A God Centered Worldview Based on the Scriptures

A God centered worldview is centered in the person of Jesus Christ and through the scriptures.

The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled A God Centered Worldview.  You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.

The Scripture. | August 25, 2019 | Pastor Jeff Crook from Christ Place Church on Vimeo.

A God Centered Worldview

We must be confident in the scriptures for our worldview to be right.  Scripture is self authenticating by history, geography, and the spiritual fruit in life when scriptural truths are applied.

Scripture is self testifying.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. - 2 Timothy 3:16

The scriptures are breathed out by God.

So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. - 2 Peter 1:19-21

  The Scripture is God's Word to us.  It must meet certain criteria.  It must be:

*divinely inspired.
*infallible.
*authoritative.
*truthful.
*foundational to right belief.

Did Jesus believe all Scripture was divinely inspired?  Jesus quoted scripture Matthew 22.

He said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, 

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet”’? - Matthew 22:43-44

Did Jesus believe Scripture was infallible?

Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? - John 10:34

Did Jesus believe Scripture was authoritative?

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” - Matthew 4:4

Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” - Matthew 4:7

Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” - Matthew 4:10

Did Jesus believe Scripture was truthful?

Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. - John 17:17

Did Jesus believe Scripture was foundational? 

And you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. - John 5:40

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. - John 14:26

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.  All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you. - John 16:13-15

Why do we have the Holy Spirit?  The Holy Spirit:

*reminds us of the things God tells us.
*teaches us.
*tells us what is yet to come.

When we can see how the Old Testament and the New Testament compliment each other, we see the credibility of Scripture and we begin to see the world through the Master's view.

For our worldview to be right, we must stay in Scripture. 

Don't let a personal situation be the foundation for your worldview.  For example, don't let the fact that you have a homosexual loved one be the foundation for what you believe about homosexuality.  Our worldview must be rooted and grounded in the truth of Scripture, not our personal circumstances.

We must not compromise.

What we are exposed to affects our worldview.  As a people, we are addicted to the media.  We tend to blame young teens for spending too much time on their electronic devices.  However, people between the ages of 25-60 are the most frequent checkers of media devices. 

Our pastor notes John Piper's 6 Reasons We Check Media More Than Scripture:

1.  Novel candy.  We love to see what's new.
2.  Ego candy.  We like to know what people are saying about us (likes, shares, etc.)
3.  Entertainment.  We like cute quotes, etc.
4.  Boredom.
5.  Responsibility avoidance.  Spending more time on our phones means we spend less time in our real world circumstances.
6.  Hardship avoidance.

We get into mega-trouble when we seek to avoid our responsibilities and hardships.  This is one reason so many believers are caving.

People who are not reading Scripture are reading YOU.

Be confident in your Bible.



Regarding Scripture, be careful saying it if you are not staying in it.

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Do you ever feel hopeless?  I know I do from time to time.  When I feel hopeless, I turn to the Bible.  The Bible gives me hope.

  The following are my notes taken during my pastor's sermon.

The scripture passage from "Hope in the Word" is 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. - 1 Thessalonians 2:13

The Thessalonians welcomed the Word of God.

Hope in the Word - The Bible Gives Us Hope

1.  God's Word is God's Word.

When we read the scriptures out loud, we are hearing words from God.  We are hearing God speak.

And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures. - Acts 17:2

When we speak and explain the Word, it changes people's lives.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. - 2 Timothy 3:16

For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. - 2 Peter 1:21

Did you know that the first public school was opened for the purpose of teaching the Bible?

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. - Isaiah 40:8

Image Credit:  Riccardo Mion - Public Domain Image - via Freely Photos

*The following are my notes from my pastor's sermon titled "3 Weapons to Fight Fear."

3 Weapons to Fight Fear

1.  Supernatural Power 

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 1:18-20

a. God’s power equips us with supernatural abilities when we would otherwise be inadequate.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  2 Peter 1:3 

b. God’s power ensures us supernatural success when we would otherwise naturally encounter failure.

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  Matthew 17:20 

2.  Love Like No Other

a. His love transforms our lives and defines our existence.

b. His love shines a light in the darkest heart, the darkest region, and the darkest circumstances.

3.  Self Control - A Disciplined Life

a. Godly discipline provides us clear goals and guidelines.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.  1 Corinthians 9:24-26

b. Godly discipline protects us from falling prey to temptations.