Encountering Mission in the New Testament Church

The Drama Moves to a Conclusion Act 6: God Establishes and Works through the Church Mission in Acts Lessons from Paul's Life and Ministry Encountering Mission in the Epistles Act 7: Renewing All Creation: The Consummation

Act 6: God Establishes and Works through the Church Judea and Samaria The ends of the earth Jerusalem (1:1-7:60) (8:1-12:25) (13:1-28:31)

Notes from Luke’s Account Larkin and Williams, 170-86 Acts itself is a missionary book (to reach Theophilus; 1:1) The focus for Luke shifts from salvation accomplished to salvation applied (in mission) God sent Jesus—he is actively engaged Focus is on the work of the Holy Spirit more than the apostles Mission is a blend of human and divine agents: people empowered by God to proclaim/announce/witness to Christ. The spread of the Gospel throughout the world is a “shockwave” going out from a center through all the earth

Application of Acts to mission theology Larkin and Williams, 186 Many of the distinctive features of his teaching are relevant to the prosecution of witness in the present time: The necessary empowerment with the Spirit, The appropriate qualities of a witness, The importance of boldness in the midst of adversity, and The contextualized preaching of the gospel to non-Christian philosophies and religions.

Application of Acts to mission theology Larkin and Williams, 186 One theme particularly stands out: the theocentric nature of the mission in its commissioning, agency, and results. Luke would remind us when our attention is so focused on human stratagems for what we are going to do for God in mission, that, first to last, Christian mission is the mission of God. God calls and sends his servants on mission. He himself is on mission, opening individual hearts and the door of faith to various ethnic groups.

Application of Acts to mission theology Larkin and Williams, 186 If Luke can help the late-twentieth-century church to recapture that understanding, then he will have enabled the church to engage in mission authentically. In this way the truth will once again be demonstrated that it is "in Christ's name," by his power, that repentance and forgiveness of sins are proclaimed and salvation is effectively applied to all the nations.

Lessons from Paul’s Journeys The maximum duration Paul remained at a single location was less than three years His strategy was far more focused on a willingness to obey the Holy Spirit than by detailed and programmatic strategic planning Paul was an evangelist with a goal in mind: his ministry focus was on forming communities of Christians throughout the regions he traveled as a means of spreading the Gospel to the whole world Paul was willing to change the frame of the message—though not the content—based on the audience

Lessons from Paul (cont) There were definite limits to Paul’s contextualization Paul focused his attention on planting churches and moving on to new areas The content of Paul’s preaching was essentially the story of Jesus Paul tended to work as the leading member of a team of people Persecution was an important part of Paul’s circumstances, but did not influence his choice to proclaim the Gospel

Encountering Mission in the Epistles Theme 1: God's Mercy Extends to All People Theme 2: Mission Involves a Message Theme 3: Mission Faces a Supernatural Opponent Theme 4: God Is Sovereignly in Charge of Mission Theme 5: We are Christ's Ambassadors

Theme 1: God's Mercy Extends to All People Jesus died for all (Rom. 5:18-19; 2 Cor. 5:15) God wants all to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). The offer of salvation extends to all—to Gentiles and Jews, slaves and free, men and women (Gal. 3:28). All are given the opportunity to worship the king of Kings (Rev. 7:9-10)

Theme 2: Mission Involves a Message It incorporates the centrality of Jesus (Rom. 1:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:19, 21) The reality of our estrangement from him (Rom. 3:23) The fact of his coming judgment (1 Thess. 1:9-10) and The need to respond (2 Cor. 5:11-21) as we are empowered by God’s grace (Eph. 2:8-9). While the message remains constant, the means to communicate that message must flex to fit the situation and people we seek to reach (1 Cor. 9:22-23).

Theme 3: Mission Faces a Supernatural Opponent Christians, having been declared a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) are: God's children (Rom. 8:15-17; Eph. 1:4-5) Given Christ's authority (Col. 2:10) Called to engage in the kingdom conflict (Eph. 6:12) in the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 10:3-5). We do this by submitting to God and resisting Satan (James 4:4-9; 1 Pet. 5:5-9).

Theme 4: God Is Sovereignly in Charge of Mission Our loving (Rom. 5:8) Daddy (Rom. 8:15-16; Gal. 4:4-6) The immortal, invisible, eternal King of Kings (1 Tim. 1:17; 6:14b-16) Over all, in all, and through all (Eph. 4:6) In whom all things hold together (Col. 1:17). He Created and governs the world (Acts 17:24-28), Gives generously to all he created (Jas. 1:5-8, 17) While working all things towards good for those who love him (Rom. 8:28-30)

Theme 5: We are Christ's Ambassadors Our ambassadorship is based on our submission to Christ (2 Cor. 5:18-21). We do not wage just a defensive battle, but actively and offensively engage the enemy of our souls using God's rules of engagement, including: Overcoming evil with good (Rom. 12:21) Returning curses with blessings (1 Pet. 3:8-12).

Act 7: Renewing All Creation Christ returns. A new earth and heavens replace the old. Those apart from Christ will be eternally condemned Worship will be complete; mission will cease When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. (Piper 1993, 11)