Perspectives on the World Christian Movement - Midterm Review

Describe the commitment and zeal of "First Era" missionaries.

"Inverted homesickness" - passion to call that country their home which was most in need of the Gospel. "Pioneer Spirit" - went not with hatchet and brand, but with the sword of the Spirit and with the fire of Truth, blazing the way for those that followed after. "Apostolic Ambition" - the ambition to reach out from centers already occupied to regions beyond, even when those very centers are undermanned and in need of reinforcement.

Recognize and use biblical concepts related to the theme of the kingdom of God.

"Kingdom" - the right to rule, rather than royally-owned real estate. "Kingdom of God" - the exercise of God's kingship, His authority, His right to rule base on His might, power, and glory.

*Explain what is meant by the Greek phrase "panta ta ethne" and its significance for world evangelization.*

"Panta ta ethne" is translated as "all the peoples." Jesus has in view the people groups of the world as they tend to understand and define themselves: by language, lineage, or socio-cultural factors. The original language used in Matthew 28 indicates that there will be a once-in-history achievement of establishing Christward movements within every people group.

Define "people blindness."

"People blindness" is a narrow, geopolitical outlook on the world's people groups. It fails to take ethnicity (in the original sense) into account, and it also fails to acknowledge sub-groups within a larger body. People blindness is a deterrent to effective missions, particularly in areas of the world like northern India, where thousands of sub-cultures exist within larger ones.

Describe a "people movement."

A "people movement" is the phenomenon that occurs when an entire community or people group follow Christ together. People movements are more likely to survive independent of outside help from foreign churches, and they can work wonders as indigenous missionaries. People movements can only take place when a Bible is collectively available in the native language and explained properly by a committed missionary.

Describe what Jesus meant when He said "You will be my witnesses."

Acts 1:8 is where Jesus uses the phrase "you will be my witnesses," and it is followed by a concentric list of places, from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Witnessing, regardless of location, is primarily something you are rather than something you do. Effective witnessing always involves living like Christ rather than simply repeating his teaching. This is what allows missionaries to be bold in the face of hostility and win the hearts of their hearers to Jesus. They are doers of the word, not speakers only.

Explain how worship both reveals and delights God, and expresses His love for people by bringing them near to Him in obedient love.

As the nations experience the dignity of worshiping the living God, His call to come near to Him by worship becomes the highlight of all the blessings He bestows. God has inexhaustible enthusiasm that there be praise arising from the nations.

Explain how the Western worldview can sometimes hinder missionaries from communicating the truths of the gospel pertinent.

Biblical revelation is full of references to supernatural beings and supernatural powers intertwined with the affairs of man. Without a clear theology of the middle level, the relevancy and effectiveness of our gospel message for victorious living is diminished.

Describe some key mission leaders and movements in history and their strategic approaches.

Boniface: key figure of the monastic movement as exhibiting a "true sending mission." He went to convert tribes rather than extend a political domain, using a technique called a "power encounter" where he showed the impotence of local gods when confronted with the power of Christ. Crusades: warped mission into conquest, effects still reverberates to this day in Muslim world. Francis of Assisi and Ramon Lull sought to preach the gospel to Muslims instead of violent conquest. Colonial Expansion: Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish, French, and British imperial expansion, linked to missions, methods hinged on whether first to "Christianize" or "civilize." Jesuits: Robert de Nobili and Matteo Ricci used creative approaches during missions to the east.

Explain what it means for the earth to be "filled with God's glory" in terms of church planting.

Christ is somehow embodied in His people and is able to reveal His glory and life to the world. The idea of Christ being embodied in His people both defines the nature of the Church and the purpose of the Church. We should be satisfied with nothing short of the very presence of the living Christ in every neighborhood and village of every nation.

Describe how Carey, Taylor, and Townsend mobilized others to complete world evangelization.

First of all, each of them displays a confidence that world evangelization will be completed. They also call for others to be involved in specific parts of the world as a strategic step toward completing the entire task. Each of them displays an awareness of the demographic details. Their efforts are grounded in Scripture, which they are convinced is the Word of God. Finally, each leader calls for prayer.

Recognize features of "Christward movements" in modern mission efforts.

Christward movements are conscious choices on the part of a people group to follow Christ. They are basically people movements and were produced, often unintentionally, by the missionaries of the second era and the mission station approach. These movements are often spurred on by early converts from the native culture and snowball into a near-total conversion.

Describe the strategic value of focusing on people groups for completing the entire task of world evangelization.

Completing the Great Commission will require that in every single people group, at some point in history, there be a movement of baptized and obedient disciples capable of evangelizing their entire people. Until there are such movements in every people, we have not completed the mandate Christ has given us.

Define a church in biblical ways using the concepts of community and Christ's kingdom.

Each biblical church is a member of the body of Christ. Every church could be described as a home, the gathering place for God's family; a satellite, accomplishing God's work under His leadership; and a fortress, destroying and opposing the power of the Devil. All of these things directly echo God's purpose for Himself, for the nations, and against evil.

*Explain the Great Commission, describing Christ's expectation of what is to be completed among all peoples.*

Each of the Gospels, as well as the Book of Acts, includes a direct expression of Christ commissioning His people to fulfill His mission of world evangelization. All Authority: Jesus is pointing to His unique place as Lord and He mandates that people be trained to live under His Lordship. All the Peoples: discipling "all the peoples" must be understood as a once-for-all global goal. All That I Commanded: two activities, baptizing and teaching, define what it means to "disciple all the peoples." All the Days: Jesus was issuing a mandate for the entire age and for every believer.

Explain why Hudson Taylor founded a mission agency.

Failure of health confined Taylor to England. While translating the New Testament he discovered that the apostolic plan was not to raise ways and means, but to go and do the work, trusting in His sure Word. Taylor concluded that a special agency was essential for evangelization of Inland China. Ultimately, it was the thought that millions are perishing for lack of knowledge while congregations at home rejoiced in their security that pushed Hudson into creating a new mission agency and praying for workers.

*Explain how the covenant with Abraham discloses God's purpose for every people.*

First, God's people are to be a distinctive, holy people of unique value among the peoples of the world. Second, God's people are to be His priesthood, declaring God's glories to the world. Genesis 12:1-3 shows how God chose to reveal His purpose in the form of a promise: to bless all the families of the earth. God is on mission to be loved, served, and worshiped by people from all humanity. God's purpose is a singular purpose with three distinct directions: towards God, for people, and against evil. The "gospel" announced so early to Abraham eventually overcame the curse and aftermath of evil, bringing a flourishing of life and salvation to people in order to bring praise to God. God is on mission to draw loyal worship from every people, displaying His greater glory and manifesting His fullest love. The ultimate expression of God's blessing is the Word concerning the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Those who are blessed by this word become a blessing to others. God's purpose summarized: "For His glory in global worship, God purposes to overcome evil by redeeming a people who will love and obey Him within every people."

*Be able to cite major events in the Biblical narrative including key passages that support God's mission purpose as the main theme of the Bible.*

Genesis 3:14-15 - the "proto-evangel" (first gospel), God pledges that a human figure (Christ) will entirely destroy the devil while stating that Satan will wound that human figure (crucifixion). Genesis 12:1-3 - God's promise to bless all the families of the earth, a triple fulfillment partially fulfilled in Abraham's day, fully portrayed in the life of Jesus, and perfectly fulfilled at the end of the age. Genesis 41-47 - the story of Joseph is the crescendo of Genesis and offers a prophetic portrait of the crescendo of history, how we co-work with God to bring life-bringing blessing. Psalm 67 - God's singular purpose with three distinct directions: toward God, for people, and against evil.

Explain how the story of Jonah shows God's ways of sending His people to the nations.

God has a steady, relentless plan: both sending His people to the nations to declare the truth of His name, as well as attracting the nations to join His people in worship. Jonah is a lesson in educating a person to be a missionary: it reveals the need for a radical conversion of one's natural tendencies and a complete restructuring of his life to make it serviceable for mission. While God never forces any one of us, He tenderly asks us to put our whole heart and soul into the work of mission. God is still interested in transforming obstinate, irritable, depressive, peevish Jonahs into heralds of the Good News which brings freedom.

Describe the mystery of how God is always the author of mission, and yet enlists people as His co-workers in Christ.

God has initiated every part of His work throughout history. Instead of carrying out His mission on His own, God chooses to accomplish His mission in a very personal way. He chooses to involve His people with Him, working through them to accomplish His purposes. Mission is a "tender mystery" of God and people co-working, though God is always the author.

Describe how the Church is formed by reconciliation, and it results in reconciliation.

God is oriented around family, and His will is to have a family from among all peoples. The Church is formed by each individual member being reconciled to God, also making peace with each other in the process. Being reconciled as a Church is far more than simply being healed; it is becoming part of God's family. This body of reconciled believers working together results in the reconciliation of entire cultures and communities to God.

*Explain some of the biblical grounds for seeing worship that expresses specific cultures of diverse peoples as being valuable to God.*

God yearns for the unique outpouring of love, righteousness, wisdom, and worship that can come from every people. Isaiah 56:6-7 - the hope that the nations themselves will pray in full-hearted worship. Psalm 96:7 - calls the families of the peoples to give to the Lord glory and strength. Rev 21:26 - the nations will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into the city of God

Explain the mission significance of a "two-tier" timeline of history, in which a present evil age persists even though it is invaded by a coming kingdom age.

God's kingdom is a progressive victory over satanic dominion in order to rescue people of all nations from the power of darkness, and ultimately, to undo the curse over all creation. Satan has already been defeated by Christ's victory of the cross and resurrection, but he is destined to be destroyed in the age to come. We are now living in the overlap of the ages. The missionary task of the Church (evangelizing the nations) is the primary reason for this interim period.

Explain why Cameron Townsend began translating the Bible.

He believed that all nations must hear the message of God's love, for they are included in both the Great commission and in the prophetic vision of the vast throng of the redeemed recorded in Revelation 7:9. They can get there only if they hear the Word in a language they can understand. Hearing Matthew 18:11-12 settled the deal, and guided Townsend: he went after the "one lost sheep."

Explain the rationale that William Carey used to argue that the Great Commission was a binding mandate for believers in the present day.

If the command of Christ to teach all nations was to be restricted to the apostles, then that of baptizing should be so, too. If the command of Christ to teach all nations be confined to the apostles, and God has promised blessings to the world by sending His gospel, then whoever carries the gospel does so without any authority. Finally, if the command of Christ to teach all nations extends only to the apostles, then the promise of the divine presence in this work must also be limited, but Christ's saying "Lo, I am with you always, to the end of the world" speaks contrary.

*Describe some of the features of social transformation that have resulted from mission efforts.*

In situations where missionaries have been present and have been at liberty to work, societies are better off in areas of human thriving such as literacy, educational enrollment, infant mortality, life expectancy, economic development, freedom from corruption, and political democracy. Everywhere Protestant missionaries went, they quickly developed written forms of oral languages, created fonts, important printing technology and printed Bibles, created the written form of most languages, and sponsored mass literacy. Post-colonial governments often nationalized mission schools to create a state-run educational system. Sub-regions that had more Protestant missionary activity have higher literacy now, such as West Africa, Oceania, and the Middle East. Missionaries were also central to the spread of Western medicine, medical education, and the introduction of new crops. Missionaries were central to campaigns against slavery and forced labor, the rise of foreign aid programs, the creation of international relief organizations, banning the opium trade, and protecting indigenous land rights.

Describe some of the biblical grounds for hope of a tremendous ingathering at the end of the age, in the midst of a time of great hostility to Christ.

In the midst of these days of great trouble, there will be a profound cleansing of the Church and the largest ever ingathering of people to the Church (Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21. Rom 10:13). Anticipating Christ's return is a summons to action to accomplish the central task of world evangelization, as detailed in Matthew 24:14. That the gospel will eventually penetrate "every nation, tribe, people, and language" is clear from the description of the innumerable multitude of the white-robed saints gathered around the throne of God in heaven (Rev 7:9, 5:9). The hope of global revival becomes a call to advance the gospel, to unite in prayer, and to live in vibrant expectancy.

Describe how Isaiah's "Servant Songs" show God's purpose.

Isaiah's "Servant Songs" presented God's purpose to bring salvation to the nations.

Explain the different challenges and responses to the gospel as it expanded east into Asia in contrast to what transpired as it expanded west.

It was only is Asia that the followers of Jesus encountered larger, well-established, intercultural, "world" religions. The encounters with these intercultural religions (Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism) which often became state religions, was a much greater challenge to the spread of Christianity than the smaller, local, "ethnic" religions of Europe and Africa. In lands to the east, Christianity spread widely, but in almost every case, Christians remained a minority until the last few generations. Persian Advance (first millennium): Christianity survived, but it was stunted by its isolation and restrictions. Franciscan-Mongol Interlude (1206-1368): When the Mongol Empire collapsed, the few small Catholic communities collapsed with it. Jesuit Advance (1542-1773): The Christian communities struggled but survived under local leadership, namely due to the Jesuits valuing the local language and cultures. Protestant Advance (1706-1950): The missionary work was important and foundational, but the greatest work and growth occurred under Asian leadership. Asian Indigenous (1950-present): Most of the spread of Christianity in Asia is accomplished by Asians who are committed to taking the gospel back to the West.

Describe the sociological evidence that prolonged missionary presence is associated with positive, measurable improvements in the quality of life.

It's safe to say that there has never been a greater source of betterment of the human situation than the global Christian movement in terms of education, health care, and the status of women and slaves.

Explain the strategic value of Jesus working with a few leaders to launch a movement to reach the entire world.

Jesus selected a few people and developed them as leaders in a movement that would impact the entire earth. He focused on pouring His life into some who would continue to reflect and reproduce His character in others. Jesus knew that the only way to reach the world was to launch a movement that would reproduce itself.

Tell the story of how Jesus taught and modeled ministry to the Gentiles.

Jesus was profoundly concerned for non-Jewish people. On dozens of occasions He modeled God's heart for all peoples by deliberate outreach to Gentiles, whom most Jewish people despised. Because His teaching throughout His ministry emphasized the global scale of God's heart, everything Jesus did and said come to a crescendo in the Great Commission.

Explain how Jesus sends His followers on mission in the same way the Father sent Him on mission.

John 20:21 "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." Jesus, in dynamic nearness to the Father, continued what God had been doing throughout history. Jesus emphasizes the commingling of His life with our life in power rather than simply calling for us to imitate His example. He calls every one of His followers to join Him in that relationship of love, power, and purpose.

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*Explain the strategic value of Jesus' focus on the Jewish people.*

Matthew 10:5-6 highlight Jesus' concern for Israel: the time was short, and doom was coming to the nation if there was not speedy repentance. The need was urgent, more so for Israel than for the Gentile nations, whose time of judgement would come later. Jesus not only modeled God's concern for world evangelization, He also prepared a dynamic, multiplying movement capable of evangelizing the world. God had prepared the Jewish people to receive and understand the gospel even though many Jews rejected Him. Even so, a substantial portion of the Jewish people eventually did receive Him as Messiah. God's desire to make the Hebrew people a light to the nations was indeed fulfilled. After focusing on Israel, in Luke 10:1 Jesus then sent the seventy to the Gentile nations.

Explain how hope for God's glory and kingdom can be integrated with compassion for people's needs as a more compelling and sustainable motivation for mission.

Mission efforts which draw their motivation from compassionate response to human predicament will only go so far. Believers need to be nurtured into a far-reaching jealousy for God's glory. When mission is defined primarily as an enterprise that brings about something for God, and secondarily as that which brings about something benefitting people, then both our motivation and our mobilization can be more balanced. A single vision for God's glory can integrate and motivate efforts to serve people in their present-hour need, as well as save people from eternal loss.

Describe the two functional structures of the Church through the centuries using the terms "modality" and "sodality."

Modality structures are inclusive, nurture-oriented fellowships (churches, towns, denominations, etc) Sodality structures are second-decision, task-oriented fellowships (mission society, military task force, local men's club, private business, etc) Throughout history we see two fundamental structures: the congregational structure (synagogue, diocese), or modality, and the mission structure (missionary band, monastery), or sodality. Both are legitimate and necessary in God's redemptive mission. Sodality structures nourish and extend the church while modality structures strengthen and support the mission band.

Describe how God has fulfilled or will fulfill His promise to Abraham progressively through history; first, in lives of Abraham and his descendants, next, in Christ and those who have followed Him, and finally, at the coming of Christ at the close of the age.

Most biblical promises of blessing had a triple fulfillment, meaning that they were realized immediately, intermediately, and ultimately. In Abraham's case, God's promise of land, posterity, and blessing was fulfilled partially in the past, more so in the Gospels, and will be fully fulfilled in the future at Christ's second coming. God's blessings and judgments upon the Israelites prepared the way for Abraham's seed, Jesus, to fulfill the entire Law and offer Grace instead. When Christ was crucified and resurrected, God allowed the Gentiles to become sons of Abraham by faith, multiplying their land, posterity, and blessing. When the Gospel has spread to all corners of the earth, God's promises will be fully realized. The entire world will belong to the Seed and His chosen people from among every people.

Explain the four stages of mission activity.

Most mission efforts complete four stages of activity with their target population on the way to full church maturity: Stage One is known as the "Pioneer Stage," where missionaries visit communities with no believers and preach the gospel effectively to start a church. In Stage Two, the "Parent Stage," the mission agency nurtures the new church toward theological and spiritual growth. Stage Three, known as the "Partner Stage," sees the mature church become independent from the parent mission. In the final stage, the "Participant Stage," the church works with the mission agency to plant more churches and establish God's kingdom.

