Wide Angle Session 4 - It’s a Messed-Up World

Opening Prayer - Pray that God will help you to be open to what he wants to teach you through this session.

Key Verse - If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us...If we claim we have not sinned, we make [God] out to be a liar, and his word has no place in our lives. (1 John 1:8, 10 NIV)


Segment 1 Summary - Evil is a part of the human condition, and we all contribute to it.  Our culture has rejected the idea of sin, placing the blame for the wrong in the world everywhere except on ourselves.  Although culture and our environment may influence us, they do not determine our behavior.  Once we accept responsibility for our actions, sin becomes clear.  Even though God created us good, original sin has bent our natures so that we desire the wrong things and act on those desires.

Segment 2 Summary - The biblical worldview teaches that sin entered the world because of our free will.  God made us in his image, to love him and to have a relationship with him.  However, love must be freely given if it is to be real, and so God gave us the ability to reject him.  Man chose the non-good rather than the good, and as a result our lives have been broken on all levels.  Every sin calls into doubt God's knowledge of what is best; but, because God does know what is best, sin also hurts us and the world we live in.

Segment 3 Summary - No other worldview of sin fits reality.  Only the power of Christ can change us and put us on the road to living a good life.  Therefore, those without Christ cannot consistently do good.  We are called to recognize and identify sin without being judgmental.  We need to take responsibility for our failings and accept people without approving of their wrong choices.

Prayer Direction

• Spend some time in prayers of confession of personal and corporate sins.  Thank God for the promise of forgiveness.
• Pray for people who you know are suffering.  Ask God to use you to bring them hope and relief.

Putting It Into Practice
One thing we hope to learn by studying different worldviews is how they can shape people's actions and attitudes.  As you go through the week, you will undoubtedly run into examples of sin and its effects in the world around you.  Take some time to think about the stated or implied worldview behind the choices that produce the sin:

• What does the worldview say about the value of people?
• How does the worldview fit with reality?