Act Five: Spreading the News of the King & The Mission of the Church

Act Five:Act Five: Spreading the Spreading the News of the King & The News of the King & The

MissionMissionof the Churchof the Church

Scene OneScene One: : From Jerusalem to From Jerusalem to RomeRome

All that Jesus continues to do and All that Jesus continues to do and teach… (Acts 1:1)teach… (Acts 1:1)

Acts tells the story of the continuing Acts tells the story of the continuing mission of the exalted Christ by His mission of the exalted Christ by His Spirit to give salvation to the church, Spirit to give salvation to the church, and through the church to the whole and through the church to the whole world.world.

Exaltation of JesusExaltation of Jesus

Coronation day: installation of Coronation day: installation of

rightful king rightful king Place: Right hand of God (Acts Place: Right hand of God (Acts

2:33)2:33) Name: Lord (Phil. 2:9-11)Name: Lord (Phil. 2:9-11) Hidden (Heb. 2:8f.)Hidden (Heb. 2:8f.)

Work of Exalted ChristWork of Exalted Christ

Subdue his enemies (Acts 2:34f.)Subdue his enemies (Acts 2:34f.) Makes disciples (Matt.28:18-20)Makes disciples (Matt.28:18-20) Pours out blessings of salvation (Lk- Pours out blessings of salvation (Lk-

Acts)Acts) Directs world history (Revelation)Directs world history (Revelation)

““The book of Acts, the The book of Acts, the epistles, and Revelation… are epistles, and Revelation… are predominantly about the predominantly about the work of the exalted Jesus in work of the exalted Jesus in the church and in the world.”the church and in the world.”

-Hendrikus Berkhof-Hendrikus Berkhof

““Exalted to the right hand of Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.”what you now see and hear.”

(Acts 2:33)(Acts 2:33)

Pentecost: Coming of SpiritPentecost: Coming of Spirit

Spirit pouring outSpirit pouring out

JesusJesusLuke 3:21-22Luke 3:21-22

Spirit pouring outSpirit pouring out

ChurchChurchActs 2:1-13Acts 2:1-13

Pentecost: Acts 2:1-13Pentecost: Acts 2:1-13

Old Testament PromiseOld Testament Promise Jewish feast of PentecostJewish feast of Pentecost

FirstfruitsFirstfruits Inclusion of nationsInclusion of nations

Wind and fire: Powerful presence of Wind and fire: Powerful presence of GodGod

Tongues: Salvation for the nationsTongues: Salvation for the nations


Spirit means last days (17-21)Spirit means last days (17-21) Life of Jesus (22)Life of Jesus (22) Death of Jesus (23)Death of Jesus (23) Resurrection (24-32)Resurrection (24-32) Exaltation (33-36)Exaltation (33-36) Response with promise of the Spirit Response with promise of the Spirit

(38-39)(38-39)

Peter’s Sermon OutlinePeter’s Sermon Outline

A question about the kingdom (Acts 1:6)…A question about the kingdom (Acts 1:6)…

……An answer about the Spirit (Acts 1:8)An answer about the Spirit (Acts 1:8)

““It is not so much the case ofIt is not so much the case ofwhere Jesus is there is the Kingdom, where Jesus is there is the Kingdom,

asaswhere the Spirit is there is the where the Spirit is there is the

Kingdom.”Kingdom.”

