3.  It takes a lot of courage and determination to stand against the majority.  New Testament has many examples of those who stood against the majority:  Jesus vs. Pharisees & Sadducees (Matt. 21, 22 & 23).  Peter and John vs. the Sanhedrin (Acts 4 & 5).  Stephen vs. the council (Acts 7).  Paul at the “Areopagus” (Acts 17:16-33). 3

4.  Hostility evidenced by terminology Athenians used to describe Paul: 4

5.  They call Paul a “spermologos”: 5 “a babbler,” is used in Acts 17:18. Primarily an adjective, it came to be used as a noun signifying a crow, or some other bird, picking up seeds (sperma, “a seed,” lego, “to collect”). Then it seems to have been used of a man accustomed to hang about the streets and markets, picking up scraps which fall from loads; hence a parasite, who lives at the expense of others, a hanger on. Metaphorically it became used of a man who picks up scraps of information and retails them secondhand, a plagiarist, or of those who make a show, in unscientific style, of knowledge obtained from misunderstanding lectures. …a piece of Athenian slang, applied to one who was outside any literary circle, an ignorant plagiarist. (Vine)

6.  Paul a “seed picker”? A plagiarist?  Was Paul beneath the Athenians? No!  Guided by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:13).  Speech not based on human wisdom (1 Cor. 2:4; Gal. 1:11-12).  If you had been traveling with Paul would you have stood with him? 6

7.  Am I willing to confidently stand against the world with Paul?  Am I willing, regardless of what the brethren think/say, to confidently stand with Paul?  Am I willing, regardless of the cost to me (social standing, family relationships, finances, reputation, personal privations, etc.), to confidently stand with Paul?  Am I willing to stand for God and His word and be considered a “seed picker,” “a babbler,” a small-minded nobody, a nincompoop, a prejudiced, judgmental, narrow-minded, self-righteous bigot? 7

8.  Ephesians 4:4-6: “one body” = (v. 4) the church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18) “one body” = (v. 4) the church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18) “one Spirit” ( v. 4) “one Spirit” ( v. 4) “one hope” (v. 4) “one hope” (v. 4) “one Lord” ( v. 5) “one Lord” ( v. 5) “one faith” (v. 5) “one faith” (v. 5) “one baptism” (v. 5) “one baptism” (v. 5) “one God and Father” (v. 6) “one God and Father” (v. 6) 8

9. 9  Galatians 1:6-12: Quran Quran Book of Mormon Book of Mormon Pearl of Great Price Pearl of Great Price Doctrine and Covenants Doctrine and Covenants Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures The Methodist Discipline The Methodist Discipline The Baptist Manual The Baptist Manual Catechism of the Catholic Church Catechism of the Catholic Church You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth Do you boldly welcome the Bible “not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe”? 1 Thessalonians 2:13

10. 10  Acts 16:11-15: Compare Sunday evening and Wednesday attendance with Sunday morning. Compare Sunday evening and Wednesday attendance with Sunday morning. Why? Heb. 10:23-31 Why? Heb. 10:23-31 Philippines “SRO”! Philippines “SRO”! Jesus requires each of us to make a total commitment! Matt. 16:24-26; 5:6; 6:33 Jesus requires each of us to make a total commitment! Matt. 16:24-26; 5:6; 6:33

11. 11  Romans 10:17: Vast majority of denominational world does not really believe Romans 10:17. Vast majority of denominational world does not really believe Romans 10:17. Mary in a grilled cheese sandwich! Mary in a grilled cheese sandwich! Minister to the “whole man.” Minister to the “whole man.” Bible unequivocally teaches faith comes by hearing: Lk. 8:11-15; Eph. 1:13; Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23; Acts 20:32; Rom. 1:16 Bible unequivocally teaches faith comes by hearing: Lk. 8:11-15; Eph. 1:13; Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23; Acts 20:32; Rom. 1:16

12. 12  1 Thessalonians 2:13: World has hated God’s word in every generation.  This generation is no exception! God’s word has been under attack since the beginning: Gen. 3:4 God’s word has been under attack since the beginning: Gen. 3:4 This generation is no exception! This generation is no exception!

