November 1, 2026
Topical
The Illusion of Autonomy
Nick Johnson
• You don't have to change the entire world to begin making an impact on the world around you.
• Christ didn't come merely to make us comfortable in this life. He came to reconcile us to God and give us eternal life!
• The God who created everything is Himself dependent upon nothing.
Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. — Acts 17:29
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, — Acts 17:30
Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. — Acts 17:31
Discussion Questions
1. Paul was deeply disturbed by the idolatry in Athens. What are some modern idols that compete for our affections and allegiance to God? How can we recognize when something good has become something we worship?
2. Paul reminds the Athenians that God gives us life, breath, and everything else. How should recognizing our complete dependence upon God change the way we approach our families, careers, personal ambitions, and responsibilities within society?
3. Compare Paul's teaching in Acts 17 with his explanation of idolatry in Romans 1. How does Romans 1 help us understand why humanity exchanges the truth of God for created things, and how should that understanding shape the way we share the gospel with unbelievers?