-James Dunn-James Dunn

(Luke 3:21f; Matt. 12:28; Acts 10:38; (Luke 3:21f; Matt. 12:28; Acts 10:38; Rom. 14: 17)Rom. 14: 17)

Era of WitnessEra of Witness

SpiritSpirit

d eathresu r rectionexal tationP en tecost

K in gd omm ission o fch u rchto n ation s

K in gd omm ission o fJ esu sto I srael


By Spirit through incarnate Jesus By Spirit through incarnate Jesus

(gospels)(gospels)

Of the exalted Christ by the Spirit Of the exalted Christ by the Spirit

through the church (Acts)through the church (Acts)

Witness to the Kingdom:Witness to the Kingdom:

Mission…Mission…

Israel’s mission to be light to nations: Israel’s mission to be light to nations:

Failure!Failure! Jesus fulfills Israel’s missionJesus fulfills Israel’s mission Jesus gathers new Israel to continue Jesus gathers new Israel to continue

mission to nationsmission to nations Church continues Israel’s, Jesus’ missionChurch continues Israel’s, Jesus’ mission

From Pentecost to ChurchFrom Pentecost to Church

Formation of new Israel (1:12- 26)Formation of new Israel (1:12- 26) Pentecost (2:1-13)Pentecost (2:1-13) Peter’s sermon (2:14-36)Peter’s sermon (2:14-36) Response: 3000 added (2:37-41)Response: 3000 added (2:37-41) Formation of ideal witnessing Formation of ideal witnessing

community (2:42-47)community (2:42-47)

The Spirit Forms aThe Spirit Forms aCommunity: Acts 2:42-47Community: Acts 2:42-47

Devotion to apostles’ teaching, Devotion to apostles’ teaching,

fellowship, breaking of bread, and fellowship, breaking of bread, and

prayer: Celebrating and nourishing prayer: Celebrating and nourishing

kingdom life (v. 42)kingdom life (v. 42) Life of kingdom manifested: Attractive Life of kingdom manifested: Attractive

‘good news people’ (v. 43-47)‘good news people’ (v. 43-47) Lord adds to number (v. 47)Lord adds to number (v. 47)

Story of Acts (1:8)Story of Acts (1:8)

Witness in Jerusalem 3:1-6:7Witness in Jerusalem 3:1-6:7

Witness in Samaria and Judea 6:8-Witness in Samaria and Judea 6:8-

12:2412:24

Witness to Ends of Earth 12:25-endWitness to Ends of Earth 12:25-end

““Acts narrates the progress of the gospel Acts narrates the progress of the gospel from a small gathering of Jewish from a small gathering of Jewish disciples of the earthly Jesus in disciples of the earthly Jesus in Jerusalem, across formidable cultic, Jerusalem, across formidable cultic, ethnic, relational, and geographical ethnic, relational, and geographical boundaries, to Paul's bold and boundaries, to Paul's bold and unhindered preaching of the risen and unhindered preaching of the risen and ascended Jesus to Gentiles in Rome. Acts ascended Jesus to Gentiles in Rome. Acts is unmistakably a story of missionary is unmistakably a story of missionary expansion, which is announced in 1:8 expansion, which is announced in 1:8 and confirmed along the way with the and confirmed along the way with the so-called progress reports.”so-called progress reports.”

-Rosner-Rosner

Witness in Jerusalem:Witness in Jerusalem:Continuing Jesus’ MissionContinuing Jesus’ Mission

Word and deed (3:1-26)Word and deed (3:1-26) Suffering (4:1-22)Suffering (4:1-22) Prayer (4:23-31)Prayer (4:23-31) Work of God (6:7)Work of God (6:7) Attractive life of community (4:32-37; Attractive life of community (4:32-37;

6:1-6)6:1-6)

Witness in Samaria and Witness in Samaria and JudeaJudea

Beyond JerusalemBeyond Jerusalem Unplanned expansion by persecution Unplanned expansion by persecution

(8:1-3)(8:1-3) To Judea and SamariaTo Judea and Samaria

Beyond Apostles Beyond Apostles Stephen, Phillip (6:8-8:40)Stephen, Phillip (6:8-8:40) Common believers (8:4; 11:19-21)Common believers (8:4; 11:19-21)

Beyond JewsBeyond Jews Gentiles (10, 11)Gentiles (10, 11)

