bible as tool of gods mission

8/2/2019 Bible as Tool of Gods Mission

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Scripture as a Tool of GodsMission

Michael Goheen, Vancouver


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The Bible is the Word of God,

the record and toolof his redeemingwork.

It is the Word of truth, breath of God,

fully reliablein leading us to know God

and to walk with Jesus

Christ in new life.

- Our World Belongs to God, 32


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Scripture after Enlightenment

Conveying true theological orethical information

Divine self-communication Record of Gods revelation

Devotional manual


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Tool of Gods Mission

What role does Scripture play inthe accomplishment of Godsmission to restore creation and

human life? What role does Scripture play in

shaping and forming a people to bea channel of blessing to nations?

Does not just record Gods workbut takes an active part to actualiseand bring about Gods purpose.


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Gods self-revelation is always tobe understood within the categoryof Gods mission to the world,

Gods saving sovereignty let loosethrough Jesus and the Spirit andaimed at the healing and renewal

of the creation.- N.T. Wright


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The apostolic writings . . . were notsimply aboutthe coming of GodsKingdom into all the world; they

were, and were designed to be,part of the means whereby thathappened. . .

- N.T. Wright


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Basic Overview

Old Testament Scriptures

Work of Jesus Christ

Apostolic proclamation New Testament Scriptures


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The Last Word: Beyond the Bible Wards to a NewUnderstanding of the Authority of Scripture (N.T.Wright): Ch. 2-4


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Old Testament Scriptures

. . . a full account of the role of

scripture within the life of Israel wouldappear as a function of Israels election

by God for the sake of the world.Through scripture, God was equippinghis people to serve his purposes.Equipping . . . is inadequate shorthand

for the multiple tasks scriptureaccomplished.

- N.T. Wright


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Various Old Testament Tools

Law ordered national, ethical,liturgical life

Wisdom helped shape dailyconduct in conformity to Gods

creational order


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Example: Ecclesiastes

I denied myself nothing my eyes

desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.My heart took delight in all my work, and

this was the reward for all my labour.Yet when I surveyed all that my handshad done and what I had toiled toachieve, everything was meaningless, a

chasing after the wind; nothing wasgained under the sun (Eccl. 2.10-11).


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Conclusion of the matter

Now all has been heard; here is theconclusion of the matter: Fear Godand keep his commandments, for

this is the whole duty of man. ForGod will bring every deed intojudgment, including every hidden

thing, whether it is good or evil(Eccl. 12.13-14).


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Various Old Testament Tools

Law ordered national, ethical, liturgical life

Wisdom helped shape daily conduct inconformity to Gods creational order

Prophets called them back to vocation withwarning and promise

Psalms brought all of Israels life into Godspresence in worship and prayer to nourishcovenant faithfulness

Historical books continued to tell the story ofIsrael at different points reminding Israel ofand calling them to their missional place inthe story.


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Example: Chronicles

Discouragement

History retold for a new

situation Material from Kings cut and

new material added

Goal: Encourage Israel tofaithfulness


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Structure of Chronicles

Genealogies: Israel a link in Gods

plan (1 Chr. 1-9)

Picture of ideal Israel (1 Chr. 9 - 2Chr. 10)


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Picture of Ideal Israel

All Israel united

Around a faithful king

Around temple


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Purpose of Picture

Encourage to present

faithfulness

Encourage to future hope


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Structure of Chronicles

Genealogies: Israel a link in Gods

plan (1 Chr. 1-9)

Picture of ideal Israel (1 Chr. 9 - 2Chr. 10)

Gods immediate faithfulness tocovenant (2 Chr. 10-36)


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Major Concerns ofChronicler Israel is part of Gods plan

Israels future is tied to covenant-keeping king

Temple: God is present with Israel

Covenant relation continues: Gods

immediate response Call for repentance/whole-hearted

commitment


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Scripture as Tool of Gods

Mission

Old Testament Scriptures as a toolof Gods mission

Jesus fulfills the purpose of the OldTestament Scriptures


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For what the law was powerless todo because it was weakened by

the sinful nature, God did bysending his own Son in thelikeness of sinful humanity to be a

sin offering. And so he condemnedsin in human flesh, in order that therighteous requirements of the lawmight be fully met in us, who do not

live according to the sinful naturebut according to the Spirit (Rom.8:3-4).


