1. The document discusses biblical theology of missions as presented in the Gospel of Luke. It analyzes how Luke portrays Jesus as both the sent one and the sending one who came to preach good news and forgiveness to all nations. 2. Key themes in Luke include Jesus fulfilling prophecies, his disciples continuing his prophetic ministry, and the important roles of the Holy Spirit, prayer, joy, and women. 3. Both Luke and Acts emphasize Jesus as the compassionate Savior who came to show God's love for the poor and sinners, including tax collectors and other outcasts.

1. Biblical Theology of Missions
Dr. Pothana
COACH Institute of Intercultural Studies

2. Mission in the Gospel of Luke

3. Mission in Luke:
Jesus the Sent One
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he
has anointed me to preach good news to the
poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom
for the prisoners and recovery of sight for
the blind, to release the oppressed, to
proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
(Luke 4:18–19)

4. Mission in Luke:
Jesus the Sending One
He told them, “This is what is written:The Christ will suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and
forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem.You are witnesses of these
things.” (Luke 24:46–48)

5. Mission in Luke:
Six Elements
1. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection come to fulfill
Scripture so that . . .
2. . . . the message of forgiveness and repentance will
be preached . . .
3. . . . to all nations,
4. . . . beginning in Jerusalem; and . . .
5. . . . the disciples will become Jesus’ witnesses
6. . . . after they receive the promised Holy Spirit.

6. Jesus Brings Good News
Luke 4:18-19 Isaiah 61:1-2
1. Good news for the poor
2. Freedom for prisoners
3. Healing for the sick.
4. Release the oppressed.
5. The favor of the Lord.
Jesus: “Today this Scripture is
fulfilled in your hearing”

7. The People’s Response
Luke 4:22 Amazed… “What happened to the
kid we knew growing up?”
Jesus (not impressed) The Gentiles will be
saved before you!
Luke 4:28 Furious...
This incident is a foreshadow of his entire
ministry and death of Jesus of Nazareth.

8. Gospel of Luke
and
Acts of the Apostles:
Jesus the Savior

9. Common themes in Luke and Acts:
1.) Jesus as a prophet
2.) The Church continues Jesus’
prophetic ministry
3.) The role of the Holy Spirit in
salvation history
4.) Prayer, joy, peace
5.) The special role of Mary and
women
Common Themes

10. 1.) Jesus the Prophet - Lk 4:14-44
- Jesus reveals that through him, the
prophesy about the Messiah is
taking place
• God’s kingdom is present
• What Isaiah prophesized is
happening right now
Common Themes

11. Common Themes
1.) Jesus the Prophet - Lk 4:14-44
• Preach the gospel
• Help people live freely
• Perform acts of mercy
• Work for justice
• Celebrate God’s presence in
the world
Jesus outlines his ministry:

12. Common Themes
1.) Jesus the Prophet - Lk 4:14-44
-The scene at Nazareth foreshadows
Jesus’ public life
• Meets with initial acceptance,
however, people change their opinion
and reject and kill the innocent
prophet in Jerusalem

13. Common Themes
1.) Jesus the Prophet - Lk 4:14-44
- The synagogue scene underscores
two other themes that appear in Luke
and Acts:
• The role of the Holy Spirit
• The importance of prayer in the life
of Jesus and of the early Church

14. -Luke depicts the characteristics of an
ideal Christian community
• Christian fellowship or communion
• Praying for each other
• Gospel truth as handed on by the
apostolic eyewitnesses
Common Themes
2.) Church Continues Jesus’ Prophetic Mission: Acts 1-2

15. 3.) Role of the Holy Spirit
- Stresses the vital role of the Holy Spirit in salvation
history
- Luke viewed history in three dramatic stages:
• Stage 1 - Age of Promise
• Stage 2 - The Times of Jesus
• Stage 3 - The Age of the Church
-Holy Spirit appears frequently in Luke and Acts
Common Themes

16. 4.) Prayer
- A pervasive theme in Luke and Acts
- Jesus prayed:
Common Themes
In the Synagogue
At His Baptism
In lonely places
The night before choosing
the Apostles
At His Transfiguration
Hanging on the Cross

17. Common Themes
4.) Prayer
-Message to be learned is that we
should pray as often as the
Master did
-Acts of the Apostles shows how the
early Church heeded this
advice well

18. 4.) Joy and Peace
-Themes are evident from the opening verses of
the gospel • Often connected with prayer
-Message of several of his parables also
highlighted the theme of great joy over the
return of lost sinners
-Key event in Jesus’ life that results in joy:
• Entry into Jerusalem during Holy Week
-Most joyous occasion is his resurrection
Common Themes

19. The way women are
perceived in Luke’s Gospel
compared to how women are
perceived in modern day
times

20. 5.) Special Role of Mary and Women
- Women were considered inferior to men
- Jesus’ attitude toward women was positive
and revolutionary
•He included women as the central
characters in two of His parables (the Lost Coin
and the Unjust Judge)
- Most significant was the women who
witnessed his death and resurrection
- Mary illustrated a major Lucan theme -
God’s preferential love for the poor
Common Themes

21. - In Luke’s gospel, Jesus is a
compassionate Messiah who has
come to prove God’s great love
- Makes Jesus the friend of the friendless
• Shepherds, usually considered outcasts,
were the first to visit Jesus’ birth
• Offering of the poor
• Presentation in the Temple
Messiah & Savior

22. Messiah & Savior
- More than the other three gospels
Luke reassures the poor and
warns the rich
- God blesses the poor - not only
those socially disadvantaged
but also those that recognize
they are nothing without
God
- Challenges the rich to repent
before it is too late

23. -Luke’s is the only Gospel that records the
story of Lazarus and the rich man
-Lazarus means:
“May God help”
or
“The one whom God helps”
-Jesus is warning that those who have
plenty in this life must share with
those who have less
Messiah & Savior

24. - Luke reports Jesus reached out to
Zacchaeus, a tax collector
• Jesus was enacting a living
parable of God’s love for sinners
• Jesus’ compassion also
extended to outcasts
Love of Enemies
- God’s love and compassion knew
no bounds - nor should ours
• Parable of the Good Samaritan
• Our neighbor is everyone
Messiah & Savior

25. - Luke’s Chapter 15 is the very heart of the
gospel
- Contains three memorable parables that deal
with God’s great compassion and his joy over
repentant sinners:
1.) The parable of the lost sheep
2.) The parable of the lost coin
3.) The parable of the lost or prodigal son
Messiah & Savior

26. -Most common title of Luke for Jesus is
“Lord”
-Luke presented Jesus as a martyr:
“witness”
• Jesus’ death is a witness, and example
for all for how consistent, loving,
faithful, and compassionate he is
-Concludes his gospel with the
resurrection appearances
- Emmaus story summarized entire gospel
Messiah & Savior