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Materialist Naturalism claims that matter is all there is—that it has either always existed or somehow sprung into existence from nothing—leaving no room for God or the supernatural. In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul encounters a group of philosophers that included Epicureans whose beliefs were very similar to the modern view of materialist naturalism. By studying his approach, we can learn how to respond to our own culture.

After hearing Jesus describe the character of those in his kingdom in the Beatitudes, you could mistakenly conclude that his followers have no contact with or influence on the world, but Matthew 5:13-16 paints a very different picture.

Paul continues his teaching on how believers are to live as Christ followers in their relationships and in their homes.

Paul has been teaching the Ephesians how to live as followers of Christ individually. Now he turns his attention to how that looks in their homes.

Paul continues his teaching on living a life worthy of the call to follow Christ as he instructs the Ephesians to live as imitators of God.

Paul urged the Ephesians to live a life worthy of the call to follow Christ. Now he teaches them that this means having a lifestyle different from those who do not follow Jesus, and different from their own life before Christ.

After teaching how amazing the gospel of Christ is in chapters 1-3, Paul now transitions to teaching believers how to live as Christ followers.

Paul prays for believers to experience what he taught about in chapters 1-2: the power of Christ and God's great love for sinners.

After teaching the Ephesians that Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ, Paul elaborates on this mystery that brings all believers together as one body.

Paul has been explaining how we cannot save ourselves—it is a free gift of God through the finished work of Jesus.

After praying for the Ephesians to know God more through His power that raised Christ from the dead, Paul shows the believers that this same power has raised them with Christ.

Paul begins the letter to the Ephesians by praising God for the work of salvation and giving us every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Paul began his third missionary journey by returning to Ephesus, after briefly stopping there at the end of his second journey. He stayed in Ephesus ministering for almost three years, his longest stay in any city during his journeys.