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Scripture as a Record of God’s Mission

Scripture as a Record of God’s Mission. Michael Goheen, Vancouver B.C., Canada. The Bible is the Word of God, the record and tool of his redeeming work. It is the Word of truth, breath of God, fully reliable in leading us to know God and to walk with Jesus Christ in new life.

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Scripture as a Record of God’s Mission

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  1. Scripture as a Record of God’s Mission Michael Goheen, Vancouver B.C., Canada

  2. The Bible is the Word of God, the record and tool of his redeeming work. It is the Word of truth, breath of God, fully reliable in leading us to know God and to walk with Jesus Christ in new life. - Our World Belongs to God, 32

  3. God’s Mission • Bible: Historical record of God’s mission • God’s mission: His long term purpose/intention to restore creation, all of human life • Story of restoration against backdrop of creation and sin

  4. While justly angry, God did not turn away from a world bent on destruction but turned to face it in love. With patience and tender care the Lord set out on the long road of redemption to reclaim the lost as his people and the world as his kingdom. - Our World Belongs to God, 18

  5. Starting with God’s Mission • Bible: Historical record of God’s mission • God’s mission: Long term purpose/intention to restore creation, all of human life • Story of restoration against backdrop of creation and sin • Storyline runs through Israel-Jesus-church/Spirit • God works in and through a people for salvation of all nations, all of human life, all of creation

  6. Our participation in God’s Mission ‘Fundamentally, our mission (if it is biblically informed and validated) means our committed participation as God’s people, at God’s invitation and command, in God’s own mission, within the history of God’s world for the redemption of God’s creation.’ - Chris Wright

  7. “God’s mission involves God’s people living in God’s way in the sight of the nations.” - Chris Wright Mission is not primarily about going. Nor is mission primarily about doing anything. Mission is about being. It is about being a distinctive kind of people, a countercultural . . . community among the nations. - Howard Peskett and Vinoth Ramachandra

  8. God’s Mission and His People • Location or place of God’s redemptive work (God works in his people) • Instrument or channel of God’s redemptive work (God works through his people)

  9. Facing in Three Directions! • Backward to creation: Embody God’s original intention and creational design for human life • Forward to consummation: Picture of end of history—restored humanity • Outward to nations: Missionary encounter with idolatry

  10. Two Orientations of God’s People • Chosen by God • For the sake of the world

  11. Formation of People • Backdrop of creation and sin • Abrahamic Promise: Blessed to be a blessing (Genesis 12.2-3) • Exodus: Formation of a holy people • Redeemed from idolatry (1-18) • Covenant: Serving another master (19-24) • Vocation and attractive, distinctive life • A people of God’s presence (25-40)

  12. Summary • Israel was a chosen people. • Israel was a redeemed people. • Israel was a covenant people. • Israel was to be a holy people. • Israel was a people that knew God’s presence. • All for sake of the world!

  13. Missional Calling in Different Contexts • Tribal confederation: Holy People “in the Centre of the Nations” • Visibility • Distinctiveness of torah-life vs. idolatry • A Priestly Kingdom in the Centre of the Nations • “Temple-royal-prophetic community” • Exile: A Holy People Scattered Among the Nations • Living out their calling in the midst of idolatrous cultures

  14. Summary • On display to the nations • Distinctive way of life shaped by torah • Backward, forward, outward • In confrontation with idolatry • God’s work to equip people for calling • Varying contexts • Failure

  15. Prophetic Promise • Coming of the kingdom • Ushered in by Messiah • Accomplished by power of the Spirit • Salvation and judgement • Begins with Jews and move to all nations

  16. Prophetic Promise • Gathering of Israel • Renewal of Israel • Pilgrimage of nations • Intertestamental period: Eclipse of missional vision

  17. Ministry of Jesus Announcement of good news of the kingdom • Dynamic power and eschatological salvation • Already-not yet • Gathers of Israel to restore them to missional calling • 12: Constitution of end-time Israel • Taught a distinctive way of life • Participation in Jesus’ mission of gathering (Israel, later Gentiles)

  18. Summary • A kingdom community • A contrast community • A gathering community . . . but before they could carry out their calling they must be renewed!

