A Paradigm Shift In The Church

In Dallas I worked for a furniture company that sold over a half a billion dollars worth of furniture a year. As it was growing and before I got there, the owner was influenced by a “new age” motivational speaker. The guy convinced him to put all of the sales people through a “life changing” 2 day seminar. The goal was to achieve a psychological paradigm shift in every person and in the company that would create a super sales person.

Even though it cost several hundred dollars per person he didn’t check out the guys references well enough and didn’t realize he was a crook. I guess he thought the “psychological science” he taught was cutting edge.

He put groups of people in a room with no chairs and after hours of lecturing he wouldn’t let then leave the room. The doors were chained and padlocked. He also had guys yelling at individuals, supposedly to humiliate & tear then down, so he could “rebuild their psyche” into powerful, influential sales people.

Needless to say many people wet themselves. That would humiliate anyone! One guy had a grand mall seizure. Some people had mental breakdowns and curled up into the fetal position on the floor. Everyone had a bad time to say the least.

After it was all over there were several law suits. Most of the sales people left and those who stayed couldn’t hardly function for months afterward. Some went from the highest paid sales positions to data entry and inventory control where they were paid a good salary for as long as they worked there.

WHY WAS THIS DONE? It was done TO MAKE MORE MONEY! The owner wanted to change people into his own design. Needless to say he had in my opinion a “god complex”. He didn’t realize it but he thought he could act like god.

THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN CHANGE LIVES IS THE ONLY TRUE GOD! The natural downward spiral of sin always humiliates us and tears us down but Jesus Christ rescues us from the penalty of sin, hell.

He then builds us into His image in order to serve Him. No one can change people like the HS of God, it is His own “conversion”. There is no eternal future for the pursuit of money, power and pleasure. But, there is an eternal heaven for those who are re-born into Jesus.

What happens when a person is reborn? To be born again means there is a genuine paradigm shift.

Larry Thompson said ..

PARADIGM = an example that serves as a model or pattern. It is the way we "see" the world in terms of perceiving, understanding, and interpreting.

PARADIGM SHIFT = to discover a new model or pattern that helps us to see from a new understanding, thus shifting from the old to the new way of thinking and acting.

Steven Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – "Our paradigms, correct or incorrect, are the sources of our attitudes and behaviors, and ultimately our relationships with others."

>>>>>> This morning I want to preach on The “Paradigm Shift” of the Church – READ ACTS 2:14-18

After the sacrifice was made on the cross, God changed the way He related to His people.

(Mat 5:22 KJV) But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

(Mat 5:28 KJV) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

(Mat 5:32 KJV) But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

(Mat 5:34 KJV) But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

(Mat 5:39 KJV) But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

(Mat 5:44 KJV) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Here is the Paradigm shift of the first church and the Paradigm shift needed of our church today!

I. A CHANGE OF CONTROL ---- A POURING OF GOD – v17 & 33

a. The HS was Sudden v2-4 Falling of the HS & Filling of the HS

Ill>>>

In many Christian circles the Holy Spirit is either neglected, forgotten, or misunderstood. The One given to unite the body of Christ is the center of controversy. This is a nettle which ought to be firmly grasped. So often Christian work is so rigidly programmed that it seems we need no longer depend on Him--yet Jesus said, "Without Me you can do nothing." ...