Witness to the Ends of the Witness to the Ends of the Earth Earth

Antioch: First Gentile churchAntioch: First Gentile church Paul’s missionary journeysPaul’s missionary journeys Paul’s trials and witnessPaul’s trials and witness To RomeTo Rome

Church as a Missionary Church as a Missionary Community: Nearby and Community: Nearby and

FarawayFaraway

Christians: ‘Evidence of grace of God’ Christians: ‘Evidence of grace of God’

in church at Antioch (11:23)in church at Antioch (11:23)

‘‘Great number of people brought to Great number of people brought to

the Lord’ (11:24)the Lord’ (11:24)

Sent Saul and Barnabas (13:1-3)Sent Saul and Barnabas (13:1-3)

Pattern in Antioch (Acts 11, 13)Pattern in Antioch (Acts 11, 13)

Spontaneous Expansion of the Spontaneous Expansion of the Church (Roland Allen)Church (Roland Allen)

Attractive life of the communityAttractive life of the community Spontaneous evangelism by common Spontaneous evangelism by common

members of the churchmembers of the church Planting new churchesPlanting new churches

Paul’s PatternPaul’s Pattern

Pioneer church planting (Rom.15:23)Pioneer church planting (Rom.15:23) Three missionary journeysThree missionary journeys

Build them up for faithful witnessBuild them up for faithful witness Visits on journeysVisits on journeys

LettersLetters

The Apostle PaulThe Apostle Paul

Rabbinic training: old age and Rabbinic training: old age and

age to comeage to come

Spirit MessiahSpirit Messiah

SinDeathEvil

Satan

Knowledgeof GodLoveJoy

Justice

AGE TO COME

Prophetic ExpectationProphetic Expectation

OLD AGE

The Apostle PaulThe Apostle Paul

Rabbinic training: old age and Rabbinic training: old age and age to comeage to come

Rejects Jesus’ proclamation that Rejects Jesus’ proclamation that the age to come has arrivedthe age to come has arrived

Converted (Acts 9:1-18)Converted (Acts 9:1-18) Sees everything in a new waySees everything in a new way

Paul’s TeachingPaul’s Teaching

The kingdom of God has dawned The kingdom of God has dawned in Jesus’ death and resurrectionin Jesus’ death and resurrection

Powers of sin death evil Satan

Power of Spirit’s renewing work

AGE TO COMEOLD AGE

New Testament FulfillmentNew Testament Fulfillment

““The whole content of Paul's preaching The whole content of Paul's preaching can be summarized as the proclamation can be summarized as the proclamation and explication of the eschatological and explication of the eschatological day of salvation inaugurated with day of salvation inaugurated with Christ's advent, death, and resurrection. Christ's advent, death, and resurrection. It is from this principal point of view and It is from this principal point of view and under this denominator that all the under this denominator that all the separate themes of Paul's preaching separate themes of Paul's preaching can be understood and penetrated in can be understood and penetrated in their unity and relation totheir unity and relation toeach other.”each other.”

-Ridderbos-Ridderbos



Nurturing the life of ChristNurturing the life of ChristOrganic: Growing up to Organic: Growing up to

maturitymaturityArchitectural: Building on a Architectural: Building on a

foundationfoundation



Nurturing the life of ChristNurturing the life of Christ New life and new obedienceNew life and new obedience

New Life and New New Life and New ObedienceObedience

Obedience based on what God has doneObedience based on what God has done Resurrection life in the SpiritResurrection life in the Spirit New relationship to God: Justification, New relationship to God: Justification,

reconciliation, adoptionreconciliation, adoption Obedience motivated by loveObedience motivated by love Obedience normed by lawObedience normed by law Whole of human lifeWhole of human life



Nurturing the life of ChristNurturing the life of Christ New life and new obedienceNew life and new obedience For the sake of the worldFor the sake of the world

For the sake of the worldFor the sake of the world

Exemplary and attractiveExemplary and attractive

““The Christians’ lifestyle should not The Christians’ lifestyle should not only be exemplary, but also only be exemplary, but also winsome. It should attract outsiders winsome. It should attract outsiders and invite them to join the and invite them to join the community… Their ‘exemplary community… Their ‘exemplary existence’ is a powerful magnet that existence’ is a powerful magnet that draws outsiders toward the church.”draws outsiders toward the church.”

