Discovering The Mission Of God

Biblical Foundations Book Award "God cannot lead you on the basis of information you do not have." —Ralph Winter What is God's mission in the world? For anyone passionate about discovering God's heart for the nations, Discovering the Mission of God will reveal his plans for you. Written by 21st-century field workers, scholars and church leaders, this book weaves together the basic components of God?s global mission and challenges readers to identify where they fit in the mission of God. Discovering the Mission of God explores the mission of God as presented in the Bible, expressed throughout church history and in cutting-edge best practices being used around the world today. Drawing from a new generation of scholar-practitioners, this comprehensive reader provides global perspective, recent missiological research, case studies, recommended further readings and relevant discussion questions at the end of each chapter. Contributors include: Bryan E. Beyer Karen O'Dell Bullock R. Bruce Carlton Gary R. Corwin Don Dent Robert Edwards Nathan Evans David Garrison H. Al Gilbert Kevin Greeson Jim Haney J. Scott Holste R. Alton James Patrick Lai William J. Larkin Christopher R. Little Alex Luc Stan May Clyde Meador A. Scott Moreau D. Kurt Nelson Howard Norrish Meg Page John Piper Robert L. Plummer Jerry Rankin Nik Ripken Tom Steffen Ed Stetzer John Mark Terry LaNette W. Thompson Greg Turner Preben Vang Joel. F. Williams Christopher J. H. Wright William R. Yount Discovering the Mission of God is an indispensable resource for anyone wanting a better picture of what God is doing in the world and how to find one's place in God's global plan.

Written by 21st-century field workers, scholars and church leaders, this original ebook provides a companion to Discovering the Mission of God: Best Missional Practices for the 21st Century. In sixteen original chapters, you're invited to explore the mission of God as presented in the Bible, expressed throughout church history and in cutting-edge best practices being used around the world today. Like its parent volume, this reader provides global perspective, recent missiological research, case studies, recommended further readings and relevant discussion questions at the end of each chapter. Contributors include: Mike Barnett John Brady Mike Edens Charles Fielding Gordon Fort Marty Glickman James M. Hamilton Scott Harris Peter Hawkins Patrick Lai Clyde Meador Rebekah A. Naylor J. Jeffrey Palmer J. D. Payne Timothy M. Pierce Brad Roderick Natalie Shepherd Jerry Rankin

Meals have always been important across societies and cultures, a time for friends and families to come together. An important part of relationships, meals are vital to our social health. Author Tim Chester sums it up: "Food connects." Chester argues that meals are also deeply theological—an important part of Christian fellowship and mission. He observes that the book of Luke is full of stories of Jesus at meals. These accounts lay out biblical principles. Chester notes, "The meals of Jesus represent something bigger." Six chapters in A Meal with Jesus show how they enact grace, community, hope, mission, salvation, and promise. Moving from biblical times to the modern world, Chester applies biblical truth to challenge our contemporary understandings of hospitality. He urges sacrificial giving and loving around the table, helping readers consider how meals can be about serving others and sharing the grace of Christ.

Discovering Missions is a foundational textbook that examines the importance of missionary work overseas as well as within one's community...

Winner of the 2008 Christianity Today Award of Merit in Theology/Ethics The History of God In Discovering God, award-winning sociologist Rodney Stark presents a monumental history of the origins of the great religions from the Stone Age to the Modern Age and wrestles with the central questions of religion and belief.

Winner, 2007 Christianity Today Missions/Global Affairs Book Most Christians would agree that the Bible provides a basis for mission. But Christopher Wright boldly maintains that mission is bigger than that--there is in fact a missional basis for the Bible! The entire Bible is generated by and is all about God's mission. In order to understand the Bible, we need a missional hermeneutic of the Bible, an interpretive perspective that is in tune with this great missional theme. We need to see the "big picture" of God's mission and how the familiar bits and pieces fit into the grand narrative of Scripture. Beginning with the Old Testament and the groundwork it lays for understanding who God is, what he has called his people to be and do, and how the nations fit into God's mission, Wright gives us a new hermeneutical perspective on Scripture. This new perspective provides a solid and expansive basis for holistic mission. Wright emphasizes throughout a holistic mission as the proper shape of Christian mission. God's mission is to reclaim the world--and that includes the created order--and God's people have a designated role to play in that mission.

Our Mission provides a four-step process for discovering God's call for your congregation. The mission of the church is the same at all times and in all ages, but takes shape in different ways from one congregation to another. This book assists congregations in writing a mission statement, establishing goals, and creating action plans to carry out those goals. The four strategic planning steps to help your congregation fulfill its mission: STOP to pray and discern if your congregation is fulfilling the will of God LOOK at God's word to make sure it is at the heart of your mission LISTEN to the mission mandate of Christ to establish goals for the congregation GO to implement your action plans with confidence and hope in God's blessings. This book can be used by pastors and congregational leaders for strategic planning and effective management. See Excerpts for reproducible tools that can be downloaded and customized. Who might find it helpful Pastors Church staff members Council presidents Strategic planning teams Management committees Evangelism committees

Discover the unique mission God has for each marriage--and how to achieve it There are countless marriage books telling couples how to be married--but where are the ones teaching them how to seek and serve God together? Clint and Penny Bragg believe that, just as every individual has a calling from God, every marriage has a specific mission. In Your Marriage, God's Mission, the Braggs demonstrate how to discover that mission by discovering more of Him. In this weekly guide for couples, the authors help couples begin a spiritual journey over an extended period of time. Readers will learn to engage together by writing a joint marriage mission statement. They'll examine the seven sectors of marriage, learn to safeguard their relationship from division, and awaken to the need for humility and servant leadership in all facets of their marriage. The Braggs help readers to implement innovative ideas to deepen the intimacy in their relationship and to recognize how God's mission unfolds over time. Informal and practical, with stories from hard-won experience and links to videos of the authors and other couples teaching the content, this book is a fresh look at how couples can learn to intentionally seek God and encounter Him together.