Hey everybody. Welcome back to another edition of the daily Bible podcast. Uh, happy national cake day to you and to everyone who celebrates national cake day. That's right. November 20th. Did you not know this? I didn't know. This November 26th is national cake day. I feel unprepared. I don't think I have a cake ready. Well, there's not too late to. To leave and go get one. That's true. Maybe we should bring one in for the office and just go and celebrate together. We should do that. That would be great. Yeah. I mean, that's bold that close to Thanksgiving. Okay. Gig doesn't kick doesn't care. It's going to be just going to show up. And I think people are okay with that. Your favorite cake? Pesaro. Ah, Uh, cheesecake, maybe carrot cake, cheesecake chocolate cake. I like a lot of cake. It's hard to, it's hard to narrow that down. Yeah. I like the nothing Bundt cakes. Oh, those are good. Those are super good beans. We know what we have. Oh, that's not a Bundt cake place. That's the, uh, the crumble. That's not the cake place. Nevermind. There isn't nothing Bundt cakes though. Over here in prosper. Not far from, from where we're at and that's true. Yep. And we might need to celebrate. We might need to honor the Lord and honor the holidays. The more and more I'm hearing us talk about this the more and more, I think that's a good idea. Yeah. Yeah. We can eat cake for the glory of God. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. That's a national cake day. There it is. We have our small group. Uh, friends giving tonight. I'm speaking a pork shoulder for that. I'm glad you finished that sentence quickly. The pork shoulder I'm smoking. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, good. That's except we had ours a couple of weeks ago. Yeah, we got it. We got an early start overachievers, ours. This is delicious. Oh, we want to just make sure that beat everyone's schedule. So that's fair. Yeah. And it worked. It was great. Yeah. Yeah. Well, just like the pilgrims of old I'm firing up the trigger and throwing a pork shoulder on there. How did the pork shoulder get to names? I don't know cause it's pork butt too. Right. It's parked, but, and it shows how can you have a butt and a shoulder? The same thing. I don't know, I don't get that. And I don't know who the first one was like, you know what? I know it's the shoulder, but we should call it the button. Yeah, Texas man, probably someone here pro. My guess. Yeah, by the way it tender. I mean, I feel like, so here's the thing I'm learning more and more. If it's brisket, I'm going to Hutchins. Well, if it's, if it's brisket in somebody else's paying, I'm going to Hutchins. That's right. If it's pork, I feel like tenders got the edge tenders. Good with their pork. Yeah. Uh, they, they are they're really good. I can't recall comparing, I don't think I've ever had the pork from, I don't think I've ever had the port from Hutchins. Yeah, I think I always get the brisket, so I'm not sure I've tried it. I used. I'd have to do a taste test and compare the two. Yeah, I just know tenders ribs are super good. They are excellent. They do a good job, man, but Hutchins a beef rib is who. It is to die for. Yeah. Yeah. I haven't experienced that. The brisket I have. Yeah, no, I've heard good things about the beef though. Well, thanks to Dan. I've had two ribs from Hutchins and each time was magical. Yeah. And, and did you know that Steven Liddell lives next door to the, the owner of tender? I did not know that. Yeah. What have we received any benefit from that relationship at all? He tells me he's working on trying to get him to our church. C'mon Steven. Yeah. Come on man. A little bit harder, man. Try on. Yeah, do better. That'd be great because we would love to have him there. Um, For fellowship purposes, that's it. That's all we want is fellowship. Just fellowship with him. That's it. Yeah. Anyways, happy cake to everybody. I'm glad pastor, rod, that you brought that to our attention. And, uh, if you celebrate, celebrate, well, eat a lot of cake for it to the Gloria. Yeah. Acts 17 one chapter today. One chapter. Now, pastor, rod, I heard you practicing the names of these cities. Um, before we, we started this. Confident. So and Apollonia. Okay. The Apollonia I felt better about and if they didn't feel right. Yeah. The Polis also didn't feel right. I was going to have it play the voice again for me, so it can read it cause I'm sure. The guy says it differently than, than we do, right. There it is. I hear it. Throughout the bliss Apollonia. Oh yeah, he does it that way in Fidelis. Okay. So we're going to go with that and Fidelis city of Macedonia. Okay. So remember the Macedonian vision of acts chapter 16. We left off there that they were in Philippines. So they're still in that area. Um, and so they're, they're passing through this town. There's nothing much more remarkable about that. Other than to note that it's, it's still part of that same region where we find Philippi. Uh, so they're leaving Philippi in there. They're jurying to another city that we know from the Bible, because we know the letter from that bears his name, and that is Desola Nika. Um, Which today I believe is desolate Niki in Greece. I think it's still there. I think you can go and visit, visit even some of the ruins and things. Uh, but this is the next step. And Paul shows up and he goes to the synagogue. And I just