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Missionary Movements

Overview (lesson #1) for History of Christian Missions Course.

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Missionary Movements

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  1. Mission Movements of the Church Age Lecture by Robert Munson. www.munsonmissions.org

  2. Some Presumptions Regarding Christian Missions • God is at work at all times and places (Missio Dei). • God primarily works through the church, and calls the church to do His work (Missiones Ecclesiae) • God has not stopped in His Work and the church has never ceased to be God primary vehicle for His Work.

  3. Expectations for this Class • Expect to learn many inspiring stories of inspiring people. • Also expect to learn of bad things done--- often by good people with good motives. • We can learn from both good examples and bad examples.

  4. Why Study History? Mark Nolls suggests 5 reasons for studying Church History (Missions History is essentially Church History that is primarily outside of the church’s walls and hierarchy). <Mark Noll's book, Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity, 3rd edition (Baker, 2012)>

  5. #1. We are the Church of History (and the Missions of History) The church, the body of Christ, exists, not only in space, but in time. You and I are in the same (universal) church, but so are you and I and Augustine of Hippo, and Polycarp, and Martin Luther, and Amy Carmichael, and … To understand the church, we need to understand more than just “the Now.”

  6. #2. Helps Us Understand Orthodoxy Versus Heterodoxy • The Bible was written into a historical context, and the Bible is a book of history. • The Bible and interpretation of it was passed on to us through history. • Cults typically use Christians' ignorance of history to try to lead them astray. <Also tests good ideas versus bad ideas in missions.>

  7. #3. We Can Learn from Successes and Failures of the Past We are blessed with nearly 2000 years of experiences of Christians in different cultures and circumstances, with regards to ministry, relationships, and contexualization of theology. To intentionally remain ignorant, and not take advantage of such a wealth of knowledge, is wasteful.

  8. #4. Help Us to Recognize the Essentials As we see the diversity of the church, in different points of time, in different cultures, among different peoples, we sense of what is truly important for us and the church. It can also help us to see that we have freedom to connect our church with our culture and time-- not to discover the first century church, but to create the 21st century church.

  9. #5. Give Us Hope God has been with the church for two millenia. As we see Him guide the church through political and social upheavals, through heresies, and persecutions, we can have confidence that God is with us now and that He is still, ultimately, in control.

  10. The First Christian Missionary Was... Jesus Christ

  11. Four “Waves” of Protestant Missions

  12. Patrick Johnstone “The Church is Bigger Than You Think”

  13. Why Study Mission History and not just Church History? Frankly, it is good to study both. However, church history tends to focus on Creeds Councils Conflicts Controversies that existed in the church community and in societies that are strongly affected by the church. Little is normally given to other areas like how life in the church, theology, local ministry, worship, and discipleship changed over time. And even less is given to what happens outside of the church ministerially.

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