What Is the Mission of the Church? : Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission

Social justice and mission are hot topics today: there's a wonderful resurgence of motivated Christians passionate about spreading the gospel and caring for the needs of others. But in our zeal to get sharing and serving, many are unclear on gospel and mission. Yes, we are called to spend ourselves for the sake of others, but what is the church’s unique priority as it engages the world? DeYoung and Gilbert write to help Christians “articulate and live out their views on the mission of the church in ways that are theologically faithful, exegetically careful, and personally sustainable.” Looking at the Bible’s teaching on evangelism, social justice, and shalom, they explore the what, why, and how of the church’s mission. From defining “mission”, to examining key passages on social justice and their application, to setting our efforts in the context of God’s rule, DeYoung and Gilbert bring a wise, studied perspective to the missional conversation. Readers in all spheres of ministry will grow in their understanding of the mission of the church and gain a renewed sense of urgency for Jesus’ call to preach the Word and make disciples.

Social justice and mission are hot topics today: there's a wonderful resurgence of motivated Christians passionate about spreading the gospel and caring for the needs of others. But in our zeal to get sharing and serving, many are unclear on gospel and mission. Yes, we are called to spend ourselves for the sake of others, but what is the church's unique priority as it engages the world?

DeYoung and Gilbert write to help Christians "articulate and live out their views on the mission of the church in ways that are theologically faithful, exegetically careful, and personally sustainable." Looking at the Bible's teaching on evangelism, social justice, and shalom, they explore the what, why, and how of the church's mission. From defining "mission", to examining key passages on social justice and their application, to setting our efforts in the context of God's rule, DeYoung and Gilbert bring a wise, studied perspective to the missional conversation.

Readers in all spheres of ministry will grow in their understanding of the mission of the church and gain a renewed sense of urgency for Jesus' call to preach the Word and make disciples.

Christians today define mission more broadly and variably than ever before. Are we, as the body of Christ, headed in the same direction or are we on divergent missions?

Some argue that the mission of the Church is to confront injustice and alleviate suffering, doing more to express God’s love for the world. Others are concerned that the church is in danger of losing its God-centeredness and thereby emphasize the proclamation of the gospel. It appears as though misunderstanding of mission persists.

Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert believe there is a lot that evangelicals can agree on if only we employ the right categories and build our theology of mission from the same biblical building blocks. Explaining key concepts like kingdom, gospel, and social justice, DeYoung and Gilbert help us to get on the same page—united by a common cause—and launch us forward into the true mission of the church.

Christians today define mission more broadly and variably than ever before. Are we, as the body of Christ, headed in the same direction or are we on divergent missions? Some argue that the mission of the Church is to confront injustice and alleviate suffering, doing more to express God's love for the world. Others are concerned that the church is in danger of losing its God-centeredness and thereby emphasize the proclamation of the gospel. It appears as though misunderstanding of mission persists. Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert believe there is a lot that evangelicals can agree on if only we employ the right categories and build our theology of mission from the same biblical building blocks. Explaining key concepts like kingdom, gospel, and social justice, DeYoung and Gilbert help us to get on the same page -- united by a common cause -- and launch us forward into the true mission of the church. - Publisher. DeYoung and Gilbert help us think carefully about what the church is sent into the world to do. Looking at the Bible's teaching, they explore the what, why, and how of the church's mission for today.;Cover; Title; Copyright; Content; Acknowledgments; Part 1: Understanding Our Mission; Chapter 1: A Common Word in Need of a Careful Definition; Chapter 2: What in the World Does Jesus Send Us into the World to Do?; Part 2: Understanding Our Categories; Chapter 3: The Whole Story; Chapter 4: Are We Missing the Whole Gospel?; Chapter 5: Kings and Kingdoms; Chapter 6: Making Sense of Social Justice; Chapter 7: Making Sense of Social Justice; Chapter 8: Seeking Shalom; Part 3: Understanding What We Do and Why We Do It; Chapter 9: Zealous for Good Works; Chapter 10: The Great Commission Mission. A most common word in need of a more careful definition What in the world does Jesus send us into the world to do? Grasping the whole story: seeing the biblical narrative from the top of Golgotha Are we missing the whole Gospel? understanding the good news Kings and kingdoms: understanding God's redemptive rule Making sense of social justice: exposition Making sense of social justice: application Seeking shalom: understanding the new heavens and the new earth Zealous for good works: why and how we do good, both as individuals and as churches The great commission mission: what it means and why it matters Epilogue: so you're thinking of starting a new kind of church? advice for the young, motivated, and missional. Cover Title Copyright Content Acknowledgments Part 1: Understanding Our Mission Chapter 1: A Common Word in Need of a Careful Definition Chapter 2: What in the World Does Jesus Send Us into the World to Do? Part 2: Understanding Our Categories Chapter 3: The Whole Story Chapter 4: Are We Missing the Whole Gospel? Chapter 5: Kings and Kingdoms Chapter 6: Making Sense of Social Justice Chapter 7: Making Sense of Social Justice Chapter 8: Seeking Shalom Part 3: Understanding What We Do and Why We Do It Chapter 9: Zealous for Good Works Chapter 10: The Great Commission Mission. Epilogue: So You're Thinking of Starting a New Kind of Church?Bible Credits Back.