It’s a really great book and am glad I read it! This is the set text for Mission Foundations at college. It paints a sweeping picture of God’s saving activity across the stages of salvation history but also gives a good level of detail at each.

The section on intertestamental Jewish missionary endeavour made convincing use of the historical data (they argue that there was not organised, systematic evangelisation by 2nd temple Jews) and the investigation of what each gospel writer contributes individually to a theology of mission was great. For me the gold was the language of inclusion/ingathering. The OT presents Israel as under a general mandate to include (which happens in a few cases - ruth, rahab etc) but with Jesus death and resurrection a new eschatalogical age of ingathering has begun. The key is to realise that this is exactly what Isaiah’s ’servant’ would do (cf. Is 56 esp v8).

Another bonus, the book has an excellent synthesis/conclusion chapter which gives you the whole book in a few short pages.

So #4 on the list is done!

His podcast today has some interesting questions for the Christian who uses Facebook.

Can you use facebook without creating a hyperreal version of yourself? To what extent can you let your facebook page define your identity? Does facebook create a new age of radical accountability or a new arena for showing off?

check it, especially if you talk to youths who use the interweb. or if you are one yourself.

I’ve been thinking over and collecting books+articles which I hope to assemble into a short paper on the nature of calling to ministry in the next little while. (sparked by recent interest since Driscoll/Carson spoke in ‘calling’ terms at some ministry training recently)

One thing that has caught my attention in what I’ve read so far (from the 1800’s at the earliest) is that the approach advocated seems to be essentially utilitarian in nature. That is, the general advice is: consider what gifts you have been endowed with then consider where you can put them to best use.

[eidt: this is in relation to ministry vs another vocation, not what kind of ministry will be of most use]

It’s the ‘best use’ thing that has got me thinking… it sounds really utilitarian to me. maximum utility is the goal…ends justifies the means and so on.

If this observation is right, is such a utilitarian approach Biblical? is it a product of our time and culture? if so, should we take it or leave it? What have others thought in other cultures and times in history?

what do you think?

1. A talk/Q+A at Moore College

Mark spoke about the importance of preaching, focussing on its content (the gospel) and it’s form. The dig for us at Moore, he thinks, is in the form - he urged us with Paul (1 Cor 9:15-23) to be all things to all men in order to win some for Christ… or more plainly…to be less boring ‘Bible guys’

It largely seemed to be an exercise in throwing a few hand grenades out there to have us rise to the challenge of most effectively being ambassadors for Christ. Something which I certainly hope I and my fellow brothers and sisters here will do!!

most memorable quote: “it takes about 2-300 hours to get good at preaching…so…in the mean time…someone’s got to suffer!”

see dave@DMDC, sam@thefountainside, ben for more comment. (i’ve kept my post short because they’ve said much of what i would have…!)

2. Burn your plastic Jesus

First time i’ve been in a crowd of 10k (ish) and first time at the Sydney ent. centre. So the experience was novell. Also enjoyed wandering around Chiantown and munging down on laksa with Simon and Adele beforehand.

The talk was good, hit the misconceptions and presented the gospel fairly. was odd that the passage that was read out (rev 19) was not preached on. I keep hearing stories of people who became Christians that night which makes me really excited and thankful to God.

see some video content from DMDC

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My personal reflections on the two events are that it is tricky for a 25yo to hold fast to the truth that God gifts people as HE sees fit for the building up of HIS church (1 cor 12). It has been disarming to find myself thinking lately ‘if only god had gifted ME in this way or that way…then I’d really be able to minister well’ and so on. Anyone else? any ideas?

Since I first heard the report I’ve been wondering what the responses would be, particuarly from politics, media and the society at large. …I have to say I’ve found the discussion to be fascinating.

I’ve tried to keep a track of the responses:

• We don’t want Shari’ah law in Australia
• Australians pride ourselves on our tolerance for other religions and cultures, so why not?
• They might be saying they want it, but do they really want it? (particuarly insinuating that women are being coerced into speaking in support of polygynous marriage) …it’s a kind of ‘we know best’ argument
• What we love about marriage is ‘partnership’ and ‘equality’. Having multiple partners (wives?) would erode these values. (It was a kind of feminist perspective, fearful of women losing their power in marriages)
• It already happens in practice, but is not able to be legally recognised. Why bury your head in the sand (Keysar Trad’s argument)
• It should, but should go both ways. (Women have multiple husbands, polyandry)

Have you heard any others? Any overtly Christian responses in the media? (and what did you think of them?)

What would you say, for example, if you were a politician?

I’m preaching on the transfiguration this Sunday, from the account in Matt 17:1-13.

I have many questions (it’s a bizarre incident, isn’t it!?!!) …but have a few I’d like to put out there into web-land:

1. What do you think the significance of Elijah being there is? what’s the deal?

2. What do you think Peter made of the incident at the time, or shortly after?

3. What’s with the tents?

Fire away, com padres. I’d love to hear your ideas!