Paul Hiebert

Announcing the Kingdom provides a comprehensive survey of the biblical foundation of mission. It investigates the development of the kingdom of God theme in the Old Testament, describing what the concept tells us about God's mission in creation, the flood, and the covenant with Abraham. It then describes God's mission through the nation of Israel during the exodus, at Mt. Sinai, and through the kings of Israel. The book then examines God's mission as Israel is sent into exile and the stage is set for the Messiah's coming. Finally, the book considers the fulfillment of the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ and the church. It examines Jesus' parables and ministry, his proclamation of God's kingdom among the nations, and the work of the Holy Spirit through the church. Announcing the Kingdom is the product of Arthur Glasser's more than thirty years of teaching and has been used by thousands of students at Fuller Theological Seminary. Now revised by Glasser's colleagues, this study provides mission workers and students with a new understanding of their calling and its biblical foundation.

For the past thirty years mission theology has taken a backseat to mission practice. Recently, however, people of all theological stripes have begun to reexamine the theological presuppositions that underlie the mission enterprise. In Mission on the Way Charles Van Engen masterfully articulates the contours of mission theology. The result is a complete investigation of evangelical mission theology as it relates to (1) biblical and narrative theology, (2) cultural context, (3) ecclesiology, (4) world councils, (5) religious pluralism, (6) interaction with competing theologies, and (7) the overall task of ministry.