Class 00
Lens Questions & Answers
Lens 1: God’s Plan
(The Great Commission)
How does Dr. Darrell Bock describe the geographic progression of the gospel from Jerusalem to the end of the earth?
Dr. Darrell Bock demonstrates that the geographic spread of the good news—starting in Jerusalem, advancing through Judea and Samaria, and reaching the end of the earth—is God's firm, pre-planned design. This outward expansion is not a human idea or a backup plan reacting to rejection, but a massive turning point for the mission that perfectly completes the ancient promise God made to Abraham to bless all families of the earth.
The geographic spread follows a pre-calculated, non-negotiable divine design rather than human planning.
The outward movement fulfills the ancient promise to Abraham, intending global blessing from the outset.
This expansion marks a definitive, massive turning point for the historical mission of the church.
What is the significance of the mountain setting in Galilee according to Dr. John MacArthur?
Dr. John MacArthur emphasizes that the disciples' obedience in attending the prearranged meeting on the mountain in Galilee highlights the legal and structural nature of the mission. The mountain setting functions as the formal throne room of the King. From this specific location, Jesus issues His absolute, ruling orders to His appointed representatives.
The mountain functions as a formal, regal throne room for issuing Christ's ruling orders.
The prearranged setting highlights the deeply legal and structural foundation of the global mission.
The disciples' obedience to the mountain meeting demonstrates their formal submission to the King's supreme authority.
How does the theology of creation in Dr. Joseph Fitzmyer's analysis support the inclusion of all nations in God’s redemptive plan?
Dr. Joseph Fitzmyer connects the worldwide spread of the gospel directly to the truth of creation. He explains that since God is the good Creator who made all people, His rescue plan naturally has to include every single nation on earth. Because God is the ultimate source of all human life, salvation cannot be restricted to one specific location or group.
God's status as the good Creator establishes the logical foundation for global rescue.
The rescue plan is a natural, necessary extension of God's universal work in creation.
The worldwide spread of the message honors God's ownership over every single nation on earth.
Lens 2: The Holy Spirit
(The Power Source)
According to John Stott, why is the Holy Spirit described as the "indispensable fifth dimension" of the Great Commission?
John Stott describes the Holy Spirit as the indispensable fifth dimension of the Great Commission because the disciples were strictly forbidden from launching their global witness until they received this heavenly baptism. This necessary spiritual equipping establishes the Holy Spirit as the Chief Administrator and strategic navigator of the church’s mission. The execution of the global mission depends entirely upon His active empowerment and sovereign governance, because without the Holy Spirit, all human talent, strategy, and enthusiasm are merely spiritual dead weight.
The disciples were strictly forbidden from starting their global witness without receiving this heavenly baptism.
The Spirit's equipping establishes Him as the Chief Administrator and strategic navigator of the church's mission.
Without the Holy Spirit's active empowerment, all human talent and strategic planning remain spiritual dead weight.
How does John Calvin differentiate between the outward preaching of the Word and the internal power of the Holy Spirit?
John Calvin describes the Holy Spirit as the sacred link that connects the risen Jesus to His people and delivers His heavenly blessings. He emphasizes that genuine faith is a unique work produced by the Holy Spirit. Simply preaching the message out loud remains completely empty and useless on its own. For the spoken words to have any real impact, they must be paired with the hidden, internal power of the Spirit, who actually opens a person's heart and permanently secures God's message.
Outward preaching remains completely empty and ineffective unless it is paired with the internal power of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit acts as the sacred link that connects the risen Jesus directly to His people.
Genuine saving faith is a unique, internal work produced exclusively by the Holy Spirit opening the human heart.
What role does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones assign to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost regarding the Church's authority?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues that the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost acts as the ultimate, supernatural approval of the Church’s authority. He explains that without this spiritual authority, the Church is downgraded to a simple human organization that has no unique power to challenge or change the world. The Holy Spirit’s job is not just to give people emotional experiences. Instead, His role is to control the schedule, assign the right people to their roles, and guarantee the absolute truth of the mission.