Describe the ramifications of the confession "Jesus Christ is Lord" for Christians who affirm this statement in keeping with Van Engen's "evangelist" position.

Our faith requires us to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). That's all there is. When we call people of other cultures and faiths to confess "Jesus is Lord", it is not our Jesus (exclusivist), nor is it a Jesus (pluralist), nor is it the cosmic amorphous idea of Jesus Christ (inclusivist). Rather, it is Jesus the Lord who calls for conversion and transformation of all who confess His name.

Describe the ways that women have been an important part of mission efforts throughout history.

Overall, probably between two-thirds of the missions force has been, and currently is, female. In the early days of the Protestant mission advance it was recognized that contact with women in most non-Western societies was impossible for men, so missionary wives had to undertake this responsibility. Women in mission have demonstrated a holistic approach with emphasis on both evangelism and meeting human needs. Thus, medical missions were dominated by women for many years. In recent years, women have played important roles in mission specialization, such as translation, aviation, and church planting.

*Explain why Paul's two cross-cultural principles of "become like" and "remain like" are crucial to seeing breakthroughs of the gospel.*

Paul's strategy was to "become like" so that those who were saved would "remain like." Missionaries have realized that they must "become like" the community that they are trying to reach, motivated by a desire to win the most people to Christ. But to see the greatest followings of Christ emerge and flourish, outsiders need to help those who believe to "remain like" their people. Some believers today may be uncomfortable leaving behind aspects of their culture to "become like" their targeted community, desiring instead to remain within the relative safety and comfort of what they know. Conversely, new Christians may struggle with the concept of "remain like" if they have a false sense of obligation, believing that to follow Christ they would have to reject their people and culture.

Describe the progress of the gospel to different geographic areas and cultural basins in each of the five 400-year epochs since Christ.

Period 1 (A.D. 0-400) Romans: Mechanism (VG-Paul's missionary band, IG-dispersion of Christians during persecution, VC-?, IC-?) Advance (along trade routes and social strata, became official religion of Rome and carried social and political stigma of Rome, areas hostile to Rome saw little advance) Flourishing (Christian lands prospered but did little missions) Period 2 (A.D. 400-800) Barbarians: Mechanism (VC-Barbarians and VG-monastic tradition of Irish peregrini and Anglo-Saxons, Columba's, Boniface, and Patrick) Advance (Goths/Visigoths/Vandals/Anglo-Saxons invaded, Rome lost Western half of the empire but Barbarians gained Christianity) Flourishing (Carolingian Renaissance broke the medieval Dark Ages under Charlemagne through monastic centers) Period 3 (A.D. 800-1200) Vikings: Mechanism (IG-conquered Christians to Vikings) Advance (gospel spread to Scandinavia and Northern Europe) Flourishing (Gregorian Reform made strong by the Cluny, the Cistercian, and allied spiritual movements) Period 4 (A.D. 1200-1600) Muslims: Mechanism (VG-Crusades and monastic missionary tradition of Friars, until Black Plague) Advance (Crusades were disastrous, colonial expansion brought some Christianity but not Protestant faith) Flourishing (The Renaissance and the Reformation were times of flourishing, Catholic variety of Christianity with monastic mission structures developed alongside colonial expansion, Protestant movements remained virtually without mission structures) Period 5 (A.D. 1600-present) Ends of the Earth: Mechanism (VG-Catholic expansion until Napoleon and atheism/deism/humanism grew popular, Protestant mission movement finally launched) Advance (Protestant missionaries reach across the globe, first coastlands, then inlands, then all the peoples of Earth) Flourishing (Western civilization is greatest flourishing of all)

Explain how prayer can be seen as rebellion against the status quo.

Petitionary prayer is the absolute and undying refusal to accept as normal what is completely abnormal. Our prayers are an expression of the unbridgeable chasm that separates good from evil and a testament to God's power to change the world and overcome evil with good. This is significant as it is impossible for us to live in God's world on His terms, doing His missionary work in a way that is consistent with who He is, without engaging in regular prayer.

Explain what is meant by pluralism, inclusivism, and exclusivism.

Pluralism (Creation Paradigm): Jesus Christ regarded as equal to the leaders of other religions, no concern for a personal relationship, missions is regarded as irrelevant and unnecessary. Inclusivism (Universal Salvation): the unique Christ event as ontologically affecting all people, personal relationship is desirable but not normative, missions are to tell people they are already saved in Jesus Christ. Exclusivism (Church-Centered): the Church is the vehicle of salvation, personal relationship with Jesus a necessity, missions is to rescue people out of sinful cultures in the Church.

Respond to the challenge of pluralism by presenting features of the uniqueness of Christ that mention His works, words, death, and resurrection.

Pluralism is a philosophical assumption that it is not possible to recognize any one system of thought as absolute truth. The words of Jesus affirm His absoluteness: The words of Jesus are the works of God. His words affirm His claims to deity. The works of Jesus authenticate His words: His spotless life, His miracles. A significant feature of the biblical description of the work of Christ is its emphasis on how the Cross and Resurrection broke earthly distinctions between people. Using John 14:6: The Way: All that Christ was in heaven or on earth was put into what He did on the cross. The immediate result of the death of Christ is the forgiveness of our sins, a truly revolutionary aspect of the Christian gospel. The demands of justice were fully satisfied by God having His spotless Son take the punishment that was due to us. The Truth: Jesus says He is the personification or the embodiment of truth, giving Christians the right to assert that we can know absolute truth. The words of Jesus affirms His absoluteness while His works authenticate His words. The Life: One great effect of the work of Christ is the forming of a new humanity, which Paul called the Body of Christ. Jews and Gentiles would be brought together as both the Cross and the Resurrection broke the earthly distinctions between people.

Explain why the wounds of the cross encourage us to confront the powers of this world without using conventional means of power.

