Download or read book Beyond Missio Dei written by Sarosh Koshy and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-11-24 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book, Sarosh Koshy strives to go beyond the mission model of Christianity that emerged alongside and within the colonial enterprise and ethos since the sixteenth century. Rather than denounce the inheritance of the mission movement that transformed both the church and world in innumerable ways, it is a simultaneous expression of appreciation for this precious heritage, and an attempt to do justice by it through a yearning quest for relevant paradigms of Christian engagement.Indeed, there is an intense tension within this book, and in fact a twin tension at that. The tension is between those seeking to keep the current mission paradigm alive out of habit or as a self-serving device, thus corrupting and withering away a bequeathal that essentially set free the voluntary/independent spirit of Christian individuals and their intentional collectives from both the ecclesiastical and political authorities. On the other side are those who enlist mission both as a subsequent activity and as a basis to pursue innocuous, and at times apparently heroic options that would seemingly satisfy a supposed missional mandatory. This work enlists postcolonial and poststructuralist resources pedagogically, to teach of mission, missiology, World Christianity, and intercultural theology.

Download or read book Beyond Duty written by Tim Dearborn and published by Createspace Independent Pub. This book was released on 2013-01-03 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD, but feel overwhelmed by all there is to do? Do you sometimes doubt that significant change is even possible? There is good news. God isn't worried about the future of the world, nor is God merely bringing minor changes. “Behold, I make all things new,” says the Lord. The coming kingdom brings total transformation, metamorphosis. What's more, God doesn't call us to carry the burdens of the world and its transformation on our own shoulders. Christ carries the world and by the power of the Spirit we live in Christ.We do not have a mission for God in the world. Rather, the God of mission has us in the world.Each of us has a vital role in the world. We are invited to participate God's generous love bringing heaven to earth through us, now!The seven sessions of BEYOND Duty guide individuals, groups and churches to our places as participants in God's mission in the world.I originally wrote Beyond Duty to help liberate mission fanatics like me from enslavement to a human-centered approach to mission. That liberation is still needed today. In our eagerness to make a difference in the world we can quickly subvert the good news of God's sovereign love into our ambitious, burdensome and at times tedious effort to fulfill our mission in the world. This revised and expanded edition pursues this, seeking God's liberating grace to free us from the vain presumption that the future of God's mission is up to us. Through a combination of our compassion regarding urgent needs, what feels to us like the inactivity of God, and the drive of our own need to make a difference in the world—many of us all too easily take the needs of the world onto our shoulders as our personal responsibility. This sounds so foolish. However, mission narcissism runs deep. Though it may be obvious, it still deserves to be said again: Our central commitment is to God and God's kingdom, not to ourselves or our service for God in that kingdom. To make anything other than loving God and living in God's love for our neighbor—even something as good and noble as God's mission in the world—the central passion and commitment of our life is just plain old idolatry dressed in Christian clothing. I've lived much of my life seeking to serve in God's mission, but I wonder at times for whom I am really working. My suspicion is that sometimes I've spread the unpleasant aroma of my need to make a difference in the world more than the “sweet aroma of Christ.” In my more honest moments, I admit that some of “my mission” was to reinforce my sense of significance. It's so easy to become intoxicated by the seductive lies of our society that size determines significance, speed measures impact, and worth depends on success. The gospel frees us to live from the center of God's encompassing love. We needn't live from the burdensome center of “me”. It's not about my mission, ambitions, work and weaknesses. We can live as grateful participants in God's love for the world. In the midst of our obedient service, we can sing and play and not take ourselves so seriously.What others are saying about BEYOND Duty:“A refreshing departure from usual mission books.” Emmanuel Katongole “I am pleased to recommend this book to you.” Bill Hybels “This may be the most important book I've read all year!” Steve Haas “An excellent, practical tool for churches.” Ron Sider “Read this rich reflection and serve with freedom.” Mark Labberton “Inviting, full of stories, Christ-centered.” Steve & Sharol Hayner“Substantial and practical. I commend it warmly.” Vinay Samuel “This is a wise guide.” Tom Theriault

Download or read book Seeking the God Beyond written by J.P. Williams and published by SCM Press. This book was released on 2018-06-30 with total page 277 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Apophatic theology, or negative theology, attempts to describe God, the Divine Good, by negation, to speak only in terms of what may not be said about the perfect goodness that is God. It is a way of coming to an understanding of who God is which has played a significant role across centuries of Christian tradition but is very often treated with suspicion by those engaging in theological study today. Seeking the God Beyond explores the difference a negative theological approach might make to our faith and practice and offers an introduction to this oft-misunderstood form of spirituality. Beginning by placing apophatic spirituality within its biblical roots, the book later considers the key pioneers of apophatic faith and a diverse range of thinkers including CS Lewis and Keats - to inform us in our negative theological journey.

