What Is the Mission of the Church? Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
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.
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- Explains key concepts like kingdom, gospel, and social justice
- Looks at key categories and biblical building blocks
- A Common Word in Need of a Careful Definition
- What in the World Does Jesus Send Us into the World to Do?
- 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
Top Highlights
“The mission of the church is to go into the world and make disciples by declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit and gathering these disciples into churches, that they might worship the Lord and obey his commands now and in eternity to the glory of God the Father.” (Page 62)
“So what is the mission of the church? We’ve kept you in suspense long enough. In short, we will argue that the mission of the church is summarized in the Great Commission passages14—the climactic marching orders Jesus issues at the ends of the Gospels and at the beginning of Acts. We believe the church is sent into the world to witness to Jesus by proclaiming the gospel and making disciples of all nations. This is our task. This is our unique and central calling.” (Page 26)
“God hates injustice. But injustice must be defined on the Bible’s terms, not ours. Injustice implies a corrupted judicial system, an arbitrary legal code, and outright cruelty to the poor.” (Page 159)
“At its most basic, the term mission implies two things to most people: (1) being sent and (2) being given a task.” (Page 19)
“How can hopelessly rebellious, sinful people live in the presence of a perfectly just and righteous God?” (Page 69)
Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert have written an important book on an important topic. Fair, keenly observant, startlingly honest, this book is replete with careful exegetical work. Verses are not merely cited; they are considered in context. The length of an idea is considered, all the way from its expression in the local church back to its source in Scripture. The result is a book that is nuanced and clear, useful and enjoyable to read, and that is no small gift from two young pastor-theologians who have already become reliable voices. Open this book and you’ll want to open your Bible and open your mind on everything from justice to capitalism, from mercy to love.
—Mark Dever, Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC
Among the many books that have recently appeared on mission, this is the best one if you are looking for sensible definitions, clear thinking, readable writing, and the ability to handle the Bible in more than proof-texting ways. I pray that God will use it to bring many to a renewed grasp of what the gospel is and how that gospel relates, on the one hand, to biblical theology and, on the other, to what we are called to do.
—D. A. Carson, Cofounder and Theologian-at-Large, The Gospel Coalition
DeYoung and Gilbert clear the fog that has settled over the nature of the church’s mission. Their tone is gracious, the style is accessible, but most importantly this book is marked by fidelity to biblical revelation and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The authors have succeeded in what they exhort us to do: they have kept the main thing as the main thing.
—Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary