1. The foundation of intercultural ministry involves what Paul calls ‘the Mystery’, things that God kept hidden from every human culture. Understanding ‘the Mystery requires revelation because it is so ‘outside the box’, even for people who know the Scriptures, like Paul did.

(Bible texts & meditations: Col.1:23-29, Med.#80; Eph.3:1-11, Med.#6; Eph.1:2-10, Med.#8; Deut.26:19, Med.#C; Gal.3:8,13-14,18,24-29, Med.#30) [NOTE: By clicking on the meditation number to read the meditation that focuses on that particular Scripture passage in my talk.]

 

2. ‘The administration of the Mystery’ requires learning to place a greater emphasis on God as our Father than is common in most Evangelical and Pentecostal Churches.

(Bible texts & meditations: Gal.4:1-2,4-7, Med.#4; Gal.1:15-16, Med.#28; Eph.1:2-10, Med.#8; 1 Thes.1:1, Med.#9; 1 Chron.22:10, Med.#D; 2 Cor.6:18, Med.#32; Gal.3:28, Med.#30; 1 Pet.3:7, Med.#46) [NOTE: If you become a member of my website you can access a video of my teaching on God as Father earlier this year.]

3. Knowing God as a Father to us as adult sons and daughters should lead us, like Paul, to approach pastoral issues in a new way—with our main goal being to ‘present each one mature [Gr. teleion] in Christ’ (Col.1:28).[i] And this requires that we all learn how to do this by relating in a new way to social power: the ‘elemental powers’ [Gr. stoikheia], and the ‘primal chiefs and authorities’ [Gr. arkai kai exousia] that God initially placed over every culture.[ii]

(Bible texts & meditations: Col.1:25-29; Med.#80; Col.1:15-16; 2:2,8-10,14-18,20-23, Med.#31; Acts 17:24,26; Dt.32:8-9, Med.#C; Gal.3:24-25; 4:1-5,8-9; 5:2; 6:12-15, Med.#30; Gal.1:13-18, Med.#28; Phil.3:8,12,14-16, Med.#56; Eph.2:11,13-16,18, Med.#44; Rom.16:17-18; 2:17-19,25; 14:3,15-17; 15:1-4, 6,8-11, Med.#70; Gal.5:1,5-6,25, Med.#30; 1 Cor.4:1-5; 5:1-5, Med.#72; 2 Cor.1:23-24; 12:17-19, Med.73; Rom.13:1-3,7; Tit.3:1)