1. the story
for African Transformation

5. The story I was taught ...

7. Eden Heaven
Fall Salvation
Fallen History/
Fallen world
Hell

8. There is much about this story that is
good, right, true, beautiful, helpful, and
life-giving.

9. There is much about this story that is
good, right, true, beautiful, helpful, and
life-giving.
But many of us are seeing weaknesses
in it ... biblical and practical
weaknesses.

10. The problem: God’s wrath at our sin
What matters: church, heaven, Bible,
avoiding sins
Jesus: important for his blood
Mission is: getting more people to “say the
sinner’s prayer,” support church, so they
can go to heaven.

11. The problem: not poverty, war, racism, oppression,
environment, corruption, etc.
What matters: not justice, opportunity, reconciliation,
peace
Jesus: not his life, teaching, resurrection, ascension,
presence in us
Mission is: not building a better world, promoting
life and flourishing

12. So we go back to the Bible for
a fresh look ...

13. G
e
Isaiah: Peaceable Kingdom - Justice and
n
Mercy
e
s
i
s
Exodus: Liberation & Formation

14. Seven Chapters in the
Biblical Story
Creation

15. Crisis

16. Calling

17. Captivity/Conversation

18. Christ

19. Commissioned Community

20. Isaiah: Peaceable Kingdom - Justice and
Mercy
Consummation/
Celebration

21. Creation

22. Creation

23. Creation
In the beginning God created the heavens and
the earth. Now the earth was formless and
empty, darkness was over the surface of the
deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over
the waters.. (Genesis 1:1)
This is God’s world ...
It is good!
God loves all of creation ...
God’s Spirit is active ...

25. Crisis

26. Crisis

27. Creation
Crisis
The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the
earth had become, and that every inclination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.
The LORD was grieved that he had made man on
the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
(Genesis 6:5-6)

28. Creation/Crisis
Our world is damaged ...
By human pride (we will be as gods)
judging good and evil (pride)
shame and fear (alienation)
violence (rivalry)
injustice (oppression, slavery)

30. Calling

31. Calling

32. Creation, Crisis
Calling
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country,
your people and your father's household and go to the
land I will show you.
"I will make you into a great nation/ and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,/ and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you
I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
So Abram left, as the LORD had told him…
(Genesis 12:1-6)

33. Creation
Crisis
Calling
A call to service
Blessed to be a blessing
Rejoining God’s story of
creation, joining God in
healing the crisis.

35. Captivity/Conversation

36. Captivity/
Conversation

37. Creation/Crisis/Calling
In captivity: God hears the
cries of the oppressed...
For everything that was written in the past was written to
teach us, so that through endurance and the
encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
(Romans 15:4-5)
and God responds.

38. Creation/Crisis/Calling
Captivity/Conversation
Priests, prophets, poets,
philosophers
through slavery, exodus, conquest,
judges, kings, civil war, exile, return,
continuing domination

39. priests - order, worship,
rituals, prohibitions
prophets - injustice
poets - emotions,
experiences, pain, joy
philosophers - reflection,
questioning, quest for truth

41. Christ

42. Creation, Crisis, Calling, Conversation ...
Christ

43. Creation, Crisis, Calling, Conversation ...
Christ
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God ... the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory
of God’s unique child ...
(John 1)
In the past, God spoke to us in many ways, but in
these last days has spoken through God’s Son ...
(Hebrews 1)

44. Christ
Kingdom of God …
Calling everyone into
reconciliation with God, one
another, and creation
Not a kingdom of violence -
but of reconciliation.

45. Christ’s Cross
God reveals himself not in the
ones who torture and kill ...
but in the one who is tortured
and killed.

46. Christ’s Cross
The cross is not intended to
change God ... but to change
us.

47. Christ’s Resurrection
God’s goodness and life are
more powerful than our sin
and death!
The risen Christ lives on in us
through the Holy Spirit.

48. Commissioned Community

49. Creation, Crisis, Calling, Conversation,
Christ
commissioned community

50. Creation, Crisis, Calling, Conversation,
Christ ...
Commissioned Community
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was
filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were
done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had
everything in common. (Acts 2:42-44)

51. Commissioned Community
empowered, united, and
formed by the Holy Spirit
(Spirit of Jesus)
for mission
sent into the world
for the good of the world.

53. Consummation/
Celebration
Isaiah: Peaceable Kingdom - Justice and
Mercy

54. Consummation/Celebration

55. Creation, Crisis, Calling,
Conversation, Christ, Community
Consummation/Celebration
The New Jerusalem ... coming down out of heaven.
(Revelation 21)
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you.
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you
know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
(I Corinthians 15:58)

56. Consummation
God’s dreams for creation come true!
The crisis is healed.
The earth is filled with the knowledge of the
Lord.
Justice flows like a stream.
Hope ... Courage ... Encouragement

57. Celebration
Rejoicing now at every sign of God’s kingdom
coming
Giving now with assurance that every sacrifice
will be more than compensated
Refusing to be intimidated or discouraged by the
threats or boasting of evil
Confident now that God’s grace and truth will be
victorious!

58. Consummation/Celebration

67. Creation, Crisis, Calling,
Captivity/Conversation, Christ,
Commissioned Community,
Consummation/Celebration

71. Eternal
Kingdom
of God world
church
church
self self
Eternal
Eternal Kingdom
Kingdom of God
of God

72. self
church
world

73. world
church
self