This episode ends season 8 of Strike the Match.

Revelation not only concludes the New Testament, but takes readers back into the Old Testament. John draws deeply from Torah and the Prophets to provide a vision of what was and is to come. Churches were struggling to remain faithful to the mission of God. They needed hope, encouragement, and exhortation. They needed to see the bigger picture. All things we need today!

In this book, the blessing of the nations comes through the: 1) Promises Fulfilled to Abraham and David; 2) Lamb’s Ransom; 3) Suffering and Death; 4) Encouragement and Exhortation; 5) Return of the King; and 6) Elect’s Redemption and Cosmic Restoration.

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Few scholars have written on the topic of mission in the General Epistles. In this episode, I discuss how these epistles address the mission of God to bless the nations. These writings offer a glimpse into some of the struggles of the early Church. The authors were much concerned with the holiness and righteous living of the saints during their trials. Their walk with the Lord and fellowship with one another were critical to the global work to which they had been called.

Here we understand the blessing of the nations comes through: 1) Steadfastness in Suffering; 2) Lifestyles Lived before the World; and 3) Engagement as the Day Approaches.

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The Pauline literature is a deep reservoir of information related to God’s mission in the world. I continue in this episode with the discussion of mission in the Pauline Literature.

Here we encounter additional sub-themes of how God brings blessing to the nations with: 1) A Plan – Planting Local Kingdom Communities; 2) A Process – Ingathering of the Gentiles; 3) An Invitation – Call to the Lord; 4) A People – God’s Living Temple; and 5) A Practice – Regular and Intentional Evangelism.

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In part one of this two-part study, I address mission in the Pauline Literature.

Pauline Literature is a deep reservoir of information related to God’s mission in the world. This episode addresses four sub-themes related to mission. The blessing of the nations comes through: 1) A Man – Paul’s Conversion and Calling; 2) A Message – Justification by Faith; 3) A Mystery – Mercy through Resistance; and 4) A People – the Church.

In the next episode, I will address an additional five sub-themes related to mission.

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In this episode, I address the mission of God in Acts. This book reveals how the story of God’s glory through relationship and blessing continues, starting with the Jews and extending to the Gentiles. The Messiah ascends. The Spirit is poured out. The last days arrive. Jew and Gentile must repent and believe before the Kingdom is restored.

While much may be stated regarding mission in Acts, five general matters summarize God’s glory through blessing the nations.

Blessing comes through: 1) True Israel; 2) Sending the Spirit; 3) Beginning with the Jews; 4) Providing a Light for the Gentiles; and 5) A New Multi-ethnic Kingdom Community.

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The fourth Gospel has a great deal to say about mission. One scholar noted, “the Fourth Gospel’s focus is not on God’s mission per se, but on his mission through Jesus and on Jesus’ mission through his followers.”

In this episode, the blessing of the nations shows up in three manifestations.

John notes the blessing of the nations occurs through the sending of John the Baptist, Jesus, Temple, Spirit, and Disciples.

The blessing of the nations only comes through the testimony of those who are sent.

And those who are sent will suffer on account of their testimony and the One who sent them.

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In this episode, I address the theme of mission in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is important to understand the Synoptics provide a continuity between the Old Testament and New Testament. When we arrived at the New Testament, 400 years have passed since the conclusion of the Old Testament.

In the Synoptics, the blessing of the nations comes through a: 1) Person-Jesus Sent to the Jews; 2) Judgment-New Covenant by Death and Resurrection; 3) People-Church to Reflect the Kingdom; and 4) Command-Make Disciples of Jews and Gentiles

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The Writings comprise the latter section of the Hebrew Scriptures and attempt to show how the people of God were to live in a variety of circumstances. The mission of God saturates the books of Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles.

In this episode (Season 8, Ep. 7), I address the blessing of the nations through:

Israel’s Influence

God’s Sovereignty

Israel’s Restoration and Reconstruction

Invitation to Praise

A Person: God’s Anointed One Who Reigns

A Person: God’s Anointed One Who Suffers

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This episode continues the second discussion of God’s mission in the Prophetic Literature. An examination of the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The Twelve), reveals several sub-themes related to the blessing of the nations.

Here we find God works to bless the nations through: Judgment (Israel in Diaspora and Day of the Lord); Restoration (Israel’s Return, Reconstruction, and Day of the Lord); A Person (the Servant and Spirit); and A Promise (New Covenant). The Prophets also provide a glimpse of the movement of the Gentiles into the Kingdom known as the great eschatological ingathering.

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In this episode, I address a theology of mission by examining the mission of God in the Prophets.

The methods by which the nations move into relationship with the nation of Israel and her God has been described as historical incorporation and eschatological ingathering. The Former and Latter Prophets address both and how blessings come to the nations.

In this episode, the importance of the Promised Land, Israel’s King, and the Temple are discussed as critical to understanding God’s mission to bring redeem the nations and restore all things.

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I conclude the discussion of mission in Torah. God’s mission to bless the nations primarily happens through: 1) A Person (Abraham); 2) A People (Israel); and 3) A Place (Tabernacle). While the previous episode addressed God working through Abraham, this session draws attention to the latter two categories.

Israel was chosen to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” to represent God before the peoples of the world (Ex 19:6). As W. Ross Blackburn wrote, they were to be a “kingdom with a priestly function.” While Israel kept the commandments of the Lord, all the nations would recognize the greatness of her God and be drawn to Him and His people.

The tabernacle served as a reminder of God’s immanence and covenantal faithfulness as a means for redemption and restored fellowship–and as a testimony to the nations. How may a sinful people live with a holy God in their presence? The tabernacle and sacrificial system made it clear.

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