13. 13 “You believe in a book that has talking animals, wizards, witches, demons, sticks turning into snakes, food falling from the sky, people walking on water, and all sorts of magical, absurd and primitive stories, and you say that we are the ones that need help?” Dan Barker, co-president, Freedom From Religion Foundation “When I think of all the harm [the Bible] has done, I despair of ever writing anything to equal it.” Oscar Wilde, Irish poet “The Bible has noble poetry in it... and some good morals and a wealth of obscenity, and upwards of a thousand lies.” Mark Twain

14. 14 “To be fair, much of the Bible is not systematically evil but just plain weird, as you would expect of a chaotically cobbled-together anthology of disjointed documents, composed, revised, translated, distorted and ‘improved’ by hundreds of anonymous authors, editors and copyists, unknown to us and mostly unknown to each other, spanning nine centuries.” Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion “Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.” Isaac Asimov, author and professor of biochemistry

15. 15 “The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.” Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion “I always wonder when I talk to religious people, how do you reconcile this idea that it all comes from the Bible, but the Bible is so flawed, it’s either full of nonsense or viciousness.” Bill Maher, comedian and talk show host If we were a dog and God owned us, the cops would come and take us away. Why are we getting our morals out of this book? Why are people following any of it?” Bill Maher, comedian and talk show host

16. 16 Bible claims to inspired by God: 2 Tim. 3:16; Gal. 1:11-12; Eph. 3:5; 1 Cor. 2:10 Bible claims to inspired by God: 2 Tim. 3:16; Gal. 1:11-12; Eph. 3:5; 1 Cor. 2:10 If not, it’s the biggest fraud in history. If not, it’s the biggest fraud in history. Doesn’t deserve even a moment of our attention. Doesn’t deserve even a moment of our attention. Every copy should be destroyed and every effort expended to erase its memory from the annals of history. Every copy should be destroyed and every effort expended to erase its memory from the annals of history.

17. 17 The Anvil of God's Word “Last eve I paused beside the blacksmith’s door, And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime; Then looking in, I saw upon the floor, Old hammers, worn with beating years of time. “‘How many anvils have you had,’ said I, ‘To wear and batter all these hammers so?’ ‘Just one,’ said he, and then with twinkling eye, ‘The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.’ “And so, I thought, the Anvil of God’s Word For ages skeptic blows have beat upon; Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard, The Anvil is unharmed, the hammers gone.” “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

18. 18  Acts 24:24-25: Christianity “cramps my style!” Christianity “cramps my style!” “Sacrifice?!” Lk. 9:23-24; 14:26-27 “Sacrifice?!” Lk. 9:23-24; 14:26-27 “Righteousness” is a foreign concept! “Righteousness” is a foreign concept! “How dare you say I’m going to be judged! Don’t you know the Bible says, ‘Judge not!’” “How dare you say I’m going to be judged! Don’t you know the Bible says, ‘Judge not!’”

19. 19  Jesus didn’t mince words! Matt. 15:9, 12, 13-14; Matt. 23  Apostles didn’t mince words either! Acts 2:22-23; 5:30; 5:29  Paul: Placed blame where it was due: Acts 10:39 Placed blame where it was due: Acts 10:39 Called a spade a spade: 1 Cor. 3:3;; Gal. 3:1 Called a spade a spade: 1 Cor. 3:3;; Gal. 3:1 Named names: 1 Tim. 1:18-20; 2 Tim. 2:13-15 Named names: 1 Tim. 1:18-20; 2 Tim. 2:13-15  No “tip-toe around the Jones’s” preaching!

