The Bible and Missions

Outline ch. 1

13 h Outline Chapter 1 AIM: To show that the. Bible is god’s missionary textbook; that the missionary message, although most clearly revealed in the New Testament, is woven into the fabric of the Old Testament, and definitely proclaimed in its every part. I. The Missionary Character of the Bible Seen in Its essence and Substance 1. Its topics, the great fundamentals of human thought 2. Its style, uniquely adapted to translation 3. Its reticence, the absence of crude cosmogonies that weigh down other religions 4. Its psychology, a picture gallery of essential humanity 5. Its social passion, humane legislation, and messages of the prophets 6. Its literary greatness, impossible to exhaust or outgrow 7. Its doctrine of god, the infinitely high, yet infinitely near All these and other qualities fit it to be the Book of humanity II. The Missionary Character of the Bible is Seen in Its Positive Teachings god’s plan of salvation, laid down in the Old Testament 1. Missionary elements in the Law a. Its theism b. Unity of humankind 14 / The Bible and Missions c. enlarging circles of blessing—Tragedy of Israel’s failure to apprehend trusteeship d. Its prophetic note e. The Angel of the Presence 2. Missionary elements in the Historic Books a. Discipline of the Chosen People b. Widening interests seen in Solomon’s Prayer c. god’s gracious calling of those without the Law 3. Missionary Message in the Poetical Books a. Poets the true seers and revealers of god’s wider purposes b. Ruth and Job, illustrations of wider vision c. Psalms, the universal hymn book d. Particular messages of the Psalms—the heart of god, the messianic kingdom e. The Psalms in the life of Jesus 4. Missionary Message of the Prophets a. Missionary conceptions common to the prophets Israel, god’s trustee for humanity Unity of human condition god’s disciplinary providences The coming kingdom b. Missionary message of individual prophets Amos, god’s righteous reign over all humankind; true religion spiritual Hosea, god loves his people Micah, Forecast of universal peace Isaiah, god’s righteousness; providential government of the world; vision of the Suffering Servant and of redeemed humanity Jeremiah, his call; a type of Christ ezekiel, the first gospel for the individual; the hireling shepherd; the healing waters Haggai and Zechariah, truth to go forth from Jerusalem; Messiah to speak peace to the heathen; his dominion to the ends of the earth Outline of Chapter One / 15 Habbakkuk, god’s making the wrath of humankind to praise him, the glory of god to cover the earth Malachi, god’s name revered among the heathen; the coming of the messenger Daniel, the everlasting kingdom of the Son of Man Joel, the outpouring of the Spirit Jonah, god’s thrusting forth his messengers; god’s free grace over all his works III. Summary of ground Covered ...