Theological Foundation of Missions God’s Mission, Our Mission

Theological Foundation God - source of mission – Creation to Noah Created humanity in His image Creates out of His nature - relational Freewill to enter relationship Sin and rebellion break the relationship Physically – Decay and death Intellectually – pride and excuse evil Socially – fractured and destroyed relationships Spiritually – Separated and alienated from God

Theological Foundation God - source of mission – Creation to Noah God of love strives for reconciliation God’s mission is one of reconciliation (Gen. 3:15) Adam and Eve to Seth – means of reconciliation Physical, social, intellectual, and Spiritual seen in the story Mission of God addresses these an points to ultimate reconciliation – Last enemy is what Noah – recognition of corruption Noah’s mission (Heb. 11:7; 2 Pet. 2:5) Babel – humanity’s pride

Theological Foundation God - source of mission – Abraham & Promise O.T. reveals God intention for His creation God’s work in the world toward His ultimate revelation of Himself (Gal. 3:28-29) Abraham leaving and going in faith Kings and Abraham, Melchizedek Sodom and Gomorrah Conditional covenant –faith (Gen. 17:1-10) Why the delay, Amorites? (Gen. 15:16) Blessed, Great nation, all nations blessed

Theological Foundation God - source of mission – Abraham & Promise “Salvation too is God’s blessing, since salvation is the fulfillment of God’s good purposes for creation, purposes already expressed in creation. But salvation is the fulfillment of creation. The Abrahamic blessing is more than the blessing of creation because it is designed to contend with and to overcome its opposite: God’s curse . . .”

Theological Foundation God - source of mission – Abraham & Promise “The ultimate goal of God’s promise to Abraham is that blessing will prevail over curse. It does so when the seed of Abraham, the singled-out descendant of Abraham, the Messiah, becomes ‘a curse for us . . . So that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles’ (Gal. 3:13-14). It is in this light that Paul can call the promise to Abraham that the nations will be blessed the gospel . . . The gospel is that in Christ Jesus the curse has been set aside and God’s creative purpose for the blessing of his creation is established beyond any possibility of reversal.” – Richard Bauckham Bible and Mission, 34-36

Theological Foundation God - source of mission – Moses & Redemption A covenant people developed to represent the one God Redeemed from slavery to point to reconciliation Holistic redemption Spiritual Social Intellectual Physical

Theological Foundation God - source of mission – Moses & Redemption Moses’ preparation Slavery to opportunity Life experience to service Service to spiritual fulfillment Moses’ call (Ex. 3:1-4:17) “Who am I that I should go?” (3:11) Whose name shall I tell them sent me? (3:13-14) “What if they will not listen?” (4:1) “I’m slow of speech and slow of tongue.” (4:10)

Theological Foundation God - source of mission – Moses & Redemption God deliverance Power, plagues, pharaoh, people Promise and spiritual development Golden calf: God’s patience, guidance (laws) God’s description of His deliverance (Ex. 19:4) People’s call Represent God before the nations Chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation (1 Pet. 2:9) Jethro/Ruel – priest of God, Rahab, Judges

Theological Foundation God - source of mission – Prophets & Psalms Prophets Universality of God’s intent Proclaim the will of God Expose the sin of the people Preach repentance and reconciliation Warn about the outcome of non-repentance

Theological Foundation God - source of mission – Prophets & Psalms Prophets God’s people, a light to the Gentiles (nations) Isa. 42:6 Isa. 49:6 Deliverance by messiah and new covenant Suffering Servant (Isa. 40-55; 52:15; 53:11-12) Jer. 31:31

Theological Foundation God - source of mission – Prophets & Psalms Prophets All nations under God’s sovereignty Amorites Israel: Northern Kingdom & Sothern Kingdom Other nations Jonah and Nineveh Elisha and Naaman (2 Kg. 5)

Theological Foundation God - source of mission – Prophets & Psalms Psalms Ps. 2:8-12 Ps. 33:13-17 Ps. 66:8-9, 16-20 Ps. 72:17-19 Ps. 98:2-3, 9 Ps. 117:1-2 Others – Ps. 67; 96; 100

Theological Foundation God’s Mission – New Testament God’s Mission Christ Enacted Holy Spirit Empowers Church Responds People Hear

Theological Foundation God’s Mission – New Testament Fulfillment of God’s blessing John the Baptist God’s incarnational relationship Immanuel – God with us Redeemer – reconciler Savior – provider of life If you have seen me, you have seen the father

