The Gospel of God...

In my present understanding, there are two parts to it (well three).

1)  a bald statement of news [Announcement]
2)  appropriate responses to that news outlined [Encouragement/Command]
      Metanoia & pistis fall into this 2nd category.
There is a 3rd category; which is  
3) an interpretation of the 1st part (ie. The announcement). Many of Yeshua's parables and some of his actions fall into this category.  [(re)Imagining]

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What did the hearers of the gospel hear, 

when they first heard it from God’s herald who

was God’s anointed leader who appeared

and said he came to Earth this job to do*.

It’s almost like the most important thing

a leader sent from God could do was tell

the message that God sent him here to bring,

and lead the people to hear it right well.

But part of human list’ning is to hear

and understand, and also live in line

with any truth communicated near

that might call for responses in good time.

And in this case, he told them what to do

right after he had given them the news.

Both metanoia and pistis were two

commands he gave them, and he gave  reviews.

This news is so amazing that you must

not live your life the same as you have done,

but change your hearts and minds, begin to trust

this (well supported) news, for it’s begun!

In case misunderstanding of the news

occurs, there is another job to do:

interpret it’s key aspects, and refuse

to let them just back-up the current view.

God’s premise-s are often not like ours,

on different principles he runs his show

so when we look, and think of taking bows,

their meaning and their motives are “the go”.

The message means... & motives lurking

for saying it, might have to be explained.

Imagining the outcomes and workings

(for those who were kings prior to this exchange),

might all be part of finishing the job.

It seems that many parables in word
& deed, bear witness to this truth (of God),

and might help to recall what people heard;

..to think about it, panning out more gold

(excited as they found each tiny bit).

The Herald’s clear announcement, they were "told".

For us here later, “What-cha think was it”?

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* After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, heralding the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’ ….

Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so that I can preach there also. That is why I have come.’  So he travelled throughout Galilee, heralding in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Mark 1:14‭-‬15‭, ‬38‭-‬39  https://bible.com/bible/113/mrk.1.14-39.

What Gospel?

Read Isaiah 40:1-55:13 together sometime.. Good news to the hearers of the prophecy/message in Isaiah 52:7. From reading this, it seems that that bit could have been written in the time of exile to Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem. The people would  (if it were me) have taken heart at the sound of a "Lord Redeemer."... Good news to the hearers of Jesus' words in Mark 1:14 and 15. Jewish people who were in their country again, and yet not free to rule themselves entirely. Imagine the experience of leasing their own land, or paying taxes to Rome for the privilege of being allowed to live in this part of Roman territory.  How might they have felt? Still, there would be a desire to have God's kingdom there with them, and some might have welcomed Jesus' proclamation of "turn away from your sins, and believe what I am saying!" It might have sounded a bit similar to the sorts of things that prophets used to say, and a possible similarity to what the Lord himself said in 2 Chronicles 7:14  "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." From what I gather, the Israelites may have believed that theirs was the Kingdom of God, God having chosen them to make his temple, and to lead them out of their current living situation, and into a land which he called them to, a land flowing with milk and honey. Since he was their God, and they were His people.

Commit everything you do to The Lord, Trust Him, and He shall bring to pass. Psalm 37:5 (PM Version)

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Yes... Most of this is true... according to

my understanding of it's use back then...

but still it seems to me we've missed a few

important things they would have "seen"  clear when

at first these "readers" saw (more, "hearers", heard)

the "euangelion", the message, which

was heralded to them by spoken word,

and some responses clearly encouraged!

Responses like that "metanoia" and

then "pistis" which Josephus called for from

that rebel soldier he called on to stand

with him, with new allegiances to come...

thus holding a new view of how this world

would work, and who is shepherd, of what sheep,

and holding faithfull to that, not to shirk,

and keeping wakefull (not to fall asleep).

But still the question's begged: "What did they hear

when first they heard this message right to them?"

The "euangelion" of Christ appeared,

and what was understood by those who ken?

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Isa 52:7 (LXX)  - ὡς ὥρα ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων ὡς πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου ἀκοὴν εἰρήνης ὡς εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀγαθά ὅτι ἀκουστὴν ποιήσω τὴν σωτηρίαν σου λέγων Σιων βασιλεύσει σου ὁ θεός

Mark 1:14-15 - μετὰ δὲ τὸ παραδοθῆναι τὸν Ἰωάννην ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ λέγων ὅτι πεπλήρωται ὁ καιρὸς καὶ ἤγγικεν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ μετανοεῖτε καὶ πιστεύετε ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ

Yup, they talk of blessed messengers who announce the euangelion (εὐαγγελόν - the Gospel, the Good News).

The first two verses speak of this "Good News". The question is what did they think this euangelion that was announced was (was it that Christmas prices in this state have been reduced by their previously added GST?)

It may need further explaining later, but let's get the announcement right.

I feel like the last three verses are explaining some of the many ramifications of the announcement...

Check what is meant by a "gloss". Make up your own gloss to use for the Greek word euangelion, instead of the English words  currently adopted by our Christian subculture: "Gospel", or "Good News". Try for a word of phrase that is likely to fit with the assumptions and experience of First Century hearers or readers of the above words from Isaiah and Mark (& a passage like 1Thess 2:1-16).

2) Jesus drew out truth as a person draws out water from a deep well ... storying, questioning, proverbs, analogies etc..

I am a member of an Australian Mission Order (Cornerstone Community) who are focused on Missional Discipleship Training. At the moment we state on our web-site : Cornerstone Community - Discipleship that's whole of life (winning, training & mobilising genuine disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ to live radical Christian lifestyles)

We have been "Literature" & "Discussion" oriented in our teaching, with some Storying, but are growing in our understanding of the need for (and a love of) Storying (following Yeshua). Yeshua, it turns out focussed on various Oral/Aural teaching strategies in his method of Announcing, Displaying, and Interpreting the meaning of the coming rule of God, that he was embodying. His Writing career, it also turns out, was mostly on the hearts of people, or in the dust of the road. (Though, praise be to the Great Creator for the skill of writing, that I am using now, that this web-site uses a lot, and that his disciples finally used before they all died, to record the life & orality (and aurality) of this man of god, and this god of a man.

As such I have been experimenting with following not only the message, but also the methods which Jesus used, and left for us as part of our inheritance.

Some mutual friends suggested we contact some people who were doing a similar thing in another part of the world. We've just come back from a visit & found that they were trained by STS and have seen fruit from putting it into practice.

I've checked out the STS web-site, looked at some of their training material and feel so far that we probably have slightly different theological expressions, different methods, but are also probably one in spirit and overall aim. The STS handbook looks fantastic, I am very grateful that STS have shared it freely.

I think it is significant that Mark FFsays that Jesus never addressed the people without using parables. That Mark actually copies Jesus' method by communicating the gospel via a set of about 90 little storylets woven together to tell an even more profound bigger story. And that the other 3 First Century Evangelists, that we have records of, also follow this same method. This method appears to me to be like nuclear Fusion, compared to the Dynamite of Evangelical Churches evangelistic methods in Australia that mostly still appear to be a hang-over of Modernistic methodology (theological dot points).

I was talking about this with a local Assistant Minister today, who is also a local art teacher. As I tried to elucidate Jesus’s (and his messengers’) method (of

• describing the intended function of the coming/past communication (tagging)
• storying, analogies
• questions,
• signs, or examples, foretastes of the coming life & rule of God
• pithy/hook-in/memorable sayings)
• NOT explaining things, unless there was a definite commitment to further ... (obedience?)

as distinct from my inherited Evangelical Australian Church’s theological dot point method, I bemoaned my own propensity to still distill everything to “dot-points” of theology/practice, (even though I see this method that Jesus used as so much more creative & empowering & aiding in the discovery of God’s truth, rather than people discovering how great I am).

He said, to help me get it out “Well, tell us - in dot points”. And so I gave up the fight against dot-points, and started.. As I opened my mouth, something clicked in my mind.

“It is like trying to teach people to draw by joining the dot-points, instead of observing closely, and letting your hand rest on the page & trying to draw again what you see through the eye in your (head/ mind) ”. He added, “..or using a stencil”. We discussed then how actually joining the dots & stencils could get things going and be a small aid in helping children draw. He cited how when his child used a stencil to draw a helicopter (to his chagrin), he watched, and the child then drew in a sheep hanging off the helicopter and a landscape of other things. But mostly (it appeared to both of us), stencils and whole books of join-the-dot drawings function to stop people growing as artists, or to help them give up when they don’t get the proportions right (etc...)  as beginning artists on their own. He then added, “A picture like that helps a real lot”.

Thank you God, for a clear analogy that did the job of helping us “SEE” the difference, then the discussion and insight that this brother added to it, and the sharing of life & owning of the analogy that you gave us as we struggled to understand & express truth, and follow him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Oh, I love you, and the way you do life, - and communication, - and love!}

Anyway I am keen to continue to learn from the Lord Jesus, and if you people are willing to teach/share. I want to see the Lord Jesus' people in Australia have a go at reaching our culture, in our generation with the news of the one whom the High God has christened (anointed) "Leader of Humanity" (High King, High Prophet, High Priest).

