The Great Story and the Great Commission: Participating in the Biblical Drama of Mission

by Christopher J.H. Wright, H. Daniel Zacharias (Series Editor)

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--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 and to bring the whole counsel of God in Scripture to our understanding of who we are and what we must do as God's people. He helps us understand mission in its broadest sense, including our creational responsibilities. Wright's goal is to get us excited about the dramatic vista of the whole Bible and to help us understand the breadth and depth of missional engagement that we are called to live as actors in that drama.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Biblical Studies

176 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2023

About the author

Christopher J.H. Wright, (born 1947) is a Anglican clergyman and an Old Testament scholar. He is currently the director of Langham Partnership International. He was the principal of All Nations Christian College. He is an honorary member of the All Souls Church, Langham Place in London, UK.

Reviews

[Brother Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this after I heard Chris Wright at a conference in Mississauga. He is a funny and sweet old man in real life. In this book, I can't tell. Jk 😂

Essential read in my opinion. Can't wait to teach from it at a few engagements in the coming months.

[Easton Tally · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, quick read centered on something I’d never heard of before - “a missional hermeneutic of scripture.”

Wright argues that we ought to read all of scripture through a missional lens. Furthermore, the missional lens he advocates for contains five marks that all center around the great commission. Building the church through (1) evangelism and (2) discipleship, serving society through (3) compassion and (4) justice, and lastly (5) caring for creation.

A book I likely won’t actively recommend, but one I doubt many would be disappointed they read.

[Grayson Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed the way I view the Bible in my every day life, especially the way I view the Old Testament. Highly recommend!

[Timothy Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrights aim in 153 pages was to show and demonstrate the continuity of The Great Story and The Great Commission. As with all things, this is rooted in the Lordship of Christ. Christ is Lord over all creation; this includes mankind, animals, and all that we inhabit. Lord of the cosmos. This is central when applying this truth to how we are to live out our lives through the great commission in the great story. First looking at the Bible as a whole, as a drama with different acts. Christ life, death, and resurrection being central to that. We have to put ourselves in this great story. We are in the Bible, we have been put in this part of redemptive History for a reason! God has specifically entrusted us to be apart of His people and entrusted to play an actual role in fulfilling His own promise He made to us. Because of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us and our unity with Christ… we can look at creation as if we were there, we can do the same with the cross, and better yet we can do the same with the Day of the Lord. This gives us full confidence that as God’s people we are secured in our part of this great story. That is where our faith must derive. We are united past present and future with Christ. We are called to live in reality of the past, not only the cross but creation as well. This is where we get our value and our purpose. But we are also called to live in reality of our future as well, Christ will comeback and we have been assured by the Holy Spirit. These truths help us learn how to live in the present. Weight suggested 5 parts of mission: evangelism, teaching, compassion, justice, and creational responsibility. For the sake of my audience I will not talk about the first four, not to suggest any less importance. But I definitely got more than I bargained for with the fifth part of mission here. I have never realized the significance of our relation to creation and our role we play with it until this book. Creation is special not because of what it is but because of who created it. God has imprinted his image and attributes into creation, which is why the abundance of creation is testament to the whole world being filled with His glory. We are tenants in Gods creation. And if we are to live in reality of the past, we were initially designed to rule and serve over creation. And if we are to live in light of the future, Gods promise is to restore ALL of creation, new heaven and new earth. He is to come down to us not us to Him. This place is special, as are we, only because it is God who is the creator. Lastly, carrying out the mission of God doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping in the floor in a third world country (which is a divine calling of whom this world is not worthy of and has all the importance), but to be sure we as Gods people can live missionally in how we live our life in relation to the world. Our lives should be set apart from our culture and when our culture looks at us it should reveal the character of God. We are Gods chosen people in order that He might reach the lost through us. One of His greatest tools He gives us is His word, if we are not familiar with it how are we to live out our life in this way? Where Christ is Lord, is where we are called to do mission work. The front lines of this mission are when faith meets unbelief. We are ALL called to go.

[Nate Bauers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give four stars to a really good book, and five stars to a book that I think everyone who cares about this topic, or really anyone in general, should definitely read. As you can see, I think this book deserves a five. Dr. Wright shows how the mission of God, and the commission of his people, is grossly misunderstood, which has led to all manner of deviations and distortions in the life of the Christian Church. In a very short number of pages he very clearly articulates the original plan and intention of God, both for his creation and for his people, and provides a clear picture of how the work of creation care, justice in the world, Care for the suffering, and many other dimensions are all part of what it means to pick up our place in God’s mission and story in the world.

[Matthew McBirth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars means "I liked it." What Wright talks about in this book should be understood by every Christian. It is that important. There are other ways of receiving this information - honestly those other ways would be some of the author's other books. Nevertheless, this book serves as a good summary of a "missional hermeneutic."

