The Christian Worldview: The Christian Worldview: “The iGospel”“The iGospel”Northside Mission Church (18-March-2012)Northside Mission Church (18-March-2012)

““For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.””just shall live by faith.””(Romans 1:16-17)(Romans 1:16-17)

Our ProclamationOur Proclamation

Rio’s famous statue of ChristRio’s famous statue of Christ

What is a Worldview?What is a Worldview?

WorldviewWorldview – according to Merriam-Webster is – according to Merriam-Webster is “the way someone thinks about the world”“the way someone thinks about the world”

A person’s actions, opinions and beliefs are all A person’s actions, opinions and beliefs are all based on his/her particular worldviewbased on his/her particular worldview

What is a Worldview?What is a Worldview?

1.1. The The AtheisticAtheistic worldview – Humanism and worldview – Humanism and Post-Modernism (Read: Post-Modernism (Read: Psalms 14:1Psalms 14:1 – The – The fool says “there is no god”) fool says “there is no god”)

2.2. The The PantheisticPantheistic worldview – “god is in worldview – “god is in everything and everything is god” (nature-everything and everything is god” (nature-worship, animism, etc.)worship, animism, etc.)

3. 3. The The MonotheisticMonotheistic worldview – there is but worldview – there is but one God (ex: Christianity) one God (ex: Christianity)

““In the time of Paul…”In the time of Paul…”

((ReadRead 1 Corinthians 1:21-25) 1 Corinthians 1:21-25)

This is God’s ordained plan! This is God’s ordained plan!

The message of the cross is foolishness to those The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (who are perishing (v. 18v. 18))

““In the time of Paul…”In the time of Paul…”((ReadRead 1 Corinthians 1:21-25) 1 Corinthians 1:21-25)2121 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. who believe. 2222 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, wisdom, 2323 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 2424 but to those but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. power of God and the wisdom of God. 2525 For the For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

““In the time of Paul…”In the time of Paul…”

We cannot know God through our own human We cannot know God through our own human wisdom and ways (wisdom and ways (v. 21v. 21). ).

Fallacy - “Seeing is believing!” Fallacy - “Seeing is believing!”

““The just shall live by faith”The just shall live by faith”((Habakkuk 2:4Habakkuk 2:4, , Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11) )

The Ancient GreeksThe Ancient Greeks

1. Pantheism - 1. Pantheism - one is not made right by going one is not made right by going before one of the godsbefore one of the gods

2. The gods don’t feel emotion 2. The gods don’t feel emotion – the gods are – the gods are above human emotions above human emotions

3. Crucifixion is most shameful 3. Crucifixion is most shameful – only reserved – only reserved for the worst criminalsfor the worst criminals

The Modern AgeThe Modern Age

1. There is no right and wrong – 1. There is no right and wrong – all truth is all truth is relative (post-modernism) and there is no such relative (post-modernism) and there is no such thing as “sin”thing as “sin”

2. “The Force” or “Mother Nature” 2. “The Force” or “Mother Nature” – impersonal – impersonal and doesn’t have emotions and doesn’t have emotions

3. The Cross is not preached 3. The Cross is not preached – like “Cosmic Child – like “Cosmic Child Abuse”Abuse”

““To those who believe…”To those who believe…”

1.1. There is a There is a GodGod –– He is holy and He is the He is holy and He is the Creator of allCreator of all

2.2. ““Jesus Jesus weptwept”” ( (John 11:35John 11:35) – God is personal ) – God is personal and He shows emotionsand He shows emotions

3.3. ““He (Jesus) humbled himself and became He (Jesus) humbled himself and became obedient to the point of deathobedient to the point of death, even the , even the death of the crossdeath of the cross” ” ((Phil. 2:9Phil. 2:9))

““We preach Christ crucified…”We preach Christ crucified…”

1.1. Christ is the power of GodChrist is the power of God – to overcome the – to overcome the oppression of Satan, sin and death in the lives oppression of Satan, sin and death in the lives of those who believeof those who believe

2.2. Christ is the wisdom of GodChrist is the wisdom of God – true wisdom – true wisdom can only be received by divine revelation can only be received by divine revelation

““We preach Christ crucified…”We preach Christ crucified…”

((Read Read John 14:6) John 14:6) ““I am the Way”I am the Way” – Jesus is the only standard by – Jesus is the only standard by

which we can judge right and wrong, which we can judge right and wrong, righteousness and sinrighteousness and sin

““I am the Truth”I am the Truth” – Jesus is both God and man – Jesus is both God and man (Read (Read John 20:27John 20:27))

““I am the Life”I am the Life” – (Read – (Read Hebrews 2:9Hebrews 2:9) )

““We preach Christ crucified…”We preach Christ crucified…”John 14:6John 14:6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and

the life. No one comes to the Father except the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.through me.

John 20:27John 20:27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here;

see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

““We preach Christ crucified…”We preach Christ crucified…”Hebrews 2:9Hebrews 2:9But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than

the angels for a little while, now crowned the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. taste death for everyone.

Romans 6:23Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God

is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The The i.G.O.S.P.E.L.i.G.O.S.P.E.L.

ii – – I believe thatI believe that

GG – – God and His loveGod and His love

OO – – Overcame Overcame

SS – – Sin and it’sSin and it’s

PP – – Penalty through Penalty through

EE – – Emmanuel’sEmmanuel’s

LL – – Life Life

““Plugged in & switched on?”Plugged in & switched on?”

Question: Are we plugged in to the Holy Spirit?Question: Are we plugged in to the Holy Spirit?

Acts 1:8Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea

and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The The iGospeliGospel

““We can either evangelize or we can fossilize” We can either evangelize or we can fossilize” – – Greg LaurieGreg Laurie

Take all the Words of God and go into all your Take all the Words of God and go into all your world (your sphere, your circle) and preach the world (your sphere, your circle) and preach the

Gospel and make disciples!Gospel and make disciples!