Reflections and resources for lifelong learning for missionaries
Early Christian Mission, published in 2004 by Eckhard J. Schnabel is a massive resource. The two volumes contain 1928 pages, 1588 of which are text. The size of the work will intimidate many but the thoroughness of Schnabel's scholarship is rewarding. Theologian and New Testament scholar Peter T. O'Brien gives this endorsement of this work: …
Continue reading Review: Early Christian Mission by Eckhard J. Schnabel
"Over the past fifteen years missiologists have produced a massive amount of literature related to the contextualization debate surrounding the proposals of Insider Movement proponents." So begins J. Henry Wolfe in his article, "The Development of the Insider Movement Paradigm" (published July 2015, http://www.GlobalMissiology.org). I have tried to digest a good portion of that material …
Continue reading Insider Movements: Understanding the Issues
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? - Luke 14:28 I am quick to "count the cost" when I am asked to do something on top of what is expected of me in my …
(This continues my posts about the mission of God. See my previous posts about Missio Dei and Biblical Theology of Mission: OT). But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as …
Over the years, I have often found myself struggling with the "what ifs", primarily in regards to my relationships with people I work with (yes, with fellow missionaries). What if the person responds in a negative way to my email? What if that person decides to go in that direction, contrary to what I have recommended? …
If we are to understand the mission of God (Missio Dei, see last month's post), we need to study what God has said about it. God has revealed himself, his purpose and plan in the Christian Scriptures. As Christopher Wright observes, "The only concept of mission into which God fits is the one of which …
Today, one of my students wrote a note on their assignment about job descriptions, "I think I have too many jobs." I can identify. I have two mission job descriptions. Both of them are leadership roles. One of them is supposed to take up about 60% of my time and the other the remaining 40%. …
