 himself
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 gives
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 everyone
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 life
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 and breath
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 and
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 everything
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 else.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 Paul
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 deals
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 with
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 the
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 superstition
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 of
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 religious
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 people
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 straight away.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 God
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 of
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 the
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 Bible
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 is
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 the
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 world's
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 creator
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 and
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 is
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 not
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 limited
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 to
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 one
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 location.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 The
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 Lord
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 of
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 heaven
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 and
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 earth
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 is
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 not
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 easily
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 manipulated
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 by
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 humans
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 or
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 need
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 humans
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 for
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 anything.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 He
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 himself
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 gives
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 life
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 and
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 breath
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 and
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 everything
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 is
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 us
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 human
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 that
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 needed
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 God
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 and
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 God
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 is
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 all
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 that
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 we
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 need.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 From
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 one
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 man
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 he
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 made
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 all
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 nations
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 that
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 they
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 should
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 inhabit
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 the
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 whole
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 earth
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 and
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 he
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 marked
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 out
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 for
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 there
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 upon
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 the
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 time
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 in
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 history
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 and
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 the
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 boundary
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 for
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 the
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 lands.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 God
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 did
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 this
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 so
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 that
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 they
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 would
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 seek
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 him
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 and
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 perhaps
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 reach
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 out
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 for
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 him
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 and
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 find
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 him
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 though
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 he
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 is
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 not
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 far
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 from
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 any
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 one
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 of
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 us.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 Paul
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 carries
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 on
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 to point
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 out
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 that
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 God
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 is
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 not
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 far
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 from
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 each
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 one
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 of
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 us
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 and
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 he
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 ruled
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 for
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 us
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 to
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 seek
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 him
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 and
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 find
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 him.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 The
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 word
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 perhaps
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 in
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 between
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 seeking
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 and
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 finding
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 highlights
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 God's
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 God's
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 sovereignty
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 does
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 not
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 diminish
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 human
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 responsibility.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 Perhaps
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 reach
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 out
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 for
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 him
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 in
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 first
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 that
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 without
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 reaching
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 out
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 humans
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 will
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 not
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 find
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 him.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 The
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 gospel
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 unites
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 God's
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 sovereignty
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 and
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 human
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 responsibility
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 in a
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 brilliant
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 mystery.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 What we
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 are to
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 reach out
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 for is
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 not the
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 pleasure
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 of the
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 body
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 or the
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 virtue
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 of the
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 mind.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 We are
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 to reach
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 out for
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 God and
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 to live
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 out his
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 purpose for
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 our life,
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 to honor
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 and glorify
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 him.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 These two
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 verses
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 provide the
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 best answer
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 for anyone
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 that are
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 uncertain or
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 anxious about
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 the purpose
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 of their
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 life.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 the answer
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 to a
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 good and
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 happy
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 life
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 is
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 God.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 There is
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 nothing
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 more
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 rewarding
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 than to
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 have a
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 vibrant
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 relationship
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 with the
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 creator
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 of this
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 world.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 What can
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 make life
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 happier
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 than
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 communion
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 with
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 God?
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 God
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 is the
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 answer
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 to the
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 common
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 pursuits
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 of all
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 people.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 When we
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 understand
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 our
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 purpose
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 and find
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 our
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 answer
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 of
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 happy
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 life,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 we will
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 be able
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 to stop
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 doing
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 those
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 meaningless
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 things.
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 Therefore,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 since we
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 are God's
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 offspring,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 we should
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 not think
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 that the
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 divine
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 being is
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 like gold
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 or silver
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 or stone,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 an image
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 made by
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 human
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 design
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 and skill.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 The
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 conclusion
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 to Paul's
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 speech is
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 since we
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 are made
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 by God
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 in his
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 image,
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 we must
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 not think
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 that we
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 can create
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 an image
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 and call
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 it God.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 it is
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 not a
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 small
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 matter
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 to make
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 ourselves
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 objects
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 of worship
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 and
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 robbing
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 the
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 created
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 God
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 of
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 his
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 glory.
