Theology: Mission Studies: Overview

This book explores how religions have changed in a globalized world and how Christianity is unique among them. Harold Netland, an expert in philosophical aspects of religion and pluralism, offers a fresh analysis of religion in today's globalizing world. He challenges misunderstandings of the concept of religion itself and shows how particular religious traditions, such as Buddhism, undergo significant change with modernization and globalization. Netland then responds to issues concerning the plausibility of Christian commitments to Jesus Christ and the unique truth of the Christian gospel in light of religious diversity. The book concludes with basic principles for living as Christ's disciples in religiously diverse contexts.

The current religious climate poses unique challenges to those engaged in mission. Thus the authors of this book propose a new, yet very biblical, model for interacting with people of other faiths. They term this model giftive mission, as it is based on the metaphor of free gift. We bear the greatest gift possible--the gospel message. Adopting this perspective not only has the potential for greater missionary success but also enables us to more closely imitate God's gracious activity in the world. The core of the book explores eleven practices that characterize giftive mission. Each practice is illustrated through the story of a figure from mission history who embodied that practice. Further discussion shows how to incorporate these practices in specific mission settings.

"The only kind of Christianity in the New Testament is Christianity with power." If you are skeptical about--yet intrigued by--the issue of spiritual power for today, Charles Kraft provides a biblical, reasonable apologetic for a realm too often overlooked. He describes his own paradigm shift concerning the power of Jesus to heal and free others, and explains persuasively why every Christian should be confronted with this "missing dimension." Confronting Powerless Christianity will inspire a more robust faith that is powerful enough to heal, to free people from emotional wounds and to bring about real life change.

Best Texts of Missiology, Hearts and Minds Bookstore Mission--a driving force in the long Christian story--today is often cast as the embarrassing relative of tall-steeple religiosity. In our wider culture it's now tucked in the endnotes of book-club histories or forms the ghostlike ellipses in the six o'clock news. But in Introducing Christian Mission Today, Michael Goheen brings the vibrant history, motivation and challenges of Christian mission to the fore. Through the centuries Christian mission has always been recalibrating, retooling and reevangelizing. It has repeatedly taken surprising turns as it is carried along by the Spirit of God. Goheen's introduction to mission's biblical, theological and historical dimensions engages the present and anticipates the future. As he unfolds the major issues of the global and urban, the pluralistic and wholistic contexts of mission today, he lays the ground for engaging in God's great kingdom enterprise. This full-scale text incorporates the keen missional insights of Lesslie Newbigin, David Bosch and other formative thinkers. It will be a valued resource not only for those in crosscultural contexts but also for those engaged in reevangelizing the West.

Missional Conversations introduces the reader to key themes in contemporary mission through global conversations between theory and praxis. Exploring emergent themes in missiology, the book takes the form of a conversation between reflective practitioners - both those in academia and with those who are practically engaged. With contributions from: Dave Bookless, Amy Ross, Daniel G. Groody CSC, Amy Roche, Mark Poulson, Richard Sudworth, David Barclay, Ash Barker, Stephan de Beer, Elisa Padilla, Berdine van den Toren-Lekkerkerker, Andrea Campanale, Michael Moynagh, Kyama Mugambi, Harvey Kwiyani, Dennis Tongoi, Paul Bickley, Jonny Baker, Ric Stott, Ian Adams

In the past, changes in behavior and in belief have been leading indicators for missionaries that Christian conversion had occurred. But these alone--or even together--are insufficient for a gospel understanding of conversion. For effective biblical mission, Paul G. Hiebert argues, we must add a third element: a change in worldview. Here he offers a comprehensive study of worldview--its philosophy, its history, its characteristics, and the means for understanding it. He then provides a detailed analysis of several worldviews that missionaries must engage today, addressing the impact of each on Christianity and mission. A biblical worldview is outlined for comparison. Finally, Hiebert argues for gospel ministry that seeks to transform people's worldviews and offers suggestions for how to do so.

Recent years have seen heightened interest in how to read scripture from a missional perspective. This book addresses that question by exploring both how the New Testament bears witness to the mission of God and how it energizes the church to participate in that mission. It also makes a distinctive contribution by applying a missional reading to a variety of New Testament books, offering insights into New Testament theology and serving today's discussions about mission and the church. "Dean Flemming has written a game-changing book on the interpretation of scripture for the mission of the church. This relatively slim but rich volume is absolutely mandatory reading for all serious students of the New Testament and for all who wish to understand the church's participation in the mission of God. It should be on the syllabus of every ecclesially focused course on the New Testament and every biblically attuned course in ecclesiology and in missiology." --Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD "I am always grateful when another book by Dean Flemming appears. His writing arises out of his significant cross-cultural experience, his outstanding scholarship, and his careful listening to the Spirit in the text. This book is written clearly and is full of nourishing insight." --Michael W. Goheen, Professor of Missiology, Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, MI; former Geneva Chair of Worldview Studies, Trinity Western University, Langley, BC; and Teaching Fellow in Mission Studies, Regent College, Vancouver, BC "'Why mission?' is a critical question, one not asked or understood often enough. Here is a stirring reading of the New Testament that demonstrates a living triune God on mission, bringing redemption to the world through a living apostolic church. So much rich theological interpretation packed into a small book " --Nijay K. Gupta, assistant professor of New Testament, George Fox Evangelical Seminary, Portland, OR "Since writing The Mission of God, I have felt guilty that it paid so much more attention to a missional reading of the Old than of the New Testament. This fine book relieves me of that guilt. This is an outstandingly clear and faithful exposition of what it means to read the New Testament from the perspective of, and with the intention of participating in, the mission of God as revealed in the whole Bible." --Christopher J. H. Wright, International Ministries Director, Langham Partnership