The message of the cross cuts at the heart of human pride, the essence of sin. The demands of justice were never ignored or canceled. They were fully satisfied, and the only way that God could do that was by having His spotless Son take the punishment that was due to us. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Learn how a person can develop an "apostolic passion" for the worship of Jesus among the nations.

Romans 15:20 describes an ambition to preach, not for selfish purposes or even for the sake of the unreached, but for God's glory where his name has never been heard. Paul and the other apostles developed this passion for ministry through an immovable relationship with God. We have apostolic passion when our will, desires, and dreams align precisely with God's. When our hearts break for what breaks God's heart, we are His most effective and sincere witnesses.

Explain how Christ intended the missionary enterprise to extend His "D-Day" victory of the cross and resurrection.

Satan has already been defeated by Christ's victory of the cross and resurrection, but he is destined to be destroyed in the age to come. We are now living in the overlap of the ages. The missionary task of the Church (evangelizing the nations) is the primary reason for this interim period.

*Explain the strategic value of suffering and martyrdom in terms of the triumph of truth, the defeat of evil, and the glory of God.*

Suffering is particularly intense in places where the gospel is advancing among unreached peoples. Martyrdom is God's gift to some to die for the sake of Christ and His gospel. Suffering and sacrifice are God's methods of overcoming rebellion and evil. Most notably, Christ has not changed His strategy of answering hell's hatred with suffering love. Suffering enables the truth to come to redemptive clarity so that God is recognized and glorified. Triumph of God's Truth: when an ambassador speaks the truth in love and meets death with joy, eyes are opened to the gospel. Defeat of Satan: when martyrs meet their death without fear, they demonstrate that Satan's ability to control us by fear is broken. Glory of God: the shame of death brings about God's glory.

Use the E-Scale to describe the cultural distance of missionaries from their intended hearers.

The "E"-vangelist Scale measures the cultural distances evangelists have to travel to be effective witnesses. E-1 refers to same-culture missions, meaning that no language or ethnic barriers have to be crossed before missionary work can begin. E-2 missions is more difficult, because a moderate amount of transition must occur on the part of the evangelist. E-3 represents the most challenging type of mission work, where the language, custom, and culture barriers are massive. Mission work to totally isolated, unreached people groups fits this category.

Use the P-Scale to describe the comparative socio-cultural distance of would-be followers of Christ from existing churches.

The "P-eople" Scale is measured in the same way as the E-Scale but from the perspective of the cultural natives, not missionaries. P-1 people have an active church in their people group, and there is only stained glass separating them from communion with a body of believers. P-2 people have to cross into a neighboring culture to find easy access to the Gospel, and P-3 people must cross enormous barriers several cultures wide.

Explain why the hope and the responsibility of the covenant with Abraham have been inherited by all those who have joined themselves with Christ by faith.

The Bible clearly states that whoever believes in Jesus is a son of Abraham by faith, meaning that they work in accordance with God's blessing to Abraham. They act as descendants for Him and they inherit God's mercy, fulfilling one part of the promise, but they also are a blessing to the whole earth collectively, completing the triple fulfillment of the original covenant. Modern Christians share the hope and the responsibility of the promise because they have been grafted into the Jewish faith by Jesus.

Describe the "broad-stroke" story of how God's blessing has continued to extend to all peoples throughout 4,000 years of biblical history.

The Bible consists of a single drama: the entrance of the Kingdom, the power, and the glory of the living God in enemy-occupied territory. There is a magnificent purpose in all of history; all of Scripture throbs with the steady pulse of God's purpose through the years. The Kingdom of God has come and will come with even greater power. The God of all nations is the God of all generations. He can be fully-followed by those who know Him as the God of all history. The theme that links all 4,000 years is the grace of God intervening in a world which lies in the power of the Evil One, contesting an enemy who temporarily is the god of this world (His counter-attack is effected through blessing) so that the nations will praise God's name.

Recognize the interplay of secular and Christian events in history, and how they have influenced Christian mission priorities.

The Christian idea of Kingdom mission involves improving the state of whatever societies have Christians in them. In some ways this aligns with the secular ideals of progress for humanity's sake. Western culture and technology, generated by both Christians and pagans over centuries, was utilized in mission work to help target cultures. Medicine, education, and civil government are all examples of Western ideas used by missionaries. A second aspect of Kingdom mission is improving social justice and living conditions in the Christian's native country. The tension between the priorities of social justice and mission work (kingdom vs. church) led to the fundamentalist/modernist controversy in the second modern mission era, crippling kingdom mission for the remainder of that age.

Explain why describing the Church as a living thing is significant for mission activity.

The Church is not an institution as much as it is an organism, existing under the organizational power and headship of Christ. It only functions by gifts of grace (charismata) and it is the community of God's people. This is significant for missions, or any other spiritual activity, because it necessitates unity and task division. One part of the body must work for the whole, and every part is needed to complete the whole. Missions must have a stable financial pool, a supportive community, and a sponsoring agency as well as volunteer workers. Each part is indispensable for the health of the organism.

Show how several of the main events of the Bible's story contribute to the unfolding of God's purpose to glorify Himself on a global scale by the worship of all nations.

The Exodus: the pivotal moment when God revealed Himself globally by name, distinguishing and honoring His name above any other god. The Conquest: God's way of establishing the purity of worship to Himself. The Temple: God's way of signaling that people from every nation could encounter and worship Him personally (Isaiah 56:6-7).

Describe the roles of the Holy Spirit, missionaries, and the Word of God in terms of conviction of sin and progressive change toward Christ-like maturity in new church movements.

The Holy Spirit used a small number of average people to accomplish amazing work for God's kingdom. There was very little distinction in the early church between leaders, administrators, witnesses, missionaries, and theologians. The apostles were all of those things at once, and the Spirit moved them to convene with their entire church body to discern the will of God and correct theology whenever possible. A primary example of this is the meeting regarding circumcision and the salvation of the Gentiles, described in Acts 15. The church, in those meetings and in all of its conduct, used the Old Testament, the teaching of Jesus, the guidance of their leaders, and the promptings of the Spirit to discern the truth and become more and more like Christ.

