From Jesus to the Gospels

2. From Jesus to the Gospels September 16 From the Temple to the Upper Room September 23 The Kerygma of the Early Church: Sermons in Acts September 30 The Kerygma According to Paul: 1 Corinthians 15 October 7 The Teaching of Jesus: Embedded into the Letters October 14: What Are the Gospels? October 21 Choosing to Follow Christ into the New Covenant Community

3. The Gospels – Summer, Fall Work • So this series is the result of our own 30-year project of the use of the Gospels in the establishing process. • Process: • My study, research (courses). • Leadership Series Courses—4 NT. • This series (published, dialogue). • Paper at conference. • Correct mistakes, republish. • Progress: • Confident of what the Gospels are, their fit. • Not fully confident of intent of each Gospel.

4. From Jesus to the Gospels Basic Questions of Series • How did we get from Jesus to the four Gospels? • It is a very different journey from what you might think. • What are the Gospels? When were they written? What was the purpose of writing them? How do they fit into the establishing process? And when?

5. The Quest of the Historical Jesus • The Quest • The Quest for the Historical Jesus, by Albert Schweitzer (1911). So this is a 100-year quest or conversation. • The New Quest (of the 1950s and 1960s) • Jesus was a prophet (or a poor peasant). Over time, the church propagated the resurrection myth. • The 3rd Quest (1980s and 1990s; N. T. Wright’s work) • Jesus Seminar, lost gospels, Da Vinci code, etc.

6. The Quest of the Historical Jesus • The 3rd Quest (1980s and 1990s) • N. T. Wright’s work

7. The Quest of the Historical Jesus • The 3rd Quest (1980s and 1990s) • The Graeco-Roman biography conversation

8. The Quest of the Historical Jesus • Our Own Quest—BILD’s Dilemma • We do not begin with the Gospels in our training. • 30-year quest to situate them. • We knew they were not “basic discipleship materials” or “personal salvation” as we know it or material for “campus evangelism or global mission strategy” —all ideas very foreign to the eyewitnesses of the Gospels. • Direct criticism from discipleship groups; difficulty in handling the issue. Could only see dimly but knew we were right beginning with the Letters/Apostles’ Teaching.

9. The Quest of the Historical Jesus How important is this quest? The whole discipleship movement has to be radically rethought, if these conclusions are accurate. The orality/literacy debate is distorted, if these matters are misunderstood. This shapes the whole curricular approach to oral converts in the massive Global South church-planting movements. It has huge implications for setting out curricular processes in establishing churches and believers.

10. The Quest of the Historical Jesus • False dichotomies are everywhere adding to the confusion: • Jesus vs. Paul • Following Jesus vs. joining a church • Story/experience vs. theology/cerebral • Eastern (story) vs. Western (analytical) • Modern (academic) vs. postmodern (spiritual)

11. The Quest of the Historical Jesus • In short, almost all contemporary discipleship material • misuses the Gospels • misinterprets the Gospels • at almost every turn. • Let’s put the Gospels in context.

12. Gospels in Context • Three Stages of Gospel Formation: • The public ministry and activity of Jesus of Nazareth (the first third of the 1st century AD). • The (Apostolic) preaching about Jesus (the second third of the 1st century AD). • The written Gospels (approximately the last third of the 1st century). • An Introduction to the New Testament by Raymond Brown

13. Gospels in Context • First Century Reality • Kerygma (the Gospel proclamation) • Eyewitness notebooks (+ oral) • Theological reflection • Gospels with full understanding of Kerygma • Church emerges from Judaism solidified • Jesus and the Eyewitnesses by Richard Bauckham

14. From Jesus to the Gospels Last Weeks Questions • Who exactly was Jesus? • What did He come to do? What was His core mission? • Who did the disciples think He was? . . . before and right after his crucifixion?

15. Jesus and His Mission He was the Messiah, the coming Jewish deliverer who was prophesied in the OT, who would deliver Israel and bring in the kingdom of God. • Saved from the coming judgment on the Jewish leaders, the Temple and Jewish system, and the faithless generation. • He was creating a new community built around Him rather than Judaism—that is Christianity (the Church).

