Foundations for Christian Mission, Mentor's Guide, MG04

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F O U N D A T I O N S F O R C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N

Exegetical Project

As a part of your participation in the Capstone Foundations for Christian Mission module of study, you will be required to do an exegesis (inductive study) on one of the following passages on the nature of Christian mission and urban ministry:

Purpose

Matthew 28.18-20

2 Corinthians 6.1-10

Luke 4.16-22

2 Timothy 4.1-5

Matthew 5.13-16

Colossians 1.24-29

The purpose of this exegetical project is to give you an opportunity to do a detailed study of a major passage on the nature and practice of Christian mission. To see that God is a God of missions is fundamental to every phase of urban ministry; missions is neither a seasonal emphasis nor the work of a handful of oddball people willing to go overseas for a time. Mission, rather, is the lifeblood of the Judeo-Christian worldview, the very heart and soul of God’s working in the world. In one sense, the entire Christian story could be described as God’s intent to draw out of the earth a people that would belong to him; missions is God’s business as much as it is our work. The aim of this study is for you to select one of the above texts and use it as a lens by which you may think critically about mission–its foundation, its practice, and its importance for urban Christian leadership. As you study one of these texts (or one which you and your Mentor agree upon) our hope is that you will highlight a key aspect of the foundation for Christian mission. We also desire that the Spirit will give you insight as to how you can relate its meaning directly to your own personal walk of discipleship, as well as to the leadership role God has given to you currently in your Church and ministry. This is a Bible study project, and, in order to do exegesis , you must be committed to understand the meaning of the passage in its own setting. Once you know what it meant, you can then draw out principles that apply to all of us, and then relate those principles to life. A simple three step process can guide you in your personal study of the Bible passage: 2. What principle(s) does the text teach that is true for all people everywhere , including today? 3. What is the Holy Spirit asking me to do with this principle here, today , in my life and ministry? Once you have answered these questions in your personal study, you are then ready to write out your insights for your paper assignment . 1. What was God saying to the people in the text’s original situation ?

Outline and Composition