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I think the main characteristic of Paul’s methods would be “Driven”. I also believe it was no accident or coincidence that he was trained in all the ways of a Pharisee before his conversion. God’s ways are perfect
When Paul was saved he hit the ground running. I believe the book says that “if a contemporary missionary followed Paul’s schedule and itinerary, burnout would be a real danger.”
His methods were also blunt. He didn’t pull any punches with the gospel. There will be hardships and he served as a living example of those hardships.
Paul’s methods were also complete, meaning all of his messages were grounded in the gospel. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was the end result of all of his church visits whether the initial focus was about church logistics, grafting of the Gentiles, or purity.
A CASE FOR MISSIONS IN THE OT AND POST MODERN ENCROACHMENT
From the moment of the fall of man God set in motion His mission. You might even say that it was in motion even before the fall. As we read each story in the Old and New Testament they link themselves to each other in such a way that God’s ultimate mission is revealed. His creation wasn’t finished when we were formed of the earth. We are a work in progress. The formation of our bodies was the beginning; afterward he began to form our minds and our souls. We are being created in His image, living temples for His Spirit.
When we read the stories in the Old Testament we are reading about the first missionaries. Moses leading the Israelites through the desert, Jonah sending God’s message to Nineveh, Esther’s display of love and obedience for such a time as this, the words of the prophets proclaiming the coming of Christ, all of them are connected not only to the New Testament but to the present time.
Each era presents challenges for God’s missionaries. Sometimes I think the one we live in now resembles the Roman era. The whole idea of “coexisting” sounds very familiar. New challenges will arise as we go forward. God, the mission, and His word remain the same. As we press forward we should use the journeys and experiences of those that have gone before us. They are there to guide us, to sharpen us and to draw us closer to our Creator; to make us more like Him.
Glory to God!