think this is really informative and helpful for us as we think about our role as evangelists, because that's all of us, whether or not you have the gift of evangelism. That's a different conversation, but all of us are called to be evangelists in the sense of sharing the gospel because all of us are part of the great commission. And I love what Paul does here. He goes into the synagogue and he reasons with them, from the scriptures explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and Raj from the dead. And as a result, some people from this area believe they repent and they believe in that they're persuaded. It says in the text there by Paul to believe. And I love that because it's just that reminder to us. I was talking with somebody recently about this, that though we would say, yeah. Second Corinthians five would agree with this though. We would say that God is the one that, that is sovereign over, you know, who is, and who is not going to respond in faith. We don't know. And so Paul's going to try to persuade. He's going to reason with them. He's going to try to prove to them. The hate Jesus is worth following. And I think that's beneficial for us as, as evangelists to think about with our neighbors and our family, that, that we have a call to, to do the same thing with them. Verses five through nine then. Um, We find a pattern kind of emerging here and it's, it's not a good pattern. Uh, that, that after Paul hangs out in a place for a period of time and begins to persuade some and see some come to faith in Christ, a persecution comes. And so persecution seems to come like clockwork, following Paul, wherever he is. And so here. Uh, they, they find out where they were staying the, the, the Jews that is find out where Paul was staying and, uh, they ended up seizing the host, whose name is Jason, we learned. And. Basically, they force him to pay them. And, and this is an interesting interchange here. It seems like this is bond money that they're taking from Jason and saying, Hey, you need to make sure that he gets out of our area. And if he doesn't, then you're going to forfeit the money that was taken from you. At least that's, that's the understanding that I came across on this. Uh, and so they, they see him, they say, Hey look, you, you need to kick them out and we're going to take money from you. And if you don't kick them out, then we're going to have a problem. And you're not going to get your money back here and notice it's the reason why they want them gone is they described them as the men who have turned the world upside down. What a cool idea that is pastor, rod, some thoughts on, on that level of impact that they're having there with with the gospel. I think we should aim for that. I think that's such a cool description. I would love for people to say that about our church. Man this church ever since they came here, they're turning the world upside down. And certainly part of the reason is that their, their values were. Or, uh, or very different we're so contrasted to the world at the time that for them to influence their culture would have radically undermined what they previously knew. And that would have been exactly what the gospel is supposed to do. And I think that's really the point. If we're going to do what Jesus says that we're supposed to do, if we're going to live the way he says that we're supposed to live, then we're going to have a really interesting impact on the world, around us, such that people would be able to say, man, you're turning the world upside down. Jesus and other places calls us salt light. Which is impossible not to detect, right? You, you can't salt a food and not notice the flavor enhancement. You can't have light in a dark place and not notice the light in that place. And so I hope that our church aims for this. I want this, I yearn for something like this. Uh, that's what we should be aspiring for. And we should not quit until people start to say, man, that church they're on the move, they're turning the world upside down. What a cool thing that would be love that love that. Absolutely. Uh, good, good element there in, in part of our vision, we want to be a, a church that exalts Christ equips the church and engages the culture, engages the world that we want to take the gospel and we want. Our world around us, the culture around us to, to be different because we're here. Uh, and, and to take note of the fact that, Hey, we're here and we've got the gospel. Well, the people here in decile and I could the Jews. They didn't like this. And it's interesting to know in the text here, and this is going to factor into where we're going to go from here, which is Berea, which is next. Um, that initially here, it says that a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women believed it says, and some of the Jews were persuaded. So the great many are the Gentiles, uh, in, in, through the ones that are really responding here in Desola. And I get to Paul's message in Silas's message here. Um, but, but not as many of the Jews are. So Paul is forced to leave there and he's going to go down to now Berea. And so they send them away and they come to this new region. That's, that's known as Berea here and again, they arrive there and they go first to the Jewish synagogue. So Paul is still pursuing his kinsmen. I think when we get to Romans, we're going to see Paul say, Hey, you know what? I