Key Ideas from Lecture 1

• The Spirit is alive in the darkest places of history
• If Jesus is not central to our theology and ministry, then we miss everything
• God often speaks from the margins in unexpected places and ways
• Movements often turn from their original principles
• Remembering history gives hope for present and future- God does not abandon his mission
• Every mission group was peripheral at the beginning
• We are living in the greatest time of re-shaping the church since the 16th century
• The essence of the church is to be missionary to the ends of the earth
• Mission is not something peripheral to the life of the Church, it is basic
• The missionary movement has changed from a primarily Western movement to an international movement
• Learn to read the Bible with Missiological eyes- what is God’s agenda in history and how is He fulfilling that mission?
• Lk 24:45- Romans 16:26- outworking of great commission in Paul’s life
• Gifts of spirit are given primarily to equip us for mission
• Special activity of the Spirit often in breakthrough of the gospel from one place to another: Acts: Pentecost (ch. 2)- samaritans (ch. 8:16)- ethiopian (8:26)—Cornelius (9)—mission structure (13)—Europe (16:9)- voyage to Rome (27:23)