This presentation compares the challenges new contexts have brought to the mission of the church in different periods

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The New Athens:
Fulfilling the Mission of the 'Unknown God
Kleber O. Gonçalves, Ph.D.

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Introduction
“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he
was greatly distressed to see that the city was
full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue
with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as
well as in the marketplace day by day with
those who happened to be there.

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Introduction
“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he
was greatly distressed to see that the city was
full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue
with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as
well as in the marketplace day by day with
those who happened to be there.

4. +
Introduction
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers
began to debate with him. Some of them
asked, ‘What is this babbler trying to say?’
Others remarked, ‘He seems to be advocating
foreign gods.’ They said this because Paul
was preaching the good news about Jesus
and the resurrection.

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Introduction
Then they took him and brought him to a
meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to
him, ‘May we know what this new teaching is
that you are presenting? You are bringing
some strange ideas to our ears, and we would
like to know what they mean.’”
(Acts 17:16-20, NIV)

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Introduction
“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the
Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see
that in every way you are very religious. For as
I walked around and looked carefully at your
objects of worship, I even found an altar with
this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you
are ignorant of the very thing you worship—
and this is what I am going to proclaim to
you.’”
(Acts 17:22-23, NIV)

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Introduction
“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the
Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see
that in every way you are very religious. For as
I walked around and looked carefully at your
objects of worship, I even found an altar with
this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you
are ignorant of the very thing you worship—
and this is what I am going to proclaim to
you.’”
(Acts 17:22-23, NIV)

8. +
Introduction
A new reality
 We live in an emergent postmodern world
 Yet the church is largely positioned within a
modern framework
 A moment of conflict, tension, challenges, crisis
 A real threat
 A real opportunity

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Personal connections
 Family, neighbourhood, unions.
 Individualism, consumerism, independence,
migration and new communication technologies
 People are engaging in networks of their own
choice.
Introduction

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Spiritual development
 Disassociated from religious institutions
 Most people who live in urban areas say they
believe in “something”
Introduction

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Spiritual development
 Disassociated from religious institutions
 Most people who live in urban areas say they
believe in “something”
 Blend of anything acceptable to one’s perspective
 People are engaging in spiritual experiences of
their own choice
Introduction

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Social structures
 Searching for happiness
 Economic and physical security
 Subjective well-being, self-expression, quality of
life
 People are developing social arrangements of their
own choice
Introduction

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Multicultural society
 Multicultural and pluralistic society
 Heavily influenced by globalization
 Economic hardships
 Immigration of migrant workers
 Technological progress
 It requires
 A new attitude of tolerance toward others
 A new worldview
Introduction

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Sharing Christ in
Postmodern Contexts

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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What do you see?

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Intentional Christian Living
in a Postmodern World

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Intentional Christian Living
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly
loved children and live a life of love, just as
Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us
as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
(Ephesians 5:1-2, NVI).

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Intentional Christian Living
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly
loved children and live a life of love, just as
Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us
as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
(Ephesians 5:1-2, NVI).

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Intentional Christian Living
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly
loved children and live a life of love, just as
Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us
as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
(Ephesians 5:1-2, NVI).

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Intentional Christian Living
“For you were once darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
(for the fruit of the light consists in all
goodness, righteousness and truth) and find
out what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-
10, NVI).

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Intentional Christian Living
“For you were once darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
(for the fruit of the light consists in all
goodness, righteousness and truth) and find
out what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-
10, NVI).

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Intentional Christian Living
“For you were once darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
(for the fruit of the light consists in all
goodness, righteousness and truth) and find
out what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-
10, NVI).

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Intentional Christian Living
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as
unwise but as wise, making the most of
every opportunity, because the days are
evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, NVI).

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Intentional Christian Living
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as
unwise but as wise, making the most of
every opportunity, because the days are
evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, NVI).

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Intentional Christian Living
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as
unwise but as wise, making the most of
every opportunity, because the days are
evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, NVI).

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Intentional Christian Living
What is intentional Christian living?
 Being imitators (followers) of Jesus
 Living a life of love
 Living as children of light
 Finding out what pleases Jesus
 Being careful how you live
 Making the most of every opportunity

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Intentional Christian Living
What is intentional Christian living?
 Intentional living flows out a life of a real disciple of
Christ
 It is a renewed way of following Christ
 Thinking
 Feeling
 Doing

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Intentional Christian Living
Intentional Christian living is centered on
discipleship
 What are we seeking?
 Baptisms?
 Church-members?
 Real disciples?
 The existence of true disciples is the greatest
evidence of God’s work and the advancement of
His Kingdom anywhere in this world.