[Brian Hui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wright does a great job showing us from the Scriptures the very missional nature of God‘s plan and Scripture’s story. What this means is that God’s people from the formation of Israel to the person of Jesus to the birth of the church, we are chosen because of God‘s mission, to redeem all of creation.

There’s a lot of corporate speak about finding the mission of your church. But the Bible already gives us our mission. It is expressed in many unique ways, particular to our context and gifting. But as Wright says, God doesn’t have a mission for the church, but a church for his mission.

[Bob Mendelsohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the man Christopher Wright and appreciate his pen in so many of his books. The points are clear. Each of us in The Body are called to mission and that could include evangelism or discipleship, compassion or justice, or even creation care. Ok no problem.
But to say justice without distinguishing tribalism-political ideology from God’s ideas of justice opens the reader to wrong conclusions. And what exactly does he want me to do viz a viz creation? Did anyone in the OT or especially the NT spend time gardening as mission?

Those troubles aside, his scholarship is wonderful and worthy of another read.

[Ben Makuh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Great Story and the Great Commission [a review]

Christopher J.H. Wright is easily one of my favorite theologians. There are very few like him who are able to so deftly integrate theology and practice. On the one hand you have theologians who can wax eloquent about the nature and character of God and yet scarcely seem to realize that the work of theology is supposed to relate to how human beings live their lives on this planet. On the other hand you have theologians who are so invested in being practical and concrete that they barely have any time for theological anything.

Still others try to uphold the importance of both right doctrine and right practice, and yet it's as if the left hand isn't aware of the right. It's as if they'd love to go on and on about divine truths but we need to cut that short so that we can get to this other thing God commanded us to care about: mission. Wright was the first theologian I read who seemed to see past this dichotomy. I read his book The Mission of God's People years ago and it was the first time I saw the concept of mission not as a kind of interim necessity imposed upon the New Testament Church, but as the defining trait running all the way through Scripture. First and foremost, God himself is on a mission to bring life where there is no life, and only secondarily does he graciously invite his people into that mission. It's such a good book that I've read it multiple times. The problem is that it's pretty intimidating for most readers.

Wright's newest work, The Great Story and the Great Commission, is aimed less at breaking new ground and is much more about synthesizing and distilling some of his key ideas down into a more accessible work. Weighing in at only 9 chapters, his goal is to provide a quick overview of how to read Scripture with a "Missional Hermeneutic" and then show how viewing Scripture as one single, cohesive narrative of God's mission illuminates the why behind what the people of God are called to do in this world. As you can tell from the title, he views the work of biblical theology and the missional work of the Great Commission as intimately linked together.

Though the word "mission" often conjures up a specific image in people's minds, Wright takes great pains to explain the breadth of the mission God is inviting his people to join him in. Though it involves what is traditionally thought of as "missions" and evangelism overseas, it also involves the work of teaching theology in the Church. It also involves the doing of compassionate social justice. It involves cultivating and caring for creation. The people of God engage in the mission of God in many diverse ways, but at the end of the day they all are ways that we participate in his work of bringing life to the world.

There are certainly parts of the book that I could quibble with but for the most part I found it to be an extremely encouraging, helpful work. More than anything it's his ability to integrate aspects of the Christian life that feel disparate that I find most useful. He thinks in ways that masterfully cut through all the nonsense of the Evangelical world by bringing his theology to bear. A good example is his reorientation of how we think about mission: "It is not so much that God has a mission for the church as that God has the church for his mission." I'd heartily recommend this book to ministry leaders and even church members who want to get a clearer understanding of how to think about mission in a holistic, integrative way.

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.

[Bob Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have not read anything by Chris Wright, you are certainly missing out! Of course, he is a first rate Old Testament scholar; I have all his commentaries. Of course, he is a great leader in the international movement of evangelicals; he was chair of the Lausanne Theology Working Group and the chief architect of The Cape Town Commitment from the Third Lausanne Congress of 2010.

His crowning achievement, however, has been in the field of mission. That is, studying the mission of God and the mission of God‘s people in relation to that. I’ve read his two books, titled that and gave both five stars.

This book is along those lines. He connects the mission of God with the great commission of Matthew 28. What’s insightful is that he defines the mission of God in terms of story. That is, the story of God’s redemption of his good world that is now broken and fallen, that he is moving towards the new creation. How does the great commission (go and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them) relate to this grand story?

The story, as he lays it out, is this:
1. Creation. (Very good, earth & humanity)
2. Rebellion. (The Fall)
3. Promise. (OT Israel)
4. Christ. (Gospel)
5. Mission. (NT church)
6. Judgment. (God puts all things right)
7. New Creation. (God with redeemed humanity, new heaven and new earth)

“In the Great Commission, which stands at the central climax of the great story, Jesus begins to make the vast, cosmic claim that he is the Lord of his whole creation. That must include his Lordship over all areas of life on planet earth. Jesus is Lord of the workplace and the family; Lord of the streets and the skies; Lord of schools and slums; Lord of hospitals and housing; Lord of governments, business, academia, sport, and culture; Lord of all time and space; Lord of heaven and earth. There is no place on earth, where our lives can be lived, or our work can be done outside the governing authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. That means that the missional mandate of being disciples and making disciples is similarly ubiquitous – wherever Jesus is Lord. And that means everywhere.
Mission is not an agenda for a specialized task force. Mission is not a project to be completed by agencies equipped with every tool of management at their disposal. Mission is not an exotic vocation reserved for special people who are appointed, trained, sent, and paid to ‘do it for the rest of us.’
Mission is the mode existence for the whole life of every member of God‘s whole church.”