love my brothers in the flesh. So much the Jews so much that I wish that I were a cursed, that all of them could come to faith in Christ. I wish that I could give my salvation for the salvation of every June. And so he goes to the synagogues because these are his people. He still loves them. And he's going to do the same thing. He's going to try to persuade them just like he was doing. Earlier intestinal, Annika. Well, here in Berea. It says that they were more noble than those that were in decile, Annika. And they're described as, as those that are. Receiving the word with eagerness and examining the scriptures to see if these things were, so it seems like that's their mark of nobility that they had an eagerness, they were more receptive to the preaching of the word. And they were going to test it by going to the scriptures to see if this is so as a result, it says many of them came to believe. And so that's a contrast between Tesla and I get and Berea it's. Many of the Jews in Berea are going to believe versus in Thessaloniki, it was. Some of them did. And so there's a difference there that Paul seems to be, or Luke seems to be drawing out in his description here after this, though. What comes after success for Paul? Every time persecution here, come the Jews from. Vessel Annika. And man, these guys, I found myself frustrated with them. I'm like, well, you just look, you, you got rid of him. Thessalonica, we just leave them alone. But instead that there. The hatred for the gospel is so strong that they're going to come after and they come down to Berea and they stir up opposition there. And so bad is it that they just send us, decide to send Paul away? We've heard about being noble Bereans, it's kind of a catchphrase in the church. Some Christianese here that we should strive to be Bereans with our approach to the scriptures. Is that a helpful thought for us is, is, are we understanding that correctly? I've heard that there's maybe some other views here. That's always been my understanding is, is, yeah. We want to hear what we hear preached and take it to the word to examine it. Yeah. I think that those who it's adjusting an alternative understanding of this passage, I get it. I can understand some of it. I appreciate the way that we're seeing it here. And I think Luke intends us to read it that way. Luke's writing this, this is Luke's second volume to Theopolis or at least in the awfulness is honor. And he comments about the, the Jews and vessel Anika. They received the word without eagerness. That's a positive descriptor there. They received the word, the fact that they received as evidence of grace already, because they're willing to. To take and, and listen to it. And they didn't just take it in a passive way or in an apathetic way. They took it with eagerness. And then once they had it, once they received it with eagerness, they then examined it. How often did they examine it daily and what are they doing? They're trying to see if the things were so, so they're doing the right thing. I can't see this as anything other than a positive description and something that he intends for Christians to emulate and say, be like this, do what they did. And don't be a silly. A silly unbeliever for no apparent reason. Don't exercise. Uh, this, this strange form of aggression that is uniquely geared toward Christianity and Christians in particular. Uh, but examine the scriptures and see what the spirit does with that. So I think this is a uniquely positive descriptor and something we should emulate. Yeah, I would agree. I would agree. Well, Paul moves on to Athens and he sent ahead of Silas and Timothy. And when he gets there, he's going to be the opportunistic evangelist. And that's what I'm noticing more and more about Paul's I'm reading this time through the scriptures is verse 17. He finds himself in the marketplace every day. With those who happened to be there. And so he's, he's saying, Hey, whoever got brings, I'm going to share the gospel with them. Um, if I have an opportunity I'm gonna, I'm gonna. Tell them about Jesus. This is somebody clearly with the gift of evangelism. And you might say, well, does Paul have the gift of evangelism? But this is what it looks like. And there are people today. There are people in our church who we can think of that. I have that zeal to say, you know what, I'm getting my haircut. I'm going to share the gospel with the person cutting my hair. I'm at the grocery store, waiting in line. I'm going to go through the checkout line because I want to pass out an invitation to church, to a person and not sit there with a computer and have the convenience of just getting in and out. People with the gift of evangelism or those that are opportunistic, just like Paul is here in Athens. And that leads to this great oration that he has in verses 22 through 34 on the areola Magus, the areola. I guess probably was connected to the marketplace they're in affluent Athens, and it was a place where people would gather together. Where some of the leading philosophers would gather together as well. And Paul's opportunistic because he sees the statue to the unknown God. And he grabs that and uses that as a springboard to get to the gospel. And man that's such a challenge. In my own life and heart to say, man, I got to be looking for opportunities to get to the gospel. I got to get creative. About using opportunities to