Sermon Guide

The Fifth Act
Week 15 | The Gospel in the City

Teaching Text

Acts 17:16-18

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

Sermon Recap

This week, Pastor Tim Brown continued our series in the Book of Acts with a look at Paul’s time in Athens and exploring what it means to engage a culture like ours with the Gospel in 2025. Paul entered a city that was the intellectual capital of the world, filled with art, architecture, philosophy, and spirituality, yet also dominated by idols. In many ways, Athens mirrors New York City today: a place of great beauty and creativity, but also deep brokenness, competing worldviews, and misplaced worship.

Pastor Tim began by naming three key challenges facing the Church today. First is the ongoing influence of secularism, which offers a “gospel” of self-fulfillment, success, and power, but never delivers lasting satisfaction. Second is syncretism: mixing the Gospel with cultural idols, slotting Jesus into our lives alongside pursuits like money, fame, sex, and comfort. Third is the challenge of forming disciples in a digital world, where constant online engagement is linked to a measurable loss of empathy.

When Paul arrives in Athens in Acts 17, he waits and seeks God’s perspective before acting. He sees it as a city under the influence of idols, good things turned into ultimate things, that promise fulfillment but always take more than they give. This ends up distressing him deeply, as he embraces God’s own jealousy for His people, and we see his motivation for sharing the Gospel in the city move beyond obedience and love for God and people to zeal for Christ’s glory. Rather than immediately condemning the culture, Paul shows restraint and begins to build bridges for the Gospel to go out. He begins in the synagogue with those closest to his own background, then moves into the marketplace, the center of cultural life, to reason with those he does not know. Using Socratic dialogue, he engages their worldview, asks questions, and looks for connection points to the ultimate Truth.

Ultimately, Paul centers his message on Jesus and the resurrection. The reality is that if Christ truly rose from the dead, it should change everything: our careers, identities, priorities, and loyalties. This was an outrageous claim in Athens, and it still is in New York City today, but Pastor Tim challenged us to follow Paul’s example, seeing our city through God’s eyes, feeling His heart for the lost, and stepping into both familiar and unfamiliar spaces to reason, build relationships, and share the good news. In a time of beauty and brokenness, revival and resistance, we have the same opportunity Paul had: to proclaim the Gospel, the only message that can truly transform lives.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  • If you could instantly become an expert in any skill, what would you choose and why?

  • Ask someone to read Acts 17:16-18 aloud. Then, ask the following questions:

    1. What words, images or phrases stand out to you in this passage?

    2. What does this passage reveal about God’s attitude towards idols, intellect, and cultural conversations?

  • 1. What do you think are the most prevalent idols in New York today? Where might good things in your own life have become idols that you look to for fulfillment instead of God?

    2. What might it look like in 2025 to righteously “weep” for the city and its idols? What specific burdens might God be placing on your heart for the people around you?

    3. Where is your personal “agora” (space of influence), and what most holds you back from sharing your faith there? How might God be inviting you to step into it with boldness and love?

  • Ask God to reveal any personal idols that have taken hold in your life and any idols in New York that He is burdening your heart for. Break into pairs and share what He brings to mind. Pray for one another to walk in freedom from these idols and to boldly bring the hope of Jesus into your unique places of influence.

    1. Share about your current vocation (job, studies, home duties). What do you find meaningful about it, and what do you find challenging? How easy or hard is it for you to see your work as connected to God’s mission?

    2. Dorothy Sayers’ quote pulls no punches about the Church’s failure in relating faith to work. Do you resonate with her critique? Have you ever felt a disconnect between Sunday faith and Monday work? Discuss how we might practically “remember that every worker is called to serve God in his trade.”

    3. Do you know of any examples of people integrating faith and work well (perhaps a Christian manager who leads ethically, or someone who started a workplace Bible study, etc.)? What can we learn from their example?

    4. What obstacles do you face in being open about your faith at work? (e.g., corporate policies, fear of man, lack of opportunities.) Brainstorm creative or subtle ways to be a witness that are respectful and loving. How can we as a group encourage each other in this? Perhaps each person can commit to one small action of vocational mission this week (praying for a coworker, inviting someone to coffee, etc.) and we’ll report back next meeting.

LEAN IN | THE NINE DISTINCTIVES

Vocational Mission

  • How might your work itself be done in a redemptive way? For instance, if you’re a teacher, how can you reflect Christ in how you teach or care for students? If in business, how can you shape company culture or treat customers in a Christlike way? Take turns sharing one aspect of your job where you sense God could work through you beyond just verbal witness. Then lay hands on each person (if comfortable) and pray for their specific vocational ministry. Let’s commission each other as missionaries to our workplaces!