Christian Mission in the Modern World

In recent years, the mission of the church has been defined in two almost exclusive ways. On the one hand are those who say the church must focus on evangelism and discipleship alone. On the other hand are those who would concentrate almost solely on societal reform. The danger is, churches and individuals are prone to develop philosophies of mission that adopt one of the extremes instead of appreciating and working with communities as a whole.

In this classic book, John Stott shows that Christian mission must encompass both evangelism and social action. He begins with careful definitions of the five key terms of mission, evangelism, dialogue, salvation and conversion. Then, through a thorough biblical exploration of these concepts, Stott provides a model for ministry to people's spiritual and physical needs alike.

Because most pastors and lay people are not thoroughly informed about the terminology and methodology of missions, Christian Mission in the Modern World is particularly important for understanding:

• What Christian mission entails
• The need for a combined commitment to evangelism and social action
• Working definitions and descriptions of terms such as mission, evangelism, dialogue, salvation and conversion

Ultimately, Stott points to the example of Jesus, who modeled both the Great Commission of proclamation and the Great Commandment of love and service.

Written by the well-respected Christian author, teacher and statesman John Stott, Christian Mission in the Modern World is a balanced, holistic approach to mission that points the way forward for the work of the church in the world.