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Great Story and the Great Commission: Participating in the Biblical Drama of Mission" by Christopher J. H. Wright is a transformative journey through the heart of Christian mission, inviting readers to engage with the profound narrative of God's redemptive plan for humanity. Wright, a renowned biblical scholar, combines scholarly depth with a passion for missional living, creating a compelling guide for those seeking a deeper understanding of the Great Commission.

Wright's book stands out for its ability to weave together biblical exegesis, theological reflection, and practical insights. The narrative unfolds as a cohesive and comprehensive exploration of God's overarching story, emphasizing how the Great Commission is intricately connected to the broader biblical drama. The author skillfully navigates through Scripture, tracing the theme of mission from Genesis to Revelation, illuminating the missional heartbeat of God.

One of the strengths of Wright's work is his emphasis on the participatory nature of the Great Commission. Rather than viewing mission as a task assigned to a select few, he contends that every believer is called to actively participate in God's redemptive mission. This perspective empowers readers to see themselves as integral actors in the ongoing narrative of God's work in the world.

Wright writes both accessible and profound, making the book suitable for a wide range of readers, from students of theology to church leaders and everyday believers. The careful balance between scholarly rigor and practical application ensures that the book not only informs the mind but also stirs the heart and motivates hands-on engagement in mission.

In "The Great Story and the Great Commission," Christopher J. H. Wright succeeds in creating more than a theological treatise; he crafts a compelling call to action. This book serves as an inspiring roadmap for those seeking to align their lives with the grand narrative of God's mission. It is an essential read for anyone desiring to move beyond a mere understanding of the Great Commission to a vibrant and transformative participation in the ongoing story of God's redemption.

[Douglas Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a small number of authors that I try to read everything they release. Chris Wright is one of them. Wright's understanding of the Bible, Biblical theology, mission, and the Church, makes his writing essential reading for anyone who desires to learn more and grow in their own understanding of these subjects.

Wright begins by describing a Missional Hermeneutic of Scripture. This may sound technical and tediously academic but the author's writing is clear, accessible and practical. Missional hermeneutics is a way of reading Scripture as one unified narrative, a grand story, that reveals the mission of God. Using this framework, the Bible tells the single mission of God - to cleanse the entire cosmos of evil and form a people redeemed from every tribe, tongue and nation. The narrative not only helps us the mission of God, but it also reveals our identity and mission as the people of God.

In the second chapter, Wright outlines the grand narrative of Scripture as a "Drama in Seven Acts". This framework builds on the work of Craig Batholomew and Michael Goheen in their book, The Drama of Scripture, which in turn, was developed from an analogy proposed by N. T. Wright. The third chapter is about how followers of Jesus Christ can live in, or "inhabit", the whole story of Scripture. These chapters are essential and enjoyable reading for every Christian!

The rest of the book focuses on the Church and five aspects of the mission. Wright paints a picture of mission that is both broad and balanced, embracing evangelism, service, justice, and creation care. In discussing mission, the author addresses God's redemptive purpose in Creation, which includes an excellent exposition of 2 Peter 3.

While he summarises much of his earlier academic books on mission, this book is more accessible to the average reader. It would be excellent for ministry students and church leadership discussion groups to think about mission and the focus of a local church.

[Simon Hølmkær Mejdahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeg er ret pjattet med Chris Wright, må jeg indrømme. Rimelig letlæst, men solidt og velbegrundet forsvar for holistisk, integreret mission. Wright sætter evangeliet, at Jesus er Herren, ind i en helbibelsk forståelsesramme og sætter det i centrum for forståelsen af mission - og det er simpelthen smukt.

Stor anbefaling med et citat fra bogens sidste side:
"Mission is the mode of existence for the whole life of every member of God's whole church."

[ArrowBreaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give it 3.5 stars, but I rounded up to be generous.

I think this is an important topic to discuss and have books written about.

I felt this book was written by someone who speaks a lot, but doesn’t write. They are two different skills and one doesn’t always transfer well to the other. I felt this book could’ve been condensed more without losing the points he was trying to communicate.

[Griffin Tschacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read for class kinda buns

[lucia · Rating 2 out of 5]

not bad, only boring. i liked some of his ideas and diagrams but most of the time i was slogging through. sorry mr wright and also professor haase: i will be the first to admit that i’m a grinch :(