Aren’t All Faiths the Same?
Greg Bath walks through Paul’s address at the Areopagus, where the apostle confronted a culture drowning in gods but starving for truth. As Paul engaged philosophers, he exposed the hollowness of manmade religion and pointed to the resurrected Christ.
It’s a message that hits home today. Our world mirrors Athens: full of spiritual curiosity, yet committed to false substitutes. Pastor Greg shows how Paul’s strategy can help us speak truth today, even when it’s unwelcome.
It’s not just about “them”—it’s about us. What have we built altars to? What are we counting on to give us worth, meaning, or peace?
Key Takeaways
- God made everyone to worship. (Acts 17:22-23)
- God does not fit into the molds of humanity. (Acts 17:24-28)
- God says recovery requires repentance. (Acts 17:29-31)
- God knows this message is controversial. (Acts 17:32-34)
Further Study
- Paul noticed how religious the people in Athens were—and used that as a way in. He pointed out their altar to an “unknown god” and connected it to the truth of the Gospel. In John 4:22, Jesus talks about worshiping what we don’t know, and in Romans 1, Paul says God has already made Himself known through what He’s created. So how can you talk with friends or family who are spiritually curious—but maybe chasing the wrong things—without coming across as harsh or dismissive?
- Paul also says that God determined where and when each of us would live so that we might reach for Him. Jesus echoes this in Matthew 7, promising that those who seek will find. Are there “random” conversations or moments in your life that might not have been random at all? Have you had any experiences like Pastor Greg’s childhood invitation to church—something that seemed small but opened the door to faith?
- At one point, Paul stops explaining and calls his listeners to respond: it’s time to turn from idols and prepare to meet the one true Judge (cf. Mark 1:15 and Peter in Acts 2:38). So what about you? Does the reality of future judgment shape how you live now? Are there habits, priorities, or patterns that you’ve let sit comfortably in your life—but that God is calling you to walk away from?
- When Paul finishes, the responses are all over the map. Some mock him, some are curious, and some believe. Jesus described that same range in the parable of the sower—some seeds get snatched up, some take root, and some grow. Knowing that, how do you stay steady when your efforts to share the Gospel fall flat or even get rejected? What keeps you going?
- Take some time to sit with these questions. Write out what came to mind—especially where you sense conviction or clarity around idolatry in your own life. If you’re in a small group, talk honestly. What’s God been showing you? What has He freed you from? Where are you still wrestling? As Pastor Greg reminded us, real repentance isn’t just guilt with a time limit—it’s a full reorientation of your life toward Christ.
- When you talk this through with others, try following Paul’s lead. Meet people where they are, but don’t stop there. Point them gently but clearly toward truth. Share your own story—not to show off how far you’ve come, but to highlight what Christ has done. Let the focus stay on Him.
The Gospel
If you have questions about what it means to be a Christian, we would love to talk with you about it.
Reach outPaul stood in the middle of Mars Hill surrounded by people chasing spiritual answers. Not much has changed. We’re all wired to worship something. Just like the Athenians with their altar “to an unknown god,” or like Pastor Greg as a kid avoiding church because he didn’t want to lose presents, we end up giving our hearts to things that can’t save us. Careers, relationships, status, even religious habits—we keep hoping they’ll deliver, but they can’t.
The good news is: God didn’t leave us stuck. Paul told the crowd that the God who made everything—the world and everyone in it—has made Himself known by sending Jesus. The idols we chase demand more and more while giving less and less. Jesus, by contrast, came to give life. Real life. Lasting life. Everything we create and worship eventually crumbles. But Jesus offers something that doesn’t.
Here’s the heart of the Gospel: we were made to know and worship God, but we’ve all gone our own way. That rebellion—what Scripture calls sin—separates us from Him and brings judgment. But instead of leaving us to face that judgment alone, God sent Jesus. Jesus took the punishment we deserved by dying on the cross, and God confirmed that His sacrifice was enough by raising Him from the dead.
God doesn’t call to impress Him with good behavior or to get a theology degree. He’s calling you to turn, to repent. That means walking away from whatever you’ve been putting in His place and trusting Jesus with your whole life. That’s the kind of faith Paul called people to on Mars Hill. And some of them did believe. That same invitation still stands.
This isn’t just a Bible story—it’s your story too. All of us are heading toward a moment where we’ll meet Jesus. The only question is whether we meet Him as Savior or as Judge. The offer is on the table right now: stop pouring yourself into things that will fade. Turn from those false gods and trust the one true King who died and rose again. He offers forgiveness, freedom, and the kind of life you can’t lose.
As Pastor Greg said: God doesn’t just tolerate you—He loves you. He sent His Son to rescue you. Whatever’s been pulling you away from Him, it’s not worth it. Let it go, and run toward the only One who can truly satisfy your soul.