ABC’s of CultureABC’s of CultureThe Web of LiesThe Web of Lies

Trainer Trainer NameNameMinistryMinistry

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IntroductionIntroduction

Images of our WorldImages of our World

What do each of these images What do each of these images have in common? have in common?

What is wrong with these images?What is wrong with these images?

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Ephesians 6:12Ephesians 6:12

What is our struggle What is our struggle notnot against? against?

What is our struggle against? What is our struggle against?

Describe in your own words who Describe in your own words who the enemy is. the enemy is.

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Satan and His StrategiesSatan and His Strategies

John 8:44John 8:44

Revelation 20:3, 7-8Revelation 20:3, 7-8

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Foundations of a Foundations of a CommunityCommunity

Foundations for DestructionFoundations for Destruction IgnoranceIgnorance LiesLies

Foundations for DevelopmentFoundations for Development KnowledgeKnowledge TruthTruth

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Galatians 4:3-10 and Galatians 4:3-10 and Colossians 2:6-8,15,20Colossians 2:6-8,15,20

1.1. How does Paul characterize the How does Paul characterize the believer’s past?believer’s past?

2.2. Who has enslaved the believer?Who has enslaved the believer?3.3. What did Christ do?What did Christ do?4.4. How did He do it?How did He do it?5.5. What are the present consequences for What are the present consequences for

the believer?the believer?6.6. What is the future choice for the What is the future choice for the

believer? believer? 7.7. What do the principalities and powers What do the principalities and powers

use to enslave us?use to enslave us?

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Question #1 - Question #1 - How does Paul How does Paul characterize the believer’s characterize the believer’s past?past?

Galatians 4:3 – So, also, when we Galatians 4:3 – So, also, when we were children, were children, we werewe were in slaveryin slavery under the basic principles of the under the basic principles of the world. world.

Colossians 2:6 – See to it that Colossians 2:6 – See to it that no no oneone takes you captivetakes you captive through through hollow and deceptive philosophy, hollow and deceptive philosophy,

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Question #2Question #2 Who has enslaved the Who has enslaved the believer?believer?

Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not godsthose who by nature are not gods. . .. . .

Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed thethe powers and authorities powers and authorities, he made , he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.over them by the cross.

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Question #3Question #3 What did Christ do?What did Christ do?

Galatians 4:5 to Galatians 4:5 to redeem those under redeem those under lawlaw, that we might receive the , that we might receive the full full rights of sonsrights of sons.”.”

Colossians 2:15 And having Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed disarmed the powers and authoritiesthe powers and authorities, he , he made made a public spectacle of thema public spectacle of them, , triumphing triumphing over themover them by the cross. by the cross.

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Question #4Question #4How did He do it?How did He do it?

Colossians 2:15 And having Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing spectacle of them, triumphing over them over them by the crossby the cross..

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Question #5Question #5 What are the What are the present consequences for the present consequences for the believer?believer?

Galatians 4:5-7Galatians 4:5-7 … that we might receive the full rights of sons… So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir…

Colossians 2:6 – 7aColossians 2:6 – 7a So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, …

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Question #6Question #6 What is the What is the future choice for the future choice for the believer? believer?

Galatians 4:9b – But now that you know Galatians 4:9b – But now that you know God – or rather are known by God – God – or rather are known by God – how is how is it that you are turning back to those weak it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principlesand miserable principles? Do you wish to ? Do you wish to be be enslavedenslaved by them all over again? by them all over again?

Colossians 2:20 – Since you died with Christ Colossians 2:20 – Since you died with Christ to the to the basic principles of this worldbasic principles of this world, why, as , why, as though you still though you still belongedbelonged to it, do you to it, do you submitsubmit to its rules? to its rules?

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Question #7Question #7 What do the What do the principalities and powers use principalities and powers use to enslave us?to enslave us?

Galatians 4:3 – So also, when we were Galatians 4:3 – So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under children, we were in slavery under the the basic principles of the worldbasic principles of the world. .

Colossians 2:8 – See to it that no one Colossians 2:8 – See to it that no one takes you captive through takes you captive through hollow and hollow and deceptive philosophydeceptive philosophy, which depends , which depends on on human traditionhuman tradition and and basic principles basic principles of this worldof this world rather than on Christ . . . rather than on Christ . . .

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Satan’s Two Weapons of Satan’s Two Weapons of EnslavementEnslavement

Man-centered PhilosophyMan-centered Philosophy– Colossians 2:8Colossians 2:8– I Peter 1:18-19I Peter 1:18-19

Basic Principles of the WorldBasic Principles of the World– Galatians 4:9Galatians 4:9– Colossians 2:8Colossians 2:8

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What does the termWhat does the term “basic “basic principles of the world” principles of the world” mean?mean?The Greek word The Greek word stoicheionstoicheion (n) = (n) =

first principles, the ABC’s of culturefirst principles, the ABC’s of culture

From stoicheo (v) we get to walk in From stoicheo (v) we get to walk in

an orderly fashion, to proceed in a an orderly fashion, to proceed in a

row, as marching soldiersrow, as marching soldiers

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Spiritual Warfare’s Spiritual Warfare’s Systemic Impact Through Systemic Impact Through CultureCulture

“…“…the the systemic viewsystemic view [of spiritual [of spiritual

warfare] sees the powers as warfare] sees the powers as

personal spiritual beings personal spiritual beings who are who are

actively impactingactively impacting the the socio-socio-

economiceconomic and and politicalpolitical structure of structure of

societies . . .societies . . .