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The importance of discipleship
 Greatest problem: Christianity/Adventism without
discipleship
 Main difficulties related with discipleship:
 Nature
 Scope
 Development
Intentional Christian Living

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Meaning of Discipleship
 Discipleship today is a concept much broader than
what it was in the past.
 Result of the integration of three movements:
 Classical discipleship
 Biblical spirituality
 Relational discipleship
Intentional Christian Living

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Following the Master
 Christ taught us that having faith means to
follow.
 This is the first test of faith.
 This is the basic presupposition of discipleship.
 “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and
follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
Intentional Christian Living

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Nature of discipleship
 In simple terms, discipleship means to follow and
learn from a master
 One of the greatest problems is the lack of
comprehension of discipleship as a process
 Discipleship is vital to the healthy development of
any local church
 Discipleship is the “soul” of intentional living
Intentional Christian Living

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Nature of discipleship
 Discipleship cannot be seen as a program.
 Discipleship cannot be seen as a department or a
ministry of the church.
 Discipleship needs to permeate the “whole” of any
local church.
Intentional Christian Living

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Why is there so much resistance?
 Submission
 Vulnerability
 Change
 Confession
 Effort
 Commitment
 Discipline
 Obedience
 Transformation
Intentional Christian Living

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Discipleship:
Transformation

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Discipleship: Our mission
The Great Commission
 It is found in different versions in the Gospels
(Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:44-49; John 20:19-23)
 It is also found in the book of Acts (1:1-2a, 6-8).
 The most known: Matthew 28:18-20
 One imperative (order)
 Three participles (actions, movements)

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Discipleship: Our mission
The Great Commission is TO MAKE
DISCIPLES
 How a disciple is formed?
 At the “new” birth?
 Through training?
 Both?
 How a disciple is maintained?
 Alone?
 In community?

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Discipleship: Our mission
The Great Commission is TO MAKE
DISCIPLES
 Christ has never asked us to go in to world to
“make church members.”
 With the Great Commission, transformation
became the mission
 “The mission of the church of Christ is to save
perishing sinners. It is to make known the love of
God to men and to win them to Christ by the
efficacy of that love.” (3T, 381).

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The Test of Discipleship
“Obedience—the service and allegiance
of love—is the true sign of discipleship.”
(Steps to Christ, 60)

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Discipleship and Adventist Mission
SDA Theology of Mission
 Organizational principle: eschatology
 Great Controversy
 Proclamation of the gospel to the whole world
before the end (Matthew 24:14)
 Making disciples from every nation (Matthew
28:19-20)

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Discipleship and Adventist Mission
SDA Theology of Mission
 The last warning (Present Truth)
 Revelation 14:6-12
 Everlasting Gospel
 Preparing disciples “who keep the
commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
(v.12)

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Discipleship and Adventist Mission
SDA Theology of Mission
 Therefore, the foundation of our mission is the
Great Commission given by Jesus Christ in the
context of His imminent return to this world.
 The goal of our mission should always be to make
disciples who are preparing themselves to the
soon coming of Jesus Christ.
 We should prepare a “different kind” of disciple:
 Obedience to the whole gospel
 Preparation to the Second Coming

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Discipleship and Adventist Mission
SDA Discipleship
 We should be leaders in the process of
discipleship because of our comprehension of the
Great Commission in the context of the Three
Angels’ Messages
 Our understanding of discipleship should
necessarily be broader and more comprehensive.

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Discipleship and Adventist Mission
SDA Discipleship
 The Three Angels’ Messages is an extraordinary
tool of preparation for true disciples
 Everlasting Gospel
 Restoration of God’s image
 Total transformation
 It should not be proclaimed with fear. On the
contrary, it should be presented with expectation
and conviction.

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Discipleship and Adventist Mission
SDA Discipleship
 Fear God (mental attitude)
 Give Him glory (life style)
 Worship Him who has made heavens and earth
(rest and submission)
 The time of His judgment has come (security and
comfort)

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Discipleship and Adventist Mission
SDA Discipleship
 The proclamation of the Three Angels’ Messages
in the context of the end is the most powerful tool
for real and complete discipleship.
 True discipleship is the mark of those who keep
the commandments of God and the faith in Jesus.
 True discipleship is centered on obedience and
transformation.

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The Test of Discipleship
“Obedience—the service and allegiance
of love—is the true sign of discipleship.”
(Steps to Christ, 60)

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Discipleship: Transformation
What is transformation?
How can it be achieved?
 Conversion (event)
 Happens over time
 Use of one’s will
 Individual journey
Transformation

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Discipleship: Transformation
This understanding about transformation has
some basic presuppositions:
 Transformation happens in the moment of
conversion (“surrender”)
 It continues (“grows”) as time goes by
 It is achieved mainly by an act of the will
 The best way is alone.

