This week’s presentation focuses on the importance of truth, especially in the Biblical Christian Worldview. Truth is under attack in our culture today, and the meaning of truth has been watered down. Truth, absolute objective truth, is grounded in Scripture and in the person of Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but through me.” Understanding Biblical truth will help us not to run into the wall of reality when thing go bad, or when we are tempted to make bad decisions in our life. Recognizing inconsistencies in other Worldviews will be much easier if we understand what truth is, and what it is not.

Watch this week’s presentation on this topic:

Overview Notes from the Presentation

Topic #1: Conversations About Worldview and Truth

Conclusion to Worldview Conversations: How do we develop a Christian Worldview?

Practice these things regularly:

Prayer for discernment from the Holy Spirit and truth from the Bible.
Bible Study to develop our perspective on truth and to see the world through Jesus’ eyes; following His examples and teachings.
Apologetics training to help others, and ourselves, answer tough questions presented in the culture.
Discipleship doing life with our Christian brothers and sisters to help us in our struggles and daily walk with the LORD; and to share our faith in the Gospel with others.

Get to know, and understand, the “big picture” of the Bible and God’s plan:

Knowing the big picture of the Bible, and focusing from there, will help us not fall into the trap of twisting Scripture—it will help keep us in the right context as we study, and it will provide a solid foundation for our Biblical Christian worldview

Old Testament: “Big Picture”

1. God creates us to be in relationship with Him (Genesis 1-2)

2. Humans lose that relationship at “the Fall” when they disobey God’s only command (Genesis 3) and we live with the consequence of that today

3. God immediately Promises a way of salvation and begins to work that [rescue] plan out in “Covenants” throughout the Old Testament—giving encouragement, warning and hope through the prophets (Genesis 3:15; Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 15:5-19; Genesis 26:3-5; Genesis 28:10-15; Genesis 49:9-12; Exodus 12-15; 19-20; 2 Samuel 7:5-17; Jeremiah 31:31)

4. Every book (39), story, and event contain a foreshadow, model, or prophecy of Jesus (who He would be and what He would do)—the Scarlet Thread of the Old Testament

5. The Nation of Israel was chosen to be God’s people and role-model to the other nations (but they failed all the time), showing the need for a Savior, and it would be through this Nation that Messiah would come

New Testament: “Big Picture”

THE GOSPEL:

6. Jesus is born, the promised Messiah from the tribe of Judah and line of David (Luke 3:23-37)

7. Jesus is the New Covenant in fulfillment of God’s Old Covenant and the hundreds of prophecies made about Him centuries before (Luke 22:20; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:7-13; 9:1-15)

8. Jesus’ ministry proves that He is God incarnate evidenced by His sinless life and multitude of miracles attesting to His power over the natural order and His love for humanity (evidenced throughout the Gospels)

9. Jesus dies as a substitute for all humanity, then resurrects from the grave in defeat of death and Satan, restoring that lost relationship with humankind and providing a path for eternal life (John 3:11-21)

THE CHURCH:

10. Jesus’ followers begin to spread this good news at Jesus’ command and giving of the Holy Spirit to all believers (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:7-8)

11. The early Church begins as disciples gathering in various places worshipping and studying Scripture (book of Acts)

12. Jesus promises to come back bringing the full Kingdom of God creating a New Earth and New Heaven with no more pain, suffering, or death (John 14; Revelation 21:1-7)

Part 2: Focus on Truth

“Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.”

-Winston Churchill

The Importance of Truth in our Worldview

“Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?””

John 18:37-38

What is truth?

Truth is that which corresponds to reality

The Correspondence Theory of Truth…

truth corresponds to its object
truth is an actual state of affairs
truth is the way things really are

Truth is not relative but absolute

It is true for all people, at all times, in all places
truth is transcultural
truth is absolute, narrow, and exclusive (by definition)

Truth is discovered, not invented

truth exists independent of anyone’s knowledge of it
truth is unchanging even though our beliefs or attitudes about it might change
truth matches reality

Definition of Absolute Truth:

Absolute Truth is…

Something true

For ALL people, in ALL places and at ALL times!