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 Paul
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 continued
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 to say,
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 in the
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 past,
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 God
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 overlooked
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 such
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 ignorance,
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 but now
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 he commands
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 all people
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 everywhere
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 to repent.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 God
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 has set a
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 day
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 to judge
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 the world
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 with
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 justice
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 by the
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 man
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 he has
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 appointed.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 He has
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 given proof
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 of this
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 to everyone
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 by raising
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 him up
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 from the
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 dead.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 All
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 people
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 have the
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 same
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 destiny.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 God
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 has set
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 a day
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 to judge
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 the world
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 with
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 justice.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 We all
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 have to face
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 a judgment
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 demonstrated
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 by the
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 man
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 who has
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 resurrected
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 from the
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 dead.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 That man
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 is Jesus
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 Christ.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 Given
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 this
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 inevitable
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 future
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 day of
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 judgment,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 God
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 commands
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 all people
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 everywhere
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 to repent.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 You
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 might think,
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 what am I
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 to repent
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 of?
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 Theologian
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 J.I.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 Packer
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 explained,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 repentance
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 means
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 justice.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 changing
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 your mind
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 so that
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 your
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 view,
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 values,
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 goals,
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 and ways
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 are changed
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 and your
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 life is
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 lived
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 differently.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 The
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 change is
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 radical,
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 both inward
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 and outward.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 Mind
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 and judgment,
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 will and
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 affections,
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 behavior and
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 lifestyle,
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 motives and
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 purpose
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 are all
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 involved.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 Repentance
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 means
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 starting
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 a new
00:20:00 --> 00:20:02 life,
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 life,
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 to live
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 a new
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 life.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 The new
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 life lived
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 under the
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 new king,
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 Jesus Christ.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 In Jesus'
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 death and
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 resurrection,
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 this new
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 life starts
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 by believing,
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 believing
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 in Jesus,
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 our Lord and
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 Savior.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 Paul preached
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 the same
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 gospel in
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 three places.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 Each
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 places,
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 verse 4,
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 12,
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 and 32,
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 some believers
00:20:36 --> 00:20:38 allow themselves
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 to be persuaded
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 and believed
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 and followed.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 we also
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 see some
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 scoffers
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 who mock
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 and sneeze
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 and willing
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 to wait
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 out and
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 accept the
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 evidence
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 like in
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 Athens.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 And the
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 worst of the
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 characters
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 is a
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 jealous
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 Thessalonian
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 Jew who
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 ran up
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 hooligans
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 to form a
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 mob and
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 start a riot
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 to stop
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 Paul and
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 his companion
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 from sharing
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 the gospel.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 not just
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 willing to
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 believe
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 themselves,
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 they also
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 stop others
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 from looking
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 into it.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 In
00:21:17 --> 00:21:19 Thessalonica,
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 some of the
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 Jews were
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 persuaded and
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 joined Paul
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 and Silas
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 as a large
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 number of
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 God-feeling
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 Greeks and
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 quite a few
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 prominent women.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 But other
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 Jews were
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 jealous,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 so they
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 round up
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 some bad
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 characters from
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 the marketplace,
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 form a mob,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 and start a
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 riot in the
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 city.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 And at
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 Beria,
00:21:40 --> 00:21:43 in verse
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 12,
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 as a result,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 many of
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 them believed,
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 as did also
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 a number of
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 prominent
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 Greek women
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 and many
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 Greek men.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 But when the
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 Jews in
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 Thessalonica
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 learned that
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 Paul was
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 preaching the
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 word of
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 God at
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 Beria,
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 some of
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 them went
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 there too,
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 agitating the
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 crowd and
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 stirring them
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 up.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 And then in
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 verse 32,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 when they
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 heard about
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 the resurrection
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 of the
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 dead,
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 some of
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 them
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 sneezed,
00:22:10 --> 00:22:12 but others
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 said,
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 we want to
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 hear you
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 again on
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 this subject.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 At that,
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 Paul left
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 the council,
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 some of the
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 people become
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 followers of
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 Paul and
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 believed.