1) Jesus drew out truth as a person draws out water from a deep well ... storying, questioning, proverbs, analogies etc..

See the link following to download this excellent

article published in Jewish Voice Today - Simply the Story

www.simplythestory.org/downloads/PDFs/Bjoraker%20Article[1].pdf

 

the People of the Book are the people of the STORY

-storytelling in Contemporary Jewish Ministry-

By William BJoraker, PhD.

http://www.simplythestory.org/downloads/PDFs/Bjoraker%20Article[1].pdf

(if this above link gets lost, here is a short link to it too: goo.gl/sSq2HF )

  

I've been put in charge... Go into all the world & make disciples - of all the people groups... by...

God, help us obey your choice

of "Leader of Humanity",

as we learn, ignoring noise

from worlds - which (claim, but) aren't free.

"Go to all the world", he said

and "make disciples (as you've seen

me do with you - now un-dead)

disciples, who are just like me."

For I've been a "Matheetees"*

myself, and learning from "Äbba"^.

Son of Man does what he sees

is being done by his father!

As a "father" teaches "son" 

- approaching all this world like him;

so their family is one

in goal and in their purposing;

"God, you need to help them do

in action, & in practices,

all the things we told them to

till the day their father says."

Christened "Lord", & "Emperor",

"High - Prime Minister/ President",

"High- Priest/ Prophet/ King, and Shah",

the "Coach", and "Boss", where-e'r you went,

God is sending you back "soon",

we want to do what we're told

(not because you're a baboon

but) because your wise Love’s Gold!

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 * Matheetees (greek) word used in the NT and in the LXX for the "disciple" of a Jewish Rabbi (teacher).

^ Abba (Aramaic) word used by sons & daughters for their own father. According to Mark 14:36, used by Jesus in private, when addressing God when in anguish in the Garden of Gethsemani, & subsequently referred to by Paul (in "Romans" & "Galatians") as what the spirit of Christ would enable his disciples to call out to God too.

The Lord [a]God has given Me the tongue of disciples,

That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.

He awakens Me morning by morning,

He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

The Lord God has opened My ear;

And I was not disobedient

Nor did I turn back.

6 I gave My back to those who strike Me,

And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard;

I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.

For the Lord God helps Me,

Therefore, I am not disgraced;

Therefore, I have set My face like flint,

And I know that I will not be ashamed.

He who vindicates Me is near;

Who will contend with Me?

Let us stand up to each other;

Who has a case against Me?

Let him draw near to Me. (Isaiah 50:4-8 NASB)

18 Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 GNB)

By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.  The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;  but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:3-6 NASB)

To tell or not to tell? Only if you've listened well! (WHYS? Group)

What's His/ Your Story? (WHYS?) Group leaders must be able to (as with STS teachers):

• Tell a story in an interesting and accurate way.
• find deep truths in the story and prepare questions.
• skillfully lead discussions.
• help people discover, themselves, the spiritual treasures in a story and then make personal applications.

A WHYS? Group is Relational, & utilizes Story, (half being those from Mark’s story method of telling the Gospel of Mark; & half of the stories being those from our own lives in this day & age, where the Lord Jesus has brought healing, health, thrown out bad spirits from the ways we relate, and brought the announcement of good & true leadership (a thing most pressingly needed). It also involves Discussion, and Discovery. Thus it is more than a teacher Telling People what to do - as a little tin god; it involves  telling stories to people, and allowing God to work in, on, for, & eventually through them, via the avenue of storytelling. Thus they retain the dignity of discovery, rather than being the foil for the teacher to show off their learning - over against the ignorance of the students… This method is stolen straight from Jesus, Peter, Mark, Matthew, Luke, John, Paul, etc. How gracious, the Lord Jesus is, and was!

STS teaches storytellers, “If the story you want to tell has not yet impacted your life, you are not yet ready to tell it.”  My ditty for this is: 

Choose a story God has used

in you - caught your attention!

Follow through, until you’ve mused

and know God’s deep intention.

Good questions might help folks,

and as you learn to listen,

‘member Peter and those blokes

and Mary’s eyes that glistened.

Let your life be changed by what

you hear - and know to be true.

Then you’ve earned the right by God

to speak, as true people do.

And we hear the Gospel of

Jesus, God’s Messiah, told

(by Matthew, Mark, Luke & John),

as he said “right round the world”,

retold by some modern folk

each week as we do this group.

God you picked the best-est bloke

to lead us, please lead, and snoop!