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 pictures of the age to come, the interpretations of past events all tend to be expressed in images which arise out of experience. They do not often arise out of abstract technical language.

~ Leland Ryken. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery . (electronic ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.

In the story of the Gospel the images of the story of God loom large and clear: the Lamb of God is placed upon the tree as a substitionary sacrifice for the sins of the world. Everyone who believes that this one who died is the Christ, that he died and rose again the third day, will be delivered from their sins, forgiven of all penalty before God, and granted the Holy Spirit who will indwell them throughout this life, and raise them up at the last day. This story has been repeated in the lives of millions of men and women, boys and girls, for over 2,000 years who cling to the story of Jesus as the Good News of salvation and life for all people. Mission is telling this story to the peoples of the world, in their own language, in a way that they can both understand and appreciate the love and grace of the One who is its main actor and protagonist. God is the hero of his own story, and the history of salvation is nothing more than “His Story”. The story of God’s glory by faith can actually become our very own story as we embrace it for ourselves. The rediscovery of the heart of the Christian message as story is long overdue, and the signs of the new theologies of “story theology” and “narrative theology” need to come back in order for us to understand the foundation for Christian discipleship and mission. At the root of our faith is a story about an itinerant Jewish preacher who claimed God as his Father. Those of us who believe that Jesus of Nazareth was in fact the Messiah and Lord of all cling to this story as our lives, our hope, and our ministry depend on it. Let us never forget that our “Once upon a time” certainly has a “And they lived happily ever after.” To be engaged in local and world mission is to proclaim this story, the story of God’s glory, living each day right here and right now in the presence of the Lord who writes it through us, before those who have yet to hear and understand it.

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In the world of world mission, it’s always story time.