Week 12
The Church & New Creation
Watch
The Church serves as a New Israel, made up of Jews AND Gentiles in fulfillment of God’s mission to bring salvation to the lost world of Genesis 3-11. The church advances courageously because it is grounded in an audacious hope that God’s future of love and justice is absolutely secure. Living in anticipation of this new creation, God’s people proclaim the Good News and start new communities of faith all over the world.
READ
In the “Invitation” Book, read Chapter 10: Church & New Creation
• Day 1: Mission & the Holy Spirit
• Day 2: The Apostle Paul & God’s mission
• Day 3: Sharing the Good News with All People
• Day 4: God’s Future & the Present Mission of the Church
• Day 5: New Creation: The Fullness of Salvation
In the Bible read:
• Acts 2:1-8
• Romans 1:14-17
• 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2
• 1 Corinthians 9:19-22
• 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11
• Revelation 21:1-6
Ponder
Questions for journaling or discussing with a friend or group:
• Describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the advance of the Gospel?
• What does it mean to serve as Jesus’ ambassador?
• How does the gospel bring reconciliation to humanity and all creation?
• Have you experienced reconciliation with God? Are you ready to? Are you ready to join Jesus in his mission of reconciliation?
• How would you tell a friend about the good news of Jesus using language that he or she would understand?
• How would your community of faith need to change to embrace Paul’s “go to” mission?
• What is the purpose of the New Testament’s announcement of God’s future age of abundance?
• How would you live differently if you knew that your future was absolutely secure in God?
• How does the Bible’s vision of a new creation bring the biblical story to a climax?
• How is your community of faith seeking to advance Jesus’ kingdom?
• Who is your mission? Who is your community that will enter the mission with you?
• What kind of person do you need to become to live as a part of God’s missional community in/to/for the world?