Describe how the goals and methods of the Protestant mission movement have changed over time.

The approach of changing local culture as an initial effort to prepare the way for "Christianization" eventually gave way to the idea that the gospel itself would have a transforming power upon the culture. Huge central stations were broken up to form village churches and to ordain native pastors. The three-self goal of mission was to plant and develop churches, which would be self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propagating. Mission strategy in the 19th century aimed at individual conversions, church planting, and social transformation through evangelism, education, and medicine.

*Explain what "blessing" meant in Abraham's day and what this means for understanding the mission mandate of Genesis 12.*

The biblical meaning of "blessing" signified an ongoing relationship, not a passing gift. It was not something a person received, but rather something they became over a lifetime. When God told Abraham that He would bless him, He meant that He would instruct His servant in His divine nature and carefully build a sacred relationship with him and his offspring. Likewise if we are to be a blessing, we should endeavor to build meaningful and vibrant relationships to draw our spiritual neighbors to Christ.

Explain how both an expansive and an attractive force have always been used by God to advance His mission purpose.

The biblical record shows a steady, relentless plan of God: both sending His people (an outward-bound, expansive, or centrifugal force, a "go" structure in missions) to the nations to declare the truth of His name, as well as attracting the nations (an inward-bound, attractive, or centripetal force, a "come" structure in missions) to join His people in worship.

Explain how God's promises are an important part of our mandate for mission.

The blessing of the nations means no less than the evangelization of the nations. The presence of God upon those who follow Him is the beginning of all the more tangible aspects of blessing that God desires to bring, such as material and social blessings. Evangelization has a special priority: it leads to every other kind of goodness that God desires to bring about among the nations.

Describe both the apostolic and congregational structures of the Church using the terms modality and sodality.

The double structure of the early Church consisted of the nurture-oriented congregational parish structure, or modality, and the task-oriented missionary (apostolic band) structure, or sodality. Congregational structures recognized bishops with territorial jurisdiction, after the pattern of the Roman magisterial territories (diocese). The emerging mission structures, or monastic movements, borrowed patterns from Roman military practice.

Explain how God helped the early Church to be faithful to Christ's mandate to be witnesses.

The early Church was faithful to the witnessing mandate because they never lacked clear, coherent leadership and organization. The apostles, through their faith and clear communication with God, led the Church through doctrinal conflicts and persecution. A key element of faithful witness was meeting, preaching, and traveling together in groups. Paul was always accompanied by at least one companion on his missionary journeys, and the church bases in Antioch and Jerusalem provided support to outreach projects. The early Church also took great precautions to avoid division, meeting together and discussing theological issues to prevent a schism in the body of Christ. This allowed them to devote their attention to the key issue of spreading the Gospel.

Describe how the most compelling mandate for mission comes from the entire story of the Bible.

The entire story of the Bible is a story of God triumphing over His enemies to rescue people from every nation for His glory. The entrance of the kingdom of God is the central story of the Bible and of all subsequent history. Every part of the Bible has some connection to the saga of God reconquering and redeeming the earth.

Recall the approximate dates, emphasis, leaders and student movement associated with each of the three eras of Protestant missions history.

The first era of mission history ran from about 1792 to 1910. It was pioneered by William Carey, had a primarily European sending base, and was strengthened by Samuel Mills and the Society of the Brethren after the Haystack Prayer Meeting. This era's mission strategy was mostly geopolitical and emphasized coastlands and port cities. The second era occurred between 1865 and 1985 and emphasized inland outreach. It was pioneered by Hudson Taylor and sustained by the Student Volunteer Movement, Dwight L. Moody, and his contemporaries. Its sending base was typically American. The third era began in 1935 and continues to the present. Its strategy is cultural and emphasizes unreached people groups. Its major pioneers include Cameron Townsend and Donald McGavran. Ralph Winter popularized the idea of the three eras and their implications at the 1974 Lausanne Conference. Major student groups from this era include the Student Foreign Missions Fellowship, which merged with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in 1945.

Understand the E-Scale and the P-Scale and the value of each.

The main value of both theses scales ("E"-vangelist and "P"-eople scales) is prioritization. By definition, E-2 and E-3 evangelization must happen before E-1 witnessing can even begin. E-1 and P-1 conversion methods are the friendliest and most intimate way to share the Gospel, but local mission work can only occur after enormous effort on the part of foreign evangelists.

Explain how the gospel of the kingdom announces what God has done and is now doing to overcome evil.

The gospel of the kingdom declares and displays God's triumph over the three enemies that have been the ruin of people throughout history: death, Satan, and sin. They have each been defeated by His first coming and they will each be destroyed at His final coming.

*Explain how Matthew 24:14 gives hope and focus for completing world evangelization.*

The gospel of the kingdom declares and displays God's triumph over the three enemies that have been the ruin of people throughout history: death, Satan, and sin. They have each been defeated by His first coming and they will each be destroyed at His final coming. Matthew 24:14 is the only verse in scripture in which Jesus gives his disciples a specific description of what must be accomplished before His second coming and the end of the age. World evangelization is an explicit condition for His return. The Church has been entrusted by God to be a witness to all nations, knowing that when we have finished our task of evangelizing the world, Christ will come again. This truth, that God is holding history open in order for the Church to complete her task, gives meaning to history and gives enormous significance to the obedience of the Church. We must be focused in our task of taking the gospel of the Kingdom to the nations of the world, drawing hope from the fact that He has poured out His Spirit in the last days to empower His people to proclaim the Kingdom as a testimony to all the nations.

Recognize features of the "Mission Station" approach in modern mission efforts.

The mission station approach involved missionaries traveling to a target culture, making converts, then building a separate missionary society in a separate location with those converts. This method had the advantage of being stable and self-sufficient, but it was quite ineffective overall for a variety of reasons. It did not encourage most natives to convert because they would be forced to change their culture as well as their religion. This method also produced few indigenous missionaries, probably due to the fact that locals were unlikely to listen to an isolated mission station convert who severed ties with his native culture to follow foreigners.

