INTRODUCTION
The terms “Christian worldview” and “biblical worldview” are often used to actually deflect Christians from following Jesus to embracing conflicting ideologies.
The Jesus Worldview Initiative offers a variety of resources — including individual and group studies, thoughtful writings and in-person experiences. All are focused on providing better understanding and encouraging fresh commitments to following Jesus above any other priority.
RESOURCES
Seeing with Jesus
by Jack Glasgow
Discipleship is not step two in the Christian life: it is the very essence of the Christian life. Discipleship begins with a willingness to trust the one who calls us to follow. It seeks to know Jesus in every way—to know his teaching and to know his sacrifice; to know his healing and to know his resurrection. The goal of Christians and congregations in our context must be to know, love, and follow Jesus.
Seeing Through the Eyes of Jesus
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Calling us back to the central focus of our Christian faith, the risen and living Jesus, this new resource invites congregations into deeper faithfulness with each other, equips congregations to offer a bold and positive witness to the risen Jesus and transforms us individually and corporately while we co-labor with God to transform the world.
Jesus Worldview Presentations
by Good Faith Media Staff
Sermons, workshops, classes and retreats are offered by Good Faith Media. Contact John Pierce, director of the Jesus Worldview Initiative, to explore the options and opportunities.
ARTICLES
Six Concepts for Better Understanding Broader Issues Today
Defensiveness often accompanies being proven wrong, as many prefer comfortable untruth to uncomfortable truth. Many Americanized Christians, in particular, seem to be on the defensive against any criticism.
A More-Pressing Question About Post-Pandemic Christianity
Many U.S. church leaders and members are lamenting a slow or absent return of participating members following the pandemic. They are seeking answers. But rightly formed questions are always essential in the pursuit of answers.
What I’ve “Left Behind” for My Sake and Others
There is a lot of talk today about leaving Christianity. I get it. There’s much within Americanized white evangelicalism that is repelling.
The Need for Life-Over-Death Priorities — in This Life
On All Saints’ Day, we remember that a life-over-death belief permeates the Christian faith. Tragically, many evangelical Christians in the U.S. support policies and express perspectives that are best described as death-over-life.
Avoiding the Snookering at Snook Haven and Beyond
A pleasant dinner with friends was somewhat derailed when the restaurant’s troubadour for the evening began to opine about his religious and political views. Preaching singers, like singing preachers, should come with warning labels.
Perhaps the Winning Is in the Welcome
“Soul winner” was a common phrase in the religious lexicon of my upbringing. Sharing the good news of Jesus is important for Christians, but how it is carried out makes all the difference in the world.
Beware When Jesus Is Reduced to a Bit Player and Good Pastors Are Maligned
Is Jesus missing from the so-called ‘biblical worldview’ or ‘Christian worldview’ to which you subscribe? If so, you might need to look more carefully at the life and teachings of Jesus to align yourselves with a ‘Jesus worldview.’
Do We Really Want God to ‘Lead, Guide and Direct Us’?
Appeals for God to “lead, guide and direct us” were common in the churches of my upbringing – they likely still are in many congregations. But do the petitioners really want such guidance?
Jesus Drew the Curtain on Performative Religion
Being seen as Christian sure seems more important to many than just being Christian. And such spiritual showmanship is getting encouragement and enablement from high places. It’s well past time for a return to Jesus’ teachings and example.
LIBRARY
Suggested reading for exploring more about Jesus.
Resources from Nurturing Faith Books, GFM’s publishing imprint.
Suggested Books about Jesus from Other Publishers
The Disturbing Galilean: Essays About Jesus Malcolm Tolbert (2009, Smyth & Helwys)
The Founder of Christianity C. H. Dodd (out of print; used copies available)
The Historical Figure of Jesus E.P. Sanders (1993, PenguinRandomHouse)
Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time Marcus Borg (2005, HarperCollins)
Reclaiming the Forgotten Gospel Charles Stuart (2020, independently published)
RETREATS
Small-group retreats reveal the value of ministers and lay leaders engaging in weeklong conversations about the need to explore creative, compelling and collaborative ways to advance a Jesus Worldview in a time of competing allegiances. Some retreats are focused on pastoral leaders, while others involve lay and institutional leaders.
Ecumenical involvement and collaboration with other organizations interested in pursuing the Jesus Worldview Initiative have made some of the retreats possible.
REVIEWS
Calling Christians to a higher and better-informed loyalty to the teachings of Jesus is the high ground we want to occupy. We don’t want to inhabit the low ground of most of our current political, and even theological, debate.
When as a society we are distracted and overwhelmed, it is essential that we refocus our vision by looking through the lens of Jesus. The Jesus Worldview Initiative invites us into sacred space, to sit at the feet of Jesus, where we find respite and renewal, so that we are prepared, empowered and equipped to be true disciples of our time.
The Jesus Worldview Initiative has a disarming simplicity, but the timing and angle of approach have tremendous potential to change the lives of hundreds of churches and countless believers.
What excites me most about this project is we are getting back to the core of who we are. We are working to make sure we are following who we are called to follow, and if we can accomplish this we might finally and fully bring that Kingdom to earth. And God knows we need it.
I read your piece on having a Jesus worldview and felt a resounding “Yes!” Thanks for being one resource that keeps pointing the way.
The Jesus Worldview Initiative could be the transforming agent the church needs. … and knowing what Jesus said and did is essential.
In examining American Christianity, I cannot help but think we have expectations … that God is on our side (whatever side that may be), and greatness is secured at the expense of others. This is not the way of Jesus. May we learn from him and become his faithful disciples.
The topic of the week was how much of the current American conversation about Christianity actually factors in the life and teachings of Jesus. … I expected stimulating conversation; I did not expect to come home with a disturbed sense of purpose and priority.
This initiative seeks to inform and train Christian leaders to view the world through the lens of Jesus’ life and actions. … A Jesus worldview is needed because far too many Christians talk about a “biblical worldview” or a “Christian worldview” in ways that have nothing to do with Christ.
I’m particularly moved by how powerful the concept of friendship is in trying to live with a Jesus Worldview. … You’re on to something.