EVAN 525 Book Critique Great Commission MWillis

The idea behind the book The Great Commission To Worship by David Wheeler and Vernon Whaley is the combining of worship and evangelism, “Thus evangelism and worship have a unique relationship. … many times in Scripture it appears that while God is always our object of worship, the concept of obtaining salvation (evangelism) appears to be the motivation” (11). As stated by the authors this book is the result of an argument between them as to which was more important, worship or evangelism.

The book also focuses on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus discusses those that are blessed and why they are blessed and also the kingdom of heaven. Jesus discusses faith-community and what is required of disciples including reconciliation with others. The book discusses Jesus and his righteousness. Jesus gives instructions in dealing with those who cause harm to is folowers and believers. The book addresses the question as to whether to literally or figuratively take the commands of Jesus.

Living life as a Christian, in many ways is difficult in that there is always a war being fought by the enemy for your faith. Dickson insists that, “there are clear New Testament passages urging us all to speak up for Christ when we can” (Dickson, 101). Christians are called to a life of spreading the gospel to all mankind and nations. Dickson urges that the gospel is the announcement of our King coming to make all things new again. Christian’s are called by Jesus Himself to spread this news and work of God’s anointed King and messiah Jesus! The main nugget Christians should take from this is how everyone is not an evangelists, however, Christians are clearly called to proclaim Christ from our lips as well as

The Great Commission denotes that disciples must be made. Many worship opportunities have been provided by the church such as fellowship, bible study and church events that will aid in developing the mind-set of Christ, being obedient to the commands of Christ, engaging in his commission and being transformed into His image. According to Jesus disciples need to be made and informed.

When trying to understand what Evangelism I think D.T. Niles may have been close to the mark when he said “Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where to find food”. Change the word Christianity to Evangelism, beggar to the sinner, and food to Jesus and I believe you have possibly the easiest way to explain Evangelism simply by saying “Evangelism is one sinner telling another sinner where to find Christ. However, over the past years Evangelism has been in my opinion misconstrued with many other Christian words and trends. For instance, I would be willing to bet that if you asked Christians what is the first thing that they think of when they hear the word Evangelism most would respond with the name of and Evangelist such as Billy Graham, Charles Stanley or even Joel Olsten. Of course the word Evangelist has had the same problem that the word Evangelism has had in regards to losing the true intended meaning of the world. It seems that Christians now days have forgotten that all born again believers are Evangelist, not just those who show up in a small town with a tent, a band, and a sign that says revival. Every soul that becomes saved becomes a messenger of the good news. In fact, I believe with all my heart this is the exact message the Jesus was trying to convey in his followers when he gave the great commissioning in Matthew 28:18-20 NIV 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make

This book review, “Let the Nations be Glad,” by John Piper. The first section of the book is called Making God Supreme in Missions: the purpose, the power, and the price. John Piper explains the supremacy of God in Missions through Worship, prayer, and suffering. His thesis clearly demonstrates the focal point is Worship. John Piper states, “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church.

The beginning of the chapter tells the story of a guy named John that was stranded and helpless. John attempted to flag down some help, but was unsuccessful. That is until a good samaritan that finally stopped and went the extra mile to help. This set-up a pay-it-forward attitude in John in that he wanted to help the next ten people he seen stranded (Collins, 2). The author then suggests, like John, that we are all people helpers in that when people are struggling with their issues, they want the help of a friend, neighbor, co-worker, etc. The author then translates this into the Great Commission, where Christians are all to fulfill Jesus’s calling by means of outreach to the non-believers, making disciples and in teaching

In Scripture, Jesus Christ informs the disciples of their rise from servanthood to friend through unification with God. Jesus states, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15 ESV). This second idea's message should aspire Christians to effectively minister to non-believers and mentor other believers. In addition, the key idea are imperative to share God with persons outside the

Evangelism could be described briefly as proclaiming God's heart to the people who lived without standards of truth. Evangelism with the heart of God is being based upon worshipping God and glorifying God as well. Worshipping God is means to rejoice in God and to reveal Jesus in one’s life.1 Authors David Wheeler and Vernon M. Whaley in "The Great Commission to God" book have emphasized the importance of Worship to the reader in order for Christian to become a great commission worshipper. Authors have asserted that the top points in the book are worship and evangelism. These are a matter of cardinal importance to Believers who desire to live God's will and way. Because God created us for glorifying him and worshipping him,

In Evangelism, Salvation and Social Justice, Sider introduces different theologians’ (Graham, Scott, etc.) opinions on the definition of evangelism, the role it plays in the church mission, and the relationship between evangelism and the social actions. By reviewing current five viewpoints of evangelism, salvation, and social actions, Sider puts forward a sixth viewpoint by re-exploring the biblical foundations about the concepts of the Gospel, salvation, redemption, and the principalities and powers. Sider argues that evangelism and social actions are interrelated, but they are two different and equal important aspects of the mission of the church. In his idea, the Gospel is related to justification, regeneration, Jesus’s Lordship, and the church (Sider, p.256).

“Outreach,” a word commonly used in the Christian church to talk about pursing the cultures and lifestyles around a congregation to invite others to partake in becoming a member of the family of Christ and seek Him as their personal Savior. As more churches begin to lose members, due to the changing generational focus, the focus on outreach grows stronger and the mission of those sent out to fellowship with unbelievers is, according to Colson, to “be agents not only of his saving grace but also of his common grace. Our job is not only to build up the church but also to build a society to the glory of God. As agents of God's common grace, we are called to help sustain and renew his creation, to uphold the created institutions of family and society,

Jesus says, “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35). As a disciple of Jesus, I am to imitate his example. Therefore when He says, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15) it is my duty to go and proclaim to all of the world just as He did. Van Rheenen agrees and says that the basic message for a Christian should be the unashamed declaration of Jesus Christ. Paul reminds us of this truth when he said, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor.

My interest in understanding this role grew during the first part of this module. Each author and lecturer talked about the practice of worship bringing spiritual formation. Listening to them, I would say I agreed, but I knew it was lacking in my life. I wanted to know how worship could transform me. Gregory of Nyssa (n.d) said “We imitate those qualities we can assume while we venerate and worship what our nature cannot imitate” (p. 10). I knew there was something worship could do that was beyond my own ability to do. With an interest in understanding it, also grew a desire to experience it. God began gently and lovingly inviting me into a personal worship practice. The corporate worship times during the last intensive in Burtigny were instrumental in this. A specific example of this is singing the song “Good, Good Father” by Chris Tomlin. I needed to remember that God is a good father. Each time I sang it, it was as if I knew it to be true even more. Worshipping God for being a good father grew the reality of God as a good father in my heart. I would say without hesitation that God is a good father, but in practice I was doubting His ability/desire to be a father to me and my family. I knew it was true but there was a place where that truth had not transformed me and that was presenting itself in fear. Worshipping God as a good father began to transform that part of me that could not be convinced by knowledge alone. I began to

When I attended Grand Valley State University there use to be a gentleman who came everyday for a week for a few hours to preach his thoughts and what we need to do in order to be "Better Christians." There were a few times that I would stop , listen and watch others pick with him and put his views down. I didn't agree with some of his thoughts, but I didn't have a problem with him being there. I honestly feel that it takes a lot of courage to get up in front of people you do not know and try to convey their minds to agree with what you are saying.

Christians are commanded in the Bible to take the gospel into all the world. God desires that all people know Him. However, since He is in heaven and not on the earth now, it is up to His people to show others the way to Him. Much of that testimony for Christ is through the way Christians lives are lived. It is well known that