Paul addresses the people of Athens, explaining that God created the world and everything in it. God is not contained in temples or need anything from humans, as he gives life to all. God made all nations from one man and determined their times and places. God did this so people would seek him, as they live and move in God. Therefore, people should not worship idols of gold, silver or stone, as God commands all to repent, and he will judge the world through Jesus, who he raised from the dead.

2. Acts 17:22-31 (NIV)
22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the
Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see
that in every way you are very religious. 23 For
as I walked around and looked carefully at your
objects of worship, I even found an altar with
this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are
ignorant of the very thing you worship - and
this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

3. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in
it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live
in temples built by human hands.25 And He is not
served by human hands, as if He needed anything.
Rather, He himself gives everyone life and breath
and everything else.26 From one man He made all
the nations, that they should inhabit the whole
earth; and He marked out their appointed times in
history and the boundaries of their lands.

4. 27 God did this so that they would seek Him and
perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though
He is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in Him
we live and move and have our being.’ As some
of your own poets have said, ‘We are His
offspring.’

5. 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we
should not think that the divine being is like
gold or silver or stone - an image made by
human design and skill. 30 In the past God
overlooked such ignorance, but now he
commands all people everywhere to
repent. 31 For He has set a day when He will
judge the world with justice by the man He has
appointed. He has given proof of this to
everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

6. Creation
24 “The God who made the world and everything in
it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live
in temples built by human hands.25 And He is not
served by human hands, as if He needed anything.
Rather, He himself gives everyone life and breath
and everything else.26 From one man He made all
the nations, that they should inhabit the whole
earth; and He marked out their appointed times in
history and the boundaries of their lands.

7. Creation
27 God did this so that they would seek Him and
perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He
is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in Him we live
and move and have our being.’ As some of your own
poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’

8. Fall
29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we
should not think that the divine being is like gold
or silver or stone - an image made by human
design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such
ignorance, but now He commands all people
everywhere to repent. 31 For He has set a day when
He will judge the world with justice by the man He
has appointed. He has given proof of this to
everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

9. Redemption
27 God did this so that they would seek Him and
perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though
He is not far from any one of us.

10. Restoration
31 For He has set a day when He will judge the
world with justice by the man He has
appointed. He has given proof of this to
everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

11. MAKING SENSE OF GOD’S STORY

12. A crisis of beliefs
(McDowell & Hostetler)
Impact of a lack of a basic Biblical belief system
• 225% more likely to be angry with life
• 216% more likely to be resentful
• 225% more likely to lack purpose in life
• 225% more likely to be disappointed in life

13. A crisis of beliefs
(McDowell & Hostetler)
Impact of a lack of a basic Biblical belief system
• 36% more likely to lie to a friend
• 48% more likely to cheat in an exam
• 200% more likely to steal

14. A crisis of beliefs
(McDowell & Hostetler)
Impact of a lack of a basic Biblical belief system
• 200% more likely to physically hurt someone
• 300% more likely to use illegal drugs
• 600% more likely to attempt suicide.

15. The way we see the world
is shaped by four simple questions
1. Who are we?
2. Where are we?
3. What is wrong?
4. What is the solution?

16. • “Who are we?” We belong to God.
LIFE IS SACRED
• “Where are we?” We are meant to live with
God in ‘Eden’
EVERYTHING IS GOOD
• “What’s the problem?”
EVERYTHING IS FALLEN
• "What's the solution?"
EVERYTHING IS REDEEMABLE

17. Praying for Durbanville & beyond

20. How Paul lived an INVITATIONAL
LIFE
• Build friendship outside your Christian circles
• No cringey actions or language – be real
• Identify with your friends’ worlds – not yours
• Tell your story