Pentecost provides the definitive, supernatural approval required for the Church's global authority.
Without this spiritual power, the Church is reduced to a simple human organization with no power to transform the world.
The Spirit's role is administrative and structural, controlling the mission schedule, roles, and truth rather than merely providing emotional experiences.
Lens 3: The Gospel
(Telling the Story of Jesus)
How does John Stott define the two negative boundaries for the mission of the church?
John Stott defines two negative boundaries to protect the Church's purity. He asserts that the church is not primarily commissioned to reform society through political means, nor is it universally commissioned to perform miraculous healings. Instead, the specific, primary mandate of the Church remains the clear, verbal proclamation of redemptive grace and the publishing of the legal fact of forgiveness.
● Social reform and miraculous healing are excluded as the primary mandate of the Church.
● The core task is strictly defined as the verbal proclamation of redemptive grace.
According to Dr. D.A. Carson and Dr. John MacArthur, what was the function of the forty days of post-resurrection instruction?
Dr. D.A. Carson and Dr. John MacArthur note that the forty days of post-resurrection instruction served to establish the gospel with historical certainty. Through these undeniable physical proofs, Christ provided a factual summary of His work. This ensures the disciples were not sharing a myth, but a message grounded in objective reality that could challenge existing religious and political powers.
● Undeniable physical proofs established the resurrection as a confirmed historical certainty.
● The instruction provided a factual foundation for the disciples' future witness to the world.
Why do Dr. John MacArthur and Dr. William Hendriksen argue that repentance cannot be separated from saving faith?
Dr. John MacArthur and Dr. William Hendriksen argue that repentance cannot be separated from saving faith because any gospel message omitting the demand to turn from sin provides only false assurance. True faith requires submission to the Lordship of Christ, which naturally results in a decisive change of life and a radical, ethical response to the Kingship of Jesus.
● Repentance is a necessary change of heart and mind for true saving faith.
● Submission to Christ’s Kingship requires an ethical response and a rejection of sin.
Lens 4: Prophecy Fulfillment
(The Vertical Link)
How does Dr. Darrell Bock instruct disciples to read and interpret the Hebrew Scriptures in light of Jesus?
Dr. Darrell Bock instructs that disciples must read the Hebrew Scriptures through a Christ-centered interpretive lens. He identifies Jesus as the exclusive topic of the entire Old Testament canon. Bock demonstrates that the suffering of the Messiah, His resurrection, and the global proclamation of repentance are not modern inventions, but the exact fulfillment of ancient prophetic scripts written long ago.
● The entire Old Testament canon is interpreted exclusively through a Christ-centered lens.
● The gospel mission is the fulfillment of prophetic scripts written centuries before Christ.
How do F.F. Bruce and Dr. Joseph Fitzmyer characterize the early church's self-understanding in relation to historic Israel?
F.F. Bruce and Dr. Joseph Fitzmyer characterize the early church not as a break from the past, but as the direct realization of Israel’s prophetic timeline. The apostles maintained continuity with Jewish worship and temple practices. This position confirms that the Church is not a novel development, but the true, fulfilled Israel of God, honoring its historical and theological roots.
● The early church maintained strong continuity with Jewish worship and prophetic history.
● The mission is understood as the legitimate fulfillment of Israel’s historical trajectory.
Why does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones attribute the disciples' dejection on the road to Emmaus to a failure of systematic biblical interpretation?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones attributes the dejection of the disciples on the road to Emmaus to a failure in systematic biblical interpretation. They were "slow of heart," selectively choosing prophecies about a triumphant King while ignoring predictions of a suffering Servant. True alignment requires submission to the entire counsel of God, recognizing that suffering was the necessary path to glory.
● Dejection stemmed from ignoring clear prophecies regarding the Messiah's necessary suffering.