-Bosch-Bosch

For the sake of the worldFor the sake of the world

Exemplary and attractiveExemplary and attractive Public life of culturePublic life of culture

“…“…the obligation of Christians to the obligation of Christians to ‘live as citizens’ in the world of ‘live as citizens’ in the world of politeiapoliteia [the public life of the state] [the public life of the state] in a way that is worthy of the in a way that is worthy of the gospel.”gospel.”

-Winter-Winter



Nurturing the life of ChristNurturing the life of Christ New life and new obedienceNew life and new obedience For the sake of the worldFor the sake of the world The coming of the LordThe coming of the Lord

Ending of ActsEnding of Acts Why so abrupt? Loose ends?Why so abrupt? Loose ends? Story of Acts has not endedStory of Acts has not ended Continues today until Christ returnsContinues today until Christ returns

“…“…the ending of Acts is truly an the ending of Acts is truly an opening to the continuing life of the opening to the continuing life of the messianic people, as it continues to messianic people, as it continues to preach the kingdom and teach the preach the kingdom and teach the things concerning Jesus both boldly things concerning Jesus both boldly and without hindrance.”and without hindrance.”

-Johnson-Johnson

Scene TwoScene Two: : And into All the And into All the WorldWorld

Tasting and Displaying the Tasting and Displaying the Kingdom:Kingdom:

The Church’s WitnessThe Church’s Witness

Our Place in the StoryOur Place in the Story

Our Place in the StoryOur Place in the Story What time is it?’ Where are we at in What time is it?’ Where are we at in

the story of the Bible?the story of the Bible? Light to the world: Continuing Israel’s Light to the world: Continuing Israel’s

missionmission Gen.12:2-3; Gal.3:14: Channels of Gen.12:2-3; Gal.3:14: Channels of

blessingblessing Ex.19:3-6; I Pet.2:9: Model peopleEx.19:3-6; I Pet.2:9: Model people Is.49:6; Matt.5:14-16: Light to the worldIs.49:6; Matt.5:14-16: Light to the world

Making known the kingdom: Making known the kingdom: Continuing Jesus’ missionContinuing Jesus’ mission

Summary: Jesus’ Kingdom Summary: Jesus’ Kingdom MissionMission

Announced reign of God with wordsAnnounced reign of God with words Demonstrated reign of God with deedsDemonstrated reign of God with deeds Explained kingdom of God with teachingExplained kingdom of God with teaching Embodied reign of God with lifeEmbodied reign of God with life Prayed for reign of God to comePrayed for reign of God to come Suffered for reign of GodSuffered for reign of God Formed community to live under rule of Formed community to live under rule of

GodGod ‘‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’

““Jesus has not left us with a rigid Jesus has not left us with a rigid model for action; rather he inspired model for action; rather he inspired his disciples to prolong the logic of his disciples to prolong the logic of his own action in a creative way his own action in a creative way amid the new and different historical amid the new and different historical circumstances in which the circumstances in which the community would have to proclaim community would have to proclaim the gospel.”the gospel.”

