This unit aims to enable learners to explore the centrality and the nature of mission in the teaching of the Scriptures. In this unit learners will also be able to reflect on the relevance of a biblically faithful theology of mission and evangelism for the church’s obedience to Christ in our contemporary world.

In your church it is expected before ordination, that every licensed minister completes a period of internship in mission and evangelism. You are required to take your church’s intensive course in mission and evangelism before you will be posted to a location for the internship. However, you are seeking potential exemption from the church’s course as you think that you already have sufficient knowledge that is equivalent to the content of the church’s course. To prepare for an interview, the members of the panel have asked you to produce a document to detail your knowledge for five Tasks. In your document, each Task must represent a section of the document.

Task 1

Focus Section 1 of your document on the nature of Christian mission, its goal, the role of the church and challenges facing missions today. In doing this:  

1.     Describe Christian mission and its goal

2.     Explain the role of the church in relation to mission

3.     Explain the problem regarding Christian mission today

LO1 AC 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3

Task 2

In Section 2 of the document, concentrate on an individual’s involvement in mission and evangelism by:

1.     Explaining the phases of revelation

2.     Describing the traditional understanding of mission and the problem with it

Extension activities

To gain a Merit grade

Analyse biblical mission

LO2 AC 2.1, 2.2 and 2M1

Task 3

Mission is central in the Old Testament. In Section 3 of the document:

1.     Assess the place of mission in Creation

2.     Explain God’s concept of peace, justice and wellbeing (shalom) from the perspective of the Old Testament

3.     Explain God’s covenant with Abraham and God’s concern for those beyond the covenant

LO3 AC 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3

Task 4

You want to let your readers know how important mission is in the New Testament. In Section 4 of the document:

1.     Analyse the mission of Jesus Christ

2.     Describe the various phases of the call to mission in the Book of Acts and what they imply. Consider the various locations: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the end of the world.

Extension activities

To gain a Distinction grade

Examine the global mission of the Epistles.

LO4 AC 4.1, 4.2 and 4D1

Task 5

In section 5, you want to discuss whether there is any connection between the theology of mission and the practice of ministry of a local church. Your guess is that this question may come up. Therefore, in the final Section of your document:

1.     Explain why local and global missions need each other

2.     Assess concrete practice of mission and evangelism in the ministry of a local church.  

Extension activities

To gain a Merit grade

Create an Evangelism Plan for a local church.

LO5 AC 5.1, 5.2 and 5M1