25
January
2009
17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was greatly upset because he saw the city was full of idols. 17:17 So he was addressing the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogue, and in the marketplace every day those who happened to be there. 17:18 Also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were asking, “What does this foolish babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods.” (They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.) 17:19 So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming? 17:20 For you are bringing some surprising things to our ears, so we want to know what they mean.” 17:21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there used to spend their time in nothing else than telling or listening to something new.)
17:22 So Paul stood before the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects. 17:23 For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, this I proclaim to you. 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, 17:25 nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone. 17:26 From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live, 17:27 so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 17:28 For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ 17:29 So since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination. 17:30 Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, 17:31 because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
17:32 Now when they heard about the resurrection from the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 17:33 So Paul left the Areopagus.
Key Point: Throughout history those in honest pursuit of truth have discovered more and more of God’s purpose and design for all creation
Summary: What is Truth? Who Is God? Who is Human?
Worldviews in conflict
Why does the Bible start with creation?
Why does western science start with human reason?
Foundation - Authority of God vs. Autonomy of humanity
Honest pursuit of truth leads to new discoveries
Reality exists in the mind of God!
Quest for a universal, unifying theory of the universe?
It will not be founded on the autonomy of humanity
What’s your foundation?
How can we share it?
rochcov 
Pastor Gary Downing, 1st Service, Sermons, Acts 
Comments (0) » |
19
January
2009
139:1 O Lord, you examine me and know.
139:2 You know when I sit down and when I get up;
even from far away you understand my motives.
139:3 You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest;
you are aware of everything I do.
139:4 Certainly my tongue does not frame a word
without you, O Lord, being thoroughly aware of it.
139:5 You squeeze me in from behind and in front;
you place your hand on me.
139:6 Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension;
it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.
139:7 Where can I go to escape your spirit?
Where can I flee to escape your presence?
139:8 If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there.
If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be.
139:9 If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn,
and settle down on the other side of the sea,
139:10 even there your hand would guide me,
your right hand would grab hold of me.
139:11 If I were to say, “Certainly the darkness will cover me,
and the light will turn to night all around me,”
139:12 even the darkness is not too dark for you to see,
and the night is as bright as day;
darkness and light are the same to you.
139:13 Certainly you made my mind and heart;
you wove me together in my mother’s womb.
139:14 I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing.
You knew me thoroughly;
139:15 my bones were not hidden from you,
when I was made in secret
and sewed together in the depths of the earth.
139:16 Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb.
All the days ordained for me
were recorded in your scroll
before one of them came into existence.
Psalm 139:1-16 NET
Key Point: We discover our true identity and reason for living only in a loving relationship with our Creator God – and with each other
“The sacred is being lost in the secular.”
Spirituality is replacing faith
Result = loss of inherent/intrinsic value of life
Consistent life ethic is found in reference point outside ourselves or society
Life is not “owned” by any political party
What is our reference point to shape our beliefs and behaviors?
Bible teaches Source = Creator God – not chance coming together of elements, energy, evolution
Incarnation teaches value of human life
Goal = relationship not just explanation
Outcome = treat ourselves & others as infinitely valuable
Where do we need to rethink our approach to life issues?
rochcov Pastor Gary Downing, 1st Service, Sermons, Sanctity of Life Sunday Comments (0) » |
13
January
2009
This fixes an issue with the previously MP3 that contained part of the sermon from 2 weeks ago.
8:31 Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32 NET
14:6 Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 NET
Key Point: If we know Jesus personally and live out authentic Biblical truth, we will be truly free
Setting: Conversations with a skeptic/seeker
What is truth?
- Truth = facts?
- Truth = feelings?
Worldview = ways we unconsciously perceive reality
Clash of worldviews –
- Militant jihadism vs. McWorld materialism
Sources for truth
Foundation for truth
Definition:
Greek = __________
Hebrew = __________
How to know? = Who we know?
Live the truth – free in 3D!
rochcov Pastor Gary Downing, 1st Service, Sermons Comments (0) » |
4
January
2009
Due to a visit from Minnesota Teen Challenge, there was not a traditional service this week, resulting in no sermon for a podcast.
You can find information (and a video) here:
Also the Truth Project kicks off this week. You can find a video explaining what it’s about here:
rochcov Truth Project, MN Teen Challenge Comments (0) » |
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