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

The Vision and Biblical Foundation for Christian Mission: Part 1

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Welcome in the strong name of Jesus Christ! After your reading, study, discussion, and application of the materials in this lesson, you will be able to: • Outline a “prolegomena” (“first word”) or “big picture” overview to mission. • Define mission as “the proclamation of God’s offer of salvation and redemption in the person and work of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to all people groups.” • Reproduce the elements of a biblical understanding of mission, including its need for a clear understanding of God and his purposes for the universe, to relate all the details of history to a single unified whole, to be rooted in the Scriptures themselves, to be anchored in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and to take seriously the biblical way of discussing mission through image, pictures, and stories. • Lay out the four theological frameworks/pictures of mission in Scripture, i.e., Mission as the Drama of all time (God as the major character in the greatest plot motif of all time), as the Fulfillment of the Divine Promise (God fulfilling his covenant promise in Jesus Christ), as the Romance of the Ages (God as the bridegroom of his redeemed humanity), and as the War of the Spheres (God as the warrior reestablishing his rule over the universe). • Give an overview of the major elements in the Drama of All Time in terms of the major phases of God’s unfolding purpose, including Before Time (which highlights God’s pre-existence and purpose, the mystery of iniquity and the rebellion of the powers), Beginning of Time (which includes the creation of the universe and humankind, the fall and the curse, the protoevangelium , the end of Eden, the reign of death, and the first signs of grace), and the Unfolding of Time (which includes the Abrahamic promise, the Exodus, the Conquest of the Land, the City-Temple-Throne, the Captivity and Exile, and the Return of the Remnant).

Lesson Objectives

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