“Matthew’s Missiology,” “Luke’s Missiology,” and “John’s Missiology” – Three lectures by Dr. Craig Keener
Itunes University – Assemblies of God Theological Seminary Lectures
Reviewed by Andrew Gackenbach
Note: On Itunes Universtiy, “Matthew’s Missiology” and “Racial Reconciliation” both mislabeled as one being the other.
Dr. Craig Keener is a prolific New Testament scholar most well known for his IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament which has sold over 350,000 copies in nine languages. In a series of talks given at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary he presents the missiology of three of the gospel writers Matthew, Luke and John. He explains how each author had a different purpose in writing and a different story to tell. Beginning with Matthew he explains the emphasis on Jew/Gentile reconciliation and how it is not ethnic descent that saves, but turning to Jesus. He highlights the first chapter genealogy that cites four gentile women in Jesus’ family line and shows how Matthew used this genealogy to emphasize Jesus’ mixed ancestry and that He came to be the savior of the world, not just the Jewish world. Dr. Keener continues with explaining the missiology of Luke heavily focusing on the day of Pentecost, he demonstrates how the day of Pentecost and the ability for Peter to be understood by people of all languages served as an impetus for the gospel to be spread throughout the world. Finally, he presents John’s missiology emphasizing that Jesus died as our savior and our task is to present Him to the world, to reveal the living Christ in our lives. He illustrates this idea telling the story of the gentile woman at the well and how she joyously told her friends about Jesus and later introduced them to Him. Each of the three messages from Dr. Keener provides a different argument for the importance of missions, each one is informative and keeps the listener’s attention while focusing on why missions has to be the task of all of God’s people. I would recommend these three lectures to anyone not passionate about missions in order to show that all the Gospel writers communicated how Jesus was indeed passionate about missions.
Showing posts with label Itunes University. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Itunes University. Show all posts
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Itunes University - "Growing Global Christians: Putting Missions in Bible School Curriculum"
“Growing Global Christians: Putting Missions in Bible School Curriculum” by Joyce Hardin
Itunes University – Abilene Christian University – ACU Summit 2008
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
The most impacting part of this lecture is the title and it sums up Hardin’s purpose very clearly. Hardin’s premise is that Bible School curriculum, primarily geared towards children, needs to do more to include a missional focus. Though a former missionary in the traditional sense, Hardin operates under the assumption that all Christians are missionaries, and thus ought to be taught earlier on how to be more missional.
In ways of practical suggestions, this lecture is lacking, however its power comes in part by her explication of how current Bible School operations are failing children in their missional development, both internationally and domestically.
One suggestion that is incredibly helpful in setting a direction for increasing missionality in Bible School curriculum is her emphasis to focus on the similarities. She begins the lecture by displaying a jagged object for the class, and after many attempts to guess what it is she says it is the equivalent to an engagement ring in another culture. While the difference is astounding, the sentiment is not so far off. This is where she proposes that Bible School curriculum takes children, to introduce cross-cultural understanding by recognizing that while different, the differences are not so vast.
In terms of its usefulness for the general missions world, I see this hour-long lecture as valuable to share with any who might be missions pastors in churches or those in charge of Christian education. The limits are not only to international missions, but mission in general. For a deeper insight into the development of missions in Bible School curriculum, Joyce Hardin promotes a book she and her daughter co-wrote. For the price and the time, this lecture is worth the listen and could have positive impact on the thinking of Christian education in many churches.
Itunes University – Abilene Christian University – ACU Summit 2008
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
The most impacting part of this lecture is the title and it sums up Hardin’s purpose very clearly. Hardin’s premise is that Bible School curriculum, primarily geared towards children, needs to do more to include a missional focus. Though a former missionary in the traditional sense, Hardin operates under the assumption that all Christians are missionaries, and thus ought to be taught earlier on how to be more missional.
In ways of practical suggestions, this lecture is lacking, however its power comes in part by her explication of how current Bible School operations are failing children in their missional development, both internationally and domestically.
One suggestion that is incredibly helpful in setting a direction for increasing missionality in Bible School curriculum is her emphasis to focus on the similarities. She begins the lecture by displaying a jagged object for the class, and after many attempts to guess what it is she says it is the equivalent to an engagement ring in another culture. While the difference is astounding, the sentiment is not so far off. This is where she proposes that Bible School curriculum takes children, to introduce cross-cultural understanding by recognizing that while different, the differences are not so vast.
