Our Foundation

CISeries: As a body of believers, we have been called to Christ’s mission. Let us live in concert with his mission. If we do not, we are sabotaging the very purpose of our existence as a worshiping body.

CITheology: Subject: What is fundamentals of God’s mission on earth? Compliment -

CIS:

SO: Explain - God’s unified plan and expose the biblical foundation. Reinforce the unity of Scripture and narrative/thread of the word of God.

I was away at SOS the last month and half and had a great time learning many lessons that will hopefully be useful to me throughout my career.

The first section was on leadership. Like all course on leadership we learned about the significance on knowing your purpose, values, and mission.

We also learned that to lead others effectively, we will need to lead ourselves.

Generally speaking, these statements are true with regard to our Christian faith.

We need to understand who we are, what we belong to, what our values, purpose, and mission are.

But if I were to be honest, I am not sure I knew what my purpose was as a Christian beyond just being saved at first.

The Scripture clues us into what our mission is a believers.

Together believer form the body of Christ and we have been commissioned with a great mission.

This means that we have a specific purpose to play. And my friends, its more than just being saved until we die so that we can got to heaven.

So over the next few weeks we will be in a short series that I am entitling Our Mission.

Together I want to rediscover what the Scripture calls us to be working toward with our Christian faith.

We will cover our mandate, its foundation, and what happens if we fail over the next few weeks.

Today we will start with that attitude we need in order to accomplish our Goal.

Will come along with us as we journey through the word to determine our mission and pray with me?

Pray

Adam

Context: The Fall of Mankind

Genesis 3:13–15 ESV

13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Explanation (v. 15)

There will be enmity between the woman’s seed and the serpent's. Specifically, one of her’s would bruise your head...

From the very beginning God has initiated a plan to redeem humanity that they started on themselves. This is evident in the very first pronouncement of God after the fall of mankind.

What happens next?

Cast out of the garden

The population grows and evil increases on earth until the flood of Noah’s time.

Noah

Context:

Genesis 9:8–10 ESV

8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth.

Explanation:

God here is reestablishing his relationship connection between himself and the world (man, earth, and beast). His posture will be one where he will provide a way of escape to those who

Continuity:

God wishes there to be a relationship between him and humanity.

Discontinuity

Here we see an extension of God’s grace even to the earth and beast. God’s plan of redemption includes not only humanity but everything in the world.

What happens next?

The population again grows evil, the people are dispersed at Babel, and the nations have gone ahead with there own things.

Abraham

The Call of Abram...

Genesis 12:1–3 ESV

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Continuity:

God’s desire to bless all the nations remains the same.

Discontinuity

There is a national blessing attached to this covenant.

There is a material blessing attached

There is a specific land where Abram was called to from where he was from.

What happens next?

Abram obeys, he is blessed with Issac, and his son Jacob, and his twelve sons.

Joseph is one of Jacob’s 12 sons. (Do you remember that story)

What you meant for my harm, God used for the salvation of the people.

The transition to Egypt and later bondage.

Moses

Exod 3:10, cf. 1 Sam 12:8

Explanation:

God rescued the children of Israel out of Egyptian slavery.

He set them up a new nation as he promised their ancestor Abraham.

They were going to be able to fulfill the promises of being a blessing to every nation.

Continuity

Discontinuity

The national element promised to Abram is actually established by Moses and the Law.

What happened Next?

The people were rebellious

They struggled to enter the promise land

They struggled to obey while in the promised land and invoked the curse of disobedience on themselves several times.

They sought out a king like the nations around them

David

Context:

King David was ideal king of the Jews. He had is flaws but also was the friend of God. Several of the Psalms were written in his day, by him. One is ...

Psalm 96:1–6 ESV

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Continuity

The missionary thrust toward the nations is encouraged in this Psalm.

We see the Psalmist speak of his sanctuary in a local sense. God’s presence is focused in one specific physical location.

Discontinuity

They really didn’t do it in this time.

They became more focused on the Jewish cult and political prestige/power than the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and obedience to God’s call.

What happens next?

The kings after David are rebellous.

Eventually the kingdom is defeated and the people of God are captured and become a become a conquered people in forigen lands.

Exile/Return

Context: Isaiah is a prophet who ministered until the time of the end of the Kingdom of Judah. He prophesied that “servant of the Lord” would come and rescue his people

Isaiah 49:6–7 ESV

6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 7 Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

Continuity:

The missionary heart of God toward the whole earth is being demonstrated again!

Discontinuity:

The people Isaiah was prophesying to were about to conquered.

The presence of God could no longer reside in a single physical location.

What happens next?

Isaiah’s prophecy about their destruction comes true.

The people of God through several stages of freedom and bondage to many different civilization (Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman) through the ages until the time of Jesus, where they are still under Roman Rule.

Incarnation

Matthew 28:16–20 ESV

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Our Mandate is to make disciples of everybody!

Continuity:

We are to go to the nations!

Discontinuity:

Christ is the authorizing official. He is revealed as God’s son and the Holy Spirit is the empowering presence of mission.

We are teaching the ways of Christ, not the Law of Moses.

The Last Days

So this is what our status as believer is now. We have become children of Abraham, the blessed, who are again, called to be a blessing to the entire world.

Galatians 4:3–7 ESV

3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Continuity:

Blessing the world.

Discontinuity

Ethnic/ancestral connection to Abraham no longer required.

No longer under the Law, or temple.

The presence of God is no longer in a single local sanctuary, but in the body of believers, you and I.

This is where we stand today in Redemptive history.

So what’s next?

New Creation

Context:

Revelation 21:1–5 ESV

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Continuity:

Very little, God and Jesus.

Discontinuity