032. Proclaiming Jesus in a City Filled With Idols, Acts 17:16-34

In this sermon titled Proclaiming Jesus in a City Filled With Idols, Ryan Perkins explores Acts 17:16–34, unpacking Paul’s powerful encounter with a culture steeped in religious statuary and philosophical intrigue. As Paul awaits his companions in Athens, his spirit is stirred by the city’s rampant idolatry—yet he uses that very context as a bridge to the truth. Addressing both Jews and curious pagans, he seizes upon the altar inscribed “To an Unknown God” as a springboard to introduce the true Creator—he who breathes life into all, doesn’t dwell in temples of wood or stone, and invites us into relationship. With winsome reasoning, Paul reframes Athens’s spiritual hunger toward the living God. Through vivid illustrations and well-timed cultural engagement, Perkins invites listeners to consider idols in their own cities and hearts, and challenges them to proclaim the unknown God now revealed in Jesus.