In terms of its usefulness for the general missions world, I see this hour-long lecture as valuable to share with any who might be missions pastors in churches or those in charge of Christian education. The limits are not only to international missions, but mission in general. For a deeper insight into the development of missions in Bible School curriculum, Joyce Hardin promotes a book she and her daughter co-wrote. For the price and the time, this lecture is worth the listen and could have positive impact on the thinking of Christian education in many churches.
Itunes University - "Trends and Direction in Missionary Care"
“Trends and Direction in Missionary Care,” – Dr. Larrie Gardner
Itunes University – Abilene Christian University – 2006 Missions Focus
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Dr. Larrie Gardner begins her lecture on the basis that we must “put thought and heart into missionary care,” (8:42). This is a crucial and growing field in missions. So often it is easy to think of the missionary, especially those deep in jungles or deserts amongst an unreached people group as one who is a stand-alone missionary, needing no help. These are the missionaries of old, and they were our heroes. But the care of missionaries has grown exponentially among friends, family, sending churches, sending organizations and among colleagues.
An important story that Dr. Gardner gives shows the growing preparedness among common churches regarding the challenges that face missionaries. Many of these challenges are different than they were years ago. Globalization, hostilities between Islam and Christian faiths, increased poverty and many other challenge face missionaries, but the churches are beginning to recognize this. Churches must continue to be actively informed of global changes so that they may be able to best care for their missionaries.
One of the most fascinating trends that Dr. Gardner articulates is the increasing need for cross-cultural missionary care. Missionary colleagues are from all over the world – Africa, Asia and Latin America. This naturally complicates matters, but is a sign of a global growth and collaboration in missions. It is important than to recognize the specific member care needs across an array of spectrums.
As missionary care grows in academic and practical works, Dr. Gardner warns that missionary care is for the support of missionaries, it is not the end, but a means. There is then a point at which too much missionary care detracts from the mission, thus putting the missionary first and not the people that the missionary serves. Along with that, member care is becoming increasingly formalized, and need not. Caring for a missionary can be done by the informed lay person. More often than not, the help and care of a loved one or supporter will be sufficient.
This lecture is a great lecture, well delivered by Dr. Gardner and worth the listen for all those on the sending side of missions. Sound quality does get muddled by the shifting of the microphone or movement of papers, however very rarely is Dr. Gardner inaudible. This is a great resource, especially for those churches commissioning a missionary and a team that is to care for them.
Itunes University – Abilene Christian University – 2006 Missions Focus
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
Dr. Larrie Gardner begins her lecture on the basis that we must “put thought and heart into missionary care,” (8:42). This is a crucial and growing field in missions. So often it is easy to think of the missionary, especially those deep in jungles or deserts amongst an unreached people group as one who is a stand-alone missionary, needing no help. These are the missionaries of old, and they were our heroes. But the care of missionaries has grown exponentially among friends, family, sending churches, sending organizations and among colleagues.
An important story that Dr. Gardner gives shows the growing preparedness among common churches regarding the challenges that face missionaries. Many of these challenges are different than they were years ago. Globalization, hostilities between Islam and Christian faiths, increased poverty and many other challenge face missionaries, but the churches are beginning to recognize this. Churches must continue to be actively informed of global changes so that they may be able to best care for their missionaries.
One of the most fascinating trends that Dr. Gardner articulates is the increasing need for cross-cultural missionary care. Missionary colleagues are from all over the world – Africa, Asia and Latin America. This naturally complicates matters, but is a sign of a global growth and collaboration in missions. It is important than to recognize the specific member care needs across an array of spectrums.
As missionary care grows in academic and practical works, Dr. Gardner warns that missionary care is for the support of missionaries, it is not the end, but a means. There is then a point at which too much missionary care detracts from the mission, thus putting the missionary first and not the people that the missionary serves. Along with that, member care is becoming increasingly formalized, and need not. Caring for a missionary can be done by the informed lay person. More often than not, the help and care of a loved one or supporter will be sufficient.
This lecture is a great lecture, well delivered by Dr. Gardner and worth the listen for all those on the sending side of missions. Sound quality does get muddled by the shifting of the microphone or movement of papers, however very rarely is Dr. Gardner inaudible. This is a great resource, especially for those churches commissioning a missionary and a team that is to care for them.
