Encountering Theology of Mission: Biblical Foundations, Historical Developments, and Contemporary Issues

Encountering Mission

by Craig Ott, Steve Strauss (Contributor), Timothy Craig Tennent (Contributor)

This fresh, comprehensive text fills a need for an up-to-date theology of mission. It offers creative approaches to answering some of the most pressing questions in theology of mission and missionary practice today. The authors, who are leading mission experts, discuss biblical theology of mission, provide historical overviews of the development of various viewpoints, and address theologically current issues in global mission from an evangelical perspective. This readable yet thorough text integrates current views of the kingdom of God and holistic mission with traditional views of evangelism and church planting. It also brings theology of mission into conversation with ecclesiology and eschatology. Topics covered include contextualization, the missionary vocation, church and mission, and theology of religions. Sidebars and case studies enable readers to see how theology of mission touches real-life mission practice.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Nonfiction

414 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2010

Reviews

[Kyle Grindberg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to read this for my Missions class at Bethlehem Seminary.

One star might be a little harsh. There were helpful chapters in here, especially ones that accounted for the Biblical data, or which covered historical information, but overall this book was just awful.

The most bewildering thing about it: there was no chapter on the practice or content in proclaiming Gospel. That should tell you everything you need to know about it. Chapter after chapter on discussions suitable only for Mission-nerds, and are so far from the practice of missions in the NT.

I feel like missions people who study missions for their life pursuit have to constantly atone for the sin (in academia) of thinking missions in some form is a good idea, so they spend all their time going along with every other worldly academic idea, in other words, hating on the West every chance they get and praising to the hilt every other culture.

Also, why not just say churches, why do they have to say, Kingdom communities??? "Churches" has worked fine throughout church history, why are we needing to change it? Again, this goes to my earlier point, it's uncomfortable to in any way associate with Western Christianity. Plus, that way, it makes insider movements more palatable by definition (without even needing to debate it!).

Find another book about missions!

[Martijn Vsho · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! This is a great introduction to theology of mission. I found this book easy to read and understand. It had sidebars with great questions to get you to further wrestle with the material. It was also very relevant and applicable, especially when it talked about contextualization and what happens with people who never get to hear about Jesus. These were questions that I have been thinking about throughout college and they answered them really well.
To briefly summarize the book: God has a mission to restore his relationship with creation, "to ultimately renew the fallen creation and bring all things under his lordship, thus establishing his universal kingdom" (58). He has invited his people, first Israel and now the church, to partner with him in his mission. Thus, the church is to "create and expand kingdom communities among every people of the earth" (160). This is explained in the first part of the book and the rest of the book looks at motivations and means for mission and mission in the local and global context.
This is a great book for anyone wanting to get a biblical understanding of mission and how it addresses contemporary issues.

[Robert Munson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite missions books. I appreciate the scholarship and the general balance of issues. Some issues were dealt with less than I would have liked, but generally I think they were issues that had not come 'front-and-center' at the time of its publication (2010).

I strongly recommend reading it for those interested in understanding and practicing Christian missions.

[Brian Simpfenderfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

solid book I read for seminary. Probably 4.5 stars

[Tyler Pedersen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

[Mario J. Jiménez · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is highly subjective: there’s nothing in here I haven’t read before.

[Rob Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introductory book covering the various aspects of mission in the Bible. The authors correctly identify mission as belonging to God and the church as God's tool to accomplish His mission. They also do not hesitate to handle some of the more difficult questions regarding missions- such as sign gifts, supernatural callings, & the fate of those who have not heard the gospel- although their treatment of some of these topics may make some uncomfortable. Definitely worth reading.

[Butch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for a class and found it very informative. It opened my eyes to many of the issues involved in cross-cultural missions that are not so obvious.

[Ehrick Mendoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LIKE THIS BOOK

[Guillaume Bourin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction! A must-read for anyone interested in the field of Theology of Mission.