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An Altar To The Unknown God
– Acts Seventeen –
In Acts 17 we have record of the missionaries
in the city of
The envy of the Jews led them to secure
certain base people to cry out against the brethren. They even attacked the
house of Jason hoping to bring these preachers out to the people for
persecution. They accused Paul and Silas of making trouble all over the world.
The charge was, "These that have turned the world upside down are come
hither also."
Jason was charged because he had received the
brethren into his house. The people were upset because these men had said that
Jesus is king. They made Jason and others give proof that they were peace
loving and then let them go.
After this tumult Paul and Silas were sent to
Paul's spirit was stirred at the sight of much idolatry in
Paul preached Christ at Thessalonica – Acts 17:1-9:
Paul and his co-workers left
Paul used the scripture to show that the Messiah had to suffer and
die for sins. He presented proof that Jesus was raised again from the dead, and
that this Jesus is the Christ. The result of the preaching was that a good
number of God-fearing Greeks and some of the chief women became Christians.
There was, however, opposition to the truth. The Jews stirred up some base
fellows and attacked the house of Jason where these preachers had stayed. The
mob was looking for Paul and Silas, but did not find them. Those that opposed
Christianity said, "These that have turned the world upside down are come
hither also." What was said in derision was in fact a great compliment.
The things that seemed to disturb the unbelieving Jews most were: (1) preaching
concerning the resurrection, and (2) saying the Jesus was king.
The noble conduct of the Bereans – Acts 17:10-15:
Out of love for their spiritual fathers and concern for their safety the brethren
sent Paul and Silas to
The Jews of Thessalonica
were not content to leave things alone. They came to
An
altar to an unknown God – Acts 17:16-23: While Paul waited for his
co-workers his spirit was stirred by all the idolatry in
Paul was brought to Areopagus
to be examined by the most skillful judge concerning his doctrine. They had
never heard about Jesus, or about salvation through Him, nor of His
resurrection from the dead. They wanted to hear for themselves the things
spoken by Paul. The Athenians "spent their time in nothing
else but either to tell or to hear some new thing." Paul began his speech
by saying that he had observed that the people of
A sermon about the one true God – Acts 17:24-34:
In his sermon Paul showed that the true God made the
world and all things therein. This God is Lord of heaven and earth. He gives to
all life, and breath, and all things. He is the Creator having made of one
blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth. In the one
true God we live, and move, and have our being. You cannot make an image of or
to this God. The God of heaven has commanded all men every where to repent in
view of coming judgment. The assurance of coming judgment is the resurrection.
"When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some
mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter." The
discussion ended with Paul having no more to say to them, or they to him.
"Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was
Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with
them." These were some that received the love of the truth and so they
were saved. Paul could say, “To the one we are the savour of death unto death;
and to the other the savour of life unto life...?" (II Corinthians 2:16)
The resurrected Christ provides hope to all that obey Him.
To become a Christian you must hear the
gospel (Romans
- - -
- Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer
List:
2. Please
Pray For: (a)
Alan Jackson as he serves in
3. Ice
Cream Supper: Everyone is invited to an ice cream supper after services
on Sunday night August 20th. Please bring finger foods and homemade
ice cream.
4. Back To School Party: A “Back to School” party is planned
for September 2nd after evening service. Please bring school
supplies to be given to needy children and also bring finger foods. See Darrell
Powell or Alicia Sexton for details.
5. 50th
Anniversary Announcement: Celebrate a 50th Anniversary with Dennis
and Virginia Lowery on
6. Kitchen Sign Out Sheet: There is a sign out sheet in the kitchen for all kitchen and all-purpose room items. Please help us keep up with things. At present one of the new 8 foot table cloths is missing. If you know where it is, please let Deborah Stallings know. Thanks!
7. Elders
Request Our Help: Our Elders need our help in some areas around the
building: (a) If you use the
building please make sure all a/c units are turned off. (Please don’t adjust
temperature just turn the units on and off.) Please see that lights are off and
all doors locked. (b) The stoves in
the kitchen get very hot. Please help keep children safe when they must be in
the kitchen. (c)
Let us all try to limit going in and out of the auditorium during worship. We
want to encourage worship and never distract others. (d) There is so much love and fellowship at the Walnut Street
Church of Christ. Please keep up the good work. It is exciting that we are
blessed with many small children and teens. May God help us all go to heaven together.
8. Birthdays:
Celebrating birthdays this week are: August 22nd Kayla Thomas,
August
23rd Kaitlyn Newton, August 24th Chase Black, August
25th Amy Buck, and August 26th Lisa Bagents
and Alicia Sexton.
9. Bridal Shower: for Jennifer McCartha bridal elect of Andrew Moorer, where Fort Deposit Church of Christ, when Sunday,
10. Wedding Announcement: Mr. and Mrs.
Rodney McCartha and Mr. and Mrs. Davis Moorer request the honour
of your presence at the marriage of their children Jennifer Leigh-Ann and
Andrew Peter on Saturday, September 9, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. Luverne Church of
Christ.
11. Area Events: (a) August 20 – Homecoming – Strata Church of Christ (Lapine) – George Herring – Sunday School 10:00 a.m.,
Worship 11:00 a.m., Area Wide Third Sunday Singing 2:30 p.m., and Worship 4:00
p.m. (b) August 26-31 – “Polishing
the Pulpit” – call 256-435-9356 for details. (c) September 25-27 – Spiritual Enrichment
Forum at Embassy Suites Hotel – Southern
Self Control
In Second Peter chapter one, Peter gives some great encouragement as well as some great challenges. He writes in verse 3 that God has given us “all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us…” It is wonderful to know that through the knowledge that God has revealed to us through His word, we have access to the knowledge of “all things” of importance. But with this knowledge comes responsibility. He goes on to write: “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness…” (II Peter 1:5-6). We must be making every effort to add to our faith those things that God desires, “for if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 8). I would like to concentrate on one of these traits.
Self control is the third quality that Peter encourages Christians to add to their faith. He expressed a profound, bold thought when he wrote that “if you practice these qualities, you will never fail” (v. 10). He didn’t say that we would fail or stumble sometimes…or every once in a while. He said these are the qualities that will keep you from failing…it’s up to you! Are you adding self control to your faith? Do you have self control over the places that you go, the things that you say, and the things that you look at? Do you have self control when you are with your friends, with strangers, and when you are all alone? When you add self control to you faith, you will never fail!
Paul explained that athletes who run races exercise self control in all things in order to receive a perishable crown. A good athlete will practice self control in what he eats and drinks and how he works out his body. He will be careful to get enough sleep, and won’t engage in activities that will hinder his performance when he’s preparing for an event. How much more should we, who are competing for an eternal prize, practice self control to keep ourselves in shape for the spiritual race?
- - - - Darrell Powell
A lot of
church members who are singing “Standing on the Promises” are just sitting on
the premises.
Don’t just own a Bible; read it!
(334-382-3001)