Integrating Christ into Our Academic Pursuits

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound theme of shaping our inner world, particularly within the academic context. We began by reflecting on the words of Paul, who reminds us that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. This challenges us to reconsider how much of our own fields of study Christ does not know, urging us to reposition Him at the forefront of our intellectual pursuits. The core issue we face is the deep division between intellectual, artistic, and academic pursuits and the faith in Jesus Christ that has historically shaped Western culture. This division is rooted in the perception that Christian teachings are not regarded as a body of knowledge, but rather as mere faith.

We must challenge this notion by recognizing that the Christian tradition is indeed a tradition of knowledge, not just blind faith. This involves transforming our inner lives, beginning with our basic ideas about reality and knowledge. We must develop an epistemology that acknowledges the Bible as a way of knowing God and recognize the presence of Christ in our fields of study. This transformation requires us to see Jesus as the most intelligent being, capable of guiding us in every professional context.

Furthermore, we must address the moral reality of our time, which often lacks a foundation in truth. By standing in Christ, we find a basis for moral teaching and understand the significance of real morality. As we follow Christ, He shapes our inner world, transforming our fears, angers, and desires into a life of worship and love. This transformation is not just about beliefs but also about practices, as we learn to live as disciples of Jesus in every aspect of our lives.

Finally, we are called to integrate our fields with the truth of Christianity, recognizing Christ as the smartest person in our field and allowing Him to shape our professional worlds. This requires courage, wisdom, and a commitment to stand in the knowledge and character of Christ, ultimately reflecting His shaping of our hearts and minds.

Key Takeaways:

1. Repositioning Christ in Our Fields: We must challenge the notion that Christian teachings are not a body of knowledge. By recognizing Christ as the source of all wisdom and knowledge, we can reposition Him at the forefront of our intellectual pursuits, allowing His teachings to guide us in our fields. [02:03]

2. Transforming Our Inner Lives: The transformation of our inner lives begins with our basic ideas about reality and knowledge. By developing an epistemology that acknowledges the Bible as a way of knowing God, we can recognize the presence of Christ in our fields of study and allow Him to guide us. [14:29]

3. Addressing Moral Reality: In a time when moral principles often lack a foundation in truth, standing in Christ provides a basis for moral teaching. By understanding the significance of real morality, we can follow Christ and allow Him to shape our inner world, transforming our fears and desires into a life of worship and love. [33:58]

4. Living as Disciples of Jesus: Discipleship is not just about beliefs but also about practices. As disciples of Jesus, we learn to live in the kingdom of God, seeking His righteousness and allowing Him to transform our inner lives. This involves practicing spiritual disciplines and integrating our fields with the truth of Christianity. [36:40]

5. Integrating Our Fields with Christianity: We are called to integrate our fields with the truth of Christianity, recognizing Christ as the smartest person in our field. By allowing Him to shape our professional worlds, we reflect His shaping of our hearts and minds, ultimately standing in the knowledge and character of Christ. [41:16]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:21] - Introduction to the Theme
- [00:54] - Paul's Words on Wisdom
- [01:48] - Repositioning Christ in Our Fields
- [03:50] - The Gap Between Faith and Academia
- [06:08] - Authority of the University System
- [08:19] - The Problem of Knowledge
- [10:30] - Christianity on the Defensive
- [12:39] - The Inner Challenge
- [14:29] - Transforming Our Inner Lives
- [17:25] - Jesus in Professional Contexts
- [19:01] - The Reality of a Trinitarian Universe
- [20:12] - The Way Back
- [24:12] - Christian Scholarship
- [27:18] - Standing in Faith and Knowledge
- [33:58] - Addressing Moral Reality
- [36:40] - Living as Disciples of Jesus
- [41:16] - Integrating Our Fields with Christianity

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 1:24 - "But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."
2. Colossians 2:3 - "In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
3. Matthew 5: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 1 Corinthians 1:24, how is Christ described in terms of power and wisdom? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on repositioning Christ in our fields? [01:07]

