(re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World

by Brian D. Russell

How do we communicate the message of the Scriptures in our twenty-first-century, post-Christian context? (re)Aligning with Reading Scripture for Church and World answers this question by presenting the Scriptures through the lens of mission and by teaching a method for reading Scripture with a missional hermeneutic. The biblical story seeks to convert us to its perspective and to transform its readers and hearers into God's missional community that exists to reflect and embody God's character to/for/in the world. Ready to revolutionize your reading of the Bible and expand your ability to unleash the Scriptures in your context? (re)Aligning with God will give you rich content and practical tools to become a profound, inspiring, and confident reader of the Bible for all who are seeking to hear its good news. "This book . . . makes a well-argued case for reading Scripture through a missional lens and gives practical guidelines for how to do this. If this were all the book did, it would be well worth a read; but it goes a step further. It calls us to action . . . [T]his isn't the most comfortable book you will ever read on the subject of hermeneutics, but it is one of the most challenging." --Eddie Arthur, missionary blogger and writer; director of strategic initiatives for Global Connections "What would happen if the church read its Scriptures for the sake of God's mission in the world? What would this look like? And how might we shape communities of Christ followers for whom these questions are central? Here's the long-awaited manual for those of us who are interested in missional hermeneutics. Russell shows the way. Take and read." --Joel B. Green, Dean of the School of Theology and Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Fuller Theological Seminary Brian D. Russell (Ph.D) is Dean of the School of Urban Ministries and Professor of Biblical Studies on the Florida-Dunnam campus of Asbury Theological Seminary. He is passionate about the intersection of mission and the Bible. He is the author of The Song of the The Date of Composition and Significance of Exodus 15:1-21 (2007). Connect with him on his missionalhermeneutics.blogspot.com.

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2016

Reviews

[Joshua Pearsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful work centered on reading the Scripture with a focus on the lens of mission, and the mission we as the Church are called to. As well of the importance of being able to actually carry out that mission, and speak to people in any context in a way they can understand. Not simply being stuck speaking churchese to those outside the Church, or high theology to laity who have no idea what one is talking about. A wonderful read and something I'd greatly recommend for any wanting to seriously engage in mission.

Chapter 1: Scripture and Conversion
Part One: (re)Engaging God’s Story
Chapter 2: The Old Testament Story:Creation, Fall, and Israel
Chapter 3: The Old Testament Story: Israel’s Life in the Land, Prophets, and Writings
Chapter 4: The New Testament Story: Jesus the Messiah, the Mission of the Church, New Creation
Part Two: Learning to Speak Human: Reading the Bible for All People
Chapter 5: Learning to Speak Human: Methodology and Missional Hermeneutics
Chapter 6: Reading the Old and New Testament Missionally:Jonah and Philippians
Part Three: Aligning Our Communities
Chapter 7: Unleashing the Biblical Narrative: Implementing a Missional Hermeneutic in Our Communities of Faith