Impacting our Culture Impacting our Culture for Christfor Christ

© John Stevenson, 2008

Luke 7:36Luke 7:36

Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.

Luke 7:37-38Luke 7:37-38

And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.

Luke 7:39Luke 7:39

Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

Luke 7:40Luke 7:40

And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”

Luke 7:41-42Luke 7:41-42

“A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?”

Luke 7:43Luke 7:43

Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

Luke 7:44Luke 7:44

Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.”

Luke 7:45-47Luke 7:45-47

“You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

The The PhariseePharisee

• Law-keeper• Obedient• Holy• Respectful

• Lawless• Sinner• Unholy• Unclean

The The WomanWoman

Simon’s view of the woman Simon’s view of the woman and himselfand himself

The The PhariseePharisee

• Proud• Self righteous• Loved little

• Repentant• Humble• Loved much

The The WomanWoman

Jesus’ view of the woman and Jesus’ view of the woman and of Simonof Simon

What is significant about this question?

Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?” (Luke 7:44)

How do we view people?

The KingdomThe Kingdom

What comes to mind when you normally hear

the words:

Kingdom

or

King?

Mark 10:45Mark 10:45

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For consider your calling, brethren,

that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God.

Planning SessionPlanning Session

What are some ways we can reach people in our culture today?

Traditional Evangelical View

Centered around what God does for us

Biblical/Kingdom View

Centered around who we are in Christ

Saved from hell Translated into the Kingdom of light

Focus on learning the Bible

Focus on coming to know Jesus & Father

Traditional Evangelical View

Do Witnessing

Biblical/Kingdom View

Be a

WitnessPray for Jesus to win

the lostPray to do what Jesus

wills

We areset apart from this

world

We areambassadors for

Christ in this world

Vocation

Sanctification

Eyes Wide OpenEyes Wide OpenWilliam Romanowski, Calvin Seminary

• Originally was published in 2001

• Chapter 1 in that edition was entitled: “Christians who drink beer”

Eyes Wide OpenEyes Wide OpenWilliam Romanowski, Calvin Seminary

Why do you think American Christians are generally more

attracted to mainstream films,

music, radio and TV than they are to

“Christian” alternatives?

Eyes Wide OpenEyes Wide OpenWilliam Romanowski, Calvin Seminary

If it is true that the earth and everything in it belongs to God,

who created all things visible and invisible, how might this belief

direct Christian engagement with popular art and

culture?

Three Christian Approaches to Three Christian Approaches to Popular CulturePopular Culture

• Condemnation

• Appropriation

• Consumption

With which approaches are you the most familiar?

ReviewReview

• Christ’s Kingdom takes an upside-down approach both from:– The world– Common religious thinking

• We are called to be in the world, though not of the world (John 17:14-16). At the same time, we can engage our culture.