Foundations for Christian Mission, Student Workbook, SW04

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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

that we have abandoned Christianity’s “native language” of image, symbol, myth, and story for scientific explanations about the possibility of faith. What do you make of Dudley’s claim, and if it is true, what do you think might be the effect on Christian mission to turn over the communication of our faith to the logical side of our brains and experience? Mission is 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 . Viewed as the drama and story of God, From Before to Beyond Time , we can begin to see how in the story of mission the Triune God is at work as the Sovereign God , working all things together for his own glory and our good. The Mission as the Fulfillment of the Divine Promise framework describes the work of God as fulfilling his promise as the covenant God of faithfulness to Abraham and David. Built upon the role of biblical covenants in the Scriptures, this motif begins with God’s covenant promise to Abraham, confirmed in his sons and the patriarchs, and later identified with the tribe of Judah. This covenant promise for a Seed who would bless the nations was amplified and clarified in the promise to David to have a perpetual heir on his throne. Now in this age and in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the promise of Abraham and David has been fulfilled. Likewise, in this age through the proclamation of the Gospel in mission, the promise of new life is offered to the nations through the preaching of the cross. If you are interested in pursuing some of the ideas of The Vision and Biblical Foundation for Christian Mission: Part 1 , you might want to give these books a try: Bartholomew, Craig G., and Michael W. Goheen. The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story . Grand Rapids: Baker Academic Books, 2004. Goldsworthy, Graeme. According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible . Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002. Roberts, Vaughan. God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Story-Line of the Bible . Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003. ------. Life’s Big Questions: Six Major Themes Traced Through the Bible . Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005.

Restatement of the Lesson’s Thesis

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Resources and Bibliographies