2. If you were a city, which one would you be?

3. Paul in Athens

4. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses
in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

5. and you will be my witnesses

6. and you will be my witnesses
the three types of witness

7. Paul’s witness in Athens
Acts 17:16-34

8. While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

9. While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

10. While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

11. While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
I even found an altar with this inscription:
TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. v.23

12. Identifying Our Idols

13. Identifying Our Idols
Athens
idol

14. Identifying Our Idols
Athens
idol
All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas. v. 21

15. Identifying Our Idols
Athens
idol
reason
All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas. v. 21

16. Identifying Our Idols
Athens DC NY LA
idol
reason

17. Identifying Our Idols
Athens DC NY LA
idol
reason
power
(control)

18. Identifying Our Idols Athens DC NY LA idol reason power (control)
money
(security)

19. Identifying Our Idols Athens DC NY LA idol reason power (control)
money
(security)
pleasure
(ME!)

20. Identifying OUR Idols

21. Identifying OUR Idols
Power
Money
Pleasure

22. Depends on the Time of Day
Identifying OUR Idols
Power
Money
Pleasure
Depends on the Time of Day

23. Depends on the Time of Day
Identifying OUR Idols
Power
Money
Pleasure
Depends on the Time of Day
All of the Above

24. Depends on the Time of Day All of the Above
Identifying OUR Idols
Power
Money
Pleasure
Depends on the Time of Day
All of the Above
It goes beyond swapping your idols for God

25. Depends on the Time of Day All of the Above
Identifying OUR Idols
Power
Money
Pleasure
Depends on the Time of Day
All of the Above
It goes beyond swapping your idols for God
It’s about faith & faithfulness

26. Our Witness: What is the attitude that turns us away from our idols??

27. Our Witness: What is the attitude that turns us away from our idols??
Now faith is being certain of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1

28. Our Witness: What is the attitude that turns us away from our idols??
Now faith is being certain of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1
Faith = God is good.

29. Manny: “I wish I had an elf” Me: “You wish you had an owl?”
Manny: “No! An Elf!”
Me: “Why?”

30. Manny: “I wish I had an elf” Me: “You wish you had an owl?”
Manny: “No! An Elf!”
Me: “Why?”
Manny: “So he could make me toys,
I’m going to ask for one for Christmas.”

31. Faith = God is good.

32. the importance of faithfulness

33. Our Witness: How do we “argue against” the idols of our day??

34. The righteous person will live by his faithfulness. Habakkuk 2:4
Our Witness: How do we “argue against” the idols of our day??
The righteous person will live by his faithfulness. Habakkuk 2:4

35. Faithfulness = Living the Good News
Our Witness: How do we “argue against” the idols of our day??
The righteous person will live by his faithfulness. Habakkuk 2:4
Faithfulness = Living the Good News

36. The importance of faithfulness TODAY

37. Christianity in the United States

38. Christianity in the United States Identify as Christian - 75%

39. Sociologists have long known that Americans who self identify as “Christian” rarely attend any church.

40. Christianity in the United States Identify as Christian - 75%
“Churched” - 55%

41. Christianity in the United States Identify as Christian - 75%
“Churched” - 55%
At church today - ???

42. Christianity in the United States
Most Likely Less Than %
of the country is in church today.

43. So what should our witness look like?

44. Will you commit to a life of faith and faithfulness?
Call to Faith
Will you commit to a life
of faith and faithfulness?