I am reading for the third time Christopher J. H. Wright’s The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative (2006). As I read through the first section this morning, I recalled how Wright’s reframing of mission first impacted me in 2006. My comment at that time was that he turned my biblical/theological understanding of mission on its head – the way I look at scripture and how I talk about mission could never be the same. I do not agree with Wright at every point, and yet, I wholeheartedly affirm the manner in which he approaches the Bible and mission and the fresh, holistic understanding of mission he offers the church.
It is extremely urgent that the church reexamine its encounter with the world and rethink how it is to participate in God’s mission. If you have not read Wright, take the time to work through this tome (535 pages of text). I know some of you have purchased The Mission of God, and it sits on your shelf, partially or totally unread (because I have seen it sitting there). Pull it down, open it up, and begin working your way carefully and thoughtfully through each section. Of all the things you might do in the next six months, reading Wright might be the most formative and impactful.
My question is how I appropriate Wright in my place of ministry. How do I invite people (who will never read Wright) to read the Bible from the perspective of the mission of God?
Translate, translate, translate, and again I say, translate!
uh, was that my partial ‘mission of god’ book that was unread? whoops.
I wasn’t going to mention names!
Read Wright’s explanation regarding sabbath makes good sense – relational, personal, sense.
[...] of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative (IVP). In a post of nearly a year ago, The Mission of God, I encourage friends to work through this 535 page book. In a thoroughly biblical manner, Wright [...]
I find Wright’s Jubilee chapter/material to apply to my community ministry setting. Teaching and demonstrating a Jubilee reading of the Bible is helping spread a missional bible reading in my ministry context.
By the way, Dr. Stroope, I connected with the “Waking to Hope” post. Thank you.