Theology Missions

What does the Bible say about God's purpose for us, the witness of the church, and our mission to spread the message of the gospel? Chris Wright's pioneering 2006 book, The Mission of God, revealed that the typical Christian understanding of "missions" encompasses only a small part of God's...

Highly regarded biblical scholar and speaker Christopher Wright shows us that how we read the Bible has a profound impact on how we understand what mission is. According to Wright, "People read (and preach) the Bible in tiny bits and pieces, for its promises or rules or doctrines, and fail to take it . . . as the true story of the universe, past, present, and future, within the plan and purposes of God—a story in which we are called to participate as coworkers with God." Wright encourages us to explore the Bible's grand narrative.

Understanding Luke’s Narrative in the Book of Acts The book of Acts is unlike any other in Scripture; it has no rival in terms of a book spanning so many different lands. Written by a Gentile, it recounts the birth of the church age and the lives of early Christians that serve as lasting...

The Zondervan Biblical and Theological Lectures series provides a unique audio learning experience. Unlike a traditional audiobook's direct narration of a book's text, The Mission of God's People: Audio Lectures includes high-quality live recordings of college-level lectures that cover the...

Across the church, there is a rift between theology and missions. Bad theology produces bad missions, and bad missions fuel bad theology. We wrongly think that we must choose between making a global impact and thinking deeply about the things of God. But the relationship between theology and missions is symbiotic—one cannot exist without the other. They walk hand in hand.

For sixteen centuries, the same mistake has been made by men who meant no harm: the mistake of confusing what belongs to the soul with what belongs to the state. The state can build roads, run courts, and supply clean water. It cannot save anyone. The soul can hold truth, suffer, and find peace. It cannot administer a city. When these two orders are mixed, the reaction is slow but inexorable. It produced the holy empires of Byzantium and Muscovy. It produced the secular messianisms of the twentieth century. It is producing, in milder forms, the political theologies of our own moment.

Just like we do today, the writers and chief actors of the Old Testament felt a deep longing for the presence of God. It is symbolized in the temple ruins, and before it the temple itself, and before that the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle that housed it, and before that the Garden of Eden. In response to this longing, God shares his ultimate mission, in which his people play a part: the expansion of Eden, the temple of God's presence, to all peoples throughout the earth.

What world missions ministry would arise if you only had the Bible? Answer: It would start and end with the local church. A focus on the local church is biblical, practical, and effective. It aligns with the New Testament. Local churches everywhere display God's wisdom and the glory of Christ in the gospel. You’ll see it from the view of Christ, the Great Commission, first-century Christians, Paul, and the New Testament canon itself. Once you see it, you can’t un-see it! This book walks through these steps: A.

St. Teresa of Avila said that every soul is made for transforming union with God. In her footsteps, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880–1906) invites you to rendezvous with her in the interior castle and experience the indwelling presence of the Holy Trinity. Go out into the deep: My Three, my All! In describing her intimate relationship with God, St. Elizabeth referred to her Divine Bridegroom as “Maestro.” Here, she guides you in hearing His song and living the chorus of love, drawing ever closer to His very Heart.

From an early age, Alex Seeley was told she was an accident, but she also carried the weight of feeling stupid. Labels like these, sometimes spoken over us by well-meaning people, can cause us to believe lies about ourselves that make us question why we were born and what our purpose on earth could be. Yet, according to Psalm 139, God designed us in his image, with a unique DNA and amazing characteristics! We are loved and created for a purpose that only we can fulfill.

In this new book, Patrick Madrid uses the example of St. Francis de Sales to illustrate the zeal, spiritual principles, and attitude of one who sets out to live and share the faith. Christ sent his apostles into the whole world to make disciples of all nations, and by virtue of our baptism, we, too, are called to be apostles on this same mission. But how do we start? How can we accomplish in today’s culture?

Theology shapes who we are and how we organize to transform the world. Especially written for required United Methodist classes, this accessible book uses a Wesleyan theological frame—connection—to help listeners understand United Methodism's polity and organization as the interrelationship...

“The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” ―Matthew 13...

Persecution in Missions: A Practical Theology presents a scriptural view of suffering, including its role in the Christian life and in the missionary task. Rhodes tackles challenging topics, such as when to flee or face risk, how to minister to those suffering for Christ, and the dangers of downplaying or romanticizing persecution. Reassuring listeners with God's promises of redemption, this compelling study equips missionaries to face suffering and endure with joy.

In "End-Times? MISSION", Pastor AJ Platt, DMin, reveals why you should steer clear of popular premillennial eschatology. He does this while showing you what the Bible actually says about Armageddon, the Great Tribulation, the rapture, the resurrection, and the return of Jesus. In place of fear, you'll be amazed at God's postmillennial plans for planet Earth, along with your role in things while we wait for Jesus. The great news is, it's all a lot easier to understand than you think, so jump in now and see for yourself!

For far too long, the church has tried to make disciples using a one-size-fits-all approach. Some churches advocate 1-on-1 discipling, others try getting everyone into a small group, while still others training through mission trips or service projects. Yet others focus all their efforts on...

The doctrine of election has confused many believers, divided many churches, and left sincere Christians asking painful questions about God, grace, freedom, and assurance. Did God choose? Do humans truly respond? Can a believer have confidence without becoming careless? And how does election fuel prayer, holiness, evangelism, and mission? The Doctrine of Election gives readers a clear, biblical, historical, and pastoral guide through one of Christianity’s most powerful and debated doctrines. This book does not treat election as a cold argument for theologians. It presents election as a ...

Aboard the Aquitania, Rachel became aware of something strange happening to her. It was as if she were not on the deck of the ship anymore but was instead in a jungle clearing, looking at a group of brown-skinned, half-naked people. The people beckoned for her to come. Suddenly the scene...

Nearly every Christian has struggled with their own significance. Sometimes we look at the "giants" of the faith such as the Apostle Paul and wonder if we--ordinary Christians--matter much at all. In this short book, perfect for group or individual study, Pastor Matthew Everhard sketches the lives of eight very ordinary men and women in the New Testament. Each of these "ordinary" Christians, tucked away in the lesser-known paragraphs of the Book of Acts and Paul's epistles, show us that common everyday men and women can make a huge impact for the Kingdom of Christ. Each chapter--complete ...

Few promises in Scripture have sparked as much debate as Jesus’ words in John 14:12: “Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” What did He mean by “greater works”? More miracles? Wider reach? Deeper impact? Or something else entirely? In this groundbreaking study, biblical scholar P.C. Anderson tackles one of the most contested sayings in the Fourth Gospel with a transparent, evidence-based framework. Moving beyond impressions and theological slogans, Anderson develops a nine-variable ...