Describe the shift of Christianity to the Global South.

The non-Western world is primarily known as the Global South, which includes Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The number of Christians in the Global South has been rapidly increasing for decades, and surpassed the amount of Western Christians in 1981. A corresponding shift occurred in the percentage of missionary sending, with the Southern sending passing the Western sending around 2005.

Explain the tensions of the transitions between the eras.

The primary mark of both transition periods was confusion. Hudson Taylor's radical strategy of inland mission and indigenized missions was rejected by many First Era mainstream mission organizations. Likewise, Cameron Townsend could not convince his Second Era sponsors to develop a culture-based strategy, leading him to found Wycliffe Bible Translators and carry the Gospel to thousands of people groups in their native language. Failing to recognize that a new age had arrived, Second Era mission agencies started to recall their workers in the mid-1900s. Ralph Winter and others revealed God's new plan for world evangelization, making the third era official.

Describe God's mission purpose as it unfolds in three directions: toward God, on behalf of all nations and against satanic evil powers.

The primary purpose of God's efforts on this world, mission or otherwise, is for Him to be glorified. His purpose is first and foremost for Himself. The only human actions which glorify God are acts of faith and worship, so to be properly praised, God must draw people to Himself and make them His servants. Being a creative being, God desires members of every unique tribe and language before His throne, so His love unfolds by fighting for each one of the nations. The enemy in this fight is Satan and the power he wields, so His purpose also includes defeating the works of the Devil to free people from captivity.

Explain how the promised blessing of the nations is fulfilled primarily by the provision and invitation to be part of God's family in Christ.

The promise of the blessing of the nations, the very "gospel" announced early in Genesis, was fulfilled in one pre-eminent descendent of Abraham: Jesus Christ. All who trust in Christ become joined with Christ and thus become sons and daughters of Abraham's family. This means that believers in Christ should consider themselves to be descendants of Abraham and heirs of God's promise to bless them so that they will become a blessing to the nations.

*Describe the crucial importance of the Acts 15 council for understanding how to present the gospel to the nations without presenting cultural obstacles to following Christ.*

The purity and mobility of the gospel was at stake during the Acts 15 council. The first century disciples had to sort out the universal glory of Jesus from the cultural patterns of Judaism before they could obey the Great Commission and take the gospel to all nations. Had the essence of the gospel not been distinguished from its Judaic cultural background, the foundational message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ apart from the law may have been lost, relegating "The Way" to another splinter-sect of Judaism.

*Express God's concern for all He has created and how that concern relates to Christian mission.*

The purpose of creation is God's glory. Creation exists for the praise and glory of its Creator God, and for mutual enjoyment between the Creator and the created. Glorifying and enjoying God is the chief end of all creation. The initial mission of humanity was to rule over, to keep, and to care for the rest of creation. In Genesis 1:28, God is passing on to human hands a delegated form of his own kingly authority over the whole of his creation. By caring for creation, we emulate God's own compassion and express His own justice. The Church in it's mission must bear witness to the great biblical claim that the earth is the Lord's. Holistic mission cannot be considered fully holistic if it excludes creatures which will ultimately be part of the reconciliation of the entire universe, which is God's greater mission.

Explain how Jesus pursued his life-work guided by a vision of the kingdom of God as a fight against evil to bring mercy on the nations.

The reality of the kingdom of God set the stage for all that Jesus did, said, or prayed. The Book of Malachi helped shape the vision and ministry of both John the Baptist and Jesus. Malachi had warned Israel that God's judgement would fall on them first rather than the nations, as they had failed to fulfill the most rudimentary regimes of worship and fearing God's name. Malachi described a classic expression of the Old Testament vision of God's judgement arriving in a single stroke of destructive power against God's enemies. Jesus continued this same message, calling for repentance because the turning point in history was at hand.

Explain the sentence: "Missions exists because worship doesn't."

The reason God gives us our mission is to bring about obedient, love-filled and life-giving worship among peoples and in places where there is none. Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church: worship is. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God.

Explain how Carey's motto, "Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God," helps explain the attitude and actions of the mission movement pioneers.

The sequence is essential, as Carey rightly pointed out within his Enquiry that the first and most important duties of a Christian is fervent and united prayer, believing that God not only has heard those prayers but answers them. A Christian must then not be contented with praying without exerting themselves in the use of those means which providence has put in their power for the obtaining of those things they pray for. These parts are essential in that they illustrate the proper way to co-labor with God, joining Him as He pursues His purpose in the world.

Describe how God pursued His global purpose by establishing a great reputation for powerful, faithful, and loving dealings with His people. Describe why God's name is associated with this story.

The story of the Bible is a story about God more than it is about people. Abraham begins by openly honoring God's name, making it known in worship. God then makes Himself known by name to the nations at the Exodus. The subsequent establishing of Israel in the land and the opening of the temple made His purpose even more clear. God's mission purpose: God reveals His glory to all nations in order to receive glory from all nations. God's Name: beyond the function of reference and revelation, the public reputation and open renown of God.

Explain the surprise of "the mystery of the kingdom" in terms of the Messiah coming not once, but twice.

The surprise that defines the mystery is that the expected kingly Messiah figure was to come not once, but twice. With Jesus' first coming, the kingdom arrived in a more hidden way, breaking satanic power, delivering people of all nations from the grip of evil's power, and offering the many blessings of God's rule. At the end, the kingdom will come openly, crushing all earthly powers, destroying every attempt to usurp God's rightful rule, and purging all sin and evil from the earth.