● Submission to the entire counsel of God is required to avoid theological error.
Lens 5: Friction Analysis
(Acceptance and Opposition)
How does Dr. Craig Keener interpret the doubt experienced by the disciples on the mountain?
Dr. Craig Keener explains that the disciples' doubt on the mountain signifies a psychological struggle with the sheer magnitude of the resurrection. This hesitation was not a rejection of Jesus' messianic identity, but rather a normal human response to a paradigm-shattering event. It serves as a realistic reminder that faith often coexists with awe and a sense of inadequacy.
● Keener argues that the Greek term for doubt suggests a state of hesitation between two opinions in the face of the supernatural.
● This honest portrayal of the Eleven establishes the resurrection as an objective, historical event that initially overwhelmed the physical senses of the witnesses.
Why does John Calvin argue that the doctrine of election provides stamina for missionary work?
John Calvin asserts that the doctrine of election provides essential stamina for missionary work by guaranteeing that the gospel will ultimately bear fruit. Since God has already chosen individuals from every nation, the missionary does not rely on personal persuasion or human charm. This theological certainty transforms the mission from a high-pressure performance into a confident participation in God's plan.
● Calvin maintains that election ensures the internal call of the Spirit will effectively open hearts during the external preaching of the Word.
● The success of the Great Commission is viewed as a legal certainty based on God's sovereign decree rather than the fluctuating responses of men.
What is the remedy for the "spiritual sickness" of apathy identified by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones identifies spiritual apathy as a profound sickness that can only be cured through a renewed encounter with the Holy Spirit's power. He argues that formal religious activity often masks a lack of vital conviction. The remedy is a return to the primitive apostolic fire, where the reality of the risen Christ consumes all worldly indifference.
● Lloyd-Jones argues that only the Spirit can convict a lukewarm heart of the urgent reality of the coming judgment and redemptive grace.
● He advocates for persistent prayer that seeks the "unction" of the Spirit to transform routine service into a powerful, living witness.
Lens 6: The New Testament Bridge
(The Canonical Handshake)
According to Dr. D.A. Carson, how does the baptismal command anticipate later New Testament Trinitarian theology?
Dr. D.A. Carson explains that the baptismal command in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit provides the linguistic foundation for Trinitarian theology. The use of a singular "name" for three persons highlights the unity and equality within the Godhead. This mandate ensures that every new disciple is immediately introduced to the complex, triune nature of God.
● Carson notes that the singular "name" grammatically unites the three persons, indicating they share a single essence and sovereign authority.
● This formula serves as a formal entry point into a life governed by the relational and redemptive work of the whole Trinity.
How does Dr. R.C. Sproul connect the sacrament of baptism to the concept of the New Covenant?
Dr. R.C. Sproul connects the sacrament of baptism to the New Covenant, describing it as the successor to Old Testament circumcision. Just as circumcision marked entry into the physical nation of Israel, baptism signifies a spiritual engrafting into Christ's body. It acts as a visible seal of the promise that God will be a Father to His redeemed people.
● Sproul argues that baptism is a covenantal sign that points to the internal washing of the heart by the Holy Spirit's regenerative power.
● The sacrament serves as a legal and public identification with the death and resurrection of Jesus, confirming the believer's new identity.
Why does Dr. John MacArthur describe the epistles as the "operational manual" for the church?
Dr. John MacArthur describes the Epistles as the "operational manual" because they translate the Great Commission's broad mandates into specific cultural and ethical guidelines. While the Gospels record Christ's commands, the Epistles explain how to apply them within the local church community. They provide the necessary theology for maintaining purity, resolving conflict, and sustaining a global, unified mission.
● MacArthur views the Epistles as the authoritative commentary that defines the structure and conduct required of a disciple-making community.
● These letters provide the practical "how-to" for fulfilling the command to teach everything Jesus instructed across diverse geographic settings.
