Vision for Mission: Nurturing an Apostolic Heart

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Vi s i on for Mi s s i on: Nur tur i ng an Apos to l i c Hear t

c. Luke: 25 times uses the verb and the noun only in Acts 15.17 and 20.24

d. Matthew: verb only once (11.5) and the noun in 4.23 and 9.35

e. Mark: used the noun seven or eight times and never used the verb

f. Paul: used the unqualified term evangelion 23 times

Rom. 1.1-4 – Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 1.16-17 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Acts 20.24 – But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

II. The Meaning of the Gospels in the Apostles

A. Associated with the earliest beliefs of the Church (i.e., from pre-Pauline Christianity)