*Explain how the gospel advanced even when God's people were disobedient. You will understand different "mechanisms" of mission: people "coming" or messengers "going," either voluntarily or involuntarily.*

The theme that links all history together is the grace of God intervening in a world which lies in the power of the Evil One, contesting an enemy who temporarily is the god of this world so that the nations will praise God's name. God presses His mission forward with or without the full cooperation of His chosen people through four mechanisms of mission: Centripetal (Attractive) missions (Voluntary Going, Involuntary Going) and Centrifugal (Expansive) missions (Voluntary Coming, Involuntary Coming). If Israel's mission of extending God's rule and His promised blessing to all the nations of the world was not occurring, God accomplished His will through involuntary means. Examples of involuntary going: Joseph, sold into slavery in Egypt, witnesses to Pharaoh. Jonah, the reluctant missionary. Naomi witnesses to Ruth because of famine. Hebrew girl is taken to Naaman's home.

Describe the increase of the non-Western missionary force in recent years.

The third era of modern missions is marked by a global sending base and a global target. Centuries of Western mission work are paying dividends, and non-Westerners now account for over half the total Christians. Korea, China, Latin America, and Africa are all sending out significant bodies of volunteers, with the purpose of evangelizing the hidden peoples and carrying the Good News back to its origin in Jerusalem.

Explain why the conversion barrier is greater than the communication barrier in pioneer mission work.

The wall of communication, while a challenging obstacle, can still be overcome by hard effort on the part of the missionary. Learning a new language and adapting to a new culture is difficult but doable. The canyon of conversion, however, involves becoming a Christian and reconciling that profound change with their native cultural practices. The canyon of conversion is a more challenging barrier because would-be believers are often convinced that they have to live exactly like the missionary, typically a Western lifestyle. An essential task of the missionary is to clearly convey that Christianity is a global religion, not based on ethnicity but on total faith.

Explain the significance of the Student Volunteer Movement's watchword.

Their watchword was "The evangelization of the world in this generation." This phrase provided a powerful incentive for young missionaries to complete the task set before them with joy and optimism, completing God's work speedily.

*Recognize God's mission purpose found in the "Lord's Prayer."*

This is a missionary prayer, aiming to engage the passion of God for His name among those who forget or revile the name of God. For God's name to be "hallowed" or "sanctified" as prayed for in Matthew 6:9 is for His namesake to be distinguished, exalted, and honored. It is a request for the Lord to sanctify, lift up, single out, exalt, manifest, and reveal His name to the people of earth. To become famous for who He really is and cause the nations to know and adore Him. Jesus' primary concern is that more and more people, and more and more peoples, come to hallow God's name.

Describe the background of apocalyptic thinking in Jesus' day which shows how His statements and deeds were understood to be an act of war against Satanic powers.

This worldview understood that God was at war against a satanic insurrection of angelic evil powers attempting to thwart God's purposes for Israel to become a blessing to the nations. In the apocalyptic view, this war was coming soon to a climactic finale. We can see Jesus on mission to overcome evil powers in order to liberate people.

Examine the two extremes of Triumphalism and Defeatism as they relate to God's invitation to co-labor with Him.

Triumphalism is the assumption that we can and must make all necessary changes to bring about the kingdom of God on earth. This is often related to a form of despair that God is not really at work in the world, but instead, He relies completely on people. Defeatism works from a dualism rather than a despair. This extreme considers making any changes in the present age to be of little worth. Both of these extremes can throw us off from pursuing signs of the kingdom by fighting injustice in the present day. How we go about pursuing justice should be based on the life example of Jesus, but it must also be framed around the reality that we co-labor with the risen Messiah.

Present the best biblical grounds for explaining the lostness of humankind in response to the ideas of universalism.

Universalism is the idea that God's salvation in Christ will be universally accepted or applied to all persons. John 3:16 Only the biblical God is both loving and good. God does not mock His own goodness by declaring people to be good who have chosen evil. Instead, God honors an individual's choice of good or evil. God has appointed that people be saved in the light of Christ's name. Jesus Christ is the only agency of salvation. Universalism ultimately makes a mockery of the cross: if all are saved without hearing or responding to Christ, why did He die at all?

*The Lord's Prayer motivated many pioneers such as William Carey and Hudson Taylor. Analyze and list some of the insights and principles about prayer that we gain from the Lord's prayer.*

We are to pray that God's name will be honored wherever the truth about God is suppressed or denied (understanding "hallowed" or "sanctified" as the revealing and honoring of God's name). We are to ask that His kingdom rule will become effective even where it is defied and that His will be accomplished even where it is opposed by His enemies. For God's name to be "hallowed" or "sanctified" as prayed for in Matthew 6:9 is for His namesake to be distinguished, exalted, and honored. It is a request for the Lord to sanctify, lift up, single out, exalt, manifest, and reveal His name to the people of earth. To become famous for who He really is and cause the nations to know and adore Him. This is a missionary prayer, aiming to engage the passion of God for His name among those who forget or revile the name of God. Jesus' primary concern is that more and more people, and more and more peoples, come to hallow God's name.

Explain why it is important for the global Church to understand the present state of the world in terms of evangelization.

We educate ourselves on the progress and challenges of the modern global Church in order to think, pray, and act strategically regarding mission.

Explain how the promised blessing can also mean God's people will be used to bring measures of tangible goodness and sociable transformation among the nations.

We should expect God to bring forth every kind of blessing, such as economies that flourish with justice and righteousness, agricultures and industries that abound with plenty for all, and peace throughout communities between peoples and races. We can expect that God will enable His people to wage war with disease, to break the vicious cycles of poverty, to provide water in desert lands and to be present with healing in the midst of catastrophe.

*Explain how the Western worldview may lead us to be more "truth-conscious" than "power-conscious." Explain the ramifications of such a worldview for ministry among many of the least-evangelized peoples today.*

Western worldview assumptions may have turned the Church away from the mission of fighting evil to a practice of merely explaining evil. Westerners simply omit an entire tier of power and spiritual beings present in many worldviews, often the most critical needs and concerns of many peoples of the world. Thus, they fail to see or meet the people's felt needs and miss the drama by which the people frame their self-understanding. We need to form holistic theologies that have a complete triple-layered (upper cosmic level, middle spiritual/power level, lower natural layer) "bandwidth" of history.