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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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Shawnee,OKCentral Tribes of

OK

•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