- Worship
- Fellowship
- Discipleship
- Leadership
- Stewardship
- Citizenship
In order to see how God might us to re-shap e the church, we must re -e xamine (for many the first time) how to fellowship with God in praise and prayer, how to grow in discipleship with Christ as we live-out the truths and teachings of scripture together in service, how to grow in leadership and stewardship by serving through our spiritual giifting and calling,
This reimagine-Scripture assessment requires three difficult disciplines.
- First, our foundation must always be the biblical text.
- Our mind must be refreshed and renewed by the Holy Spirit's guidance through Holy Scripture
- Read it. Pray it. Discuss to discern it.
- Repeat.
- Secondly, our focus must discern the context.
- Interpret the scripture passage (word, phrase, verse, story) with an understanding of the biblical context
- Translation: what does it say?
- Research both biblical context of the text and the sociological context of that time *who, what, where, when, why?)
- Instruction: what is the author's original purpose of this content?
- Application: what was the author's hoped-for outcome, action-step?
- Remember and Return?
- Repent (change direction: "do not be conformed; be transformed")?
- Interpret the scripture passage (word, phrase, verse, story) with an understanding of the biblical context
- Thirdly, our framework must consider how our current perspective acts as a pretext..
- The application/implementation process must be based on the text but is always lived-out in our context.
- Our current vantage point of both personal needs and societal issues; these trials and troubles invariably influence our thinking (and even our translating).
- Are we safe and secure or hungry and in danger (personal, neighborhood)? Are we represented in the corridors of power? Are we majority or minority?
- Become aware of the ideas that have influenced your worldview.
- Everyone has a distinct worldview that shapes how they think, perceive, react to the world and in their surroundings.
- This impacts our understanding of truth, application of our values, and implementation of our resources and activities.
- "A worldview is a collection of attitudes, values, stories and expectations about the world around us, which inform our every thought and action...and is expressed in ethics, religion, philosophy, scientific beliefs and so on (Sire, 2004). A worldview is how a culture works out in individual practice." (Dictionary)
- Assess how your collection of traditions, experiences, preferences, presuppositions,, even political leanings, influence (or infect) your operating system.
- Then assess how your worldview informs how you reimagine-Scripture; translating, interpreting, applying.
- Doctrine is not a worldview but biblical truths and teachings must inform and influence every component of our personal perspective (ideology-framework, mind-set, value-system, culture-code).
- Recognize how your world and your worldview are at work when you chart the course of your journey of reading-researching-studying-living out the Word of God.
- The application/implementation process must be based on the text but is always lived-out in our context.
I have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
I have considered my ways
and have turned my steps to your statutes.
I will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands Psalm 119:58-60
The sacred writings...are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word.All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live.The Scriptures train God’s servants to do all kinds of good deeds. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 ESV/CEV
ACTION-IDEA
- Read this text. Review additional translations. Write your own paraphrase
- Romans 12:2: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV
- Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. CEV
- And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. NASB
- Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. CSB
- Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you. TLB
- Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ESV
- Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity. JBP
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A major motivation in writing this commentary is the need for the Church to make disciples who know how to "read" the Bible.
It has been my observation many who believe it to be the the inspired, inerrant, infallible, Word of God unknowingly assume their reading of Holy Scripture is also inspired, inerrant, infallible.
The point of the article above is to remind us that:
We can trust the Holy Spirit to give us a trustworthy understanding of Holy Scripture but only as we yield and listen to the Spirit's voice, often through other voices in the Body of Christ.
Read. Humbly.
Quote from Scot McKnight:
"Everyone reads the Bible from a location, a context.
And everyone reads that Bible for their own context.
It’s impossible not to.
The ones who don’t know these truths are the ones most dangerous to church and society.
To think we are unimpacted by location and that our location does not preform our eyes to see one thing and not another weaponizes the Bible on behalf of one location."
Originally posted >>>
Know the difference between biblical absolutes, spiritual convictio...
There is a difference between a biblical absolute, a spiritual conviction, and a personal opinion. It’s important to know the difference and not misapply them. This chart defines the three terms and explains how they differ.
There are several ways to misapply these terms.
Consider each of these statements. Is it a biblical absolute, spiritual conviction, or personal preference?
1. Do not speak unwholesome words.
2. We should sing only hymns in church.
3. Forgive one another.
4. I like living in the country.
5. We should sing only praise choruses at church.
6. I’m going to read my Bible every morning before I go to work.
7. I would rather spend my extra money on nice clothes than a nice car.
8. It’s important for a church to have Sunday night services.
9. Be completely gentle.
10. We feel strongly that our children should attend public school.
11. Encourage one another.
12. I’m going to participate in the anti-abortion rally.
13. On my day off, I enjoy solitude.
Numbers 1,3,9 and 11 are directives from the Bible, so they are nonnegotiable. Numbers 6,10 and 12 are spiritual convictions. The remaining statements are preferences.
Know when to hold tight to your persuasions and when to hold them loosely.
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Eric Kouns