A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

166

A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I I : Mas ter i ng the New Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

b. Content : anchored in the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth as the crucified, risen, and ascended Lord who has sent his Holy Spirit to the Church for its edification and mission

Acts 10.36-43 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), [37] you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: [38] how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. [39] And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, [40] but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, [41] not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. [42] And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. [43] To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives

2. No Christian preaching is authentic which deviates from the apostles’ authoritative and eyewitness testimony regarding both the facts and interpretation of Jesus’ life and ministry in the world: the principle of apostolicity .

3. By definition, any propagation of so-called Christianity which either ignores or distorts the apostolic preaching of Jesus of Nazareth is neither credible nor binding on believers today.

VI. Connections for Urban Ministry Today

In what ways is your life and teaching reflecting the simplicity and power of the message of Jesus Christ for your family, friends, neighbors, associates, and contacts?

A. Connection to your life and spiritual development

Acts 1.8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

1. In what ways have you begun to understand the simple elegance of the Christian message as given to us in Acts? Acts 2.38-39

2. What role is the Holy Spirit currently playing in your life: are you walking in him, filled with him, obedient to his promptings in your life, serving God in the Spirit and not the works of the flesh? Gal. 5.16-24

forgiveness of sins through his name.