ENCOUNTERING MISSION 4-THEOLOGY..MISSION

Named an Outstanding Mission Book of 2010, International Bulletin of Missionary Research

'An essential resource for mission educators and students alike. Filled with real life case studies and practical discussion questions, the text is ideal for undergraduate, graduate, and Bible School mission courses.'
--Missiology

This fresh, comprehensive text fills a need for an up-to-date theology of mission. The authors, who are leading mission experts, discuss biblical theology of mission, provide historical overviews of the development of various viewpoints, and address current theological issues in global mission from an evangelical perspective. They offer creative approaches to answering some of the most pressing questions in theology of mission and missionary practice today.

Readable yet thorough, 'Encountering Theology of Mission' 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. 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. This unique text will benefit mission leaders, missionaries, and professors and students.

Contents

Introduction
Part One: Biblical Foundations of Mission
1. God and the Nations in the Old Testament
2. God and the Nations in the New Testament
3. The Justification of Mission: Missio Dei
4. The Purpose and Nature of Mission
5. The Task of Missions: Convictions and Controversy
6. The Task of Missions: Convergence and Conclusions
Part Two: Motives and Means for Mission
7. The Motivation for Missions
8. Church and Mission
9. The Missionary Vocation
10. Spiritual Dynamics and Mission
Part Three: Mission in Local and Global Context
11. Contextualization and Mission
12. Christian Encounter with Other Religions: Toward an Evangelical Theology of Religions
13. The Necessity of Mission: Three Uncomfortable Questions
References
Indexes

Endorsements
'Good maps can be hard to find. Thankfully Craig Ott, Stephen Strauss, and Timothy Tennent have drawn up a comprehensive yet easy-to-navigate guide to the complex terrain of theologizing about Christian mission. It is hard to imagine a more careful presentation of this vast subject.'
--J. Nelson Jennings, professor of world mission, Covenant Theological Seminary; editor, Missiology

'This globalized world needs a relevant theology of mission that articulates a cogent 'biblical direction for the church's fulfillment of its missionary mandate.' This excellent book by Ott, Strauss, and Tennent moves us from a paternalistic mind-set to a fraternal one that seeks to proclaim Christ from everywhere, to everywhere. I would strongly commend this book not only to professors and students in seminaries but also to practitioners and missions committees in local churches so that our understanding and practice of mission remains cutting edge as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission in our generation.'
--Junias Venugopal, vice president for educational affairs and dean of CIU Seminary & School of Missions, Columbia International University

'Deep gratitude to our three writers for a rich and textured work! It is rooted in Scripture, history, and context; it is challenging yet very readable; it is antiphonal--moving from theology and theory to the highly practical and engaging--with some excellent sidebars and case studies. Although the book will be seen as a text by some, I would highly recommend this book to my global colleagues, the reflective practitioners of mission today.'
--William D. Taylor, global ambassador, Mission Commission, World Evangelical Alliance

Pages: 432