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. . . nor does his word dwell in you.You diligently study the Scripturesbecause you think that by them you

possess eternal life. These are theScriptures that testify about me andyet you refuse to come to me to

have life. (John 5.38-40)


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Fulfillment of Old TestamentScriptures

The work which God had done through

scripture in the Old Testament is done

by Jesus in his public career, his deathand resurrection, and his sending of theSpirit. ... Jesus thus does, climacticallyand decisively, what scripture had in a

sense been trying to do: bring Godsfresh Kingdom order to Gods people

and thence to the world.

- N.T. Wright


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Mission



Apostolic gospel as Gods

transforming power


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Apostolic gospel

Apostolic teaching, gospel, word of God

It was the story of Jesus (particularly

his death and resurrection), told as the

climax of the story of God and Israel andthus offering itself as both the true storyof the world and the foundation andenergizing force for the churchs

mission (N.T. Wright).


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Gospel . . .

Calls into existence missionalcommunity

Shapes them into a faithful and

attractive community Is the power of God unto salvation

(Rom. 1.16; 1 Cor.1.18, 2.4-5; 1 Thess.1.5; cf. Matt. 13.1ff.)

Is Christ coming to us clothed in thewords of the gospel

Is an instrument of Spirit to transform

Gods people


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Summary

As it is proclaimed and taught, the

apostolic gospel as Gods powerful

word calls into existence a

missional community, shapes thatcommunity to be a faithful people,and worked through them to draw

others to faith.


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Mission



Apostolic gospel as Godstransforming power

New Testament Scriptures: Literaryexpression of apostolic gospel


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New Testament books carried thesame power, the same authority inaction, that had characterized the

initial preaching of the word. (N.T.Wright)


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New Testament authors . . .

were conscious of their divineauthority (1 Thess. 2.13)

were empowered by the Holy Spirit(1 Cor. 2.10)

committed their preaching andteaching to written form

wrote books to form, equip, andrenew the church for mission in theworld


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Summary

The New Testament authors

believed themselves to beauthorized teachers, who, by the

guidance and power of the Spirit,wrote books and letters to sustain,energize, shape, judge, and renew

the church.


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Apostolic preaching in literary expression

Apostolic preaching takes literaryform

Gospels: Tells story of Jesuscontextualised for particularaudience


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Gospels

Narrate good news of Jesus

Different as bring good news todifferent audiences and situations

Select, arrange, interpret,emphasize different events

Matthews audience: Jewish

Christians

Q: Who are we?


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Structure of Matthew

1:1-4:16: Jesus introduced asMessiah

4:17-9:35: Jesus ministry to Jews

9:36-16:12: Rejection of Jesusclaims by Jews

16:13-23:39: Parting of Jesus with

Jews 24:1-end: Death, Resurrection,

Mission mandate to make knownall embracing Lordship of Jesus


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Five Teaching Sections in Matthew

5-7: How Kingdom citizens shouldlive

10: How to engage in Kingdommission

13: What the Kingdom is like

18: Life in the Kingdom -obedience, mercy, forgiveness

24, 25: History and coming ofKingdom


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Matthew shaping community

Church is eschatological Israel

Gathered by Jesus as lost sheep

Unbelieving Israel broken off

Mission to make known all-embracing authority of Jesus Christ

Instructed on how to live as newIsrael


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Apostolic preaching in literary expression

Apostolic preaching takes literaryform

Gospels: Tells story of Jesuscontextualised for particularaudience

Letters: Unfolds missional

implications of gospel for churches


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Imagery and Goal

Scriptural books as tools in handsof sculptor

Jesus coming to us clothed in thewords of Scripture

Instruments of Spirits power

Goal: Shape Gods people to be a

sign and preview of comingkingdom


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My goal?

Confidence in Scriptures as livingand powerful

Desire to handle various tools

aright


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Mean for us today?

Time in Scriptures

New attitude toward preaching (cf.Acts 2.42)

Pursue growing skill in handlingthese tools (for self and others)

Commitment to obedience asnecessary starting point (John7.17)


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Caging the power of gospel

The gospel is like a caged lion. Itdoesnt need to be defended, justreleased. (Martin Luther)

Is gospel caged by misunderstanding ofnature of Scriptural authority?

Is the gospel caged by a mishandling ofthe Scriptures?

Is the gospel caged by neglect?

bible as tool of gods mission

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