Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North AmericaDaniel L. Guder What would a theology of the Church look like that took seriously the fact that North America is now itself a mission field? This question lies at the foundation of this volume written by an ecumenical team of six noted missiologists—Lois Barrett, Inagrace T. Dietterich, Darrell L. Guder, George R. Hunsberger, Alan J. Roxburgh, and Craig Van Gelder. The result of a three-year research project undertaken by The Gospel and Our Culture Network, this book issues a firm challenge for the church to recover its missional call right here in North America, while also offering the tools to help it do so. The authors examine North America’s secular culture and the church’s loss of dominance in today’s society. They then present a biblically based theology that takes seriously the church’s missional vocation and draw out the consequences of this theology for the structure and institutions of the church. |
Contents
1 | |
18 | |
Missional Challenge Understanding the Church in North America | 46 |
Missional Vocation Called and Sent to Represent the Reign of God | 77 |
Missional Witness The Church as Apostle to the World | 110 |
Missional Community Cultivating Communities of the Holy Spirit | 142 |
Missional Leadership Equipping Gods People for Mission | 183 |
Missional Structures The Particular Community | 221 |
Missional Connectedness The Community of Communities in Mission | 248 |
269 | |
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action activity alternative apostolic approach authority become believe biblical body called centered century challenge character Christendom Christian church coming commitment congregations context continuing covenant create creation culture defined denominations direction discussion diversity dominant ecclesial ecclesiology Eerdmans emerging established existence experience expression faith follow formation function gifts God's God's reign gospel Grand Rapids groups healing Holy Spirit human identity images important individual institutions Jesus Christ John kingdom leaders leadership live means ministry mission community missionary moral move movement nature North America organization organizational participate particular particular community perspective practices prayer present question reality receive reign of God relationship religious represents require responsibility role Scripture sense sent shaped shared shift social society structures teaching Testament theological traditions transformed truth understanding United unity witness worship