– The Worldview Series –
WORLDVIEW . GOD’S VIEW . OTHER VIEWS . SHINE
*WHAT DO YOU THINK?
There are many ways to view the world and God. We want to be wise in knowing what we believe as well as what other people believe. Some popular worldviews of today are listed below. Some of the words look big but are really just two small words put together, so don’t be scared to learn what they mean. Which is your favorite to say and why?
POLYTHEISM (many gods):
Poly means many and theism means god, so if you have this view you worship many gods. These gods might include natural or man-made objects. Religions with this view include Hinduism and Buddhism.
MONOTHEISM (one god):
Mono means one and theism means god, so if you have this view you worship only one god. Religions with this view include Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
ATHEISM (no god):
A means not or without and theism means god, so if you have this view you do not worship or believe in a god.
PANTHEISM (everything is god):
Pan means all, or of everything and theism means god, so if you have this view you believe that everything is god or god is in everything (trees, rocks, rivers, animals, people, etc). Many traditional and folk religions around the world can be considered Pantheism. The New Age movement is a modern version of Pantheism. “The Force” in Star Wars is a good example of a pantheistic worldview.
AGNOSTICISM (it’s unknowable):
This is a big word which means unknowable. If you have this view you believe nothing can be known about the existence of god, so you are not sure if there is a god.
During our lives we will likely meet people who hold one of these different worldviews. The Bible gives us insight into how to respond in wisdom, truth and kindness.
WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT THIS?
In Acts 17:16–34, our passage for this lesson, the author Paul is attending a gathering of people in Athens, Greece. Let’s see how he approaches people who have different worldviews.
1. In Acts 17:17–18, what kinds of people is Paul talking to? What do you know about them? How do they respond to Paul?
- Epicureans – Believed the best thing was to enjoy life but don’t overdo it, avoid negative situations, and live a simple peaceful life.
- Stoics – Believed that to have a good life you should be a good person and develop courage, self-control, and wisdom. This will bring you peace and help you weather the hard times in life.
2. How does Paul respond to people who don’t believe what he believes? Does he ignore them, make fun of them or just hang out with them and not bring up their differences? Check out Acts 17:22–23.
3. As Paul describes God in verses 24–28, how does he connect his beliefs to each of them and what they believe?
4. Paul also calls out the people he is addressing for their worship of man-made idols (verse 29). Which worldview from our list best describes idol worship? Why?
5. What is the final response of some of the people in verse 34? Does this surprise you? Why do you think some of the people respond this way?
HOW DO WE APPLY THIS TO OUR LIVES?
6. What worldviews do you think are represented in the Acts 17 passage? Take a look at the list in the beginning of this lesson.
7. Question 4 in our lesson talked about idol worshipers. What are examples of idol worship we see in our world today?
8. Look at the chart BIG QUESTIONS AND MAJOR RELIGIONS/WORLDVIEWS at this link or on the back of this page. What do you notice? Do you know friends at school who represent some of these worldviews? What do you notice about the Christian worldview that makes what we believe different from their beliefs?
9. What difference does it make in your friends’ lives if they don’t believe that Jesus is God and can pay for their sins?
10. How do we show love and respect to people who have completely different worldviews from us without compromising our own beliefs? These passages can help… Colossians 4:2–6 and 1 Peter 3:15.
11. Are there people you would like to talk to about their worldview this week? Do you think you could explain your worldview if asked?
What ideas do you have that could improve this study? Are there creative things you do to bring this topic home to your students? Please share with the community clicking the FEEDBACK button or leaving a comment below.
