The Transfiguration of Mission (Sharing the Word)

In this seminal resource, six contributors with broad mission experience examine current trends in missiological thought. They call the church to renewal in mission based on the model of Jesus the Messiah. The authors--Neal Blough, John Driver, Roelf S. Kuitse, Larry Miller, David A. Shank, Wilbert R. Shenk--argue that following Jesus in mission is at the heart of Christian discipleship. Mission is not simply an option for the specialized few. Jesus scored his opponents for pursuing a misguided mission of making converts to hypocritical legalism rather than introducing people to God's reign. Jesus transfigured mission by rooting it in the salvation God offers to all people and by pointing to the fullness of time when salvation would be fully realized. Today those who contine to follow Jesus are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live as a community, which contrasts with a world that does not give allegience to God.

Wilbert R. Shenk is Professor of Mission History and Contemporary Culture in the School of World Missions at Fuller Theological Seminary.