Without a clear view of God’s map to the New World that includes all peoples and every tribe, we end up fixated with the micro-map of “my people” and “my tribe”, not truly understanding where our location fits within the larger picture, according to Rob Wegner and Jack MaGruder in their book The G3 Map: Discover God’s Map for Your Church. That is why we need to re-examine our view of the Bible, the story of God’s Global Glory (G3).
The G3 story starts with an introduction – Genesis 1-11, continues with the main body of the story – Genesis 12 to Revelation 20, and ends with the conclusion – Revelation 21-22. The introduction shows a pattern of descending further and further into evil, from Adam and Eve to the Tree to Cain and Abel to Noah to the Tower of Babel: from the Tree to the Farm to Cities to Empire. But in each of these situations, God showed a restorative grace pointing forwards to redemption through Jesus.
The middle part of the G3 story tells about God’s plan to reach out to people from every tribe and tongue, although God’s people, Israel, continually settle for less. Jesus came to fulfil God’s mission and recommission his followers to make disciples of all nations. The new pattern ascends further and further towards heaven, from Jesus to the early church to us to the new heaven and earth of Revelation: from the Tree to the Farm to Cities to Empire.
This is a short ebook, building on themes raised in the authors’ new book Missional Moves. Not everyone will be fully convinced by the symmetric steps of descent and ascent, but the authors make a convincing case for the importance of mission to every tribe and nation, rather than just to those nearby. The ebook is available for free download at: http://blog.exponential.org/2012/09/the-g3-map-discover-gods-map-for-your-church-by-rob-wegner-and-jack-magruder/