  19. Era of Witness Spirit

  20. Jesus gave evidence of power of God to renew and restore... ...However, if his followers were to experience that renewing power... ...Then sinthe enemy of God’s kingdom must be destroyed.

  21. Central Events of Biblical Story: Renewing a People for their Missional Calling • Crucifixion: Victory over sin and the end of the old age • Resurrection: Inauguration of age to come • Pentecost: Spirit as gift of power that brings salvation of age to come

  22. A Kingdom People • Experience power of end-time salvation of kingdom (foretaste) • Preview of kingdom

  23. We have a foretaste of the Kingdom… • Actual taste now • Complete meal in future We are previews of the Kingdom… • Actual footage of movie/kingdom • Designed to interest viewer in future movie/kingdom so they will want to participate

  24. A Kingdom People • Experience power of end-time salvation of kingdom (foretaste) • Preview of kingdom • Time of gathering continues

  25. Why the ‘not yet’? The meaning of this ‘overlap of the ages’ in which we live, the time between the coming of Christ and His coming again, is that it is the time given for the witness of the apostolic Church to the ends of the earth. The end of all things, which has been revealed in Christ, is—so to say—held back until the witness has been borne to the whole world concerning the judgment and salvation revealed in Christ. The implication of a true eschatological perspective will be missionary obedience, and the eschatology which does not issue in such obedience is a false eschatology. (Newbigin)

  26. A Kingdom People • Experience power of end-time salvation of kingdom (foretaste) • Preview of kingdom • Time of gathering continues • Sent among the nations • Sent: As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. • Among the nations: Multi-ethnic, non-geographical people

  27. Following the apostles, the church is sent– Sent with the gospel of the kingdom to make disciples of all nations, to feed the hungry, to proclaim the assurance that in the name of Christ there is forgiveness of sin and new life for all who repent an believe– To tell the news that our world belongs to God. In a world estranged from God, where millions face confusing choices, this mission is central to our being, for we announce the one name that saves. - Contemporary Testimony: 44

  28. The rule of Jesus Christ covers the whole world. To follow this Lord is to serve him everywhere, without fitting in, as lights in the darkness, as salt in a spoiling world. - Contemporary Testimony: 45

  29. Sacred/Secular Dualism Sacred Secular Prayer Sexual life Activities Professions Realms Worship Watching TV Minister Journalist Missionary Politician Church University Family Government

  30. Church in Acts • Communal life to nourish life of kingdom (Acts 2.42ff) • Life, deed, word • To the ends of the earth (Acts 13.2-3) • Communities of kingdom established in each place • “Now you are the mission in this place” • Paul: Planting and nourishing churches for their mission

  31. Mission of the church today • Being a light to the nations: Continuing the mission of Israel (Ex 19.3-6 cf. 1 Pet 2.9) • Making known the kingdom: Continuing the mission of Jesus (John 20.21) • Bearing faithful witness: Continuing the mission of the early church (Acts 28)

  32. Agenda for Church Today • Lives rooted in the gospel and inhabiting the biblical story • Missional self-understanding • Missionary encounter with our culture

  33. Need for Cultural Analysis • Difficulty of situation of living amidst the nations: Danger of syncretism • All cultures shaped by idolatrous core • Need to understand culture • Redemptive-tension • Contrast community

  34. Contrast Community in 21st Century West • A community of justice in a world of economic and ecological injustice • A community of generosity and simplicity (of ‘enough’) in a consumer world • A community of selfless giving in a world of selfishness • A community of truth (humility and boldness) in a world of relativism • A community of hope in a world of disillusionment and consumer satiation • A community of joy and thanksgiving in a world of entitlement • A community who experiences God’s presence in a secular world

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