"Taking The Resurrection With You"
Acts 17:15-34
(all Scripture quoted here is the NASB, unless otherwise stated)

Introduction: Every Spring it seems like most of the world begins to get ready to observe Easter (Resurrection Sunday). Down here on the Gulf Coast many prepare by celebrating Mardi Gras, you know sin all you can now because Easter means we have to behave for a month afterwards. It's sort of like being a "sin camel" where you can store up your sins in your hump to see you through the religious desert that lies ahead called Easter. To others, this time of year is a time for new dresses, family visitation, Easter egg hunts and lots of food. To the business world it is a time to make more money selling chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chickens. But to the believer of Jesus Christ, Resurrection Sunday should be more than just a once-a-year reminder of what Christ has done for them. When we make a once-a-year event, it is sort of like resurrecting the resurrection each year. We should celebrate Christ's resurrection daily as God gives us the opportunity to bring the good news to a world that has no hope outside of there physical life on this earth. We need to be like the apostle Paul who celebrated Christ's resurrection daily, by taking it with him and proclaiming it at every opportunity that God gave him. Today as you leave this service I want to encourage you to Take The Resurrection With You and don't leave it here for next year.

I. By Being Open To God's Direction In Every Situation (vv.15-17a).
1. Paul was sensitive to the Holy Spirit's moving (v.16).

A. Paul's spirit was grieved and aroused to anger when he saw the idolatry.

1) Grieved & roused to anger (AMP).

2) "provoked," ("paroxuno" {par-ox-oo'-no: v, indic, imperf, pass, 3 per, sg}); lit., "sharpen," used here figuratively as to arouse, excite, stimulate, spur on; used in the negative as to make angry, to irritate, to cause to be upset.

A) Indicative Mood: This implies the certainty and the reality of Paul reaction.

B) The Imperfect Tense: shows that Paul's reaction to what he saw began when he first arrived in Athens and continued the whole time while he was there.

B. Paul didn't just react initially to what he saw, but it troubled him throughout his stay at Athens.

A. Paul wasn't just convicted by what he saw, but it moved him into action.

B. Commitment is conviction in action.

- There is a lot of conviction in churches today, but little commitment.

Application: What started out as what seemed to be a sightseeing tour of this famous city that was the center of religion, culture and a world famous university, for Paul turned into a great movement of God. The sad fact of today is while a lot of Christians shake their heads that the things of the world around them, they are not moved or willing to be moved into action. In fact, according to the Barna Research Group's poll of Christians last year, 50 % of Christians DON''T believe that they have a personal responsibility to tell others about their religious beliefs. If that is not bad enough, 44% of Christians believe that it doesn't matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons, and 51% of Christians believe that is a person is good enough they will get to heaven. Also, 41% of Christians believe that ALL PEOPLE will experience the same outcome after death, regardless of their religious beliefs. If Paul and the other apostles would have had the same attitude where would we be today? I think that we can see why our nation is suffering today and why there is a lack of Christian influence in our society. There is something wrong with a Christian faith that is not moved to action by the idolatry that surrounds it. If the resurrection of Christ is nothing more than a once-a-year celebration, then what does that say about our faith. Everyday should be a day of celebrating Christ's resurrection, and the best way to do that is to share it with others.

II. By Recognizing Those Who Need The Gospel (vv.17b-34)
1. The Jewish people (which included Gentile converts) of our world (v.17b).

2. The People in the Market place (v.17c).

3. The Epicureans of our world (v.18a).

A. Those who seek after pleasure and happiness and believe everything just happens by chance.

B. They believed that pleasure was attained by avoiding excesses and that they could avoid the fear of death by seeking tranquility and freedom of pain, and by loving mankind.

C. They believed that if gods exist they do not become involved in human events.

A. They were Pantheistic in their view, which teaches that everything is God and God is in everything.

B. They were materialistic, full of pride, and personal independence (Fate).

6. The strangers of our world (v.21b).

7. The religious people of our world (v.22).

A. "religious" ("deisidaimonesteros" (dice-ee-dahee-mon-es'-ter-os: adj, compar, acc, m, pl}); can be used in a good sense at those reverencing god or the gods, pious, religious; and can be used of those who are superstitious.

B. Robertson: The Athenians had a tremendous reputation for their devotion to religion.

9. Those who worship and make idols (vv.24-25).

10. The nations of the world (vv.26-27a).

11. Those who are in darkness seeking the truth (v.27b).

- "darkness" ("pselaphao" {psay-laf-ah'-o: v, opt, aor, act, 3 per, pl}); to feel about, grope one's way, like a person who is blind or in the dark; fig. of those who seek to know God through natural and moral revelation apart from special revelation try to find, want to know, feel one's way toward .

13. Those who mock the Gospel need the Gospel (v.32).

- "mock" ("chleuazo" {khlyoo-ad'-zo: v, indic, imperf, act, 3 per, pl}); of derisive behavior, jeer, scoff, sneer, to mock.

III. By Proclaiming A Clear Gospel Message (vv.18-34).
1. Paul Preached Jesus And The Resurrection (vv.18-23).

A. This is the same message that we need to preach today.

1) 1 Corinthians 2:2, "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."

2) Acts 8:35, "And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him."

B. Our mandate:

- Romans 10:14-15, "How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!'"