-Bosch-Bosch

Our Place in the StoryOur Place in the Story What time is it?’ Where are we at in What time is it?’ Where are we at in

the story of the Bible?the story of the Bible? Light to the world: Continuing Israel’s Light to the world: Continuing Israel’s

missionmission Making known the kingdom: Making known the kingdom:

Continuing Jesus’ missionContinuing Jesus’ mission Bearing faithful witness: Continuing Bearing faithful witness: Continuing

the mission of the early churchthe mission of the early church

Bearing Faithful Witness: Bearing Faithful Witness: Continuing the Mission of theContinuing the Mission of the

Early ChurchEarly Church ForetasteForetaste PreviewPreview

We have a foretaste of the Kingdom…We have a foretaste of the Kingdom…Actual taste nowActual taste nowComplete meal in futureComplete meal in future

We are previews of the Kingdom…We are previews of the Kingdom…Actual footage of movie/kingdomActual footage of movie/kingdomDesigned to interest viewer in future Designed to interest viewer in future

movie/kingdom so they will want to participatemovie/kingdom so they will want to participate


Early ChurchEarly Church ForetasteForetaste PreviewPreview Following the church in Jerusalem Following the church in Jerusalem

and Antioch (Acts 2:42-47; 13:1)and Antioch (Acts 2:42-47; 13:1) Witness to God’s rule over all of lifeWitness to God’s rule over all of life

Following the apostles, the church is sent– Following the apostles, the church is sent– Sent with the gospel of the kingdomSent with the gospel of the kingdomto make disciples of all nations,to make disciples of all nations,to feed the hungry,to feed the hungry,to proclaim the assurance that in the name of to proclaim the assurance that in the name of

ChristChristthere is forgiveness of sin and new lifethere is forgiveness of sin and new lifefor all who repent an believe– for all who repent an believe– To tell the news that our world belongs to God.To tell the news that our world belongs to God.In a world estranged from God,In a world estranged from God,where millions face confusing choices,where millions face confusing choices,this mission is central to our being,this mission is central to our being,for we announce the one name that saves.for we announce the one name that saves.

Contemporary Testimony: 44Contemporary Testimony: 44

The rule of Jesus Christ covers the whole The rule of Jesus Christ covers the whole world.world.

To follow this Lord is to serve him To follow this Lord is to serve him everywhere,everywhere,

without fitting in,without fitting in,

as lights in the darkness,as lights in the darkness,

as salt in a spoiling world.as salt in a spoiling world.

Contemporary Testimony: 45Contemporary Testimony: 45

Embodying salvation means...Embodying salvation means...

...living under Christ’s lordship...living under Christ’s lordshipin all of life.in all of life.

Sacred/Secular DualismSacred/Secular Dualism(See Wolter’s p.66-68)(See Wolter’s p.66-68)

SacredSacredPrayerPrayerWorshipWorshipMinisterMinisterMissionaryMissionaryChurchChurchFamilyFamily

SecularSecularMaking loveMaking loveWatching TVWatching TVJournalistJournalistPoliticianPoliticianUniversityUniversityGovernmentGovernment

Activities

Professions

Realms

Clash of KingdomsClash of KingdomsAntithesisAntithesis

KingdomKingdomof darknessof darkness

KingdomKingdomof Godof God

CreationCreation


Early ChurchEarly Church ForetasteForetaste PreviewPreview Following the church in Jerusalem Following the church in Jerusalem

and Antioch (Acts 2:42-47; 13:1)and Antioch (Acts 2:42-47; 13:1) Witness to God’s rule over all of lifeWitness to God’s rule over all of life To the ends of the earthTo the ends of the earth

Our Place in the StoryOur Place in the Story ‘‘What time is it?’What time is it?’ Already/not yet era of kingdomAlready/not yet era of kingdom Act five: Church continues the Act five: Church continues the

kingdom mission of Jesuskingdom mission of Jesus ForetasteForetaste PreviewPreview Witness to Christ’s rule over all of lifeWitness to Christ’s rule over all of life To the ends of the earthTo the ends of the earth

What does it mean to live in What does it mean to live in the Biblical story today?the Biblical story today?

As university studentsAs university students As citizensAs citizens In a world of poverty and over- In a world of poverty and over-

consumptionconsumption In a world of diminishing resourcesIn a world of diminishing resources

End of Act FiveEnd of Act Five

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Act Five: Spreading the News of the King & The Mission of the Church