For a week-by-week collection of audio recordings, presentations and handouts, see below. This section provides links to resources which apply to the class as a whole. Check back as it may be updated throughout the course.
The Story of His Glory by Steven C. Hawthorne: An article tracing the principal themes of a missional reading of Scripture.
The Mission of God by Christopher J.H. Wright: A book-length treatment of the "missional reading of Scripture" on which this class is based. This is a lengthy (500+ page) but accessible resource for those interested in going deeper.
Xplore Curriculum a 7-week Bible study curriculum for individuals and small groups produced by the Center for Mission Mobilization. Some of the themes for our class were drawn from this curriculum.
Whatcom County Perspectives on the World Christian Movement - a 15-week course exploring God's mission in the world and our place in it. Begins January 11th, 2018 in Ferndale.
Class Description: This class will present an introduction to the concept of a “missional reading” of Scripture, along with specific ways this missional understanding has been worked out throughout church history. Guest speakers will present on their specific areas of expertise, and participants will engage with the material through lecture, large- and small-group discussion. It is expected that participants will gain a broader and deeper understanding of mission as a primary theme of Scripture, that they will be exposed to some key concepts of missiology and that they will begin to see themselves as participants in God’s ongoing mission to the world.
Speakers: Rebecca and Tim--former international directors of a missions organization focused on unreached people groups.
Dr. Rhonda McEwen shared with us the theological and practical implications of Christian involvement in relief and development work, along with a helpful way of viewing poverty not primarily as a lack of material goods but rather as a series of fundamentally broken relationships. Listen to the audio file while paging through the slides below. A link to the World Bank video she references is available beneath the slideshow.
The video referenced in Rhonda's talk is available for viewing by clicking here.
WEEK 3: The Nations at Our Doorstep - Guest Speakers Kristin H. and Jeff J.
Kristin and Jeff, campus pastors at Whatcom Community College, shared with us one of the ways in which the Big Story of God's missional heart is being played out in front of us today: ministry to international students, many of whom come from countries which are closed to missionaries or not culturally receptive to the gospel. They were both passionate and thoughtful about their callings as intercultural workers on a U.S. college campus.
Week 1 Handout: Includes scriptures and discussion questions related to a missional reading of Scripture.
The following video, produced by The Bible Project, gives an overview of what it means that humans are made in the "image of God," which in turn gives us a more holistic sense of our mission as image-bearers.