Transcript Biblical Theology of Mission Dr. Byron Klaus Day One A Changing Conversation • A discussion about strategies that clarify purpose of the Church in.

Biblical Theology of Mission
Dr. Byron Klaus
Day One
A Changing
Conversation
• A discussion about strategies that
clarify purpose of the Church in the
light of changing times and
contexts.
• A continuing discussion in the light
of a changing context by
recapturing the ethos and practices
of the early church and bringing
those to bear on post-modern
culture.
The Inter-relationship
Between Three Affirmations
• The Church is—the church’s nature provides the
framework and foundation for understanding the
essential character of the church.
• The Church does what it is—The nature of the
church established the foundation for
understanding the purpose of the church and its
ministry determines their direction and scope.
• The Church organizes what it does—It develops
strategies through leadership and organization
through the initiative and empowerment of the
Holy Spirit.
• The mission of God is participated in by a
Spirit-led Church that is a signpost of God’s
redemptive kingdom rule in the present and a
preview of what redemption is like and a
vehicle to carry that mission of God to the
ends of the earth.
• If God is the prime mover in this redemptive
saga—then, the task of the Church and its
leaders is to discern and respond to the
initiative of the Spirit which is guiding and
empowering God’s redemptive mission.
“A deep appreciation for the
marvelous and mysterious creation
of God called the Church is a
crucial foundation for any aspiring
church leader. God’s eternal plan
to have a community of people who
express in particular contexts the
reconciliatory purposes of His
redemptive character is central to
any church leader’s reason for
being.
These communities, called and
empowered by the very presence of
God, give visible testimony to God’s
reconciliatory mission (II Cor. 5:1720). To serve as a leader gifted to
facilitate that mission (Eph. 4:11ff)
requires a deep appreciation and
understanding for the eternal
significance of the church.
That understanding must be
enfleshed in a world that is best
unimpressed and may be, in many
cases, antagonistic to the eternal
redemptive purposes of this
community of the King called the
Church.
Such a world requires aspiring
church leaders to have a firm grasp
of God’s eternal purposes for the
church as biblically defined and a
growing capability to discern fad
from the genuine in church ministry.”
“How is it possible that the gospel
should be credible, that people should
come to believe that the power which
has the last word in human affairs is
represented by a man hanging on a
cross? I am suggesting that the only
answer, the only hermeneutic of the
gospel, is a congregation of men and
women who believe it and live by it.”
Newbegin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society
HISTORICAL ATTEMPTS AT
UNDERSTANDING THE
CHURCH AND IT’S MISSION
REFORMED PERSPECTIVE
A. Confession of Augsburg 1530
B. Westminster Confession 1630
C. Synthesis of these confessions
would see emphasis on right
belief, right teaching, and right
order.
ANABAPTIST PERSPECTIVE
17-18TH CENTURY
A. Rejection of Church-State model
B. Church is viewed as distinct and
separate society
C. Community life is central
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Pre-Vatican II
A. The Church is the perfect society
B. Contained within the Church are
all powers necessary to issue and
promote its existence
C. Hierarchical authority controls-brings meaning
POST VATICAN II
A. Images change to people of God
on a pilgrimage in service to the
world
B. Hierarchy is not repudiated but
community is enhances as a
theme
C. People of God, is an emerging
image
WESLEYAN PERSPECTIVE
A. The Church is a community of
God’s grace
B. It’s unity is the koinonia of the Spirit
C. Pursuit of maturing Christian lives—
sustained by grace is crucial
D. Key terms--community, grace,
holiness
CONTEMPORARY PICTURES
Peter Savage
A. Lecture Hall—where the Bible is expounded
B. Theatre—where the faithful assemble to witness
the drama of the sacrament enacted
C. Corporation—where the professional team
markets religion to the masses
D. Social Club—where people come to get needs
met
LAUSANNE COVENANT
1974
A. The church is at the center of God’s
cosmic purpose and is His appointed
means of spreading the Gospel.
B. The Church is the community of God’s
people rather than an institution and
must not be identified with any
particular culture, social or political
system or human ideology.
“How is it possible that the gospel
should be credible, that people should
come to believe that the power which
has the last word in human affairs is
represented by a man hanging on a
cross? I am suggesting that the only
answer, the only hermeneutic of the
gospel, is a congregation of men and
women who believe it and live by it.”
Newbegin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society
When we encounter the church, we
move into spiritual territory that
occupies earthly terrain. We
encounter the living God in the midst
of our humanity. We encounter the
Spirit of God dwelling in the midst of
people who are created and formed
into a unique community.
Van Gelder, p. 14-15
We must consider the nature of the
church before proceeding to define
its ministry and organization.
–
–
The church is a people of God who are
created by the Spirit to live as a missionary
community.
The church is God’s personal presence in the
world through the Spirit.
Van Gelder—pp. 24-25
The Flow of the Mission of God
WORLD
hears
CHURCH
carries
HOLY SPIRIT
Gives power
JESUS CHRIST
enacted
GOD
Originated the mission
The
mission
To the
mission
The
mission
The
mission
•
Church and mission are not two
distinct entities. They are the
same realities.
•
A missionary church participates
fully in the Savior’s redemptive
work as the Spirit creates, leads,
and teaches the church to live as
a distinctive people.
The Visible Church in the World in Relation to Biblical,
Historical, and Contextual Realities
GOD
Gospel Biblical
Church
Historical
Visible
Church
Culture
Context
Contextual
The Spirit is the experienced,
empowering realities of God’s
own personal presence in and
among us, who enables us to live
as a radically eschatological
people, in the present world while
we await consummation.
Gordon Fee—Paul, The Spirit and the People of God
The work of the Spirit is our key
resource in the ongoing
development of the church. The
church can experience this
constant renewal only by
developing discipline in discerning
the leading of the Spirit.