2. In Colossians 2:3, what is said to be hidden in Christ? How does this passage challenge the division between faith and academia mentioned in the sermon? [01:20]

3. How does the sermon describe the current gap between intellectual pursuits and faith in Jesus Christ? What historical context is provided to explain this division? [06:58]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of Jesus in professional contexts, and how does this relate to the idea of Jesus being the most intelligent being? [17:25]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might recognizing Christ as the source of all wisdom and knowledge change the way one approaches their field of study or profession? [02:03]

2. What does it mean to develop an epistemology that acknowledges the Bible as a way of knowing God, and how might this influence one's academic or professional life? [14:29]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that standing in Christ provides a foundation for moral teaching? How does this contrast with the current moral reality described in the sermon? [33:58]

4. How does the concept of living as disciples of Jesus extend beyond beliefs to include practices, according to the sermon? What are some examples of these practices? [36:40]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own field of study or profession. How can you reposition Christ at the forefront of your intellectual pursuits this week? [02:03]

2. Consider your current understanding of reality and knowledge. What steps can you take to develop an epistemology that acknowledges the Bible as a way of knowing God? [14:29]

3. Identify a moral issue you are currently facing. How can standing in Christ provide a foundation for addressing this issue with truth and love? [33:58]

4. Think about your daily practices. What is one spiritual discipline you can incorporate into your routine to live more fully as a disciple of Jesus? [36:40]

5. How can you integrate your professional field with the truth of Christianity, recognizing Christ as the smartest person in your field? What specific actions can you take to reflect His shaping of your heart and mind? [41:16]

6. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt isolated in your academic or professional life. How can you seek out a community of peers to challenge and encourage you in integrating faith and intellect? [05:34]

7. Consider a person in your life who may be struggling with the division between faith and academia. How can you support them in recognizing the presence of Christ in their field of study? [06:58]

Devotional

Day 1: Christ as the Source of All Knowledge
In the academic world, there is often a perceived divide between faith and intellectual pursuits. However, recognizing Christ as the source of all wisdom and knowledge challenges this notion. By repositioning Christ at the forefront of our intellectual endeavors, we acknowledge that Christian teachings are not just a matter of faith but a profound body of knowledge. This perspective encourages us to integrate our faith with our academic and professional lives, allowing Christ's teachings to guide us in our fields. [02:03]

Colossians 2:2-3 (ESV): "That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively incorporate the wisdom of Christ into your daily work or studies today?


Day 2: Transforming Our Inner Lives Through Christ
The transformation of our inner lives begins with reshaping our fundamental ideas about reality and knowledge. By developing an epistemology that acknowledges the Bible as a way of knowing God, we can recognize the presence of Christ in our fields of study. This transformation is not merely intellectual but also spiritual, as we allow Christ to guide us in every aspect of our lives. By seeing Jesus as the most intelligent being, we open ourselves to His guidance in our professional contexts, leading to a deeper integration of faith and knowledge. [14:29]

Ephesians 1:17-18 (ESV): "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to invite Christ's wisdom and guidance today?


Day 3: Standing in Christ for Moral Clarity
In a world where moral principles often lack a foundation in truth, standing in Christ provides a basis for moral teaching. By understanding the significance of real morality, we can follow Christ and allow Him to shape our inner world, transforming our fears and desires into a life of worship and love. This moral clarity is not just about adhering to rules but about embodying the character of Christ in our daily lives, allowing His truth to guide our actions and decisions. [33:58]

Proverbs 2:6-9 (ESV): "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints."

Reflection: How can you allow Christ's truth to guide a specific moral decision you face today?


Day 4: Practicing Discipleship in Everyday Life
Discipleship is not just about beliefs but also about practices. As disciples of Jesus, we learn to live in the kingdom of God, seeking His righteousness and allowing Him to transform our inner lives. This involves practicing spiritual disciplines and integrating our fields with the truth of Christianity. By living as disciples, we embody the teachings of Christ in every aspect of our lives, allowing His presence to shape our actions and interactions with others. [36:40]

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: What spiritual discipline can you commit to practicing this week to deepen your discipleship?


