BibleIn8Verses

The speaker in Acts, Chapter 17, verse 24-31 discusses the essence of the Bible's story within eight verses. They emphasize God as the creator, giver of life, and the one to seek for fulfillment. People are urged to repent and turn towards God, recognizing Jesus as the means to salvation and judgment. The importance of being part of God's family is highlighted, urging listeners to prioritize their spiritual needs over worldly concerns. Good evening, would you please take your Bibles for a moment to Acts, Chapter 17, verse 24, Acts, Chapter 17, verse 24. If you look for a little bit of statistics, we teach our kids how many books are in the Bible, and every kid here is going to be 66 books, 66 books in the Bible. Do you know how many chapters? 1,189 chapters in the Bible. Do you know how many verses? 31,102 verses. 31,102 verses in the Bible. When you think of it in that big of a number, I only want you to see eight. And what's fascinating, in Acts, Chapter 17, verse 24 to 31, in eight verses, he tells the entire story of the Bible. And so for those of us that want good passages to teach our friends, these eight verses are great. For those of us that might not know the full story of the Bible, you can see that story tonight in just eight verses. Beginning in Acts, Chapter 17, verse 24. The God who made the world and all things in it, since he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Verse 24 lays down that God is our creator. He made everything, and Paul here is in the city of Athens, and he's heartbroken. That these people think that the way they connect with their creator, the way they connect with God, is through one more temple, or one more idol, or one more altar. They say, no, no, no, you don't connect with your creator that way. Verse 25, nor is he served by human hands as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all people life and breath and all things. God is our creator, and God is the giver of life, breath, and all things. Verse 26, and he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation. God is the creator. God gives life, but that life is short. That life is limited. He set boundaries and determined our time. Verse 27, so that they would seek God. He's our creator. He's given us life, and He's made us incomplete without Him. We're designed to seek Him. We are made to be satisfied in Him. He tells us in verse 27, if we would just reach out for Him and find Him, He is not far from each one of us. Verse 28, for in Him we live, we move, and we exist. Even as some of your own poets have said, we also are His children. He is our creator. He gives us life. That life is short, and we're made to seek Him out because we belong in His family. We are made to be His children. Verse 29, being then children of God, we ought not to think the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent. That if we want to be satisfied in Him, if we want to be part of His family, then that requires turning around and focusing on God in our life. To repent of the evil that we have done, and He gives us the reason in verse 31. He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness. Through a man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead. He is our creator. And we see in verse 31 that at the end of our life, He will be our judge. But He has raised His Son, Jesus Christ, from the dead. That if we would put our faith in Him, repent of our sins, we could be ready for that judgment. Guys, there are 31,102 verses in the Bible. But Paul tells the whole story in just these eight. And if you know that you need to come back to your creator and be part of His family, then you understand the most important need of our life. Some of you think you need to stop at the grocery store on the way home. Some of you think you need to get gas on the way home to fill up the gas tank. No, we need. We need Jesus Christ. We need His resurrection. And we need the salvation that only He provides. And in eight verses, Paul makes that clear in Athens. And I hope I can make it clear to you tonight that it's your greatest need. So don't push Him away. Let us help you. If you want to confess your faith and be buried with Christ in baptism, just come as we stand and sing.