get to the gospel and pass rod. And I have talked about this and he helps me with this so much. Creativity is not my strong point. Um, I I'm, I'm not that. Bye bye nature, that type of person. But I love that Paul is a so zealous for Christ that he's creative to the point of being able to say, Hey, let me tell you about this unknown God that you've got a statute to over here. And then he goes off and he just shares the gospel with them. Um, He says in acts 16, 27, he says that. That God has basically verse 26, that he's created all things that men should seek God and perhaps feel their way towards him and find him. And yet in Romans three 11, Paul's going to say, you know what, no one understands or seeks for God. And so I read that. Uh, the other day is in preparation for today. And I thought to myself, man, that. How do we, how do we square those things? Um, acts 1727. He created the world that. They should seek God and perhaps feel their way towards him and find him. But Romans three 11 says no one seeks for God. And so. I'd love to get your thoughts on this. I was kind of at a loss. And Todd wants to some commentaries and said, well, what's going on here, but any, any thoughts on, on reconciling those two concepts? I don't think they say they say different things. And so I would say that they're, they're not contradictory. Um, they, they compliment one another. Uh, so, and, and acts 17, he says here that, so the purpose statement that they should seek God, that was the intention for which he created all things. And yet Romans three reminds us that people will not. Uh, the fact that our hearts are so dark and in our, our, our spiritual lives are so dead that we won't do that. So it's the, it's that whole sense of sovereignty and responsibility yet? Again, we are, we're confronted with it. God designed the world, such that we, we could. Responsibly. Re seek after God. Um, he, he, that's what he made it for. He made the world to testify to himself, which is what we would call general revelation spec specific or special revelation we have here in the text of scripture. But. Revelation, Romans chapter three tells us that even though we have both specific and general revelation, Um, we will not seek after God because we would choose our own rebellion, our own wickedness instead. So I don't think that they're mutually exclusive. I think they just talk about slightly different things or having a similar theme perhaps. Yeah, I would agree. And that's, that's kinda where I ended up landing too, is this was the intention, but it wasn't the actual reality. The actual reality was our sinful nature led to. No one actually doing that seeking after him. Yeah. Versus 33 31. Then as he's giving this, he calls for a response. And that's so important for us to verses 30 and 31. He says the times of ignorance. Got overlooked. But now today here, he commands all people everywhere to repent. And so that settles it is repentance and necessary part of the gout. Gospel presentation. Uh, yes, God commands all people everywhere to repent. Because why, because judgment is coming and it's going to come by Jesus. It's going to come by that the man whom he has appointed that's Jesus. And of this has given us guidance to all by raising him from the dead. So the opportunity exists now basically as with Paul saying. It turned to Christ. Now as your savior before, you're going to have to submit to him as your Lord and your judge eventually in the future. So turn to him now. As Lord and savior today, rather than the future as the Lord in judge. Uh, and so that's his call here in the book of acts and some hear the resurrection and they mock and others say, Hey, you know what, we're going to hear you out on this again in others. Join him and believe. And then we get a couple of people named here, which I think is pretty cool because we don't find out much more about them in the book of, of, of acts are in the Bible, but Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Amyris and others with them. And so interesting that we get a couple of specific names that Luke records for us here in acts chapter 17. Well, there you go. That's another chapter tucked away, only one chapter today. So let's pray and then we'll be done. God, we are grateful. Just for that, that call that if we're in Christ, we've have heard and responded to you by your grace, that is that we should repent and that we should put our faith in Christ as our Lord. And save your, rather than the future, having to submit to him as our Lord and judge and pray that that message would go out further, that we would be opportunistic evangelists, even like Paul. Even as we think about this holiday season and. And Thanksgiving tables and being around family, God, give us opportunities to share the gospel with people that need to hear it and to be bold with it. Uh, as Paul was here, um, And I pray that you'd soften hearts in advance and that we would hear good reports from people in our church in that this would be part of the, the world around us here in north Texas saying they're turning the world. Or our world at least upside down. We want to be that and be that faithful lampstand for you. So we pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Hey, keep, bring your Bibles church and tune in again tomorrow for another edition of the daily Bible podcast, tomorrow's going to be a marathon. So buckle up by.