16. The Unfolding Kerygma (Gospel) • Forgiveness of sins—show receptiveness and readiness to follow Jesus into the New Community. • Repent and believe and you will be saved—from the judgment coming to this generation. • Gospel (“news of victory”)—the time has arrived for God to fulfill OT promises to Israel, for the Messiah to arrive, and for God to set up His kingdom. • Sermon on the Mount—preparation for choosing to follow Jesus into the New Community, cracking open their “Judaism worldview.” • Rich young ruler challenge—what is necessary to let go and follow Jesus into the New Community.

17. Jesus’ Style and Strategy • Whole new view of Jesus: • Real, developing, trusting, growing. • Action, fast—shake paradigm. • Aggressive, started fires everywhere. • Purpose controlled everything. • A totally different picture! • In 3 intense years he upset everything and everyone, to prepare the way.

18. The Jerusalem Churches • How did the Jerusalem churches understand Him? . . . and His work? (after His resurrection and ascension?) • What did they not yet understand?

19. The Kingdom Question—Acts 1 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:6–8 The Kerygma story would continue to unfold and eventually lead to a big picture quite different from what they had thought. They expected the kingdom to be restored to Israel very soon.

20. Let’s look at the Jerusalem churches and what they believed, through the 5 sermons of Peter found in the first 10 chapters of Acts.

21. The Jerusalem Churches Peter’s Five Sermons • Look at several key sermons: • Acts 2:14–42 Peter • Acts 3:11–26 Peter • Acts 4:5–13 Peter • Acts 5:27–32 Peter and the Apostles • Acts 10:1–48 Peter

22. Peter’s Pentecost Proclamation Sermon 1: Acts 2:14–42 • Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost (Context) • They waited for the Spirit. • Spirit poured out—each heard in his own language. • Devout Jews from every nation heard the proclamation in their own language. • Some sneered—they are drunk. • Peter—not drunk, this was prophesied in Joel 2. • Message in tongues: the proclamation (Kerygma).

23. Peter’s Pentecost Proclamation Sermon 1: Acts 2:14–42 22 “You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. Acts 2:22–24

24. Peter’s Pentecost Proclamation Sermon 1: Acts 2:14–42 • 25 For David says concerning him, • ‘I saw the Lord always before me, • for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; • 26  therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. • 27  For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. • 28  You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ • Acts 2:25–28 (Psalm 16)

25. Peter’s Pentecost Proclamation Sermon 1: Acts 2:14–42 29 “Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, ‘He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.’ Acts 2:29–31

26. Peter’s Pentecost Proclamation Sermon 1: Acts 2:14–42 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ 36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

27. Peter’s Pentecost Proclamation Sermon 1: Acts 2:14–42 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

28. The Essence of His Message Sermon 1: Acts 2:14–42 • Jesus, attested to by God • deeds of power, wonders, and signs • handed over to you by God according to His plan • You crucified • But God raised Him up • as prophesied by David (Psalm 16) • David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah • He has ascended to the heavens • seated at God’s right hand • God has made him Lord and Messiah • Repent, be baptized and receive the Spirit • save yourselves from this corrupt generation

29. What Happened Here? Sermon 1: Acts 2:14–42 Message to devout Jews from every nation: (“Men of Judea,” “Israelites,” “Fellow Israelites”). 3,000 repented and were baptized and were added to the community of the 70 (Christ’s followers). They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching. What was the Apostles’ teaching? Note: The prayers and the Temple are still in the picture. They believed they were a new community of Israelites, entering the time and blessings that the whole Old Testament pointed to, made possible because the Messiah had come.

30. Peter on Temple Porch Sermon 2: Acts 3:11–26 11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished. 12 When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. 14 But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

31. Peter’s on Temple Porch Sermon 2: Acts 3:11–26 17 “And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, 21 who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets.

