Bummer Buster Friday - Thoughts From Class

This Sunday, the class I have been teaching will be wrapping up. It will have been a 10 week journey focused on the foundation of a Biblical worldview, understanding how that can apply to daily living in the context of God's more complete story starting at the beginning (Genesis and ending in Revelation)- creation --> fall --> redemption --> restoration.

As a part of that final class on Sunday we will be covering some final thoughts on the material we have covered the previous weeks. So today I  thought I  would share some of thoughts I have as I wrap up this class...

• Worldview matters. A Biblical Worldview answers these questions the best –
  • Origin (where did we come from)
  • Identity (who are we and whose are we)
  • Meaning/purpose (why do we exist)
  • Morality (where does moral authority sit - with whom)
  • Destiny (what does this mean for us and the world ultimately)
• Without God’s Word anchoring our Worldview we are buffeted by the world and culture unhinged from God while a Christian Worldview provides a firm foundation for our daily lives – as God has placed us here in this place, time and moment.
• Our lives should point to God, His glory which means we need to use the gifts he has given us here and now, even as Jesus is making all things new.
• The “Gospel” is not a different story than the story of creation – it is how God fixes the story of creation.
• The story started this way (before anything was created) and will end this way: God creating a people for Himself – who say YES to Him.
• In the end all is restored.
• God loves when within His broken world, something in it, is restored
• We need to see the fullness – end to end – of God’s story:
  • In Genesis – creation – good / very good. Command, not rescinded, to fill and have dominion over God’s creation – we are given the reigns to use our gifts
  • Fall – broke the good and very good, yet the command still stands, even now
  • Redemption – salvation through faith – but not just to share Christ or just idle and wait for Jesus to return – but to build His kingdom now, share the Good News, which includes the fact we will be physically resurrected into a restored world. In James – we see our faith should lead to action (works for which we have been made and which become rewards in eternity) as a demonstration and motivated by the fact we where first loved by God and Jesus demonstrated that for us.
  • Restoration – our kingdom building carries (our crowns are representative of the glory we brought to God in our current lives to be given back to Him in the new earth, new heaven and new Jerusalem acknowledging His Lordship and that all belongs to Him) then into eternity when we are physically resurrected at the second coming of Jesus. We will be whole again including our physical beings.
• The Truth about our world is told in the story of Scripture – Creation -> Fall -> Redemption -> Restoration (4 Chapters) – and the truth about ourselves and our identity as seen in the 4 Relationships (created by God for us - relationships with God, ourselves, others and creation) – and the 4 Truths (Christ is Risen, Christ is Lord, Jesus is making all things new and we are created for this moment and place) that give us an anchor in a chaotic cultural moment like ours, giving us and pointing us to our Hope (Jesus Christ), including having been called to this place and moment – not by accident – which leads to now what – we are called to be faithful to our calling in Jesus Christ – we should be answering the 4 Questions (what is good that we can celebrate and protect?, what is missing that we can innovate or contribute?, what is evil we can oppose and resist?, and what is broken that we can restore?) – living out the answers as a part of living out our faith by being God’s ambassadors to share the Good News and engage in Kingdom building God charged us with in the beginning.

Do you have any thoughts on how we as Christians live out our faith on a daily basis and do it well?

Finally, I would ask - are you asking God often what He wants you to be doing?

Lord Jesus, my prayer as we go into this upcoming weekend is that we focus glorifying You in all that we do by making sure our walk with you is founded upon Your work on the Cross and in Your Resurrection! Amen.

Enjoy this weekend knowing the truth of the work, the peace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus,

​Patrick Engesser