Updated: Aug 18, 2019
Week 11 Doctrine: Missiology
Day 1 - Disciple Making/Christian Education Scripture - Matthew 28:18-20, Deuteronomy 6:1-9, 2 Timothy 1:5
Devotional - This term, "missiology", simply means the mission of the church. What does God want us to busy ourselves with? That is simple, it is kingdom building. That seems like a pretty big task, doesn't it? It would be impossible if it were not for the victory of Jesus. He told His disciples, "all authority on Heaven and Earth has been given to me". In His victory, Jesus won the right to rule and subdue the Earth. Jesus has already won the land and bought back His people. That work is finished, there is nothing we can add. However, some of the subjects in Jesus' kingdom are a bit unruly and are rebellious against God. We are to push back against these rebellious subjects by sharing the gospel of Jesus with them. We call that, "making disciples". We (by the help of the Holy Spirit) work to make enemies of God into friends of God. After they become loyal subjects in Christ's kingdom, God tells us to educate and teach them all of the commands of God. This is how we produce flourishing and expand Christ's kingdom.
Questions - 1. How much of the Earth is Jesus' Kingdom? 2. What is disciple-making? 3. How do we help expand God's kingdom?
Day 2 - Going into the World
Scripture - Genesis 1:27-28 Matthew 5:13-16, 1 Peter 3:15, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15
Devotional - Have you ever met a missionary? A Missionary is someone that moves to a foreign country to bring the Gospel of Jesus to the people there. All Christians are called to be a missionary. God may not want you to travel far away, but He certainly does command you to be a faithful missionary where you live right now. All people everywhere need to hear the gospel and be called to repentance. You and I as Christians are the ones that God gave this task to. We alone have the truth and must share it with everyone we meet. Some may not like the truth of the gospel, and that is ok. We don't need to fret about the response that we receive when we share the truth. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to change their hearts and make them friends with God. We can't change anyone only God can do that. We can only be faithful to obey the job God gave to us. We share the gospel of Jesus, the rest is up to God and His wisdom. He will build His church.
Questions - 1. What job are all Christians called to do? 2. What is a Missionary? 3. Can we change anyone's heart?
Day 3 - Serving the body of Christ
Scripture -1 Corinthians 12:12-27 & Ephesians 4:1-16
Devotional - When you think about a body, you might picture a knee, toes or maybe even an elbow. A body is made of many different parts. Each one is very important. Have you ever been so sick that you couldn't breathe through your nose? It wasn't very enjoyable, was it? When the Bible refers to Christ's church being the Body of Christ, We must remember that the Head, or the Leader, of the body, is Christ Jesus. When every member of the body of Christ is working properly, it is a beautiful and glorious thing. When one part of the body is struggling or suffering, the whole body struggles as well. This is because the body is meant to work together. Just like your hands and eyes work together to help your mouth eat, the body of Christ works together to accomplish the mission that God has given to His people. Sometimes Christians argue about who gets to be what body part. This is a silly argument because the body needs every part to function properly. God has shown us in the Bible that certain positions in the church body are reserved for certain people. For example, Pastors are to be men only. This is because the Pastor is a picture lesson; showing us how Jesus leads and shepherds His people. Jesus wasn't a woman, so the Pastor should not be one either. God assigns to each of us our role. Instead of fussing or coveting someone else's role, we should rejoice in His wisdom.
Questions - 1. Who is the head of the body of Christ? 2. Is it important that everyone works together? 3. What are some of the different "body parts"?
Day 4 - Good Works
Scripture - Micah 6:8, Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 3:23-24, Galatians 6:9 & Matthew 22:37-40
Devotional - God created good works for us to do. This is not so that we will look impressive or that we may become arrogant, but rather, that we may glorify God and build His kingdom. Naturally, our hearts are sinful, and our every intention is evil. God, being rich in mercy, changes our hearts and the Holy Spirit helps us walk in righteousness. Loving and serving God and loving and serving other people is now a joy to the Christian. When we love and serve our neighbors, we understand that obedience to God is more satisfying than pursuing our own desires.
Questions - 1. Who created the good works we do? 2. Do we naturally want to do what is good? 3. What is the goal of doing good works?
Day 5 - Priesthood
Scripture - 1 Peter 2:5-9 & Revelation 5:10
Devotional - Before God lived in the hearts of His people, He lived in a Temple. There was a special minister the worked in the temple. He was called a priest. The priest's job at the temple was to offer sacrifices to God. He also acted as the go-between or mediator between God and God's covenant people. This was an important job; prior to Jesus being sacrificed for our sin, the priest offered up animal sacrifices. The animals never really satisfied the wrath of God toward our sin, but it did serve as a shadow or example of what would happen to Jesus on the cross. This foreshadow of Jesus’ sacrifice as well as his actual sacrifice is what satisfied God's wrath toward sin. Because Jesus paid for our sin, we no longer need to offer up animals as payment to God. We also don't need to have a mediator between us a God. The role of the priest has also been changed. Jesus is our High Priest; He talks with the Father for us, and He has also made us priests. As priests, we don't sacrifice animals in the temple, but we do have access to God and are called to be a faithful minister to Him.
Questions - 1. What was the job of the Priest in the Temple? 2. Who is our Great High Priest? 3. Are we priests as well?
Resources:
ESV Bible: www.esvbible.org Westminster Confession of Faith & Larger and Shorter Catechisms: https://www.amazon.com/Westminster-Confession-Catechisms-Adopted-Presbyterian/dp/0979377005/ref=sr_1_2?crid=NLMB9B71ROL3&keywords=westminster+confession+of+faith+and+catechisms&qid=1558915443&s=gateway&sprefix=westminster%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-2 Louis Berkof Systematic Theology: https://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Louis-Berkhof/dp/1941129560/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1558915533&sr=8-1 Ligonier Free Resources: www.ligonier.org