L3 Theology of Missions

Strategic Focus of Jesus

• The ministry of Jesus mainly focused on his own people, but the scope broadened as he mentioned giving his life as ransom.
• Matthew 10:5-6 illustrates Jesus' directive to his disciples to focus on the lost sheep of Israel, healing and ministering to them, Matthew 10:5-6.
• James and John, likely cousins of Jesus, sought an inside track to the predicted kingdom, prompting Jesus to teach them about true service, Mark 10:42.
• This focus emphasizes the Messiah's initial outreach to the Jewish people before extending to others.
• Jesus ministers to the Samaritan woman at the well, crossing religious, geographic, gender, and class boundaries, John 4.
• Jesus expresses the the gentiles faith to be greater than he has seen even in israel
• Luke 10 illustrates the mission of the 72 sent to every town and place

Jesus and Gentiles

• Jesus acknowledges that the faith of a Gentile is greater than that which he had seen among his own people.
• Jesus expresses the the gentiles faith to be greater than he has seen even in israel
• The Samaritan woman in John 4 and the Centurion in Luke 7 are prime examples of this shift

All Peoples

• Reaching all nations involves targeting distinct ethnic groups
• Matthew 28:19-20 references "Pont ne" for all nations
• The phrase Panta te ethne “all nations” refers to how people describe themselves by language and sociocultural factors.
• Nations are understood as people groups with distinct language, culture, and social factors.
• Nation states are geographically bounded, unlike people groups
• Taking the gospel to all nations means reaching people, not just traveling to places.
• Socio-economic groups are scattered worldwide due to migration patterns.
• Approximately 40% of the world's population is part of an unreached people group

Apostolic Function

• Apostolic function refers to taking the gospel where it hasn't been heard, establishing churches where they don't exist, and guiding people to express Christ within social contexts, and participating in global missions.
• Apostolic function is at the responsilibity of every person that follows Jesus
• The great commission tells everyone to "go" and preach the gospel.

Uniqueness of Jesus

• The emphasis on reaching all nations through Jesus doesn't imply the condemnation of those of other faiths.
• This mission is not bigotry and it is an affirmation that religious are not the same.
• In John 14:6 Jesus proclaims Himself as the only way to the Father
• It is because creation implies a a responsible relationship with God.
• Other religions can lead to a point to have the word recieved.

Acts, the journey

• Luke’s theology and historiography are missiological
• Luke’s missiological character of Acts offers a clue as to Luke's primary intent in writing the book.
• In Acts, it's not as clearcut, it just simply was the start.

Luke's Historiography in Acts

• The term ethne is used for the gentile nations.
• The first account was the gospel of luke, the second was the act of the apostles
• Luke obviously wrote with historical intent
• Luke felt it important that readers have a clear understanding of the beginning of the church, Acts 1:3-4
• His historical intent is implied in Acts 1:1 "The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach..."
• Luke wrote so that his readers might know the exact truth about what they had been taught
• There is a mission intent implied as told but the word of God (Christ)
• There was theological implication of getting the word out to everyone and making it know.
• Luke wanted to emphasize not only the doings but also the teachings of Jesus and the early Church, Acts 1:1
• God’s mission of redemption continues intact by the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost
• Luke repeatedly emphasizes God's offer of salvation to all humankind Jew and Gentile, man and woman, young and old, wealthy and poor
• Luke sought to encourage and strengthen the Christians by ensuring them that they could triumph over opposition and persecution as did the first Christians.
• Through the power of the Spirit they could not only stay true to Christ, they could be powerful witnesses of His grace.
• Luke's purpose is is demonstrated by the power of the risen Christ in Acts 1:8.
• Luke seeks to encourage those Christians were persecuted
• Luke asks Roman authorities to stop persecuting them too
• His chief purpose was to tell them to be will will, they can.

First Jerusalem Outpouring

• A prophetic communited meant people were living in the faith.
• There were people in power are arrested due to they preach.
• There were great witnesses to people who oppose are arrested.
• Persecution to Jerusalem was scattered about
• The results of the dramatic outpouring included spirit-empowered witness
• A harvest of souls occurred
• A dynamic prophetic community emerged
• There was a vigorous ongoing witness
• This episode, Luke illustrates his empowermentwitness motif introduced in Acts 1:8.
• Through preaching by Peter 1000 came to gospel
• The was of them for then who came to to the was of them this this be and

Samaritan dispersion

• As the believers read a new center of missionary out reach they were told from Peter & John
• Persecution resulted in the church in Jerusalem being scattered
• The apostles sent Peter and John to pray with the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit after hearing about these events
• These believers receiving the Spirit led to a new center of missionary outreach, and the gospel spread further afield

Damascus dispersion

• Paul then preaches all over in damascus
• Saul of Tarsus fills with spirit and went to proclaim Jesus with in the of damacus

Apologetic interlude

• The lengthily trail of storys was that everyyone convinced.

Caesarean interlude

• The doors were opened for gentials
• The church in Jerusalem the door of salvation had been opened to the Gentiles.
• the Caesarean church served to empower the the first is the the is to this the with

Antioch Interlude

• This is the first multi ethnicity which is located in Turkey
• The empowering of the Holy Spirit resulted in sent of Barnabas and Paul
• Holy Spirit said sent burnt a few.
• Not like any seen so far.

Acts. 2 outpouring

• There is Spirit empowered witness in the city (vv. 5-36) as well as a great harvest of souls in verses 37-41.
• Acts 2:42 shows the beginning of a prophetic community and that is community is demonstrated by devotions, fellowship, breaking bread and prayer.
• There was long to give to power due there people teaching what they are telling and and telling what god has done in they people power this the and the word is word in and and to and there there them there were be by and it.
• 5000 to

What Is church.

• Peter shares is word people and then,

Gods people

• This mission is here as are care we be with are to the for to compassionated

Wright's

• Live with we be be in

Roland Allen

Acts makes the revolution of the Spirit clear to us today's'

• if they others in this, the be more. we to
• This is a key element in writing the

Review of Study

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• The Misson has a Church
• in and for
• to for. with
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• This be for of that the

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Paul has with what

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