20. 20  2 Corinthians 9:6-8; 8:1-5  How do you give? Grudgingly and of necessity? Willingly, bountifully? Grudgingly and of necessity? Willingly, bountifully? Liberally or miserly? Beyond your ability? Freely, willingly? Liberally or miserly? Beyond your ability? Freely, willingly?  We must not only give to the local church, but there is more: 1 Tim. 5:8, 16; Matt. 25:31-46; 1 Cor. 9:14; Gal. 6:6-8  How will you fare on judgment day? 1 Jn. 3:17; Matt. 25:31-46

21. 21  1 Corinthians 9:24-27  Most don’t want to hear such a message! Matt. 7:1 Self-control is a consistent Bible message: Eph. 2:1-3; Col. 3:5ff Self-control is a consistent Bible message: Eph. 2:1-3; Col. 3:5ff Christians are supposed to be “changed” people: 1 Pet. 4:3 Christians are supposed to be “changed” people: 1 Pet. 4:3  Can’t make it to heaven without it! 2 Pet. 1:5- 11; 3:11; 2 Cor. 10:5; Gal. 2:20

22. 22  Perhaps the issue of the day!  The Bible clearly teaches that homosexual behavior is sinful: Rom. 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-10  Not against people! Love the sinner, hate the sin!  Our parking lot is filled with protesters denouncing us as prejudiced bigots…where would you stand?

23. 23  Paul taught what Jesus taught: Matt. 19:4-6  Since 2010 all 50 states have “no fault” divorce laws.  In 17 states and the District of Columbia “same-sex” marriage is now legal.  How soon until it is legal in all 50 states?  Don’t think it’s a problem? Think again! 11

24. 24  Paul was a creationist: Rom. 5:14; 1 Cor. 15:22, 45; 1 Tim. 2:13-14  U.S.: 46% believe in Biblical creation; 32% believe in theistic evolution; 15% believe in evolution w/out divine intervention.  The criticism the “evolution community” heaps on creationists is increasingly bitter, belligerent, and even downright hateful. 12

25. 25 12 “[creationists] should no longer be taken seriously.” From Denison Forum on Truth and Culture “Well-educated people who are still creationists have lost the plot somewhere along the line.” From Denison Forum on Truth and Culture “I say to the grown-ups, ‘If you want to deny evolution and live in your world that’s completely inconsistent with everything we’ve observed in the universe that’s fine. But don’t make your kids do it.’” Bill Nye “The Science Guy”

26. 26 12 “Lawrence Krauss, a professor at Arizona State University (theoretical physicist, cvt), said teaching creationism is akin to a mild form of child abuse and that it mirrors the tactics of the Taliban.” Huffington Post “Remember… You may not be able to ‘fix’ stupid, but you sure can hit it with a bat until you feel better.”

27. 27 12 “Dear Creationists, You are stupid. Genuinely stupid. By every conceivable metric that we can assess intelligence, intellect, mental ability, reasoning and sense, you’re stupid. Even the very ability to string words together in coherent ways, you’re stupid. You fail at all of this. You are f***ing stupid. There is no way of getting out of this accusation; it is as close to an absolute, proven fact, that an honest assessment of the situation can get. [multiple page self-described “rant”] ending with: “…In conclusion. F*** you. Go f*** yourself. And may the god you believe in have mercy on your pathetic, idiotic, morally and intellectually bankrupt soul.”

28. 28  Many denominational churches are “charismatic.”  Shows a complete misunderstanding of the purpose, duration, and nature of miracles. Purpose to “confirm the word”: Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4 Purpose to “confirm the word”: Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4 Once word confirmed, miracles ceased: Jn. 16:13; Jude 3; 1 Cor. 13:8-13 Once word confirmed, miracles ceased: Jn. 16:13; Jude 3; 1 Cor. 13:8-13 Modern “tongue speaking” is not the same as in the New Testament: Acts 2:5-11 Modern “tongue speaking” is not the same as in the New Testament: Acts 2:5-11 13

29. 29  “Whatever the individual can do the church can do.”  Why? Used to “justify” practices God does not authorize the church to do.  There is a big difference between the church and the individual! 1 Tim. 5:16; Jas. 1:27  Misplacing the responsibilities of the individual and placing them on the church is unscriptural, it’s wrong! 14

30.  Paul stood as a minority when he proclaimed the one true God.  God’s people will always be a minority! Matt. 7:13-14  May even be a minority within the church!  Takes a strong faith to stand against the majority.  Where will you stand? Matt. 25:23; 7:13-14; Rev. 21:8 30