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 we have
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 those who
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 believe and
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 follow and
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 those who
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 scoff and
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 sneeze in
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 response to
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 God's command
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 to change
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 their mind
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 about him,
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 to repent
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 and start
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 living a new
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 life with
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 views,
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 values,
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 goals,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 and ways
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 based on
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 his teaching.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 We also
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 have those
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 who doubt,
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 who say,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 we want to
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 hear you again
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 on this
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 subject,
00:22:49 --> 00:22:51 ever
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 inquiring,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 but never
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 embrace a
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 conclusion.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 What kind
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 of a
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 listener are
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 you?
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 What is
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 your response
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 to God's
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 calling today?
00:23:02 --> 00:23:08 Now in
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 the
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 Berean Jews
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 were of
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 more noble
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 character than
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 those in
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 Thessalonica,
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 for they
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 received a
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 message with
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 great eagerness
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 and examined
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 the scripture
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 every day to
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 see if what
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 Paul said
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 was true.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 As a result,
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 many of them
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 believed,
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 as did also
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 a number of
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 prominent Greek
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 and women
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 and many
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 Greek men.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 Many
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 people in
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 Berean
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 believed
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 because they
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 received the
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 message with
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 great eagerness
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 and examined
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 the scripture
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 every day to
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 see if what
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 Paul said
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 was true.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 They
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 embraced and
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 received the
00:23:46 --> 00:23:48 message and
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 they go to
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 a scripture
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 positively to
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 confirm Jesus'
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 identity as
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 our king and
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 savior.
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 To become a
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 believer and
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 grow as a
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 disciple of
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 God,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 it's not
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 enough only
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 to sit and
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 listen.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 The Berean
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 examined the
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 scripture every
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 day after they
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 received the
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 gospel.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 Unlike us,
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 we have easy
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 access to the
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 Bible.
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 The Berean
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 would be
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 examining the
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 scripture daily
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 in fellowship
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 with others
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 in the synagogue.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 And through
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 this fellowship
00:24:24 --> 00:24:26 and interaction,
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 living daily
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 under the
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 lordship of
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 Jesus, his
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 death and
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 resurrection
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 enabled them
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 to repent
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 and change
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 their perspective
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 on life and
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 the world they
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 are living in.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 The way a
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 faithful Christian
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 will grow is
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 through daily
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 Bible reading
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 and prayer,
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 a regular
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 devotional time
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 with God in
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 fellowship with
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 others.
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 our current
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 situation makes
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 it more
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 crucial for
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 us to
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 maintain our
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 connection and
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 fellowship with
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 other believers.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 believers.
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 Have you
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 connected with
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 anyone recently?
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 Have you
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 responded to
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 the gospel
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 call for you
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 to repent?
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 Are the
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 changes in
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 your life
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 reflect your
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 acknowledgement
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 of Jesus as
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 your savior
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 and his
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 life lived
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 out in
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 faith under
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 his
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 lordship?
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 Do you
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 know who
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 you are
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 worshiping?
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 are you
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 worshiping a
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 thing that
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 you made
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 up?
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 Or are you
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 worshiping
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 God, the
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 creator of
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 the world,
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 the lord of
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 heaven and
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 earth?
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 From one
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 man, God
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 made all
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 nations that
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 they should
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 inhabit the
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 whole earth
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 and he
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 marked out
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 for their
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 point of
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 time in
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 history and
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 the boundary
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 for their
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 lands.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 God did
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 this so
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 that they
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 may seek
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 him and
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 perhaps reach
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 out for
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 him and
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 find him
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 though he
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 is not far
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 from any
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 one of
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 us.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 God is
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 not far
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 from you.
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 Reach
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 out, feel
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 your way
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 for him
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 and you
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 will find
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 him.
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 Jesus is
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 all you
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 need.
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 Believe in
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 Jesus.
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 Worship him
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 alone.