Beyond Duty: A Passion for Christ, a Heart for Mission (2013)

Beyond Duty: A Passion for Christ, a Heart for Mission (2013)

DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD, but feel overwhelmed by all there is to do? Do you sometimes doubt that significant change is even possible? There is good news. God isnâ€™t worried about the future of the world, nor is God merely bringing minor changes. â€œBehold, I make all things new,â€ says the Lord. The coming kingdom brings total transformation, metamorphosis. Whatâ€™s more, God doesnâ€™t call us to carry the burdens of the world and its transformation on our own shoulders. Christ carries the world and by the power of the Spirit we live in Christ. We do not have a mission for God in the world. Rather, the God of mission has us in the world. Each of us has a vital role in the world. We are invited to participate Godâ€™s generous love bringing heaven to earth through us, now! The seven sessions of BEYOND Duty guide individuals, groups and churches to our places as participants in Godâ€™s mission in the world. I originally wrote Beyond Duty to help liberate mission fanatics like me from enslavement to a human-centered approach to mission. That liberation is still needed today. In our eagerness to make a difference in the world we can quickly subvert the good news of Godâ€™s sovereign love into our ambitious, burdensome and at times tedious effort to fulfill our mission in the world. This revised and expanded edition pursues this, seeking God's liberating grace to free us from the vain presumption that the future of Godâ€™s mission is up to us. Through a combination of our compassion regarding urgent needs, what feels to us like the inactivity of God, and the drive of our own need to make a difference in the worldâ€”many of us all too easily take the needs of the world onto our shoulders as our personal responsibility. This sounds so foolish. However, mission narcissism runs deep. Though it may be obvious, it still deserves to be said again: Our central commitment is to God and Godâ€™s kingdom, not to ourselves or our service for God in that kingdom. To make anything other than loving God and living in Godâ€™s love for our neighborâ€”even something as good and noble as Godâ€™s mission in the worldâ€”the central passion and commitment of our life is just plain old idolatry dressed in Christian clothing. Iâ€™ve lived much of my life seeking to serve in Godâ€™s mission, but I wonder at times for whom I am really working. My suspicion is that sometimes Iâ€™ve spread the unpleasant aroma of my need to make a difference in the world more than the â€œsweet aroma of Christ.â€ In my more honest moments, I admit that some of â€œmy missionâ€ was to reinforce my sense of significance. Itâ€™s so easy to become intoxicated by the seductive lies of our society that size determines significance, speed measures impact, and worth depends on success. The gospel frees us to live from the center of Godâ€™s encompassing love. We neednâ€™t live from the burdensome center of â€œmeâ€. Itâ€™s not about my mission, ambitions, work and weaknesses. We can live as grateful participants in Godâ€™s love for the world. In the midst of our obedient service, we can sing and play and not take ourselves so seriously. What others are saying about BEYOND Duty: â€œA refreshing departure from usual mission books.â€ Emmanuel Katongole â€œI am pleased to recommend this book to you.â€ Bill Hybels â€œThis may be the most important book I've read all year!â€ Steve Haas â€œAn excellent, practical tool for churches.â€ Ron Sider â€œRead this rich reflection and serve with freedom.â€ Mark Labberton â€œInviting, full of stories, Christ-centered.â€ Steve & Sharol Hayner â€œSubstantial and practical. I commend it warmly.â€ Vinay Samuel â€œThis is a wise guide.â€ Tom Theriault

Country	USA
Author	Tim A Dearborn
Binding	Paperback
Brand	Brand: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
EAN	9781480052819
Edition	2nd Edition: Revised and Expanded
Feature	Used Book in Good Condition
ISBN	1480052817
Label	CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Manufacturer	CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
MPN	black & white illustrations
NumberOfItems	1
NumberOfPages	192
PartNumber	black & white illustrations
PublicationDate	2013-01-03
Publisher	CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Studio	CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
ReleaseDate	0000-00-00

Beyond Duty: A Passion for Christ, a Heart for Mission (2013)

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