Jesus gave His Church a mission to complete, a mission that begins and ends with Himself and His declaration that He came to seek and save the lost, mend the broken hearted, restore families, people groups and nations to Himself for His joy, and glory. In 2011 Desiring God hadc a conference by the name Finish the Mission which was turned into a very helpful book featuring the writing of Louie Giglio, David Mathis, Michael Oh, John Piper, David Platt, Michael Ramsden and Ed Stetzer.
One of the most outstanding features of this book is the introduction to David Mathis. He writes that, “global missions is about the worship of Jesus. The goal of missions is the worldwide worship of the God-man by his redeemed people from every tribe, tongue and nation. The outcome of missions if all peoples delighting to praise Jesus. And the motivation for missions is the enjoyment that his people have in him. Missions aims at, brings about, and is fueled by the worship of Jesus” (14). Mathis notes that a “call to finish the mission is a call for martyrs—not a call for kamikazes, but a call for missionaries bent on Jesus’s worldwide fame and satisfied in him that they can say with Esther, “If I perish, I perish” (Est. 4:16) and with Paul, “To die is gain” (Phil. 1:21), (25). This is just a sampling of what this insightful book offers to readers.
Finish the Mission is in my opinion one of the most important books written on the topic of missions. This book combines biblical-theological and practical insight that speaks to one of the biggest conversations going on within evangelicalism; how the church can reach the culture with the Word of God and how Gospel empowers the Church to finish the mission to the glory of God. Whether you are a seminary student, pastor, or lay person, Finish the Mission is an important book for every Christian to read, and re-read to learn the heartbeat of the Savior who longs to seek and save the lost and who uses the Church He redeemed to proclaim the fame of Jesus to the nations for His glory.
Title: Finish the Mission: Bringing the Gospel to the Unreached and Unengaged
Authors: John Piper and David Mathis Editors
Publisher: Crossway Books (2012)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Crossway Books book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
