Get ready to have the full picture of why Christians should tell people about the saving power of Jesus Christ come together in this amazing book. I call it a book because it is so much more than a Bible study with lessons. Although the book has 13 lessons from understanding God’s unchanging purpose for the world to important steps that your group can take to become more missional, this book is so different than regular studies. Why is it so different? When Jesus taught the people were astounded because Jesus taught as one with authority, this book speaks with that understanding. I was challenged by it, encouraged by it, but overall think that it says more about how important our big picture vision for evangelism is in fulfilling God’s purpose for us than any other book I have read. The book is based upon “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement” a college level course designed to help Christians understand God’s purpose through history and how they are to be a vital part of fulfilling God’s vision.
Today there are many people talking about a Christian Worldview, but this book doesn’t seek to argue with secular society as much as give very clear evidence of God’s view and challenge us to get busy. The book comes from four perspectives and does the best job of explaining God’s vision that I have read. First taking the Biblical perspective the reader is given a timeline of Scripture, starting the in Old Testament, about God’s desire for all people to worship him, not just the Jews. Starting with Abraham and leading all the way to the Apostles, in the New Testament, a most simple and revealing case shows the Scriptural pattern and foundation for evangelism. This in of itself is helpful, but this is where most evangelicals stop their reasoning for sharing the Good News, however this book doesn’t stop there.
Next the book looks at the evidence in the Historical perspective showing God’s will and purpose being carried out in kingdoms, invasions, persecutions and deliverance. The most amazing part for me was seeing the undeniable pattern of God’s commissioning the saints to spread the Good News, followed by great persecution that in turn forced the saints to flee causing the spread of the Gospel. But, in a touch of irony, time and time again history showed that the conquerors that suppressed Christianity eventually embraced Christianity due to the perseverance of the saints. For today’s reader this should make Christians very aware of the future we face in following Christ!
One of the most amazing parts of this study is the detail of how testimonials, movements, and mission development is organized into a big picture showing that God is systematically reaching the world. The book gives testimony of William Carey, Hudson Taylor, Cam Townsend and Donald McGavran who each started mission movements and challenged the old system into reaching new people. That is followed by geographically showing how the coastal areas, inland areas and finally the unreached people groups began to be penetrated with the Gospel, all the while explaining the expansion and development of God’s people in missions.
Next the book looks at the Cultural perspective showing God’s desire to reach all people; that means regardless of race, nation, language, as well as ethnic and cultural differences. After geography the next hurdle to evangelism was understanding cultures and being able to communicate. The book paints a very realistic picture of the need for missionaries to love God and to love other people. The book is honest and admits that Christians have not always represented Christ well and actually has a very good section on explaining Christian motives in reaching people. Not to be too analytical, the book gives testimonies of the supernatural and how God is already at work in reaching his world. There is a lot of wow factor in these stories of how awesome God is and how often we forget that fact because we are so limited in our experience.
The last part of the study deals with developing a Missional Strategy perspective in order to complete the task of reaching all people as God commissioned. Again not a new thing, but very different from all the other books and stuff you read. It isn’t the “so tell your neighbors and grow your own church” type of message. Instead the book takes some incredibly fresh turns. First off it isn’t pessimistic as almost everything out there now, it isn’t the scare tactics of Barna or the gloom and doom of the political church in America, but is positive that God’s message is reaching all over the world. It confirms that we are in fact seeing God win globally. It affirms that the cultural church in America is not the only player in the mission of reaching the world. Next it is incredibly visionary on Christians living sacrificial lives, not only to “go and give”, but delivering a new message, in order to be happy, free and because we were created to follow this purpose. Lastly it mentions teamwork among mission sending agencies and volunteers. As a representative of my generation, we are hungry for unity and partnership with global Christians. These turns in the message were a welcome change to much that I read.
The book ends with several ways that your group can begin to think globally and act missionally. Though the book is not directed to college students it is incredibly complimentary of students often being the major force of change to reach new people, as illustrated in the Student Volunteer Movement. I cannot recommend this book enough to ministers and students alike. I think that it will help us in focus on evangelism and cause us to live intentional lives of following God’s vision and not our own.
Can order a video and teachers guide for a group study.
Published by William Carey Library Publishers in Pasadena, CA 626-798-0819