Itunes University - "Preparing Post-Modern Missionaries for Pre-Modern Places"
“Preparing Post-Modern Missionaries for Pre-Modern Places” – Jeff Holland
Itunes University – Abilene Christian University – 2007 Lectureship
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
With the 19th Century rise of the Protestant missions movement missionaries from the West have come in with a modernist worldview, taking for granted the scientific method and the concrete. Now, however younger Western missionaries are beginning to enter with a radically altered worldview rooted in post-modernity. It is a reality, and those training this next generation of Western missionaries must straddle two different world-views while coming from a third.
Holland begins his lecture by de-bunking the idea that majority world fields are in fact “pre-modern”, since they do not stem from the West. However, for the general understanding of the differing worldview the term serves its purpose.
The majority of the lecture is a primer on the differences between post-modernity and modernity and the differences exhibited in missionaries from the two worldviews. Holland is clear to note that this shift is not just one of generational differences, but rather one of differing worldviews. That said, he clarifies that on the hump of transitioning from modernity to post-modernity, no person is fully modernist or fully post-modern. This is an important aspect to Holland’s lecture as his thesis is not really in preparing post-modern missionaries, but rather that modernists and post-moderns need to find a ground to work together.
Most fascinating about this lecture is the fact that the very cross-cultural tools one learns before entering into the mission field must be applied “at home” or within the “same culture” as the worldview is shifting. Holland suggests beginning with humility and contextualizing for one another AND the field of service. He says modernists and post-moderns must put the field before their personal agendas.
Because of the Enlightenment, no modernist or post-modern can really move to a pre-modern worldview. Likewise, the modernist again will have greater difficulty adapting to the post-modern because post-modernity has only just recently emerged from modernity. That said, the difficulty of adaptation falls then on the very people who will be straddling the pre-modern and post-modern worldviews.
This lecture is a great resource for missionaries and those training missionaries. On the field, post-modern partners are joining with modernists who have a great deal of experience in the pre-modern culture. They need to work together. “The post-modern missionary,” states Holland, “is not an oxymoron, it is a reality.” He suggests using Paul’s missionary methods in this tri-polarization – to become a modernist with the modernists, post-modern with post-moderns, and pre-modern with the pre-moderns. Adaptability is the crucial need for all involved in missions today.
Itunes University – Abilene Christian University – 2007 Lectureship
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee
With the 19th Century rise of the Protestant missions movement missionaries from the West have come in with a modernist worldview, taking for granted the scientific method and the concrete. Now, however younger Western missionaries are beginning to enter with a radically altered worldview rooted in post-modernity. It is a reality, and those training this next generation of Western missionaries must straddle two different world-views while coming from a third.
Holland begins his lecture by de-bunking the idea that majority world fields are in fact “pre-modern”, since they do not stem from the West. However, for the general understanding of the differing worldview the term serves its purpose.
The majority of the lecture is a primer on the differences between post-modernity and modernity and the differences exhibited in missionaries from the two worldviews. Holland is clear to note that this shift is not just one of generational differences, but rather one of differing worldviews. That said, he clarifies that on the hump of transitioning from modernity to post-modernity, no person is fully modernist or fully post-modern. This is an important aspect to Holland’s lecture as his thesis is not really in preparing post-modern missionaries, but rather that modernists and post-moderns need to find a ground to work together.
Most fascinating about this lecture is the fact that the very cross-cultural tools one learns before entering into the mission field must be applied “at home” or within the “same culture” as the worldview is shifting. Holland suggests beginning with humility and contextualizing for one another AND the field of service. He says modernists and post-moderns must put the field before their personal agendas.
Because of the Enlightenment, no modernist or post-modern can really move to a pre-modern worldview. Likewise, the modernist again will have greater difficulty adapting to the post-modern because post-modernity has only just recently emerged from modernity. That said, the difficulty of adaptation falls then on the very people who will be straddling the pre-modern and post-modern worldviews.
This lecture is a great resource for missionaries and those training missionaries. On the field, post-modern partners are joining with modernists who have a great deal of experience in the pre-modern culture. They need to work together. “The post-modern missionary,” states Holland, “is not an oxymoron, it is a reality.” He suggests using Paul’s missionary methods in this tri-polarization – to become a modernist with the modernists, post-modern with post-moderns, and pre-modern with the pre-moderns. Adaptability is the crucial need for all involved in missions today.
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