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

issue at the Jerusalem Council, the power of the blood of Christ to include them in the covenant, how the heart of apostolic ministry is preparing God’s people as a bride, whomChrist will receive at his coming blameless in his sight. • Detail how the divine romance will be consummated with the coming of the New Jerusalem from heaven, the dwelling place of God and his people, who will totally identify with Christ, the bridegroom, in being made like him, becoming joint-heirs with him, being in his presence forever as his co-regent. • Draw out the main implications of the divine romance, including God’s desire to draw from all nations a people for his own, a drawing that includes both Jews and Gentiles, and therefore mission is the testimony that God is drawing members of his kingdom community from both the Jews and Gentiles who will live with him forever. • Outline the motif of Mission as the War of the Spheres , which is perhaps the most dynamic image of mission in Scripture, the proclamation of God’s kingdom rule in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. • Give an overview of the reign of God in Scripture, beginning with the Lord as creator and sustainer of all, and the mystery of iniquity (the satanic rebellion in the heavenlies), which resulted in the temptation and fall of humankind, and the curse, yet ended with God’s promise to crush the head of the serpent through the Seed of the woman. As a result of the Fall, the universe is at war and God is a warrior. • Lay out the major points of God as the divine warrior in the OT, including God as warrior defeating evil in its symbolism as a river and sea, defeating Pharaoh and his armies, who led his people into victory as the great Lord of armies, and who fought against his own people because of their disobedience and rebellion. Also, Israel’s prophets pictured God as a divine warrior who through his Messiah would finally destroy all evil once and for all time. • Show how the promise of the Messiah in David’s heir represented God’s intent to provide a king who would restore the reign to his people, rule the nations with justice and righteousness, and bring a knowledge of God to the entire earth as Lord and King.

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