Sermon Tone Analysis

*Bothwell & Clachan – April 27, 2008*

*Series: 50 Days of “Easter” - Why Did They Believe This?*

*Message: No. 05.

“Some Scholars Were Convinced” (Acts 17:16-34)*

 

*"God" Not Found *

One lady writes: I was listening to my 5-year-old son, Matthew, as he worked on his Speak and Spell (TM) computer.

He was concentrating intensely, typing words for the computer to say back to him.

Matthew punched in the word "God."

To his surprise, the computer said, "Word not found."

He tried again with the same reply.

With great disgust, he stared at the computer and told it in no uncertain terms, "Jesus is not going to like this!"[1]

 

Whether Jesus likes it or not, it is obvious that there is a lot of confusion about him in our world.

And there are quite obviously many versions and variations of belief.

*Tiger Woods Practices Two Faiths*

Tiger Woods claims to practice two faiths.

He was put on the spot by an evangelical guest of Nike on October 9, 2006, during an exclusive golf outing for top business and entertainment executives.

That day, 30 people gathered at the Trump golf course in Los Angeles for the 2006 ''Tee It up with Tiger Woods'' event, which included a private golf session and lunch with the living legend.

During the lunch, there was a question-and-answer session with Woods.

Most people asked about their swings or golf questions.

However, one guest of Nike stood up and asked two questions: "Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

And if not, prayerfully, would you?"

A source present at the lunch later said: ''You could have heard a pin drop.

People were mortified.

But Tiger was as unflappable as he is on the golf course."

Tiger said: "My father was a Christian—of course Christianity was part of my life.

But my mother is Asian, and Buddhism was also part of my childhood.

So I practice both faiths respectfully.''[2]

*Halle Berry Not Sure Which God to Believe In*

In contrast to Woods, celebrity Halle Berry, seems to be much more confused than enlightened.

She has said: I believe in God.

I just don't know if that God is Jehovah, Buddha or Allah.[3]

This raises a problem.

* *

*Many Truths*

The notion that there are many truths might seem well suited to a diverse society.

But when everyone is free to define truth as he or she prefers, as at present, the result is an intellectual and moral shouting match in which the people with the loudest voices are most likely to be heard.[4]

*Beyond Feelings*

Unfortunately, even in this process, we often stop too soon.

“Feeling better has become more important to us than finding God.”[5]

I find it interesting that even non-theologians think it is important to have a belief system.

*George Lucas on Belief in God *

Back in the very secular 1970’s even Star Wars director George Lucas was trying to nudge us in the right direction.

He said in Time Magazine:

"I put the Force in the movie (Star Wars) in order to awaken a certain kind of spirituality in young people—more a belief in God than a belief in any particular religious system.

I wanted to make it so that young people would begin to ask questions about the mystery.

Not having enough interest in the mysteries of life to ask the question, 'Is there a God or is there not a God?'—this is for me the worst thing that can happen.

I think you should have an opinion about that.

Or you should be saying, 'I'm looking.

I'm very curious about this and am going to continue to look until I can find an answer, and if I can't find an answer then I'll die trying.'

I think it's important to have a belief system and to have a faith."[6]

Partly as a result of Lucas ground breaking movies there has been more of a willingness by other director’s to also consider spiritual themes.

* *

*"Wide Awake": Where Do You Search For God?*

The movie /Wide Awake/ is about a Catholic school boy's search for God.

The boy, Joshua, specifically wants to find out whether or not his deceased grandfather is okay.

Joshua and his friend Dave are sitting in a car in a garage having a discussion.

Both are about 10 years old.

Joshua says: "You know what, Dave?

I'm going on a mission.

A real mission."

"What kind of mission?" Dave asks.

"The kind where you're looking for something important," says Joshua.

"What are you gonna look for?"

"God."

"God?" Dave is incredulous.

"What for?"

"I just want to talk to him."

"Why?"

"To make sure my grandpa is okay."

Dave thinks for a moment, then says: "Remember when you told me I was stupid for staring at that bug lamp on my porch for six hours hoping the purple light would have gamma rays and turn me into the Incredible Hulk so I could fight crime?

Your mission is more stupid than that."

"Why?" Joshua asks.

"'Cause you can't look for God."

"Why not?"

"Where in the world are you gonna look?"[7]

 

*Don't Just Look for Yourself*

The Bible does have the answer to that question.

It tells us to keep seeking God with our whole heart.[8]

It says that if we look for Jesus we will actually find God himself, and with him everything else thrown in.[9]

 

*Life's Turning Point*

So, yes, it does make a difference how or for what we are searching.

The turning point in our lives is when we stop seeking the God we want and start seeking the God who is.[10]

 

*Speaking to the Secularized*

I also believe that we must be sensitive to the religious climate that surrounds us as we go about our every day lives.

Bill Hybels leads one of the original so-called “seeker’s” Churches.

He writes: If we're going to speak with integrity to secularized men and women, we need to understand the way they think.[11]

*Paul Quoting Pagan Poets*

In the Bible passage we just read, Paul, the Missionary was trying to do just that.

Scholars have looked at these verses and discovered that Paul must have read pagan poets because in Acts 17:28 he quotes Aratus of Cilicia when he says 'We're the God-created' (in Acts 17:28).

He also appears to have quoted two others (Titus 1:12; 1 Corinthians 15:33).[12]

*TORMENTED BY TRANSGRESSION*

As Paul walked about the city of Athens, he knew he had to nudge that society towards the way of Jesus.

He saw a marketplace lined with idols.

This fact “deeply troubled” him (Acts 17:16).

It was as if he was filled with a “sudden, violent emotion.”

Paul was filled with a combination of anger and grief.

Seeing people spiritually lost, blinded by Satan, and trapped in a pagan culture caused him to be in a state of emotional upheaval.

Though highly educated, the Athenians were ignorant of the one true God.

It’s interesting to note that Paul turned his internal turmoil into positive action.

He was paying close attention as he walked around the city of Athens.

He then was able to use the monument /To the God Nobody Knows /(Acts 17:23) as an object lesson.

Paul was looking for opportunities to share the truth about Jesus Do we simply shun those who are outside the Church or even talk badly of them?