Understanding Christian Mission: Participation In Suffering And Glory - Softcover

Sunquist, Scott W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0801098416 ISBN 13: 9780801098413

Publisher: Baker Academic, 2017

Synopsis

Christianity Today 2014 Book Award Winner

Named one of Ten Outstanding Books of 2013 for Mission Studies, International Bulletin of Mission Research

This comprehensive introduction helps students, pastors, and mission committees understand contemporary Christian mission historically, biblically, and theologically. Scott Sunquist, a respected scholar and teacher of world Christianity, recovers missiological thinking from the early church for the twenty-first century. He traces the mission of the church throughout history in order to address the global church and offers a constructive theology and practice for missionary work today.

Sunquist views spirituality as the foundation for all mission involvement, for mission practice springs from spiritual formation. He highlights the Holy Spirit in the work of mission and emphasizes its trinitarian nature. Sunquist explores mission from a primarily theological--rather than sociological--perspective, showing that the whole of Christian theology depends on and feeds into mission. Throughout the book, he presents Christian mission as our participation in the suffering and glory of Jesus Christ for the redemption of the nations.

About this title

About the Author

Scott W. Sunquist (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is dean of the School of Intercultural Studies and professor of world Christianity at Fuller Theological Seminary at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He previously served as professor of world Christianity at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Sunquist is author of The Unexpected Christian Century, winner of the 2015 Book Award for Excellence in Missiology from The American Society of Missiology. He is also coauthor of the multivolume History of the World Christian Movement and coeditor of A Dictionary of Asian Christianity.

From the Back Cover

"Scott Sunquist has produced a rarity in this book, which combines breadth of theological scope with depth of learning and life in equal measure. This wonderful compendium brings together deep biblical reflection, the wisdom of Christian ages past, and the experience of a lifetime lived in mission. This is a book to savor, ponder, and return to again and again."
--Christopher J. H. Wright, Langham Partnership; author of The Mission of God and The Mission of God's People

"This is a clearly written, wonderfully ecumenical introduction to missiology and, indeed, mission theology. Its value lies in conceiving missiology as deeply theological and spiritual, not simply as tips and strategies for more successful evangelism. We often speak of the importance of the missio Dei for an adequate understanding of mission. In this volume Scott Sunquist helps us understand this trinitarian perspective more deeply."
--Stephen Bevans, SVD, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago

"No mere pragmatic missiology, Scott Sunquist's book is replete with theology. This book shows us that we are steeped in suffering and in glory both across time and in today's global and urban challenges. What a high calling."
--Miriam Adeney, Seattle Pacific University and Regent College; author of Kingdom without Borders: The Untold Story of Global Christianity

"An outstanding one-volume introduction to missiology. It is creative, unique, and captivating. I will recommend this text to all my colleagues."
--Charles Van Engen, School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary

"This book offers a fresh understanding of Christian mission endeavor from historical, theological, and ecclesiological perspectives. Scott Sunquist's teaching and living in mission contexts shine through in his expert choice of peoples and events in world Christianity. A must-read for all who reflect on Christian mission and its legacy and prospects."
--Reverend Daniel Jeyaraj, Andrew F. Walls Centre for the Study of African and Asian Christianity, Liverpool Hope University, United Kingdom

"Three mission books in one: Sunquist provides a sweeping history, a comprehensive theology, and an impassioned call for the church to be missional. From Polycarp to Matteo Ricci and D. L. Moody, the range of this book is simply amazing."
--Alec Hill, president, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA

Edition details

• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0801098416
• ISBN 13: 9780801098413
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 464