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Theology of Missions

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Theology of Missions Paper

GLST 500: Liberty University
Spring 2016

Introduction
Theology of missions is one of the most significant and enduring aspects of the Christian faith. The theology of missions is about witnessing and bringing the word of Christ to others and is a foundational aspect of individual religious works as well as the works of fellowships, worshippers, and the whole of Christianity. "Mission [is] 'looking beyond', being involved in God's worldwide adventure with people from many culture" [1]. As exciting as the ideal sounds the importance of mission is foundational in a changing context of faith, as more and more people step away from traditional religious worship and multiculturalism and ecumenical ideals stress transition in the faith [2]. Thus, through this paper, I will discuss the relevance of missions within the Old Testament and the New Testament, how the nature of God relates to missions, some key themes of the theology of missions and how mission theology relates to missionary, church leaders and lay people not in fulltime ministry.
Old Testament and New Testament
“The mission of God lies behind the whole of the Old Testament as well as the New Testament and the particular task which we call missions today” [3]. In the Old Testament, God is a sending or missionary God. In Mark 16:15-16 (NIV), God said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved…”. Just as Saul did, in 1 Samuel 15:20, “I went on the mission of the Lord assigned me”. The Old Testament accounts of the mission of the son of God, which appear in the New Testament as a description
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[1] Butselaar, 358
[2] ibid, 358
[3] Tennent of how Jesus lived his life, as a prophet of God ministering to those He met on his missionary travels. We also see this further in Acts 1:8,

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