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Worldview
Worldview lies at the Core of
every
people group on the planet.
–It shapes the way people look at their world and the decisions they make
–It plays the key role in determining whether they will understand and believe the message of the gospel
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•When a people group must “abandon its own culture”and embrace a foreign culture to come to Christ --- A Major Obstacle Exists!
Culturally relevant evangelism answers the “actual questions” being asked by a given culture, rather than those questions the church believes the culture “should ask”.
Always be ready to give an answer… I Peter 3:15
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The Hughes Scale High
HighLow
QUAD A
QUAD C QUAD D
QUAD B
CULTURE
CONTENT
Biblically sound,Culturally blinded
The Missional Church
Focus on traditionBiblically illiterate
Culturally relevantAbandoned the faith
BALANCE
…and which would not?
Which of these would be most likely
to be reached by your church…
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Understanding Based Upon Their Interpretation of What is True
WORLDVIEW
FILTERED BY THEIR OWN CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
REALITY
What a person sees, hears, smells, tastes, touches, and experiences during his life becomes part of his thinking and value system.
These become a set of filters through which a person processes, interprets, evaluates, accepts or rejects information
G NO E
O W D S
GOD’S UNCHANGING
TRUTH
G NO E
O W D S
GOD’S UNCHANGING TRUTH
“MY” CONTEXT / FORMATTING STYLE
G NO E
O W D S
GOD’S UNCHANGING TRUTH
“MY” CONTEXT / FORMATTING STYLE
“THEIR” CONTEXT / FORMATTING STYLE
G NO E
O W D S
GOD’S UNCHANGING TRUTH
“MY” CONTEXT / FORMATTING STYLE
“THEIR” CONTEXT / FORMATTING STYLE
NOT MUCH of the “GOOD NEWS” is left UNAFFECTED.
the Church
“I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings” (1 Cor. 9:20-23, NIV).
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The Great Apostle Paul stated:
…Missional Churches
A church becomes missional when it remains faithful to the gospel and simultaneously seeks to “contextualize” the gospel (to the degree that it can) so the gospel engages the worldview of itshearers, the result may look differentto us, but not to God.
Worldview Bridges
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Bridges often provide openings for greater interest and relevancy of the message.
They are God-given opportunities for witness in which a bridgeoccurs...
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Stories of God
Bridges are existing beliefs, interests, concerns or situations that predispose a person to the Gospel.
CULTURE
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Stories of God
Culture
Cultural Stories
Redemptive Analogies
Prior Knowledge
Curiosity
Dreams
Some Bridges Include
Worldview Barriers
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Barriers deal with the negative aspects of culture, religion, knowledge, interest and other influences that hinder a listener in his hearing, understanding or acting upon the message of the Gospel.
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Barriers are those beliefs, interests, concerns or situations that keep a person from hearing, understanding or receiving the Gospel.
Stories of God Culture
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Stories of God
Types of Barriers Include...
RELIGIOUSHEART
INTELLECTUALLANGUAGE
PSYCHOLOGICALPHYSICAL
SOCIALEMOTIONAL
Culture
There are 4 areas that affect man...
What is Done? = Behavior
What is Good or Best? = Values
What is True? = Beliefs
What is Real? = WORLDVIEW
Traditional Approach to Evangelism is “propositional”
What have we changed with this propositional approach?
A PERSON’S Beliefs but…What have we not changed with this
propositional approach?
Worldview = What is REAL
Other Approaches set out to Change Behavior “what is
done”MAR.KET.ING [All business activity involved in the moving of goods from the producer to the consumer, including, selling, advertising, packaging, etc.] Webster’s Dictionary While a change of behavior is the main goal, attempts are made at value and belief modifications, as well.But again, in attempting to
change behavior, what do we not change?Worldview = What is REAL
Focusing on propositional truth or behavior change could
result in SYNCRETISM.
SYN.CRE.TISM [The combination or reconciliation of differing beliefs or practices in religion] Webster’s Dictionary
That is a thin veneer of Christianity (or a thick one) over the old Worldview!
The use of the narrative- the story-addresses the very
core of who we are...
…and worldview helps determine story selection, keeping in mind those bridges and barriers to the Gospel found within the culture.
Biblical scholar N.T. Wright suggests that to replace one’s life stories at the core, you do it with
better stories.
And when you change the core, you can change beliefs, values,
and behavior as well.
to Evangelism and Church Development often includes these segments:
EVG DISC LDR DEV MSSN
Our Traditional Process
However, the separate and independent implementation of these strategies doesn’t necessarily get us to where we want to go...
Our Traditional Process
which is an evangelized, discipled, and adequately trained & equipped believer incorporated into a reproducing, indigenous church!
Remember,1 + 1 + 1 + 1
doesn’t always = 4 !( It could be just 1+1+1+1 ! )
Our Traditional Process
We often become diversified, fragmented and off-track!
EVG + DISC + LDR DEV +MSSN =
GOALS !
Our Traditional Process Remember,1 + 1 + 1 + 1
doesn’t always = 4 !
( It could be just 1+1+1+1 ! )
Working a PROCESS, rather than taking a step-by-step linear approach, accelerates what we are after and helps insure that we achieve what we set out to do!
Our Traditional Process
Instead of looking at it like this
EVG DISC LDR DEV MSSN
Our Traditional Process
Evangelism
Leader Training
Discipleship
Missions
CPM
CPM
CPM
CPM
Core Truths and Worldview
A Systemic Process
Driven by Core Biblical Truths & Worldview, each element is integrated, a vital part of the other. Evangelism is not just a step or single element leading to our goal, but is foundational… Evangelism is part of discipleship, which is part of leader development, which is part of missions, which is part of evangelism, which is part of…
A Systemic Process