Certificate in pastoral TheologyChurch History

Lecture 3The Power of Love

The Transformed Christian Life

Matthew 7:13-23, John 15:9-11. It is the witness of the life that testifies to the reality of the relationship we have with Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit is the heart evidence that shows the power of Jesus.

Matthew 28:18-20 “Ignited by the Event!” The Incarnation – Ministry – Cross and Empty Tomb! The creator has stepped into the creation as a creature!

Romans 1:16-17, 2:5-11 To the Jew First.

The 5 Stage Approach

1. Find a local synagogue and preach there about messianic expectations.

2. When expelled, establish a messianic synagogue and preach there.

3. If no synagogue, look for running water outside the city, and preach there to the “God fearers”.

4. Preach in the Agora of the Greek city and debate the philosophers, establish a local church.

5. From that local church fan out into the countryside under the Holy Spirit’s leading.

The Roman Observers

From Tacitus, Seutonius, and especially from the Governor of Bithynia Pliny, we get good insights into the early church and its worship. Initially, as recorded through ACTS, the Romans saw the new faith as a branch of Judaism, and so allowed it. By 65 AD that had shifted.

The church centre of operations moves steadily west, from Jerusalem as it’s centre to Antioch, then to Ephesus, then by the 2nd century to Rome as the key church.

Reading to Do- Background

Course text – Bruce Shelley – pp 1- 50. www.ebcwa – Church Chronology – read

the articles on the first century and see the amazing people that populated the church and Roman Empire at this time.

Begin to read into the 2nd Century, for by the 90s persecution had become organized, and the Church response was by bishops and apologists.

Spirituality

1. Be filled with the Holy Spirit, Eph 4:30, 5:1, 18, 6:18, 1 Thess 5:19.

2. Walk with God; do not grieve the Spirit, deal with sin, and do not quench the Spirit by evil thoughts and plans.

3. Be filled again and walk again in fellowship, 1 Jn 1:9, Rom 12:1-2.

4. Only when spiritual can you do work that is acceptable to God, Rom 8:1-9, 1 Cor 3:10- 15.

5. Imitate God, 1 Jn 3:9, glorify Christ, Jn 7:39, 16:14, fulfil His Law, Rom 13:8.

LOVE

1. Agape love = concern for the ultimate well being of another. Jn 21:15-19.

2. Do not love/desire the things of this temporary world, 1 Jn 2:15-17.

3. Love for God will always lead to love for the brethren, 1 Jn 3:1-10, 4:7-19.

4. Love is expressed in worship, and in service, 1 Jn 5:1-5.

5. We grow in his love as we get to know him thru His Word, 1 Cor 2:9.

6. God’s Love always overflows, 2 Cor 5:14.