The Apostolic Life

Today I am feeling pretty lousy. However, PTL I finished my presentation on the Strategy of William Carey. Hopefully I will get my eighth doctor visit in the past two months on Monday in Bangkok. Basically in addition to my blood issue I am also having persistent stomach problems. The blood issue is still not clearly diagnosed.

IMB Pac-Rim Regional Leader, Don Dent’s Presentation on Paul’s Strategy
“Paul’s Missionary Methodology;
Little Understood and Rarely Applied” That is Don laughing on the left side of the picture. Don always seems to be around at key turning points in my life in the last four years.

Most Christians daily read Paul’s writings as devotional material. Many authors write volumes on Paul’s Theology. Very very few believers study Paul’s letters from the vocation which Paul said himself that he was called to, that is, a Missionary.

Paul was not really “sent” by the church at Antioch. He was “released.”

The Greek term in Acts 13:3, for sending is better translated as “released.” The Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for ME, for the work that I

Did Paul have a geographic strategy?
Paul was constantly asking himself “where am I going?” “what will be my priorities?”
Paul was completely bilingual. Greek and Aramaic
Paul could swing back and forth as a Jew, a Greek speaker, and a Roman citizen.
Paul constantly changed his plans, he got sick. He probably only visited half of the places that he wanted to go.
1) Contact
Paul looked for effective places to share the gospel.
Synagogue—Finding those most prepared
Homes—likely
2) Content
Jesus was the core of the message
Jesus—Jew who lived and was crucified
Messiah—eternal purpose thru one people
Lord—Risen, On the throne, coming again
Son of God—pre-existing deity. Jesus was not a man who became god. He was a God who became man.
Paul’s gospel was a scandal and a mystery. How can people believe that the Messiah would die like this and make sinners into saints.
3) Communicating
Good Newsing
Heralding
Dialogue and discussion
Warning of consequences
Persuasion, urging, persuading

4) Contextualing
Gentiles—laying basis about God
Jews—direct to Jesus as Messiah

5) Contending
In every communication he protected the gospel against attack. In every letter he reminded his listeners.
Among Greeks he spoke

6) Confidence
Paul believed that boldness was a critical part of communicating