Application: Unlike all other religions in the world, Christianity serves a risen Savior. This is what sets Him apart from all others, and is what should set us apart from the rest of the world. Paul could preach Jesus and the resurrection because he had met the risen Savior on the road to Damascus; we likewise can proclaim Jesus and the resurrection because of the hundreds of eyewitnesses who saw Him after the resurrection (John 20:11-17; 20:26-29; 21:1-23; Matt.28:9-10, 16-20; 1 Cor.15:5-6; Luke 24:13-43). Sinful man tried to bury the Son of God for good, but God raised Him up to proclaim Him as the Savior of the world. You don't have to be a theologian to share the gospel, just be willing to open your mouth and tell them what Jesus Christ did for you. The gospel message is so simple that even a child can understand it; John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

2. How Paul preach Jesus and the resurrection (vv.24-31).

A. He Preached God as Creator (vv.24-25).

1) He made the world and everything in it (v.24).

2) He's the giver of life, breath and all things (v.25).

B. He Preached God as Ruler (vv.26-29).

1) God has made all nations (v.26).

2) God has set the boundaries of nations (v.26).

3) Nations should seek the Lord (v.27).

4) God is not dependent upon man, but man is dependent upon God (vv. 28-29).

C. God as Judge (v.31).

1) God has set a day for judgment (v.31).

A) "He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness..."

(1) "fixed," ("istemi" {his'-tay-mee: v, indic, aor, act, 3 per, sg}; to set a time, appoint, to cause or make to stand.

(2) "judge," ("krino" {kree'-no: v, inf, pres, act}); judge, to pronounce judgment.

(3) "world," ("oikoumene" {oy-kou-men'-ay: n, acc, f, sg}): world, earth, i.e. the inhabitants of the earth.

(4) "righteousness," ("dikaiosune" (dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay: n, dat, f, sg}); righteousness, what is right or what God requires.

2) This day is "ordained," or "appointed" (set aside) for ALL MEN.

A) "through a Man whom He has appointed,"

- "appointed," ("orizo" {hor-id'-zo: v, indic, rel, dat, m, sg}); to define, to mark out the boundaries or limits, to appoint, to ordain, to designate.

B) Romans 6:23a, "For the wages of sin is death;..."

C) Hebrews 9:27, "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,"

3) Judgment will happen as sure as God raised Jesus from the dead.

A) "having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."

(1) "furnished," ("parecho" {par-ekh'-o: v, part, aor, act, nom, m, sg}); to show, supply, present, provide.

(2) "proof," ("pistis" {pis'-tis: n, acc, f, sg}; assurance, as what brings trust and confidence, as what inspires confidence, a means of proof or guarantee.

D. He Preached God as Savior (v.30).

1) "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent,"

A) "overlooked," ("upereido" {hoop-er-i'-do: v, part, aor, act, nom, m, sg}; overlook, disregard, pass over.

(1) Robertson: not "to wink at" but to see beyond or to overlook.

(2) Wuest: "Now therefore, the times of ignorance God having allowed to pass unnoticed, with reference to the present set of circumstances..."

B) "ignorance," ("agnoia" {ag'-noy-ah: n, gen, f, sg}); ignorance, lack of knowledge, of moral blindness, the lack of knowing better.

C) "is now," ("ta nun" (tah noon: def art, acc, neut, pl; adj, adv}); now, the presently, at this present time.

- Robertson: all is changed now that Christ has come with the full knowledge of God.

D) "declaring,"("paraggello" {par-ang-gel'-lo: v, indic, pres, act, 3 per, sg}); declare, instruct, announce.

E) "repent," ("metanoeo" {met-an-o-eh'-o: v, inf, pres, act}); to repent, to change one's mind, be converted.

- Robertson: the present active infinitive, a permanent command of perpetual force.

Application: Paul's message still needs to be heard today and also gives believes an example to follow when we witness. First note that Paul didn't have to try to force the gospel upon them, he used the circumstances and situations that were prevalent in Athens as an opening to share the gospel. Once God opened the door then he shared the gospel with them. No matter what the circumstances or the situation we may come into contact with, the message is always the same if we will look for the opportunities; Romans 6:23b, ", but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" 1 Peter 3:18, "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;" Romans 10:9-11, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.'"

3. The response to the gospel message (vv.32-34).

A. Some Mocked (v.32a).

1) People mocked Jesus as he hung upon the cross (Matt.27:39-44; Mark 15:29-32).

2) We must remember that there will always be those who mock the gospel, but we should not let that stop us from sharing the good news with them.

B. Some put off making a decision (v.32b).

C. Some believed (v.34).

1) "But some men joined him and believed,..."

A) "joined" ("kollao" {kol-lah'-o: v, part, aor, pass, nom, m, pl}); to glue together, cement, fasten together, to cleave to, join.

B) "believed," ("pisteuo" {pist-yoo'-o: v, indic, aor, act, 3 per, pl}); believe, to be persuaded of the truth, to place confidence in, to be convinced of.

2) Not everyone will respond by accepting God's gift, but those who do make it worth the cost of any discomfort that we may face in doing so.

Application: The Gospel Message never fails, only a person's heart that fails to listen and believe.  Vance Havner, "...We are not called to succeed, we are called to go. And when we go He goes along!" We just need to be faithful to God's Word and proclaim its truth, and leave the convincing up to the Holy Spirit; John 16:8-11, "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer behold Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged." It is not our job to convince anyone, but it is our job to sow the seeds of the gospel message wherever we go and at every opportunity this opens to us.

Truths To Ponder
1. What is your response to the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

2. Is the resurrection of Christ just an yearly event in your life, or is it a part of your daily life?

3. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died and shed His blood for your sins, and was physically resurrected on the third day to prove that He was Who He said He was and so to offer eternal life in the presence of God for those who put their trust in Him.

4. Let's celebrate the resurrection everyday by telling others about our risen Savior who died for their sins.