Theological Foundation God’s Mission – New Testament Fulfillment of God’s blessing in the church Joel’s prophecy (Acts 2:28) Sent people (Jn. 17:18; 20:21) That the world may believe God sent Jesus (Jn. 17:23) Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20) Making disciples “panta ta ethne” – all nations Entering the mission of fulfilling the promise of Abraham

Theological Foundation God’s Mission – New Testament Central theme of the New Testament Redemption of people through Christ John 3:16 Rom. 5:8 Tit. 3:4-5 1 Jn. 4:10

Theological Foundation God’s Mission – New Testament What the mission of God means: Mission originates with God God loves His creation God's people cannot neglect it (ex. David Smith) God will equip His people God enables missionaries to understand their place in His mission Humility (Phil. 2:3) Sower and waterer God gives the growth (1 Cor. 3:6)

Theological Foundation God’s Mission – New Testament What the mission of God means: God's mission demands a love for people (identify with people) God's mission calls for sacrifice God's mission will succeed (not everyone will believe)

Theological Foundation Christ: The Message of Mission Jesus preached the kingdom of God (heaven) Matt. 3:2; Mk. 1:15; Lk. 4:43; Acts 1:8; 8:12 Meaning of kingdom: Psalms 145:11-13 synonymous parallelism Mt. 6:10 Mt. 12:28 Lk. 11:20 Lk. 17:21 Kingdom = God’s ruler over our lives

Theological Foundation Christ: The Message of Mission O.T. message to now is that God is sovereign ruler over all things (kingdom) Creation shows the rule of God (Acts 14:8-18; 17:18-31). God's judgment at the flood show the rule of God Moses proclaimed the rule of God Prophets proclaimed the rule of God Jesus proclaimed the rule of God The church proclaims the rule of God

Theological Foundation Christ, the Lord Christ is Lord (John 1:23; John 20:28) God reigns through Jesus (Heb. 1:1-3) Christ’s lordship witnessed by the casting out of demons (Matt. 12:28) Pray for God's rule (Matt. 6:9-10) Church consists of those who have accepted God’s rule through Christ Christians have come under the rule of God. Not everyone accepts the rule of God (see parable of the sower Matt. 13:19; sow the word's of the kingdom.

Theological Foundation Christ: The Message of Mission Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mk. 1:1). Savior of the world (Jn. 4:42) Message of Peter's sermon in Acts 2:14-39, both Lord and Christ (v. 36) Philip preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12)

Theological Foundation Christ: The Message of Mission Content of the message (1 Cor. 15:1-4) Death, burial and resurrection Cross-cultural communication of the gospel (Acts 17:22-31). Unknown God, not god of silver and gold, raised from dead

Theological Foundation Holy Spirit: Power of Mission Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16) Spirit will help His followers to witness to the earth (Jn. 14:16-18, 25-26; Acts 1:8) Sets apart people with prayer & fasting (Acts 13:1-4) Spirit guides (Acts 16:6-10) Spirit given to us (Rom. 5:5; 1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19, 12:13; Gal. 3:2, 4:6; Eph. 3:16) Led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:16, 18, 25) Pledge (2 Cor. 1:22, 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14)

Theological Foundation God’s Church for the Mission Church is the result and the means for accomplishing God's mission. In the world but not of the world (John 17:14-16, 18) Live in the heavenly realm (Eph. 1:3; 2:4-6) Citizenship in heaven (Phil. 3:20) A chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation (1 Pet. 2:9) The "church is the distinctive people of God called by Him through His mission and set aside for His mission."

Theological Foundation God’s Church for the Mission Church is God's witness to the world Kingdom will be preached in the whole world then end will come (Mt. 24:14) Sent by God (Jn. 17:18; 23) People need to hear the gospel, people must be sent (Rom. 10:8-15) A church actively involved in God's mission is vibrant and has purpose and direction.

Theological Foundation God’s Church for the Mission Church is Displays God’s Love Greatest and second greatest commandments (Mt. 22:36-40) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself Sum of the Law and the prophets

Theological Foundation The Word of Reconciliation Christians = Ministers of Reconciliation Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:17-21)

Theological Foundation The Word of Reconciliation Christians = Ministers of Reconciliation Christian message – answer to the world's problems Nature of the world – in need of the gospel Helpless people helped (Matt. 9:36) Change from dead to alive (Eph. 2:1-6) Change from old self to new self (Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:9) Dominion of darkness to the kingdom of the Son (Col. 1:13)

Theological Foundation The Word of Reconciliation Christians = Ministers of Reconciliation The ultimate mission of God is to reestablish people’s intimate relationship with Him so that they might live under His sovereign rule both in this world and the world to come.