Word of God and Mission of God 1 Word of God and Mission of God

A Personal Journey A change of paradigm From: The Biblical Basis of Missions To: The Missional Basis of the Bible See the Bible, itself, as a “missional” phenomenon

The Bible: Product of God’s Mission Bears witness to God’s Self-disclosure Efforts to reconcile rebellious man to God Was often written in a missional context Emerges from events, struggles, crises of God’s people living and speaking out in a fallen world Both internal struggles and external The text is a product of mission action

Jesus and Paul Luke 24:46-47 – Jesus implies that Scripture finds fulfillment in his life and the mission to the nations flowing out of his resurrection Paul bases his mission theology and practice on the OT Creation – God’s desire to liberate all creation Abraham – God’s people agents of blessing Prophets – gathering the nations for Israel’s salvation

Jesus and Paul Summary: “Jesus and Paul offer us a Messiah-focused and mission-generating hermeneutic of the Scriptures” (40) Mission isn’t just “something we do” Mission can’t be reduced to evangelism Must focus on the ultimate purposes of God himself

Whose Mission? God with a mission – bless the nations through the descendants of Abraham (Gen 12:1-3 Bible a narrative of God’s redemptive purposes worked out on a world stage Must read the Bible with this in mind if you are to capture its meaning accurately

Whose Mission? Humanity with a mission – stewards of creation Fill the earth, subdue it and care for it

Whose Mission? Israel with a mission – preserving monotheism, election, ethics, eschatology Yahweh the one God over all the earth – radical displacement of rival gods worldwide God’s chosen people – called to be something special in the face of a rebellious world God’s ethics and Israel’s holiness – called to be distinct among the nations, living righteously and justly End times – the nations gathered to worship God

Whose Mission? Jesus with a mission Restore Israel to Yahweh Win salvation for men Launch God’s redemptive mission toward the ends of the earth The Church with a mission – commissioned to take the message to the ends of the earth

Conclusion We seek to read any part of the Bible: In light of God’s purpose for creation In light of God’s purpose for human life in general In light of the historic election of Israel In light of the centrality of Jesus of Nazareth In light of God’s calling of the church to be His agents of God’s blessing to the nations for the glory of Christ This changes the focus of our reflection and action