32. Peter on Temple Porch Sermon 2: Acts 3:11–26 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. 23 And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out of the people.’ 24 And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. 25 You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

33. The Essence of His Message Sermon 2: Acts 3:11–26 • God glorified His servant Jesus • the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob • the prophet Moses predicted God would raise up • whom God raised up • You rejected and killed the Holy and Righteous One • God fulfilled prophecy—He must suffer • Repent and have your sins wiped out (or be rooted out of the people) • so that times of refreshing may come • that He may send the Messiah from heaven (universal restoration) • so that all the families of the earth will be blessed

34. How Did the Apostles Understand What Had Happened? Jesus was the Messiah sent from God, as prophesied in the Old Testament. (He was a prophet sent from God whom God raised up and seated.) You killed the real Messiah without knowing it. Repent, so that the full picture prophesied in the Old Testament can be realized—the times of refreshing will come and Jesus will come back (universal restoration), fulfilling Gen 12:1–3 (through Israel all the families of the earth will be blessed). Or be permanently rooted from the people of God.

35. Peter Before the Council Sermon 3: Acts 4:8–13 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11 This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.

36. The Essence of His Message Sermon 3: Acts 4:8–13 • Same message • Jesus Christ of Nazareth, • whom you crucified and • whom God raised from the dead • This Jesus • is the cornerstone (of the new covenant community) • brings salvation to all who believe • Yet they believed this was the new covenant community inside the context of Israel, as God’s chosen people of the OT promises.

37. Peter and the Apostles Before the Council Sermon 4: Acts 5:23–32 27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

38. The Essence of Their Message Sermon 4: Acts 5:23–32 You killed Him. God raised Him up. God exalted Him. That He might bring repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins (Gentiles still to be blessed through this new covenant community within Israel). We are witnesses. The Holy Spirit is a witness as well.

39. Peter at Cornelius's House Sermon 5: Acts 10:34-48 • Context: • Cornelius—feared God, angel intervenes, sent for Peter. • Peter’s rooftop experience. • My friends and relatives and I are assembled to hear what God has commanded us.

40. Peter Cornelius's House Sermon 5: Acts 10:34–48 34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:34–38

41. Peter at Cornelius's House Sermon 5: Acts 10:34–48 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Acts 10:39–43

42. Peter at Cornelius's House Sermon 5: Acts 10:34–48 44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47 “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

43. Essence of Message • Every nation is acceptable. • You know the message: • Jesus Christ—Lord of all • Beginning with baptism of John • Went about doing good • Death and resurrection • Appearances • Judge of the living and the dead • Everyone who believes receives forgiveness

44. The Jerusalem Churches • How did the Jerusalem churches understand Him? . . . and His work? (after His resurrection and ascension?) • What did they not yet understand?

45. Jerusalem Churches • What did they understand? • They understood that Jesus was resurrected, was sitting at the right hand of God, and would come back and judge the living and the dead. • They understood that they were part of a New Community, formed by Jesus, and that the Spirit of God would instruct and lead them. • They understood that everyone who believed in Jesus would receive forgiveness of sins and be accepted into this community (baptism).

46. Jerusalem Churches • What did they not understand? • At least two things: • They did not understand the Church yet. They thought that this New Community of Jesus was to be contained inside Judaism, sort of like the heart of God fulfilling all of His kingdom promises to Israel. • They did not understand yet that Jesus would not come back for a long time.

47. What Is This Kerygma Thing? The Kerygma is the Gospel proclamation. It is their explanation of who Jesus was, what He came to do, and the testimony of His resurrection. It was a challenge to those hearing the proclamation—to repent and believe for forgiveness of sins and for entrance into the New Community.

48. What Was the Apostles’ Teaching? It was the exposition of the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings (the OT Scriptures), in light of the Kerygma. Luke 24:7 “Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.” …32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” They were working back through the Old Testament—every part of it, all three sections, and discovering its true meaning as related to Christ. Passages were making sense that had been veiled by Judaism.

49. Powerful Arguments Emerging As we understand the Kerygma (the gospel as proclaimed by Jesus and then the Apostles), we begin to understand the whole Scripture. We develop an ability to explain the gospel with authority (convincingly) to any audience, knowing it is true— even to a postmodern, skeptical audience. arguments that also lead followers of Jesus into our churches.