Day 5: Integrating Faith with Professional Life
We are called to integrate our fields with the truth of Christianity, recognizing Christ as the smartest person in our field. By allowing Him to shape our professional worlds, we reflect His shaping of our hearts and minds, ultimately standing in the knowledge and character of Christ. This integration requires courage, wisdom, and a commitment to embodying Christ's teachings in our professional lives, allowing His presence to influence our work and interactions with others. [41:16]

1 Corinthians 1:24-25 (ESV): "But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

Reflection: How can you intentionally reflect Christ's wisdom and character in your professional interactions today?

Quotes



The theme of the conference is one that is close to my heart, and especially in the academic context. I'm going to be speaking on the inner life shaping the inner world, shaping our inner world. I'm going to be saying a few things which may startle you and perhaps offend you and if so I'm asking forgiveness ahead of time but the issues are very deep and very important. [00:18:43]

For in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge and sometimes when we read the scripture it's helpful to pay attention to the little trivial grammatical points and to ask ourselves questions like all the wisdom, all the treasures, how many does that leave out how many are left out. [00:77:45]

We have to reposition him very firmly for our work and if we speak of following Christ, we can only follow Christ where he is and if he's not ahead of us in our field we can't follow him in our field, and so when we speak of shaping our inner world now we're going to have to come to deal with some of the deepest ideas and beliefs and ways of thinking about things. [00:126:08]

The deep division that is addressed by these words between intellectual, artistic, academic and the faith in Jesus Christ that really has formed the traditions of Western culture, including education, that gap, that deep division in life is a matter of what is recognized as knowledge in our culture. [00:414:88]

The primary problem derives from the fact that the content of Christian teaching is not regarded as a body of knowledge and you may be shocked to even hear someone raise that as an issue it may be that your feelings and your thoughts and your habits are well of course it is not knowledge it's faith. [00:451:28]

We have to understand that we cannot overcome the gap by being better persons alone, we cannot overcome the gap by being more spiritual alone, in fact it is the attack on the content of the Christian tradition as a knowledge tradition that undermines our ability to be better persons and to even have solid moral guidance. [00:583:04]

I am thoroughly convinced it is not only biblically mandated but really possible for Christians studying in secular universities and working in a pluralistic world to develop unified Christian perspectives and now please note, on their fields, and then to think, work and live as veritable salt and light in the midst of that world. [00:832:39]

The transformation of our own inner life, beginning with our most basic ideas about what counts as reality and what counts as knowledge, coming down to further points like developing an epistemology of the Bible as a way of knowing God, coming on down to the very concrete details of our own fields, and knowing the presence of Christ in those fields. [00:869:19]

If you ask almost any person who is the most brilliant person in their field, you will rarely ever hear anyone say it is Jesus himself who is the greatest mathematician that ever lived, who's the greatest economist, who's the greatest philosopher, if you ask in general who's the smartest man that ever lived, you will rarely get well it's Jesus Christ. [00:908:16]

We have to make sense of discipleship to Jesus not just in terms of our beliefs but in terms of our practices you see as a disciple of Jesus I am learning from him how to lead my life as he would lead my life if he were I, I am learning from him how to live in the kingdom of God seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. [00:2198:56]

Spiritual disciplines are what you think about when you get serious about changing when you decide yes I really would like to be the disciple of Jesus in every aspect of my life I would like to be able to follow him and I would like to learn from him how to have my fear my anxiety my busyness my loneliness transformed so that I am within a different person. [00:2239:28]

We as specialists in our fields need to gather around Christ who is the smartest man in our field and follow him in shaping our professional worlds to reflect the shaping that he has done of our own hearts and our own minds. May God give us grace to be able to do that. [00:2493:35]

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Transcript
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