A Compass of 10 Missiological Theories Developed from the Book of Acts Preparation: Read through the book of Acts

 What are the key turning points throughout the book?  When answered click next for answers Next

 Come: Acts 1:8 Gathered Church: Empowerment in Jerusalem  Go: Acts 8:1 Scattered Church: Dispersed Everywhere  Go Beyond: Acts 13:3-5 The Pauline Apostolic Sendoff  The Church throughout history repeats this tension between pastoral gathering and apostolic scattering Next

 Acts 2-4

 In what ways is the Acts story, a story of Urban Mission?  What are the two urban mega-churches in the Acts story?  What are the major cities in the Acts progressions?  Has Christianity always been an urban religion?  When answered click next Next

 What is the significance of 16 languages all speaking one language?  How does it relate back to Babel?  What was the point of tension in Acts 6 between two groups of widows?  From what people group were the first deacons?  What was the color and ethnic background of the apostles and prophets leading the Antioch church?  Is the Antioch or Jerusalem church a better model of a city church?

 Review Pickett’s (McGavran’s) theories on People Movements.  Go here for a Definition and description Go here for a Definition  What are the three main people movements in Acts and which peoples do they involve?  When answered click next Next

 The Jewish Jerusalem Church  The Diaconal Breakthroughs to the Gentiles  Philip  Stephen  The Pauline Webs Next

 Peter and Cornelius  Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch  Barnabas and Antioch  Listen to the Spirit, expect the visions, follow the unusual voice of God  Don’t miss the turning points

 What is McGavran’s theory of redemption and lift? How fast does this occur? What are its limits?  Is this evident in Acts?  If the Bible is sufficient for every good work, why are some critical principles not developed within it? Is there core truth outside of the scriptures? Next

 Paul’s wandering apostolic band  Vs the local church, the council of Jerusalem  The same tensions occur throughout history.  Bishops vs abbots  Faith missions vs denominational structures  Prophets, evangelists and apostles are mobile  Pastor-teachers and pastors of pastors (bishops) are local/stationary  Orders and preaching friars vs Parish Priests  To the ends of the earth vs solving the problems of the people  Apostolics are goal driven, mobile, high authority  Pastorals are community driven, stationary, consensus based authority

 Are there three structures?  What are deacons? (Acts 6)  Was Paul a deacon for two years gathering finances for Jerusalem?  Are international aid organizations made up of people with diaconal giftings of administration of finances Biblical or supra- Biblical?  Diaconates are mercy and administratively driven, fund-focused  But deacons were appointed to set the apostles free to lead

 Why is there little emphasis on actions to bring about change in injust structures in Jesus? In Paul? In the early church?  Does McGavran develop his emphasis on people group movements in opposition to engaging in doing justice as the Latin American Fraternity claimed?  Is McGavran right? What roles are appropriate for missionaries?  When answered, click next Next

 What is the role of the Holy Spirit in Acts?  What are the fruit of revival?  What is the relationship of the falling of the Holy Spirit and speaking the good news?  From Girgg, What is a revival movement?  When answered click next Next

 What are revival movements?  How would you apply this to the Acts story?  From Grigg, review the expansion of the idea of a revival movement into the idea of urban transformative revival.  Is transformative revival evident in Acts? Why or why not?  How long does transformation take? How do you know if a society is transformed?  When answered click next Next

 Track the idea of households as the centre of evangelistic growth through the book of Acts.  Define Thom Wolf’s concept of Oikos Evangelism.

 How do you communicate these truths to others?

 Glasser, A., Charles van Engen, et al. (2003). Announcing the Kingdom. Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Academic.  McGavran, D. A. (1970). The Masses, The Classes, and Church Growth. Understanding Church Growth. 225 Jefferson Ave., S.E., Grand Rapids, Mich , Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.:  Pickett, J. W. (1938). Christ's Way to India's Heart. London, The United Society for Christian Literature.  Tippett, A. (1971). People Movements in Southern Polynesia. Chicago, Moody Bible Institute.  --- (1987). Introduction to Missiology. Pasadena, William Carey Library.  Winters, R. (1974). "The Two Structures of God's Redemptive Mission." Missiology II: No. 1, Jan  Wolf, T. (1980). Oikos Evangelism: Key to the Future. Future Church. J. Ralph Neighbor. Nashville, Broadman Press.