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This weekend we are in PART 2 of a 3-part series on the Life of Paul.

Dr Luke you will recall is also with them, the writer of the Book. Young Timothy, a disciple, is also with them.

From Philippi, where Paul est a church, they journeyed 100 miles to Thessalonica - to Berea - then South to Athens.

Sometimes in life we are handed incredible
opportunities - sometimes we squander them.

ILLUS - The Beatles and DECCA Records or Apple and ATARI Games

God does the same thing with us - He gives us incredible opportunities -

• We will see Paul given the opportunity to speak and preach to the Greek elite, Athens most influential.

• We will see that perhaps Paul didn’t take full advantage of the opportunity and he will describe that for us.

In Athens Paul is like any other visitor, he went sightseeing. Amazed at the beauty of the city, the architecture, the great temples of the Acropolis, the Parthenon.
But he sees over 3000 altars and temples all representing different gods and philosophies and his spirit is disturbed.
• Sounds like the day we live in! Maybe not altars or temples, but we are saturated with that which is wrong and empty.

Colossians 2:8; See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

Philosophy literally means ‘the love of wisdom.’ Unfortunately what was meant for learning and debate has been distorted on most topics.

We are all guided by some philosophy - is yours a Biblical Philosophy or is something else? Are you guided by your parents, books, politics, television or perhaps the world’s race to succeed?

Our philosophy will either bring that which is good and godly or destruction and death.

Pastor Rich once shared the results of a survey taken several years ago. Youth across America were asked a series of questions:

• 30% admitted to stealing something from a store within the last year.
• 83% admitted to lying to their parents about something significant.
• 64% admitted to cheating on tests.
• Shockingly, 93% approved of their own character and ethics & 77% believed they had better character than those around them.

These youth are today’s college students and graduates out looking to start their careers. At the time of this survey these youths could enroll in Philosophy classes at American Universities - such as:

• Appalachian State Univ - “What if Harry Potter is Real?”
• UC San Diego - “God, Sex and Chocolate: Desire and the Spiritual Path”
• Georgetown University - “Philosophy and Star Trek”

So let’s pick up the story with Paul in Athens, among the greatest Philosophers and Influencers and read about God’s Incredible Opportunity for the Apostle Paul.

I. The Audience doesn’t Change God’s Message

Paul was overwhelmed by the idolatry – went out on the streets to preach & reason with the Jews.

He encountered the Epicurean’s and Stoic Philosophers.
• Epicurean – pleasure as the chief goal of human kind.
• Stoics – all about duty and self discipline which ruled their life’s philosophy.

These two didn’t agree on anything, but they did agree on one thing; that Paul was crazy.

• Paul’s taken to the Areopagus - “May we know this new teaching you are proclaiming?”

• All the leading Philosophers are there – They must approve any new Philosophy that comes to town.

A. Believer’s Responsible to Communicate the Gospel

There is nothing new here - the Gospel itself was planned before the foundation of the world. Yet the Philosophers state they must decide if something is better solely because it’s new or modern.

It doesn’t matter what they think - it doesn’t matter what people think when we offer them the truth.

But this incredible opportunity is -

• Like Billy Graham speaking to Harvard Faculty
• How about our own Pastor Rich, a Beaver, being invited to speak to the UO faculty!

Pastor Rich Jones
Pastor Matthew Dodd
Rich Jones Sermons
Rich Jones Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel Worship Center
Calvary Chapel Hillsboro
Calvary Chapel Oregon
Calvary Chapel Beaverton
Calvary Chapel Portland

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