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

news for the rich was to come through what Jesus was doing among the poor. How a tax-collector (socially poor) experienced forgiveness was to determine how the Pharisee ought to experience it (Luke 18.9–14), not vice versa. Thus the good news of the whole gospel of the kingdom is to be introduced to a whole community through the poor. How a community treats its poor is, for the Bible, the acid test of its life (James 2.1–7). And the way a community will be changed is through the poor. In the Bible the grace of God is universally available to all. But in the OT its reality and nature are to be revealed through what it means to Israel. The OT concentrates on what it means in economic relationships (e.g. Lev. 25). In the NT the poor replace Israel as the focus of the gospel. As the poor experience the good news of the kingdom, the real nature of the gospel becomes evident to others. The NT gives special attention to what that means in terms of children, women, Samaritans, social outcasts, the sick, the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This module directly addresses this emphasis in both the OT covenant community, as well as the life and ministry of Jesus, and his commission to his Church. Sugden’s analysis of the poor playing an analogous role to Israel is insightful and I believe defensible from a study of the biblical data on this important subject. While there is much room for exaggeration, confusion, and unnecessary over emphasis on some themes to the exclusion of others, I believe we will see the important linkage between the poor and Christian mission. In light of the kinds of confusions that are likely to occur in a discussion like this, it will be very important for you to be fully prepared to lead and facilitate discussions informed by the objectives below. Make sure that you go through these aims before the lesson, that you understand the basic claims within them, and are fully prepared to discuss them with the students after the video segments. Many weighty ideas are covered here, and the objectives can provide you with a clear plan of action on which concepts you wish highlight as you go through the lesson. ~ Ibid., pp. 523-524.