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Courtney Ellis tells the story of how she suffered from a severe panic attack at work and had no idea why. The anxiety kept persisting, and she felt consistently overwhelmed by seemingly nothing. She discovered that her husband was also struggling with anxiety, so they worked together to find the root of the problem. They discovered how many things they had stuffed into their home and schedule. They began to purge their house, schedule and media subscriptions and discovered how much deeper their relationships with God, each other, and their families became. In this interview, Courtney will talk about how you can pare down what you own and free up your schedule. She’ll also discuss how parents can help their kids clear out the clutter.

Abram and Sarai knew the promise of God, but grew impatient with God’s timeline, not seeing how the promise could be fulfilled. They took matters into their own hands to further God’s agenda—and the results were disastrous. In this messy incident, we see the cost of sinful self-reliance and the abundant grace of God.

No matter how committed you are to Christ, your loyalty will be tested. Abraham faced the most difficult test a father could face—being asked to sacrifice his son. Abraham’s story is a great example of how trials can strengthen our commitment to God.

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Sermon Overview

Scripture Reference: Acts 17:16-18

The opposition we, as Christians, face in this pagan world is nothing new. In Acts 17, Paul finds himself surrounded by a pagan society in Athens, Greece. Yet, the ones who opposed the Gospel in this passage are much like those who oppose the Gospel now. Paul’s response to this opposition is a picture of standing firm in a pagan world.

First, Paul met superstitious idolatry.

Acts 17:16 says, “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” An idol is anything you love, serve, fear or trust more than God. Paul saw idolatry everywhere he turned in Athens.

Our city and even sometimes our churches are filled with idolatry. There are gods of materialism, alcohol, sex, violence, and even gods of knowledge and wisdom. We all worship something because mankind is incurably religious.

Second, Paul faced self-righteous orthodoxy.

Verse 17 says, “Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.” These religious men had their sterile orthodoxy. They believed in one true God, but they did not know Him; they did not understand that the Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Adrian Rogers says, “It’ll be a great day in America when people stop enduring religion and start enjoying salvation.”

Thirdly, Paul met sophisticated philosophy.

Verse 18 says, “Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him...’” Paul encountered two types of philosophers: the Epicures and the Stoics. Epicureans sought pleasure above anything else. Stoics believed they were victims of fate, that God is in everything and everything is God. If this sounds familiar, it’s because we still encounter people who believe this way.

How did Paul deal with this opposition? He expressed confidence in his faith. He simply continued to preach, and reveal that God is a God of power, love, righteousness, and salvation.

Paul also expected converts as a result of his faith. Some mocked, some laughed and some procrastinated. But, thank God, others believed.

Apply it to your life

As we stand firm in this pagan world, we can’t make others believe, however, we have the opportunity to preach the Gospel anyway. Are you confident in your faith? Do you expect converts when you share the Gospel?

Just who do you think you're talking to when you talk to God? Dr. John Neufeld examines Isaiah 40:12-26, where God asks eleven questions that reveal His incomparable nature. Who has measured the oceans in the hollow of His hand or marked off the heavens with a span? Idols - whether carved from wood or forged from gold - are products of human imagination, easily toppled and compared to creation. But the true God is beyond comparison, beyond human comprehension.

God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this series through Isaiah 40–44, Dr. John Neufeld explores one of Scripture's most powerful confrontations between the living God and the idols humanity creates. Writing to a nation facing exile and questioning whether their God has abandoned them, Isaiah paints a stunning portrait of who God truly is — His wisdom that needs no counsel, His power that never grows weary, His sovereignty over history itself.

Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "The Upside of Regret." Enjoy!