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Spiritual Warfare’s Spiritual Warfare’s Systemic Impact Through Systemic Impact Through CultureCulture

“…“…These powers have established These powers have established

their own rules and regulationstheir own rules and regulations that that

pull cultures away from God. pull cultures away from God.

StoicheiaStoicheia are literally the are literally the

rudimentary principles, the ABC’s rudimentary principles, the ABC’s

of culture.of culture. . . . .

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Spiritual Warfare’s Spiritual Warfare’s Systemic Impact Through Systemic Impact Through CultureCulture

““These are the directives through These are the directives through

which the powers have established which the powers have established

legalistic control of society.legalistic control of society.

StoicheiaStoicheia within these contexts are within these contexts are

the the demonic contortionsdemonic contortions of human of human

society. . .society. . .

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Spiritual Warfare’s Spiritual Warfare’s Systemic Impact Through Systemic Impact Through CultureCulture““The powers, although personal The powers, although personal

spiritual beings, have spiritual beings, have invaded the invaded the

very fabric of societyvery fabric of society.. Thus Thus even even

Christian institutionsChristian institutions reflect these reflect these

demonic influences when the demonic influences when the

powers invade human institutions.”powers invade human institutions.”Dr. Gailyn Van Rheenen

Communicating Christ in Animistic Contexts, 1991

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Foundations for Foundations for Community DevelopmentCommunity Development

KnowledgeKnowledge TruthTruth

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Foundations for Foundations for Community DestructionCommunity Destruction

IgnoranceIgnorance LiesLies

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Growing Healthy CulturesGrowing Healthy Cultures

Lies a culture holds to Lies a culture holds to be truebe true

Truth the culture Truth the culture embracesembracesPrinciples of the Principles of the Development EthicDevelopment Ethic

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Ideas Have ConsequencesIdeas Have Consequences

The Roots Produce the The Roots Produce the FruitFruit

Fruit = ConsequencesFruit = Consequences

Branches = BehaviorBranches = Behavior

Trunk = ValuesTrunk = Values

Roots = Belief SystemRoots = Belief System

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Group Exercise:Group Exercise:Evaluating a LieEvaluating a Lie

Clearly identify the “Clearly identify the “valuevalue” in the ” in the lie.lie.

How is this value transmitted from How is this value transmitted from generation to generation? Give generation to generation? Give examples!examples!

What What behaviorbehavior does this value does this value produce?produce?

What are the What are the consequencesconsequences of this of this behavior?behavior?

What is the sacred What is the sacred beliefbelief that that underlies this value?underlies this value?

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Quality of Life ExampleQuality of Life Example

ValueValue – convenience, self- – convenience, self-advancement, comfort vs. moral advancement, comfort vs. moral valuevalue

PassedPassed – Redefining of family, – Redefining of family, unborn, marriage, commercials, unborn, marriage, commercials, movies, musicmovies, music

BehaviorBehavior – increased abortions, – increased abortions, assisted suicide, fewer marriages, assisted suicide, fewer marriages, rising divorce rates rising divorce rates

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Quality of Life ExampleQuality of Life Example

ConsequenceConsequence – broken individuals, – broken individuals, families, decreasing population rate, families, decreasing population rate, broken churches with no identifiable broken churches with no identifiable difference, deteriorating moral difference, deteriorating moral bases.bases.

RootRoot – Spirit of pilgrims to gain a – Spirit of pilgrims to gain a quality of life was distorted, cultural quality of life was distorted, cultural shift to believing there is no God and shift to believing there is no God and no moral standard, human rights no moral standard, human rights without a definite moral framework.without a definite moral framework.

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Group ExerciseGroup Exercise

Identify one value from your Identify one value from your culture. culture.

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What Is the Value?What Is the Value?

LanguageLanguage Cultural StoriesCultural Stories JokesJokes ProverbsProverbs SongsSongs Etc.Etc.

How Is This Value Passed Down?How Is This Value Passed Down?

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What Are the Behaviors?What Are the Behaviors?

What behaviors are seen in day to What behaviors are seen in day to day life that reflects this value? day life that reflects this value?

What is done / not done? What is done / not done? What is said / not said?What is said / not said?

What Behavior Does This What Behavior Does This Produce?Produce?

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What Are the What Are the Consequences?Consequences?

For the individual?For the individual? For the family?For the family? For the church? For the church? For the society?For the society? Personal – heart testimony!Personal – heart testimony!

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What Is the Root?What Is the Root?

Where did this idea come from?Where did this idea come from?

What are the religious / What are the religious / philosophical roots?philosophical roots?

Look at your culture’s history! What Look at your culture’s history! What national events / milestones brought national events / milestones brought this value into current “culture”?this value into current “culture”?

What are the ancient mythologies?What are the ancient mythologies?

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What Are We Doing?What Are We Doing?

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What Did You Learn?What Did You Learn?

As a group, discuss the insights As a group, discuss the insights you have gained from doing you have gained from doing this activity. Then choose one this activity. Then choose one to share with the larger group.to share with the larger group.

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ApplicationApplication

What one thing will you do in What one thing will you do in the next week to address this the next week to address this lie?lie?

What is one thing your church What is one thing your church will do to address this lie?will do to address this lie?

ABC’s of CultureABC’s of CultureThe Web of LiesThe Web of Lies

Trainer Trainer NameNameMinistryMinistry

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ABC’s of Culture ReviewABC’s of Culture Review

What does, “Ideas Have What does, “Ideas Have Consequences” mean?Consequences” mean?

What is Satan’s strategy to What is Satan’s strategy to enslave others?enslave others?

What insight did you gain from What insight did you gain from looking at a lie in your culture?looking at a lie in your culture?