Gospel doctrine is the lifeblood of mission. Most missionaries in church history have, in preparation for the field, committed themselves to rigorous study and extraordinary theological training, but there has been a move away from that in recent times. E.D. Burns contends that this is dangerous, leaving those who need it most ill–equipped to deal with the difficulties mission life brings. This brotherly and friendly plea challenges those who are already in, or are considering joining, the mission field to rest in Christ’s work and abide in His Word.

Adoniram Judson was not only a historic figurehead in the first wave of foreign missionaries from the United States and a hero in his own day, but his story still wins the admiration of Christians even today. Though numerous biographies have been written to retell his life story in every ensuing generation, until now no single volume has sought to comprehensively synthesize and analyze the features of his theology and spiritual life. His vision of spirituality and religion certainly contained degrees of classic evangelical piety, yet his spirituality was fundamentally rooted in and ruled by a mixture of asceticism and New Divinity theology. Judson's renowned fortitude emerged out of a peculiar missionary spirituality that was bibliocentric, ascetic, heavenly minded, and Christocentric. The center of Adoniram Judson's spirituality was a heavenly minded, self-denying submission to the sovereign will of God, motivated by an affectionate desire to please Christ through obedience to his…

Resting in the Refuge of God's Love

For those devoted to Great Commission service, whether they be traditional missionaries, pastors, lay leaders in a local church, or parents making disciples of their children, a strong temptation exists to add on to Scripture alone and faith alone. But we have no charge to go beyond what is written. Great Commission servants can rest in the promises of the Word of Christ and the power of the work of Christ. The fight for the gospel faith is relentless, and we are well aware of our insufficiency. But us is a good fight. Indeed, it is the good fight. Through faith alone, grounded in Scripture alone, we can take courage and press on, confident that our sufficiency is in Christ alone.