Sermon Study Guide

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Maranatha Bible Church

Chicago

Sermon Study Guide

Acts 17:16-21 | Do Not Rebrand Jesus | Pastor Daniel Banna

Pastor Daniel Banna|Sunday, May 28, 2023

Scripture References

Acts 17:16-211 Corinthians 1:23-24Isaiah 7:141 Peter 2:9Romans 1:18Acts 17:22-32Genesis 6:5Romans 3

Sermon Summary

Pastor Daniel Banna examines the Apostle Paul’s encounter in Athens to warn against the modern trend of 'rebranding' Jesus. He emphasizes that the true gospel requires preaching the cross, the resurrection, and the necessity of repentance regardless of cultural trends.

Key Takeaways

1Christians should observe the culture to understand it, but they must never consume its values or allow them to alter the gospel message.
2The core of the gospel—Jesus and the resurrection—must remain unchanged regardless of the audience's intellectual or social status.
3A 'rebranded' Jesus who is only a social justice warrior or a relatable friend, without the call to repentance, is a false Jesus that leads to hell.
4God’s love is immeasurable, but it cannot be fully understood apart from His holy hatred of sin and the reality of His coming judgment.
5Salvation is not found in religious rituals, good deeds, or church membership, but solely through repentance and faith in Christ's substitutionary work.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions for small group discussion or personal reflection.

1What does it mean to be an 'observer' of culture rather than a 'consumer' of it? How can we practically maintain this distinction in our daily lives?
2Why was Paul’s message of the resurrection considered 'foolishness' or 'babbling' to the Athenian philosophers? What parts of the gospel are considered 'foolish' by our culture today?
3Pastor Banna argues that presenting Jesus only as a role model or social activist is 'blasphemous.' Why is it dangerous to focus on Jesus' humanity while omitting His divinity and His work on the cross?
4How does understanding God's hatred of sin actually help us appreciate His love more deeply?
5In Acts 17, some mocked, some wanted to hear more later, and some believed. How should this reality encourage or challenge us when we share our faith with others?
6Why is the call to repentance an essential part of any true gospel presentation?

Application Points

Practical ways to apply this message to your life.

Evaluate your cultural consumption (media, entertainment, trends) to ensure you are observing from a biblical perspective rather than being shaped by the world.
Practice sharing the gospel by focusing on the 'essentials': the person of Jesus, His sinless life, His death for sin, and His physical resurrection.
Pray for a 'holy indignation' that grieves over the idolatry in your community, leading you to share the truth with urgency rather than apathy.
Examine your own understanding of Jesus to ensure you haven't created a 'comfortable' version of Him that ignores His commands to repent and follow Him.
Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit in evangelism rather than trying to use cultural 'bribes' or 'enticements' to make the gospel more attractive.

Personal Reflection

Take time to quietly reflect on these prompts.

How is the Holy Spirit speaking to me through this message?

What areas of my life need to change in light of this teaching?

Who can I share this truth with this week?

What is one specific action I will take as a result of this sermon?

Prayer Points

Thank God for His Word and the truths revealed in this message.
Pray for understanding and wisdom to apply what you've learned.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you live out these truths in your daily life.
Pray for others who heard this message, that they too would be transformed.

Notes

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