Mission as Integrated Witness


Book Description

This study aims to read Jesus's foot washing narrative missionally (John 13:1-38). A missional reading is identical to a missional hermeneutics based on the literary-theological interpretation of the text. John uses sending language and formulae, and the frame of "as . . ., so . . ." throughout the whole Gospel, which clarifies Jesus's and his disciples' mission as integrated witness. In this literary context, the foot washing narrative signifies the integrated witness of Jesus and the disciples. The narrative consists of two parts: one, Jesus's symbolic action for his death, and the other, for its interpretation for the disciple community. Jesus's death, as his unique mission, results in purifying both his disciples and the world so that they might dwell in the holy union with the triune God. The disciples are sent into the world. Just as Jesus did, so must they proclaim Jesus and his teachings. Also, they should bear witness to him by living Jesus's life-pattern of self-giving, sacrificial love, and humble service. Their verbal proclamation as evangelism and life-witness cannot be separated to testify to Jesus and their identity. Finally, today's Christians, specifically Evangelicals, are invited to participate in the Johannine mission as the integrated witness of evangelism and life-witness.




Mission as Integrated Witness


Book Description

This study aims to read Jesus’s foot washing narrative missionally (John 13:1–38). A missional reading is identical to a missional hermeneutics based on the literary-theological interpretation of the text. John uses sending language and formulae, and the frame of “as . . ., so . . .” throughout the whole Gospel, which clarifies Jesus’s and his disciples’ mission as integrated witness. In this literary context, the foot washing narrative signifies the integrated witness of Jesus and the disciples. The narrative consists of two parts: one, Jesus’s symbolic action for his death, and the other, for its interpretation for the disciple community. Jesus’s death, as his unique mission, results in purifying both his disciples and the world so that they might dwell in the holy union with the triune God. The disciples are sent into the world. Just as Jesus did, so must they proclaim Jesus and his teachings. Also, they should bear witness to him by living Jesus’s life-pattern of self-giving, sacrificial love, and humble service. Their verbal proclamation as evangelism and life-witness cannot be separated to testify to Jesus and their identity. Finally, today’s Christians, specifically Evangelicals, are invited to participate in the Johannine mission as the integrated witness of evangelism and life-witness.




Living Witness


Book Description




Called to Witness


Book Description

From mission and theology to missional theology -- The Missio Dei: a mission theology for after christendom -- The christological formation of missional practice -- The church as missional community -- The Nicene marks in a post-christendom church -- The missional authority of scripture -- The scriptural formation of the missional community -- The worthy walk of the missional community after christendom -- Missional leadership for the formation of the community's worthy walk -- Missio Dei: integrating theological formation for apostolic vocation -- Missional ecumenism: the vision and the challenge.




Witness To The World


Book Description

A great deal of uncertainty exists in the church as to what mission really is. The shifts in political power, away from the traditionally Christian West; the call for a moratorium and the other critical voices from the Third World churches; and the increasing self-assurance and missionary consciousness among adherents of non-Christian religions--all these have given rise to the question whether Christian mission work still makes sense, and if it does, what form it should take. Is mission identical to evangelism in the sense of proclaiming eternal salvation? Does it include social and political involvement, and if so, how? Where does salvation take place: only in the Church, or in the individual, or in society, or in the 'world', or in the non-Christian religions? The picture is one of change and complexity, tension and urgency. The answers we give to these questions must be consonant with the will of God and relevant to the situation in which we find ourselves.




Converting Witness


Book Description

Building on the work and legacy of Darrell L. Guder, Converting Witness: The Future of Christian Mission in the New Millennium, explores key questions and new possibilities in missiology in light of the world Christian context. The conversation around missional theology and the missional church has examined the gap between theology and mission with the intent of fostering renewal within North American Christianity. But this can only fully occur in relation to the reality of world Christianities and the framing significance of global cultural diversity. Many of the classic categories and methods—such as church planting, catholicity, and even the term “world Christianity” itself—are in need of fresh examination and thoughtful analysis. The contributors to this volume address a range of important missiological topics, including globalization, interfaith dialogue, integral mission, intercultural hermeneutics, and church practices.




A Public Missiology


Book Description

How can Christians witness to the complexity of our world? Gregg Okesson shows that local congregations are the primary means of public witness in and for the world. As Christians move back and forth between their churches and their neighborhoods, workplaces, and other public spaces, they weave a thick gospel witness. This introduction to public missiology explains how local congregations can thicken their witness in the public realms where they live, work, and play. Real-life examples from around the world help readers envision approaches to public witness and social change.




Practicing Witness


Book Description

How might a church infused with missional theology change the way it approaches Christian practices? Interacting both with the missional theology of George Hunsberger and Darrell Guder and with the theology of Christian practices laid out by Craig Dykstra and Dorothy Bass, Benjamin T. Conner argues that allowing these two disciplines to inform one another can enhance the nature of the church s witness, its congregational discipleship, and its theological education. Framing his work with real-world narratives and applications inspired by his work as a minister to adolescents with special needs, Conner shows how a practical missional mindset can redefine and reinvigorate the spirit and purpose of a congregation.




You Will Be My Witnesses


Book Description

A Theological Introduction to the Witness of the Church within the Mission of God Mission is God's work. God spoke the first promise of gospel hope, sent his Son into this fallen world, and commissioned his Spirit to empower his church for witness. Until the day Christ returns, God has called his people to participate in his mission through evangelism, apologetics, church planting, cultural engagement, gospel suffering, and many other activities that faithfully communicate gospel hope in Christ. This practical introduction provides a biblical framework for understanding the church's role in God's mission. It reviews the biblical story of God's mission, draws insights from the church's witness since Pentecost, and studies aspects of contemporary Christian witness. Each chapter ends with study questions to encourage further reflection and discussion by church members and ministry leaders. Readers will gain refreshing insights into how they can participate in faithfully bearing witness to Christ through the church's work in the world today. Confessional and Contemporary: Precisely defines the biblical aspects of God's mission and Christian witness, built upon time-tested theology, yet freshly applied for witness in the post-Christendom world Accessible: Written for church members, college and seminary students, ministry workers, and church leaders who are committed to creating a community that bears witness to Christ in an unchurched society Practical and Motivational: Clear and crisp writing style, enhanced by many helpful figures and charts, and infused with a gospel passion to declare God's glory among the nations Spurs Discussion: Thought-provoking study questions at the end of each chapter to encourage further reflection and faithful action




Witness to the World


Book Description