Download or read book Significant Others written by Monte Cox and published by ACU Press. This book was released on 2017-09-12 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A generation ago, most Americans had little or no contact with Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, or any other adherents of non- Christian religions. Now our culture is much more pluralistic. In addition to these “others,” many Westerners, disenchanted with Christianity, are more inclined than they were a generation ago to dabble in new spiritual alternatives that were not as readily available here before. Many Christians feel intimidated by these changes. Many Christians don’t know how to engage their newest non- Christian neighbors in conversation, partly because they feel ignorant about the religions practiced by others. Significant Others seeks to fill this knowledge gap so readers will become more acquainted with the religious backgrounds of devout non- Christians they are meeting, as well as with the growing number of American people who claim no religious affiliation at all. Each chapter outlines the major world religions according to their significant founders or leading figures, significant beliefs and practices, significant sects and developments, and significant points of contact and points of contrast with Christian faith.

Download or read book Invitation to World Missions written by Timothy C. Tennent and published by Kregel Academic. This book was released on 2010 with total page 562 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A primary resource introducing missions for the passionate follower of Christ

Download or read book A Hybrid World written by Sadiri Joy Tira and published by William Carey Publishing. This book was released on 2020-05-15 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Linking . . . Blending . . . Intermixing with Divine Purpose People are on the move. As individuals and people groups are constantly migrating, the unreached have become part of our communities. This reality provides local Christ-followers with the challenge and opportunity of navigating both the global diaspora and mixed ethnicities. A Hybrid World is the product of a global consultation of church and mission leaders who discussed the implications of hybridity in the mission of God. The contributors draw from their collective experiences and perspectives, explore emerging concepts and initiatives, and ground them in authoritative Scripture for application to the challenges that hybridity presents to global missions. This book honestly wrestles with the challenges of ethnic hybridity and ultimately encourages the global church to celebrate the opportunities that our sovereign and loving God provides for the world’s scattered people to be gathered to himself.

Download or read book A Public Missiology written by Gregg Okesson and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2020-04-21 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Christianity Encountering World Religions written by Terry C. Muck and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2009-04 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this major work, two world religion and mission experts present a new relational model for Christians interacting with people of other faiths.

Download or read book Beyond Fragmentation written by Bernhard Ott and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2011-06-17 with total page 411 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Beyond Fragmentation is an inquiry into the development of mission studies in evangelical theological education in Germany and German-speaking Switzerland between 1960-1995. This is carried out by a detailed examination of the paradigm shifts, which have taken place in recent years in both the theology of mission and the understanding of theological education. David Bosch's proposal of an emerging ecumenical mission paradigm is examined with reference to the schools in membership with the Konferenz Bibeltreuer Ausbildungsstatten (KBA). The KBA schools have been greatly influenced by the work of Peter Beyerhaus and the Frankfurt Declaration (1970), and, as such, defend a conservative theological position and resist the challenge of Bosch's mission paradigm shift, the key issue being that of hermeneutics. Ott further explores the emerging new paradigm of theological education in both the Western and Two Thirds World contexts. While the evangelical Bible school movement has historically embodied many of the features of this new paradigm, they nevertheless have jeopardized these by their pursuit of academic accreditation. Ott believes that theological conservatism has caused the KBA schools to resist changes in the areas of contextual and inductive learning. Finally, Ott studies the schools' pattern of change and change-resistance through combining the insights of Thomas Kuhn, Hans Kung and Alasdair MacIntyre to hermeneutical and epistemological issues.

Download or read book Missional Theology written by John R. Franke and published by Baker Academic. This book was released on 2020-11-17 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The notion of missional church and theology has become ubiquitous in the current ecclesial and theological landscape. But what is it all about? In this clear and accessible introduction to missional theology, noted theologian John Franke connects missional Christianity with the life and practice of the local church. He helps readers reenvision theology, showing that it flows from an understanding of the missional character and purposes of God. Franke also explores the implications of missional theology, such as plurality and multiplicity.

