Quiz #1 AnswersMultiple Choice

1. “c”2. “a”3. “b”

True or False

1. True2. True3. False4. False5. False

Fill in the Blank

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has

appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”” (Acts 17:30–31

NKJV)

“knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but

holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Pet 1:20–21 NKJV)

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by

word or our epistle.” (2 Th 2:15 NKJV)

Memory Verse for today

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and

perfect will of God.” (Rom 12:2 NKJV)

Let’s get ready to

sing!

Song #247:

Here we are but straying pilgrims

A Faith Built on

SandThe Foolishness of Popular

Religion in a Postmodern Age

Chapter 3:“Culture and Christianity”

Chapter 2:Outline

1.Culture: The Way of the World

2.Universal Truths vs. Passing Fads

3.The Cultural Church

4.How do Christians Live in Today’s Culture?

Culture: The Way of the world

•What is culture?

•“the customs, arts, social institutions, achievements, beliefs and attitudes of a particular nation, people, or other social group.

•No assurance that the beliefs are true and that the attitudes are right.

•“Culture” = “the world”

Culture: The Way of the world

• “kingdoms of the world” (Matt 4:8 NKJV)

• “For all these things the nations of the world seek after...” (Luke 12:30 NKJV)

• “the word, and the cares of this world” (Matt 13:22 NKJV)

• “You are the light of the world.” (Matt 5:14 NKJV)

• “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15 NKJV)

• “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.” (John 1:10 NKJV)

Culture: The Way of the world

• “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14–16 NKJV)

• “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27 NKJV)

• “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15–17 NKJV)

Culture: The Way of the world

• “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4 NKJV)

• “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” (John 12:31 NKJV)

• “their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Cor 4:4 ESV)

• “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19 NKJV)

Universal Truths vs. Passing Fads

•Rom. 11:33-36

•“God still rules above the clouds of culture”

•The Christian morality of the NT is not cultural, it is universal.

•We live in a framework of time, but God does not (2 Pet. 3:8).

The Cultural Church

•Frankenstein Jesus

•Sins of divorce, cohabitation, homosexuality, abortion, etc are marginalized on the alter of cultural acceptance.

•Jn. 14:15; 15:10

•To many, feelings are sufficient to them and intentions are as good as actions.

How do Christians Live in Today’s Culture?

•Christians should distinguish worldliness from godliness.

•Christians should affect culture instead of being affected by culture (Acts 19:18-20; 1 Thes. 1:9).

•Christians should be transformed (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 9:19-23).

Worldly Philosoph

y

Influences Christians

1 Pet. 3:15

Ignorant, compromi

sing

Defend

Eis

eges

is

BIBLENew conclusions

reached

“Theological” Worldly

Philosophy

Who is influencin

g who here?