1. Theological Foundation of Missions
God’s Mission, Our Mission

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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 . . .”

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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 ; 52:15; 53:11-12)
Jer. 31:31

12. 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)

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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)

19. 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)

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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)

24. 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

25. 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)

26. 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."

27. 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.

28. 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

29. 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)

30. 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)

31. 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.