Download or read book The Great Sending written by Will Sohns and published by . This book was released on 2021-03-14 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book goes right to the heart-the heart of the missional problem-and offers a powerful solution. God's Sending is a call to join Him in something beyond self, beyond a congregation, and beyond a denomination. God is calling us to much more. His Great Sending is His heartbeat for the world that He wants beating in and through you. Readers will learn to re-arrange their understanding of Scripture and life around God's Mission...no longer arranging God's Mission around their self-centered lives. Each chapter in this collection of writings from renowned authors connects God's heart to your own through a deep dive into Scripture. The Great Sending will begin new conversationsin the church around the Great Sending (Missio Dei) and lead laity, congregations, and pastors to let God change the direction of local churches that are collapsing under protectionism and self-preservation. The Great Sending is about opening up to God's heart for the world. Let this book challenge you and call you to see God's Mission and move your life to join God in the Mission.

Download or read book The Care of Souls written by Harold L. Senkbeil and published by Lexham Press. This book was released on 2019-06-26 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on a lifetime of pastoral experience, The Care of Souls is a beautifully written treasury of proven wisdom which pastors will find themselves turning to again and again. Harold Senkbeil helps remind pastors of the essential calling of the ministry: preaching and living out the Word of God while orienting others in the same direction. And he offers practical and fruitful adviceâ€"born out of his five decades as a pastorâ€"that will benefit both new pastors and those with years in the pulpit. In a time when many churches have lost sight of the real purpose of the church, The Care of Souls invites a new generation of pastors to form the godly habits and practical wisdom needed to minister to the hearts and souls of those committed to their care.

Download or read book Beyond Borders written by Miguel Alvarez and published by . This book was released on 2017-10-22 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This work engages Christian mission in Latin America. It builds on historical and contemporary developments of Pentecostalism. The study also includes the participation of Evangelicals and some Roman Catholic teachings on the interpretation of missio dei. There are historical roots of Christianity that merge at a certain point to produce an impact, which is common to most Christians in the continent. This book opens a dialogue among Christians in order to engage social responsibility as presented in the gospel. Indeed, social concern was included in the Great Commission but could fade away from the teachings of the church if we do not pay close attention to it.

Download or read book Worship Beyond Nationalism written by Rob Hewell and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2012-02-01 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The church in the United States faces a dilemma: How is it possible for Christ's followers to worship faithfully in a nationalistic environment where religion and politics enjoy a vigorous affiliation while the separation of church and state is celebrated as the standard for the relationship between nation and faith? When nationalism propagates itself through a cross-pollination of the stories, symbols, and celebrations of the nation-state and religious groups, the stage is set for a national history bearing the character of sanctified legend. Such resulting civil religious activity is likely to create dissonance for Christ's followers between what they understand to be biblically faithful and what nationalistic practices may endorse as religiously valid. Worship Beyond Nationalism explores faithful worship as a political act by which Christians declare their allegiance to God in Christ rather than to worldly empires, enabling congregations to enact the reality of God's kingdom and embody the gospel for the glory of God and for the sake of the world.

Download or read book Missio Dei and the Means of Grace written by David Martin Whitworth and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2019-04-16 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The missio Dei concept has shifted missiological thinking from an anthropocentric view of mission to the understanding that the church and persons are participants in the missio Dei. A Wesleyan perspective of grace and the means of grace inform the development of a theology of participation in the missio Dei that overcomes the repetitive articulations of mission as simply being human action or divine action. Through the means of grace, Christian disciples participate in the missio Dei as those transformed by God’s love and those through whom that love embraces and transforms the world. Missio Dei and the Means of Grace: A Theology of Participation offers a profoundly simple approach and understanding to twenty-first-century missiology that is applicable for all persons, all ages, and all ecclesial expressions of the Christian church, as participation in the missio Dei through the means of grace is understood to be a holistic way of life where spiritual formation is understood as inseparable from justice ministries.

Download or read book The Tangible Kingdom Primer written by Hugh Halter and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 203 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Transforming Mission Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission written by David J. Bosch and published by Orbis Books. This book was released on 2011 with total page 657 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "David Bosch's Transforming Mission, now available in over a dozen languages, is widely recognized as an historic and magisterial contribution to the study of mission. Examining the entire sweep of Christian tradition, he shows how five paradigms have historically encapsulated the Christian understanding of mission and then outlines the characteristics of an emerging postmodern paradigm dialectically linking the transcendent and imminent dimensions of salvation. In this new anniversary edition, Darrel Guder and Martin Reppenhagen explore the impact of Bosch s work and the unfolding application of his seminal vision." --