Christian Worldview - Part 9: The Way

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The Lie of Pluralism: There is more than one way to God.

The bottom line truth: If every path is true, then truth disappears.

It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.) So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.“ He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.“ His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring. ’And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead. ”When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” That ended Paul’s discussion with them but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

1. Pluralism multiplies gods. Christianity reveals God.

2. Pluralism makes God manageable. Christianity reveals God's mystery.

3. Pluralism promotes many ways. Christianity promotes the only way.

The Christian Worldview Alternative: Sincerity cannot replace truth.

1. Stop creating my own version of Jesus.

2. Speak truth with humility and love.

3. Invite people to Jesus.
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START TALKING:

When have you believed (or seen someone else believed) that there was more than one right way to do something, only to find that you should have done it the only right way in the first place? What made you believe there would be more than one right way? Why didn't you want to trust the instruction?

START THINKING:
Read Acts 17:16-18. 

What did Paul see that disturbed him? What did he do as a result? What can and should we learn from this?

Read Acts 17:19-21. 

What was the response to Paul's claims about Jesus? How is this still similar today?

Read Acts 17:22-23. 

What do you notice about how Paul chooses to respond to their questions and criticism? How is this different than the way many religious leaders today choose to respond? What can and should we learn from this?

START SHARING:
Read Galatians 1:12 and Ephesians 3:5. 

While pluralism seeks to multiply gods and make many ways true, THE truth of the Gospel is revealed supernaturally to those who choose to believe. How was the gospel revealed to you? How did the truth get revealed to you in a way that your life was transformed?

Read Romans 16:25 and Isaiah 55:8-9. 

The Gospel is described repeatedly as a mystery. While pluralism attempts to make God manageable, the Gospel perpetually reveals the mystery of God that cannot be contained nor managed. How have you experienced this reality? What have you done to learn to trust it rather than explain it away?

Read Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5, and 1 John 5:12. 

While pluralism promotes many ways to God, what do these verses (and many others) make clear about the Gospel? How did this impact your own journey to becoming a Christ follower? Was it a difficult truth for you or one that you more easily accepted? 

What will you do this week to not create your own version of Jesus but follow the real Jesus as he talked about himself?

What would it look like for you to speak the truth in love this week to those who don't yet follow Jesus or maybe even follow a different belief system? What role does or can your story/testimony play in this?

Read 2 Corinthians 5:20. 

How can you be an ambassador this week? Thinking about your "one," who is that person? How are you making the appeal in your relationship with them that, "Come back to God!"?

START PRAYING:
Pray for each person in the micro church to be an ambassador this week for their one. Pray that each of us will not live as practicing pluarlists even if we do not subscribe to that belief system ourselves. Pray that those around each of us who are seeking and searching for God will find THE way, THE truth, and THE life of Jesus through each of us.
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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)?