What truth is not:

Truth is not defined by how you feel or how sincere you are:

Feelings change
People have different feelings and differing opinions at different times about everything
People can be sincerely wrong

Truth is not determined by what works:

Just because you can get away with it does not make it true
Just because it produces results that you want does not make it true
Lies can be very useful (Satan is the father of lies—Genesis 3; John 8:44)

Truth is not regulated to popular vote:

Truth cannot be determined in the polls or voting booths
Truth cannot be set by cultural norms
Truth cannot change over time

What is the difference between objective truth and subjective truth?

Culture looks at truth in two ways:
TRUTH VS. PREFERENCE

An objective truth claim is an absolute truth statement about an object or event, for example:
- Insulin is a medicine that controls diabetes; the 5 freeway south ends at the Mexico border; or Barak Obama is the 44th president of the United States.
- It is a claim that is true for all people, in all places and at all times.

A subjective claim is a personal statement that expresses a view or preference; it is about the person making the claim, for example:
- Chocolate ice cream is the best flavor; or turquoise is the prettiest color; or California has the best coastline in the whole world.
- These claims are opinions, or preferences, of an individual or group.

OBJECTIVE TRUTH CLAIMS ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON WHAT ANYONE BELIEVES, THINKS, OR AGREES ON.

OBJECTIVE TRUTH CLAIMS ARE ABOUT REALITY—

THE WAY THINGS REALLY ARE.

Can you tell the difference?
objective truth or subjective preference

(Put an o or an s after each statement)

New York is north of Florida.
Blue is the best color for boys.
Teaching is a rewarding career.
Jesus died by crucifixion.
Heart bypass surgery can save your life.
President Lincoln was a Republican.
Jesus lived in the first century AD.
The best fish are caught in Alaska.
Mohammad lived in the seventh century AD.
Jesus is the only way to God and eternal life.

Answers: O = 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 S = 2, 3, 8

Next week’s class will focus on truth versus relativism in Worldviews!

Reflection

If you only had one minute for each question, to the best of your ability, give an answer in your own words: (Note – these are building from the notes each week)

What are four important things a Christian should work on, and model, in their walk with God? (Hint: from our Ministry Statement)
What are some things that set the ”Christian Worldview” apart from others? (What makes Christianity unique?)
What is truth? Give an example

Bible Study

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

NOTE: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions. Cite your sources to share with your group.

Daily Devotional: Read one chapter a day from the book of Proverbs for five days and take two days off. This week do Proverbs chapters 16-20, note any questions you may have, or anything that stands out to you as a life application.

1. From your daily devotional reading in the book of Proverbs 16-20, discuss the following:

The words pride, strife and discipline come up quite often in the proverbs, so let’s do a word study:

a. What do these words mean?

b. How does the wise person handle these three things?

c. How does the fool handle these three things?

d. Share any other teachings you learned from your study of Proverbs this week, or discuss any questions that you might have?

Bible study: Read Ephesians chapter 3, then to the best of your ability, answer these questions:

2. Re-read Ephesians chapter 3:1-21 with your table group. This chapter focuses on Paul’s call to ministry, specifically to the Gentiles.

a. In verses 1 and 13, why does Paul speak of being a prisoner and in tribulation, (what do we know about where Paul was when he wrote this, and some of his other letters)?

b. What is “the stewardship of God’s grace” that Paul had been given?

c. What is the “mystery” Paul is referring to? (Hint: it is not a magical or mystical secret as some cults have tried to turn it into by taking the word, or verse, out of context).

d. Application: What parts of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians in verses 3:16-21 can we use in our own prayer life? Cross-reference by also reading Philippians 4:4-7.

3. Going Deeper: Paul was an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. What is the difference between an apostle and a disciple?

Memory Verses: Recite with your table group 1 Peter 3:15; Ephesians 2:8-9; and Philippians 4:6-7

Join us next week as we continue our study in Christian Apologetics with a focus on the topic of Truth, along with our Bible study!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15