Let’s Lose Some Weight – 6

Let’s Lose Some Weight – 6

Subject – A Church with a Biblical Worldview is Blessed

by Rick Welborne

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                                                                                                ¹  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
²  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
³  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 

--Today we want to talk about what it means (in light of missions) for a church to have a biblical worldview and how that church will be blessed because of that philosophy or belief.

Pastor Dan Betzer - What is a Biblical Worldview? It means perceiving the world and all the people in it the same way God perceives them. Note carefully the words, “In the same way God perceives them.” That perception is often at odds with human concepts. The church leadership will have to decide whose perceptions to follow, those of people or of God. 

--According to recent polls very few gospel-preaching churches have such a view. The Barna Research Group reports that many of our moral and spiritual challenges are because of the absence of a biblical worldview. 

--A recent survey of two thousand professing followers of Christ showed that only a few of them had such a biblical worldview. Only about 4% of unchurched people had any idea of such a concept.

--Here is the shocker, only about 9% of professing believers had any comprehension of it. About 7% of those attending mainline protestant churches and 2% of Catholics.  

--The only “redeeming factor” is those Spirit-filled and anointed churches who believe passionately about missions. These churches bring the 9 percent figure into some kind of reality.

--Every gospel-believing pastor, leader, and church attender needs to reexamine his or her life and ministry philosophy carefully, prayerfully, and scripturally. Are we deceived into complacency? 

--Remember the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ day believed they had a correct perception about God, but Jesus said they were deceived because they didn’t know the Scriptures. Could that be us?

--The Great Commission Jesus gave us has been watered down so much from a worldview to a local view. After He was resurrected from the dead what did Jesus tell His followers? Tell us?

Acts 1:8 (KJV)                                                                                                                                                          ⁸ But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Mark 16:15 (NKJV) ¹⁵ And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV) ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

--Pastor, how many times are you going to read those verses? Wrong question. How many times do I have to read these verses before some catch the vision of the Great Commission?

--Without the benefit of the internet, social media, the printed page, and other aids we have today, Christ followers struck out to accomplish His worldview at the expense of their own lives. Only one not martyred. 

--What was it that caused Jesus and the disciples to be able to turn their world upside down? Yes, by this all men will know, that you love one another. Sacrificial love of laying down their lives. 

--Their worldview was the same as that of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ. The cost was not too high for them to pay to win this lost world. 

John 3:14-16 (NKJV)
¹⁴  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
¹⁵  that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
¹⁶  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Betzer – The cost of the lack of a worldview in a local church is staggering. For one thing, it clogs the supernatural flow of God’s provision to the congregation. They only see the local situation. Their eyes are blindfolded so they can’t see the world as God sees it. As a result, the work for the Lord becomes perfunctory. The drive is gone. The passion is missing. The concept of reaching multitudes of lost and hurting people is fleeting, if it exists at all. 

--Leonard Ravenhill said our job is to preach the eternities. He said most of what churches deal with today in his words, “didn’t amount to a hill of beans.” Betzer’s biblical worldview:

1. Churches with a biblical worldview rarely have to deal with issues that don’t matter.

--A church with a godly worldview could care less about the color of the carpet, what clothes people are wearing, if the choir is robbed or not, or even if the church has a choir.

Leonard Ravenhill – Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?”

--Jesus had such a passion for the lost of the world that He was willing to be crucified for them. What are we willing to do?

2. Churches with a biblical worldview rejoices in giving. 

--Yes, we receive lots of offerings for missions and, yes, we emphasize Faith Promises over and over but people who have Jesus’ worldview don’t mind. They truly appreciate the privilege of giving. 

--Recently someone made a big issue of how much I talk about missions and how I was neglecting our local church. Funny, this person struggled financially. He did not tithe or give to missions. So sad.

3. Churches with a biblical worldview draw people with a passion for the lost.

--I have actually had people tell me the reason they came to our church is because of how we promote missions and we give them the opportunity to invest in good soil.

--A few years ago my oldest son was going to a church in N.C. and the pastor said from the pulpit that their church could not afford to support missions. Jeremy about blew a fuse. He met with the pastor. Left the church.

--There are people in this world who hear different music. They won’t be a part of a church that doesn’t have a biblical worldview. They are not concerned about churchy issues. Let’s make a difference in the world. Jesus:

Mark 6:34 (NKJV)
³⁴  And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

--What moves us? Are we only concerned for number one? Do we care about a lost world?

4. Churches with a biblical worldview have a purpose and have stability.

--Does that mean we never have issues? Of course not! It means we are so strongly united with this godly worldview to get bogged down with issues that have no eternal value. 

--Thank God I was saved in a church where missions were a priority. After learning to tithe, I remember making my first Faith Promise ($5) a month! I promised God way back then…every time I get a raise, You get a raise.

--For the last 33 years here at Life Church I have not hidden my purpose for being here. You all have heard my story over and over again…On a mission’s trip begging God to let me be a missionary.

--God spoke to me and said you will eventually become a lead pastor (scary) and your calling (purpose) will be to make that church a great mission’s church. The first thing I planned as a new pastor was a Mission’s Conv.

--At the beginning we had financial challenges but we kept missions at the forefront of everything…He told me, “If I can get it through you, I will get it to you!” In 31 years, because of our worldview, we have never lacked.

2 Corinthians 8:7 (NLT2)
⁷  Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT2)
⁶  Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
⁷  You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
⁸  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

--This has been our reason for being…reach the world, share with others. Because of that we have always had everything we needed and plenty left over to share with others. God is faithful.

--Testimony – Anyone remember the crash of 2008. It was financial chaos everywhere. Businesses closed, churches closed, pastors had to find other jobs but not here at Life Church.

--Yes, overnight our income dropped 30-40%. Wow, Pastor Rick, how did that affect our operations here and our missions? It didn’t affect them at all. How is that even possible? Anyone remember Joseph?

--God led him to store up for seven years enough food to last for seven years…He basically saved the then known world. Before the crash we were giving away more and more money. Our GF kept growing.

--When the 2008 crash hit we had approximately $850,000 in the GF with no debt. Let me just say in southern “We never missed a lick!” No one was laid off and our missionaries were supported. Even bought property.

--Because we have a godly worldview, our church has experienced great stability and purpose. Individuals who have had a godly worldview have experienced the same. Please join us, fill out your Faith Promise card today.

--I don’t want to fill out a FP card. Okay, how can we know how to bless our missionaries? Jesus is watching:

Mark 12:41-44 (NLT2)
⁴¹  Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts.
⁴²  Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.
⁴³  Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.
⁴⁴  For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”