A leading expert in the field of Christian missions encourages the church to recover the apostolic imagination that fueled the multiplication of disciples in the first century. J. D. Payne examines the contemporary practice of Western missions and advocates a more central place for Scripture in defining missionary language, identity, purpose, function, and strategy. He shows that an apostolic understanding of the church's disciple-making commission requires rethinking every aspect of missionary engagement. The book includes end-of-chapter discussion questions and action steps to help pastors and church leaders develop an apostolic imagination.
A book which explains the truth of Mary's unique role in apostolic mission. This sheds light on the apostolic mission of every baptized Christian. Did Mary also receive an apostolic mission? Tradition supposes so. God wished to make of her the “New Eve,” the Associate of Christ. We would, therefore, also expect her to participate in His apostolic mission. Is this mission identical to that of the other apostles or to that of her Son? It is identical to neither. But, as we shall see, though her mission is a participated one, it is, for many reasons, more similar to that of Jesus than to that of the other apostles. The mission conferred by Christ on His apostles includes, in addition to administering Baptism, the double objective of preaching the doctrine of salvation: “Go, teach all nations,” and practicing the Christian life, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you!” Mary’s apostolic mission embraces both Christian doctrine and Christian living.
Pentecostal mission to Scandinavia came through "eyewitnesses" to the Azusa Street revival including Johnson-Ek and the Hollingsworths. Particularly important for Pentecostal mission was T. B. Barratt. He became Pentecostal after conflict with the Methodist (U.S.A.) Mission Board over mission theory and practice. His congregation in Kristiania became an international model. Other mission leaders included Andersen-Nordquelle, and Seehuus (Norway), Björk, Ongman. and Pethrus (Sweden), and Plum (Denmark). Each was already an established religious leader and editor of a periodical. Growth of Pentecostal mission and demands of Colonial governments caused institutionalization of mission administration (1915--1929). Trajectories in Norway and Sweden were toward professional "Boards," away from the earlier entrepreneurial, self-governing, self-theologizing, self-supporting and self--propagating mission models. Following Barratt's disillusionment with institutionalized U.S.A.
The words from Acts 5:12 - 28 is the foundation of the entire study written in this book. Although we will travel throughout the Bible, perhaps all the way back to Genesis and all the way through to Revelation. This will be the hallmark of this study, as it is the fundamental foundation on the Apostolic vision and vocation. You know, many times when we think about the early days of the church, and even where we are right now, we have this thought that it was simply easy to be a representation of Jesus Christ. How easy it was to be known as a Christian. But that, however, is not what the Scripture teaches us. As we look into the Word of God and see the lives of those that were a part of the ancient church, let's understand that it was no simple thing to live and witness for Christ in the first century. Over and over, God's servants were persecuted, humiliated, in prison, and beaten. And this, all because they were faithful to their Lord. In these verses before us, and particularly, verses 17 and 18, we read of the indignation, of the Sadducees, who laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. While the servants of the Lord were in prison, however, the angel of the Lord came by night and opened the prison doors, he told them, go, stand, and speak in the temple, to all the people, all the words of this life (verses 19 and 20). Now, I want you to notice the commandment that was given to the apostles, the angel of the Lord, came, and opened the prison doors. One thing that we need to see here is that whatever predicament that one finds himself or herself in, because of the gospel, they do not need to fight to rid themselves of that position. The apostles were shut up in prison, locked up, put in the common prison, because of their testimony of Jesus Christ, because of their preaching of the gospel. And because they were locked up for preaching the gospel, they then did not have to free themselves of their situation. It was the angel of God that claimed and opened the prison doors. So, I want you to buckle up now, and go on a thorough analysis with me into this study on the Apostolic Vision and Vocation as we move further, because it is interesting to compare the Ministry of angels with that of men. If you notice, in His word, we see the Ministry of angels, and we see the Ministry of men. The angels are the ministers of God, who serve him in his presence, and wait to do his bidding. That's number one. Just as the angels do God's bidding, we, however, are also the servants of God, and should be available to him for whatever he wants. You know, for God, all of God's creation should be available to God to do whatever God wants. Now, as we look further, the angels have their ministry, and men have their ministries. So, why is it that angels can open prison doors and speak to the apostles, but they cannot enter the joy and privilege of preaching the gospel? It's because God has not given angels that privilege to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the operation that God has held and delegated to the redeemed, his BORN-AGAIN sons. So, we see now that the angels did not embark on trying to preach the gospel. But the angel gave the message of God to the men of God, that was instructing them to go and to declare on to all the people, all the words of this life. I welcome you to learning about the Apostolic Vision and Vocation in this book, for your growth and maturity in Christ Jesus.
In the past we have focused on the “why” of missions in terms of motives, the “what” of missions in terms of the content of the message, and the “how” of missions in terms of methodologies and strategies, but the “where” question, in terms of where we send cross-cultural workers, has simply been assumed; it has meant crossing a geographic boundary. In Apostolic Function in 21st Century Missions, Alan R. Johnson introduces the idea of apostolic function as the paradigm of missionary self-identity that reminds us to focus our efforts on where Christ is not named. He then examines in detail the “where” paradigm in missions, frontier mission missiology, with a sympathetic critique and a review of the major contributions of unreached people group thinking. Johnson concludes by illustrating his notion of seeking to integrate missions paradigms and discussing of issues that relate specifically to the “where” questions of missions today. 2nd in the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, J. Philip Hogan World Missions Series
Every child of God encounters spiritual warfare on many fronts. To help us to win our battles, the Lord of Hosts gave us the Holy Spirit as our Helper against the forces of hell. Relationship with Him is imperative as He brings with Him all that we will need to become more than conquerors. Every believer needs to manifest the character of Christ in waging war against the enemy. Every believer has a call of God, is anointed and graced, and must be able to function effectively in the Kingdom of God. Every believer must become conscious of the spiritual strategy to wage war against the enemy and be victorious. Every believer must become fully equipped to continue to establish Gods Kingdom purpose on the earth. Every believer must discover connection with the Masters vision of the results expected. The Holy Spirit endows us with the capacity for winning every battle. The Holy Spirit equips us with the ability to wage successful warfare. The Holy Spirit encourages us with the strategy of a Kingdom warrior. The Holy Spirit enlightens us with the mentality derived from the wisdom of God. The Holy Spirit enables us with authority as we connect with the Masters vision. The picture that God has of every Kingdom Warrior must become realized in our individual lives. The church must aligned itself with the Vision that God has of it, and not seek to compromise Gods vision for His church. We can be all that God said we will be, do all that He raised us up to do, and have all that He has promised us.
