A City Full of Idols

July 12, 2026
A City Full of Idols
Sermon Audio

CENTRAL TEXT: Acts 17:16-34

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. 

22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for 
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’; 
as even some of your own poets have said, 
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” 

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 

33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 115:1-11, 18

LEADER: Leader: Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.

ALL: But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

LEADER: Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.

ALL: You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield…Praise the Lord!

PRAYER/SCRIPTURE READING/CONFESSION OF FAITH: 
Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question & Answer 45-47
LEADER: Question 45. Which is the first commandment? 
ALL: The first commandment is, You shall have no other gods before me.
LEADER: Question. 46. What is required in the first commandment? 
ALL: The first commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly.
LEADER: Q. 47. What is forbidden in the first commandment? 
ALL: The first commandment forbids the denying, or not worshiping and glorifying the true God as God, and our God; and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone.

BENEDICTION: Jude 24-25

LEADER: Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.