Perspectives Lesson 2 Dr. David Sills

“Passion is the heart set free to pursue that which is truly worthy. Those who set their hearts on that which is most worthy- the glory of God- live with joy-filled abandon. Their hearts are both seized and satisfied with the ambition for Jesus to be ardently worshiped. That love comes to dominate and integrate all other desires to as to live in the freedom of single- minded purpose.”

Crucial Points: The story of the Bible is a story about God more than it is about people. Three biblical terms must be understood to understand the redemptive story of the Bible: –Glory: intrinsic worth, substance, brilliance, and beauty –God’s Name: beyond the function of reference and revelation, the public reputation and open renown of God

Crucial Points: Three biblical terms must be understood to understand the redemptive story of the Bible: –Worship: that which glorifies God by recognizing His glory includes the offerings of the lesser, with the worthy glories of the nations fulfills God’s love for people by bringing them to a place of their highest honor before Him.

Glory & Worship: God Nations 1. God reveals His glory to all the nations 2. In order to receive glory from the nations

Glory & Worship: World evangelization is the fullest expression of God revealing His glory to the nations. The purpose of world evangelization is for God to receive glory from the nations.

Making Himself Known: Abraham- –Genesis 12:1-3; God reveals His glory to Abraham –Genesis 13:18; Abraham returns the glory and worship to God The Great Display- –The Exodus: God reveals Himself globally above any other god –The Conquest: God establishes purity of worship

Making Himself Known: The Great Display –The Temple: God’s way of signaling that people from every nation could encounter and worship Him personally The Great Delay –Idolatry: Profaned God’s name Eventual exile

Making Himself Known: The Great Delay –God’s Persistence & Renewed Promise: God never ceased to pursue His original promise (Gen. 12) Restoration for the purpose of global worship

Making Himself Known: The Glory of God in Christ –Prayers for the Name Taught us how to make God’s name known – A house of worship from all peoples Mark 11:17; Isaiah 56:6-7

God-Centered Mission God’s Passion –Motivated by God’s inexhaustible enthusiasm that there be praise arising from the nations. –Worship is the fuel as well as the goal of missions. –“Missions exists because worship doesn’t” –John Piper

God-Centered Mission God-Centered Compassion –Calling the nations to worship is to seek their best interest –His call to worship is the highlight of all blessings He bestows –This is the most sharable message in the world

Fulfilling the Missionary Task Two Forces of Mission at Work –Expansive or centrifugal Outward-bound dynamic The “go!” structure of missions –Attractive or centripetal Inward-bound dynamic The “come!” structure of missions

Co-Working with God’s Passion Beyond Duty – No longer a duty: the passions of God’s heart propels our own – God is on mission in the world – The Kingdom as the force and result of missions

Co-Working with God’s Passion Passion for God’s Glory – Deepens our motive base Removes the dependence on perceived need – Defines the task Clarifies the focus on people groups –Integrates efforts Serve people in their present need Save people from their eternal loss

God’s Mission Missio Dei God the Author of Mission –Israel never appointed itself as a missionary nation –They were called to do so The “Tender Mystery” of God and People on Mission –God’s call to “go!” –God’s call to “come!”

God’s Mission More than a Command –“Mission in the New Testament is more than a matter of obeying a command. It is, rather, the result of an encounter with Christ. To meet Christ means to become caught up in a mission to the world.” -Bosch

“ Worship is the fuel and goal in missions. It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God.” - John Piper. Let the Nations Be Glad.

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!” -Psalm 67:1-5