Session 5 discussion

docx

School

Colorado Christian University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

INT-212A

Subject

Philosophy

Date

Feb 20, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by DeanEnergyDove41

Session 5 discussion God has granted grace to each of us, so we can take an honest, critical and discerning look at ourselves. Indeed, it is not an overstatement to observe that when it comes to answering the question, What is God's vocation on my life, there are really two critical questions. The first: Who am I? And the second: Am I willing to live in humble acceptance of the call of God? … for now consider that few things matter more than our capacity to know ourselves, to see ourselves truthfully…[because] God's purposes in the world are always consistent with the way that God has made the world. And, further, God's redemptive purposes will always be in deep congruity with how God has made the world. So, to ask how is God calling you or me to act in this world, we go back to an earlier question: How did God make us? (Smith, 2011, p. 53) In this passage from Courage and Calling, Smith (2011) makes a statement that to understand our calling, you need to understand God's design or purposes. How does being familiar with a biblical worldview help us understand the big picture of God's design, and how can you apply that understanding to your own calling? What’s in a Worldview? If the Bible is primarily God’s self-revelation – the information God wants us to know about Himself – then that implies certain ways He wants us to think. For example, He wants us to think about and know that He is holy (Lev. 11:44-45, 1 Pet. 1:16), and that He is love (1 John. 4:16). The Bible, then, helps us to think according to the ways of God. So, how does God want us to think about the world and even about our studies at CCU? Does the Bible speak to those practical and real-life places where we live and work? It definitely does! And the place where all that comes together – God’s Word speaking to our life, world, and work – is what we call a Christian worldview. Short definition: A Christian worldview is seeing the world through the lens of God’s presence and will, according to what He’s revealed in the Bible. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Lesson 1 - Introduction & Topic Outcomes Lesson 2 of 5 Reading

Please complete the following before this session: So, how does God want us to think about the world and even about our studies at CCU? Does the Bible speak to those practical and real-life places where we live and work? It definitely does! And the place where all that comes together – God’s Word speaking to our life, world, and work – is what we call a Christian worldview. Short definition: A Christian worldview is seeing the world through the lens of God’s presence and will, according to what He’s revealed in the Bible. In your studies at Colorado Christian University, you will encounter multiple opportunities to analyze and explore your own worldview. The purpose of this session is to clearly present the worldview of Colorado Christian University, specifically, the Christian worldview that is based in specific biblical truths. One author who has made worldview, and the definition of worldview, accessible is James Sire (see The Universe Next Door and Naming the Elephant , which are two books you may encounter as a student later in your program). He poses several questions that he claims all worldviews must answer:  1 1 What is Prime Reality, or specifically, what is really real?  2 2 What is the nature of the world around us?  3 3 What is a human being?  4 4

What happens to a person at death?  5 5 Why is it possible that we know anything at all?  6 6 How do we know what is right and wrong?  7 7 What is the meaning of human history? Each worldview must answer these questions. In this session, we are going to explore specifically how Colorado Christian University answers these questions in being consistent with a biblical worldview, and give you an opportunity to further explore how to find key ideas and values in Scripture that will help you when we ask you to look at something in light of a biblical worldview. Courage and calling: Embracing your God-given potential + Additional Reading + In your reading assignment for this session, you have a table you may use as a reference that outlines the answers to these seven questions from different worldview perspectives. Keep in mind that the worldview that CCU ascribes to, specifically is a theistic worldview, but for the sake of simplicity, in your classes and in your programs, you will see the worldview referred to as Christian or biblical. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Lesson 3 - Viewing

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Lesson 4 of 5 Biblical Perspective Activism is a multi-faceted response to conversion. Once a person is converted – again, “saved” and “redeemed” are also good biblical words which describe this life change – she or he lives differently. Something as radical as conversion kind of implies that sort of change, right? Whereas pre- conversion life is tainted with sin (sorry; that’s part of the package when you were born), post-conversion life is characterized by a desire to live for God and do things His way. Out of gratitude for His converting gift of new life we love Him, love other people, and live life accordingly (see Matthew 22:37- 40). The word “activism” thus means we act out our faith in everyday life, actively responding to God and people in loving, serving ways. Part of this includes applying a biblical worldview. Another facet of activism shows up in evangelicals’ efforts to share the gospel with other people. The Bible reveals that Jesus told all His disciples to participate in multiplication, adding to our number – making disciples – as an act of love and obedience toward God (see Matthew 28:18-20). Famous evangelical pastor and preacher John Wesley (1703-91) is the poster boy for this kind of activism. After his conversion Wesley preached more than 40,000 sermons, declaring “the world as his parish” (Elwell, 2001, p. 1267). And, of course, the famous international missionary movement which began right at the turn of the nineteenth century was an outgrowth of evangelical activism to make disciples. Social action is an important facet of evangelical activism. People converted from inwardly selfish to outwardly loving doing things for other people, particularly for those who are in distress and need. Jesus even affirmed that caring for other people is the same as caring for God (see Matthew 25:31- 46). Interestingly, many of the social outreach successes of nineteenth- century Great Britain and the U.S. were accomplished by evangelically motivated people, doing for others because of their evangelical convictions.

Slavery was overturned in Great Britain by the efforts of evangelicals like William Wilberforce. Inner-city kids were educated in Sunday schools as an effort by evangelical churches to provide both basic academic as well as Bible training. The world-famous Salvation Army was also begun as a social outreach by evangelicals Catherine (1829-90) and William (1829-1912) Booth. So here’s a question: If you consider yourself an evangelical Christian, what does your Christian activism look like? And if you’re not an evangelical Christian, what examples of Christian, evangelical activism have you seen displayed? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Lesson 4 - Biblical Perspective Lesson 5 of 5 References Elwell, W.A. (2001). Evangelical dictionary of theology (2nd ed.). Baker Academic. Stonestreet, J. [Centurions Program]. (2010, August 11). John Stonestreet on Image of God [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=zUxo1KjDJXU

Session 5 discussion

Related Documents