Acts 17:1-17 - When Is It Ok for Christians to Become Angry
Pastor Wes Denham
In this sermon, Pastor Wes explores the topic of righteous anger within a Christian context. He begins with a reading from Acts 17:16-17, where Paul is provoked by the idolatry in Athens, using this to discuss when it is appropriate for Christians to feel anger. Pastor Wes emphasizes that God himself experiences anger, particularly towards injustices and the harming of children. He mentions examples of God’s actions in the Old Testament, explaining the context of divine judgment.
Pastor Wes then shifts to the establishment of the early church in the book of Acts, highlighting the spread of the Gospel and the miracles performed, such as healing from cancer. He recounts Paul’s missionary journey through Thessalonica and Berea, focusing on how Paul reasoned with the Jews and Greeks, emphasizing the importance of searching the scriptures daily, as seen in Acts 17:11-13.
The sermon also addresses contemporary issues, such as the moral decline observed since the removal of prayer from schools in 1962, correlating it with increased crime and societal issues. Pastor Wes calls for Christians to have a backbone, to speak out against moral wrongs in love, and to stand firm in their faith, drawing parallels between biblical times and modern-day challenges.
Scriptural references:
– Acts 17:16-17
– Acts 17:11-13
– John 8:44 (implicit reference to truth and lies)
– Genesis to Revelation (various allusions)
In this sermon, Pastor Wes discusses righteous anger in a Christian context, starting with Acts 17:16-17, where Paul is provoked by idolatry in Athens. Pastor Wes explains that God experiences anger, particularly towards injustices and child harm. He highlights the spread of the early church and miracles in Acts, such as healing from cancer.
The sermon focuses on Paul’s journey through Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 17:1-13), emphasizing the importance of daily scripture study. Pastor Wes addresses modern moral decline since prayer was removed from schools in 1962, correlating it with increased societal issues. He urges Christians to speak out against moral wrongs in love and to stand firm in their faith, drawing parallels between biblical times and today’s challenges.
Scriptural references:
– Acts 17:1-17
– Acts 17:11-13
– Various allusions to Genesis through Revelation