Christian Worldview - Part 5: Whatever Works

June 28th, 2026

MICRO CHURCH GUIDE
June 28, 2026

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Women’s Bible Study - July 6
What if the thoughts holding you back aren’t actually true? Join us for a six-week Women’s Bible Study through Jennie Allen’s The Lie You Don’t Know You Believe. Together, we’ll uncover the lies that keep us stuck, discover God’s truth, and learn how to walk in the freedom He offers. The study begins July 6 and meets every Monday through August 10 at both campuses. Whether you're new to studying the Bible or have been walking with Jesus for years, there’s a place for you. Come connect with other women, grow in your faith, and be encouraged along the way. For more info or to register go to onelifeknox.com/events

OneLife Students, United Night - Murica Celebration - July 1
Wednesday night, July 1, our middle & high school students from both campuses will be coming together for a United Night - Murica Celebration. There will be games, worship, and a great message. It will take place at the Ball Road Campus. Doors open at 6:30pm and we will wrap up at 8:15pm. There will also be food, so students, be sure to come hungry! For more information write “United Night” on the Connection Card.

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Pragmatism: belief that the value of an idea is determined by whether it works rather than whether it is true.

Evaluates actions by results instead of principles.

If it gets the outcome I want, it must be the right thing to do.

The Lie of Pragmatism:

Do whatever works for you.

The Bottom Line Truth:

When success becomes my standard, obedience becomes optional.

1 Samuel 15:2-3 NLT

This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.”

1 Samuel 15:7-9 NLT

Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt. He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else. Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.

1. Pragmatism edits God’s commands when they don’t seem practical.

1 Samuel 15:13-21 NLT

When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the LORD bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the LORD’s command!”“Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded.“It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else.”Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!” “What did he tell you?” Saul asked.And Samuel told him, “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel.And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’Why haven’t you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD’s sight?”“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else.Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”

2. Pragmatism confuses success with God’s approval.

1 Samuel 15:22-23 NLT

But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

3. Pragmatism makes me the authority instead of God.

The Christian Worldview Alternative: Trust over results.

1. Ask a better question: Not will this work but will this honor God?

Colossians 3:17 NIV

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

2. Measure faithfulness before fruitfulness.

1 Corinthians 4:2 NIV

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

3. Trust God’s long-term wisdom over short-term success.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understandingin all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

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START TALKING:
When have you taken a short cut or the easy way to do something because it seemed to work at first, only to find out it didn't work out in the end?

When have you seen someone make a terrible decision to get the result they wanted, ignoring all that seemed right or to really make sense?

START THINKING:
Read 1 Samuel 15:2-3.
This is a tough passage! However, now read Exodus 17:8–16 and Deuteronomy 25:17–19. These were 400 and 350 years before 1 Samuel 15. What do you read about the Amalekites that make it clear judgement was necessary?

Now read this list of verses: Exodus 34:6–7, Numbers 14:18, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalms 103:8 and Joel 2:13. These are just a few of the verses that address this aspect of God's character. How is this actually what is seen in the story of the Amalekites when looking over the entire course of history?

Read 1 Samuel 15:13-21.
What excuses are made by Saul throughout this passage? Where do you see him justifying his decisions by what he thought was worth the most and deciding for himself what was considered success?

START SHARING:
What are some of God's commands that most easily get edited because they don't seem practical? What are some that even produce results or success at face value if we don't do exactly what God says to do?

Read Matthew 7:21-23.
How is this an example of confusing apparent success with God's approval? What are ways that you have struggled with what might look like success and assuming that it meant you had God's approval?

When a desired outcome determines if I do or keep doing something opposed to God's plan, how does it make me the lord of my own life? Who is determining "success" at that point? With that in mind, when have you had to give up apparent success or results and maybe even experienced short-term pain to trust God's long-term wisdom?

START DOING:
Discuss how you can do each of the following this week to begin looking through the biblical lens rather than the lens of pragmatism. Share something that you believe the Spirit has brought to your mind, a specific situation, circumstance, or decision that you are facing, and share how you will use these three steps with that this week:

THE ALTERNATIVE: TRUST OVER RESULTS
1. Ask a different question: Not will this work but will this honor God?

2. Measure faithfulness before fruitfulness.

3. Trust God’s long-term wisdom over short-term success.

Who is your "one" that you are intentionally investing in, building trust with, looking for opportunities to share your faith story with, and inviting to experience Jesus with you? How will adopting the Christian worldview over the worldview of pragmatism help you to live on mission?

START PRAYING:
Pray for each. person in the microchurch and what they shared in the last section. Pray that each of us follow the example of Jesus, who could have looked through the lens of pragmatism and seen that the cross would not bring much success or great results for him. But he trusted his Father, endured pain, and now offers eternity as the better result. Pray that each of us would trust the Father in the same way, and be an example to those around us more than absorbing the world's ways of seeing life.

We want your experience with Jesus and this community of faith called OneLife to be so much more than an hour on Sundays
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CONNECTION CARDS
Be sure to fill out the online Connection Card to let us know next steps, prayer requests, or other information you'd like to share, click here.
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MULTIPLICATION
Share spiritual/missional conversations you've had where you live, work, and play:
- Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
- What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
- How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
- How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
- Who in your life do you think could be disciple-able or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
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WHAT'S NEXT?
- Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?
- Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?

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