Lens 7: The Final Verdict
(The Calculated Reality)
How do Dr. Darrell Bock and Dr. I. Howard Marshall use the literary unity of Luke-Acts to support their argument?
Dr. Darrell Bock and Dr. I. Howard Marshall emphasize the literary unity of Luke-Acts to prove that the church's expansion was divinely orchestrated. By treating the two books as a single narrative, they show that the Spirit's work in Acts is the direct fulfillment of Christ's promises in Luke. This continuity demonstrates that every missionary milestone was part of a plan.
● The "divine necessity" seen in Jesus' journey to Jerusalem in Luke is mirrored by the Spirit's journey to Rome in Acts.
● Marshall argues that this unity confirms the gospel is the climax of God's redemptive history, planned with absolute, sovereign precision.
Why does Warren Wiersbe insist that the Great Commission is not an optional program for specialized groups?
Warren Wiersbe insists the Great Commission is not an optional program because the command to "make disciples" is addressed to every person who follows Christ. He argues that the church exists primarily to reproduce itself through the gospel. When believers treat the commission as a specialized task for others, they effectively disconnect themselves from the heart of Christ's authority.
● Wiersbe maintains that every local congregation must function as a training center where the primary objective is the global expansion of the gospel.
● He warns that a church without a missionary focus is a church that has lost its biblical reason for existence.
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, what is the consequence of prioritizing traditionalism over apostolic power?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones warns that prioritizing traditionalism over apostolic power results in a dead, institutionalized church. When empty forms and historical rituals replace the active presence of the Holy Spirit, the church loses its ability to convict the world. This "spiritual graveyard" preserves the appearance of religion while denying the very power that makes the mission effective.
● Lloyd-Jones argues that traditionalism acts as a barrier, preventing believers from seeking the fresh, supernatural intervention of God in their own generation.
● The consequence is a mission that relies on human effort and social programs rather than the authority of the risen King.
Lens 8: Best Practices
(Discipleship Today)
How does Dr. D.A. Carson define the relationship between the command to make disciples and the actions of going, baptizing, and teaching?
Dr. D.A. Carson defines the relationship between these actions by noting that "make disciples" is the only main verb in the command. Going, baptizing, and teaching are participles that describe how the primary task is accomplished. This linguistic structure emphasizes that every activity of the church must be subservient to the singular goal of producing committed followers of Jesus.
● Carson explains that "going" establishes the scope, "baptizing" the identification, and "teaching" the ongoing maturation of the new disciple.
● This structure prevents the church from viewing teaching or baptizing as ends in themselves, keeping the focus on the actual person being discipled.
According to John Stott, what danger exists in separating accepting Christ as Savior from submitting to Him as Lord?
John Stott warns that separating Christ as Savior from Christ as Lord creates a dangerous "easy believism" that lacks true repentance. He argues that the Great Commission requires teaching disciples to obey everything Jesus commanded. One cannot claim the benefit of Christ's sacrifice while simultaneously rejecting His right to rule over every area of personal and public life.
● Stott maintains that the gospel of grace is inseparable from the ethical demands of the kingdom, requiring a total surrender to Christ's Lordship.
● This separation results in "nominal" Christianity, which possesses the label of faith but lacks the evidence of a transformed, submissive life.
How do Warren Wiersbe and Dr. John MacArthur define a "disciple" in contrast to modern approaches to evangelism?
Warren Wiersbe and Dr. John MacArthur define a "disciple" as a lifelong learner and obedient servant, contrasting this with modern evangelism’s focus on "decisions." They argue that a quick prayer or emotional response is insufficient without a subsequent life of submission. Discipleship involves an ongoing, systematic process of transformation where the believer is meticulously trained to reflect Christ's character.
● MacArthur emphasizes that true discipleship is evidenced by a persistent desire to learn and obey the entire counsel of God's Word.
● Wiersbe points out that the New Testament does not recognize a category of "Christian" that is not also a fully committed and growing disciple.