Doing Evangelism together (2)

Why should we do evangelism relationally? Acts suggests several reasons:

• to have fellowship (Acts 9:19, 26-28);
• to have companionship (18:18; 19:29; 20:34; 27:1-2; 28:15);
• to have protection (9:30; 17:15; 20:2-4);
• to have encouragement (28:15);
• to form an official delegation to attend the Jerusalem Council (15:2) and
• to deliver famine relief (11:30; 20:4);
• to provide for material needs (18:1-3;19 24:23; 27:3; 28:14);
• to engage in the ministry of edification (11:25-26; 14:21-23; 15:35; 15:40-41; 16:4-5; 19:9; 20:6-38);
• and to engage in the ministry of proclamation (9:28-30; 13:1-5, 13-16, 44-46; 14:1, 7, 20-21, 25; 17:1-15; 18:5-8).

How does Acts characterize evangelism?

Luke is not merely telling a story but proclaiming a message in the book of Acts. What is that message? Clearly, it is centered on the evangelistic mandate of 1:8 and the journey of the Gospel and its “gospellers” from Jerusalem (ch 1) to Rome (ch 28), from the centre of Judaism to the centre of the secular world.

Thus, if Luke’s prime directive is to communicate the message of salvation, how does he characterize evangelism –its methodology? The text is explicit: Salvation can be found in no one other than Jesus (4:12); salvation is offered to everyone–the Spirit of God is poured out on “all flesh” (2:17); and salvation requires a response to Christ of repentance/ faith (2:38). And how is that message conveyed? Luke demonstrates that God’s people (and indeed God himself) will seek and will go to the people –all people everywhere. The driving impulse of Acts is summed up in the bumper sticker: “What is it about GO that you don’t understand?”

This is apparent: Luke begins his narrative with the ascension where the apostles are found gazing somewhat vacantly upwards by “two men dressed in white,” who rebuke their fixed attention on the empty skies, indicating that their present mission is to proclaim this Saviour to the world, to go to the world rather than to expect the world to come to them. Such is the essence of the entire book: an outward-moving evangelism that results in the growth of the kingdom.

Let’s begin by sketching something the narrative from Acts 9 –Paul’s story- to paint a broad picture of Luke’s understanding of evangelism. The reason for this is that in Acts (as in Paul’s letters) there are some key principles of evangelism that –despite a huge library of study- remain somewhat understated. Here’s a few key concepts:

1. We are traveling together: Paul’s missionary group embodies fellowship.
2. The diversity of the group exemplifies the body of Christ: its diversity of gifting and its fundamental mutuality. Our fellowship is an intrinsic part of our message.
3. We are crossing cultural frontiers: we are not mono-cultural or stuck in one way of doing things. Kingdom development is organic and relationship is more important than doctrine…. Or rather, relationship IS the doctrine.
4. By this practice, and through this mutual love, we are building bridges into the community where we serve.

Can you accept these as some of the concepts in LUke’s mind?

Wisdom Literature: Welcome to the Matrix

Welcome to the Wisdom group. Here is a link to the schedule, (subject to approval) wisdom-maf.doc so that you can check the session titles. Today we looked at the powerpoint introduction-to-the-course.ppt and checked out the coursebook. Follow the hyperlinks to ourchase your copy from http://abebooks.co.uk or http://amazon.co.uk as you wish. Jean-Baptiste’s copy arrived the day after ordering, so I expect everyone kitted out by the next session.

As mentioned in class, the first task is to post on your blog TWENTY books on the Wisdom Tradition that you have discovered on the net. Free (funsize) Mars Bar to the first post.

Here’s some material to whet your appetite for remainder of the course:lecture-1-sermon.doc is a slightly devotional  approach to the subject; 1-what-is-wisdom.ppt is slightly more explanatory;  and, finally, an introduction to Proverbslecture-2-prov-intro.doc . Please read this material and post it on your own blogs under a Wisdom category if you wish

Early Church History: Why were they persecuted?

A Rick Wade post (PROBE)

There are several important and interrelated reasons for the persecution of the early church.

First was the problem of identity. Christianity was identified at first with Judaism, but people quickly came to see it as a different religion. Jews were left alone for the most part; it seemed best to Rome to just confine them and leave them alone. Christianity, however, was a strange, new cult, and it began to spread across people groups and geographical boundaries.{1} People felt threatened by this oddball new religion.

The next problem was with the religious activities of the Christians, with what they did do and didn’t do.

In the days of the Roman empire, the worship of pagan gods and the emperor was a part of everyone’s life. Two problems arose because of this. First, because they didn’t participate in pagan rituals but tended to keep to themselves, Christians were considered anti-social. When the imperial police took an interest in them, they became more secretive which added fuel to the fire. They became associated with the collegia–clubs or secret societies–and leaders were suspicious of these groups because of the threat of sedition.{2} Second, since Christians wouldn’t join in with the religious activities which were believed to placate the gods, they became a threat to the very well-being of the community. Writing in about A.D. 196, Tertullian said, “The Christians are to blame for every public disaster and every misfortune that befalls the people. If the Tiber rises to the walls, if the Nile fails to rise and flood the fields, if the sky withholds its rain, if there is earthquake or famine or plague, straightway the cry arises: ‘The Christians to the lions!’”{3}