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Discipleship: Transformation
Transformation at conversion (event)?
 There is a deep, miraculous change of habits,
attitude, and so on.
 This is the Saul/Paul model. The experience of
the Damascus Road.
 Change is always the immediate result of
conversion

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Discipleship: Transformation
Continuous transformation as time goes by?
 Faith “automatically” grows with time.
 The greater is the “church experience” the
more spiritually mature one becomes.
 In this model, the main effort in making
disciples is only filling up the church with
people.
 It is what really happens with time?

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Discipleship: Transformation
Transformation is achieved only by an effort
of the will?
 What does not happen with time, will happens
when we make our best.
 The fruit of the Spirit always comes when we
dedicate the required effort.
 In this model, the only barrier to become a
disciple is the effort used.

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Discipleship: Transformation
Transformation is better achieved alone?
 Independency, spiritual individualism
 A “personal relationship” with Jesus became
synonymous of “particular relationship” with
Jesus.
 The vast majority of books, seminars, sermons
is centered on this idea: all is a matter of
individual application.

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Discipleship: Transformation
If these presuppositions were valid, the
results would be a exponential growth, not
only in numbers, but especially in the
spiritual life of every church member
Why we do not see the transformation we
dream of?
Wouldn’t be necessary an adjustment in
these views on discipleship?

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Discipleship: Transformation
Transformation begins at conversion
(salvation)
 This is the view that we accept
 This is the beginning of the sanctification
process
 This is a journey towards complete
transformation.
 Paul himself experienced this reality.

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Discipleship: Transformation
Transformation takes more than just time
 Being exposed to “information” is not enough.
 Have church members really understood and
committed themselves to this process?
 What is the reality of the church? Where is the
commitment?
 Unfortunately, church pews are full of
individuals who have been there for years but
never went through real transformation.

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Discipleship: Transformation
Transformation takes more than just time
 “In fact, though by this time you ought to be
teachers, you need someone to teach you
the elementary truths of God’s word all over
again. You need milk, not solid food!
Anyone who lives on milk, being still an
infant, is not acquainted with the teaching
about righteousness.”(Hebrews 5:12-13)

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Discipleship: Transformation
Transformation takes learning and not only
personal desire (use of the will).
 “Trying” to experience life transformation never
brings the results were need.
 “Train yourself to be godly.” (1 Timothy 4:7,
NIV)
 Be a disciple does not happen simply by
“trying.” It takes dedication and training.
 Discipleship involves teaching/learning.

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Discipleship: Transformation
Transformation takes learning and not only
personal desire (use of the will).
 “The student is not above the teacher, but
everyone who is fully trained will be like
their teacher.” (Luke 6:40, NIV)
 How much training is necessary?
 Disciple vs. “Discipler”
 Training for trainers (T4T)

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Discipleship: Transformation
Transformation is also a process that
happens within a community
 Example: AA
 What is their secret? System of relationships
and personal support
 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person
sharpens another.”(Proverbs 27:17, NIV)
 The value of community (Hebrews 10:24-25)

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Discipleship: Transformation
Transformation is also a process that happens
within a community
 Synergy created by the group
 The power of “small groups”
 In community we find the best environment to a
healthy development of the discipleship process.
 It goes beyond growth. It is growing “together”
 Discipleship cannot be a lonely experience.

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Discipleship: Transformation
What is transformation?
Some changes are essential:
 Conversion (event)
 Happens over time
 Use of one’s will
 Individual journey
Transformation

77. +
Discipleship: Transformation
What is transformation?
Some changes are essential:
 Conversion (process)
 Happens over time
 Use of one’s will
 Individual journey
Transformation

78. +
Discipleship: Transformation
What is transformation?
Some changes are essential:
 Conversion (process)
 Intentionality
 Use of one’s will
 Individual journey
Transformation

79. +
Discipleship: Transformation
What is transformation?
Some changes are essential:
 Conversion (process)
 Intentionality
 Capacitation
 Individual journey
Transformation

80. +
Discipleship: Transformation
What is transformation?
Some changes are essential:
 Conversion (process)
 Intentionality
 Capacitation
 Community
Transformation

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Implications
Fundamental steps in church planting in the
context of discipleship:
 Need of continuous capacitation/training
 Spiritual disciplines
 Christian service
 Creation of opportunities for meaningful
relationships
 Intentionality
 Group life

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Conclusions
Different formats, strategies, and methods
can be used.
There is not such a thing as a “miraculous
prescription” for the problem.
Much prayer is needed.
The guidance of the Holy Spirit is essential.
It depends of the intentionality.
It depends of the efforts employed.