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

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

Rio’s famous statue of Christ

What is a Worldview? Worldview – according to Merriam-Webster is “the way someone thinks about the world” A person’s actions, opinions and beliefs are all based on his/her particular worldview

What is a Worldview? 1.The Atheistic worldview – Humanism and Post-Modernism (Read: Psalms 14:1 – The fool says “there is no god”) 2.The Pantheistic worldview – “god is in everything and everything is god” (nature- worship, animism, etc.) 3. The Monotheistic worldview – there is but one God (ex: Christianity)

“In the time of Paul…” (Read 1 Corinthians 1:21-25) This is God’s ordained plan! The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (v. 18)

“In the time of Paul…” (Read 1 Corinthians 1:21-25) 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

“In the time of Paul…” We cannot know God through our own human wisdom and ways (v. 21). Fallacy - “Seeing is believing!” “The just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11)

The Ancient Greeks 1. Pantheism - one is not made right by going before one of the gods 2. The gods don’t feel emotion – the gods are above human emotions 3. Crucifixion is most shameful – only reserved for the worst criminals

The Modern Age 1. There is no right and wrong – all truth is relative (post-modernism) and there is no such thing as “sin” 2. “The Force” or “Mother Nature” – impersonal and doesn’t have emotions 3. The Cross is not preached – like “Cosmic Child Abuse”

“To those who believe…” 1.There is a God – He is holy and He is the Creator of all 2.“Jesus wept” (John 11:35) – God is personal and He shows emotions 3.“He (Jesus) humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:9)

“We preach Christ crucified…” 1.Christ is the power of God – to overcome the oppression of Satan, sin and death in the lives of those who believe 2.Christ is the wisdom of God – true wisdom can only be received by divine revelation

“We preach Christ crucified…” (Read John 14:6) “I am the Way” – Jesus is the only standard by which we can judge right and wrong, righteousness and sin “I am the Truth” – Jesus is both God and man (Read John 20:27) “I am the Life” – (Read Hebrews 2:9)

“We preach Christ crucified…” John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

“We preach Christ crucified…” Hebrews 2:9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The i.G.O.S.P.E.L. i – I believe that G – God and His love O – Overcame S – Sin and it’s P – Penalty through E – Emmanuel’s L – Life

“Plugged in & switched on?” Question: Are we plugged in to the Holy Spirit? Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The iGospel “We can either evangelize or we can fossilize” – Greg Laurie Take all the Words of God and go into all your world (your sphere, your circle) and preach the Gospel and make disciples!