Life, Liberty And The Pursuit Of ?

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of …?

July 4, 2004

Our nation was founded on Godly principles, but we are becoming a nation that has drifted from God. Today we pursue all kinds of other priorities and things to bring us happiness. But they always leave us lacking. Things can never fill the void that is deep within us.

Part of the problem is that Christians no longer have a Godly view of the world.

** Barna Study

Based on claims found in the Bible, Barna used the following questions to determine people’s worldview

• Did Jesus Christ live a sinless life?

• Is salvation a gift from God that cannot be earned?

• Is Satan real?

• Does a Christian have a responsibility to share their faith in Christ with other people?

• Is the Bible accurate in all its teaching?

Only 9% of people who identified themselves as Christians hold these statements as facts.

*The poll of 601 randomly selected senior pastors, representing some 50 denominations and conducted in 2003, showed that only 51% of the nation’s pastors held to a biblical worldview.

America will never experience renewal without Christians taking the lead.

Three things Christians must pursue:

I- The Mind of Christ

Many Christians have accepted a standard of living different from God’s.

“Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from evil powers of this world and not from Christ.”

Colossians 2:8 (NLT)

We must base our view of life and the issues of society on Gods design and not mans. Without a Godly worldview, we will buy into the human arguments on social issues.

ISSUE PEOPLE WITH PEOPLE WITHOUT

BIBLICAL VIEW BIBLICAL VIEW

Cohabitation 2% 62%

Drunkenness 2% 36%

Homosexuality 2% 31%

Profanity 3% 37%

Adultery 3% 44%

*George Barna study- 2003

Christians must begin to develop a view of the world that reflects Gods design for our lives.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2(NIV)

“It is our decisions and actions that reveal what we truly believe.”

Del Tackett

Exec VP Focus on the Family

“The man without the spirit does not accept things that come from the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him…. But we have the mind of Christ.”

I Corinthians 2:14-16(NIV)

II- The Word of God

It is through the study of the word of God that our mind and our actions become shaped more like Jesus.

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Psalm 119:105(NIV)

God’s Word is meant to guide us one step at a time.

God’s Word protects us from sin.

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your Word.”

Psalm 119:9(NIV)

“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.” 2 Timothy 3:16(NLT)

Gideon Presentation-

Jud Minear

III- The Heart of the Culture

We must make it our job to share Christ to our culture.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Luke 19:11(NAS)

Jesus has called us to be missionaries to those who don’t know him.

“And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8(NIV)

*The US is the third largest unchurched nation in the world. Only China and India are larger.

*North America is the only continent where Christianity is not growing.

*Half of all churches last year did not add one new member through conversion growth.

We must develop life on life relationships to share Christ with those around us.

“And he has given us this command: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

I John 4:21(NIV)

Conclusion: What are you pursuing?

The Mind of Christ

The Word of God

The Heart of the Culture