Biblical Worldview

Pastor Dan's May Lamplighter Article

            

Over the past year, God has been doing a great work in our body regarding worldview.  In many ways, it began with a Focus on the Family sponsored seminar entitle, The Truth Project, in which Roland and Terri Doellefeld and Dirk Berdan went to be “trained” so that they could host this presentation in our church.  Since that training, two of our three adult Sunday School classes have gone through this material. 

            But our discussion of a Biblical worldview has not been limited to The Truth Project.  In reality, every Sunday School lesson and sermon message is, in one way or another, seeking to conform our view of the world to that which we see in God’s Word.  This is nowhere truer than our most recent sermon series in which we have been going through the Gospel of Matthew.  The Sermon on the Mount, itself, is a powerful expression of the Biblical worldview.  In fact, Christ’s focus on the Kingdom of Heaven in this Gospel is an on-going call for us to adopt Kingdom values over and against the values of this world.

            But the needs for training in Biblical worldview are greater than even the Truth Project or a sermon series can communicate.  In fact, there are many Biblical worldview issues that can be touched upon in a Sunday morning sermon or in a Sunday School lesson, but really call for a deeper examination than can be provided in 40 to 50 minutes. 

            With this in mind, the elders have discussed and affirmed our desire to deepen our Biblical worldview via a series held one Sunday a month here at our church.  This series will kick-off in May on the 18th and will meet 6:00-8:00pm.  There are a number of different issues that will be covered, some of them very "church" oriented (e.g., evangelism and intolerance, holiness, male and female roles) and some of them more "culture" oriented (e.g., homosexuality, the environment, abortion), but all of them examined through the lens of Scripture. 

            Not only will this format allow for a more in-depth look at what God’s Word says on these topics, but it will also allow for more interaction and discussion.  Our goal is to be able to grapple with these issues together, with a Scripture focus, and thereby to gain a deeper understanding of the Biblical worldview. 

            In addition to seeking your input during each presentation, we would also like to seek your input regarding which topics are covered.  Are there some topics that you would like to see considered for this series?  If so, please fill out slips and place them in the box in the foyer.  Meeting once a month, we may not be able to hit each and every topic imaginable, but we can certainly make significant headway.

            The truth is, we are bombarded with non-biblical views on all kinds of issues every day through media and simply living in a fallen world.  Our goal, through this series, is to increase, in a significant way, the Biblical input each of us is receiving.  And ultimately, it goes to that which we read in Romans:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

I encourage you to consider joining us for this time of renewing our minds together through the study of the Scriptures and Christian fellowship.

            If you have any questions about this new series, please contact me.  As well, I encourage you to invite friends you know who may be interested in any of the topics we examine.  I look forward to this great opportunity for all of us to develop a more Biblical Worldview.

In Christ,  Pastor Dan