Missions By The Book: How Theology and Missions Walk Together (Vegas & Kocman)

Across the church, there is a rift between theology and missions. Bad theology produces bad missions, and bad missions fuels bad theology.

We wrongly think that we must choose between making a global impact and thinking deeply about the things of God. But the relationship between theology and missions is symbiotic—one cannot exist without the other. They walk hand-in-hand.

Table of Contents: 

Chapter 1 – The Word of God as the Sufficient Authority for Missions | 9

Chapter 2 – The Father’s Decree to Send the Son to All Nations | 21

Chapter 3 – The Son’s Mission to Save All Nations | 31

Chapter 4 – The Holy Spirit’s Mission as Witness to Christ in All Nations | 45

Chapter 5 – The Church Christ Is Building in All Nations | 57

Chapter 6 – The Apostles’ Commission to Proclaim Christ in All Nations | 75

Chapter 7 – The Nations and the Church’s Commission | 87

Chapter 8 – The Power of Ordinary Gospel Preaching | 107

Chapter 9 – The Glorious Reward in Missions | 119

Chapter 10 – The Missionary Commissioned to All the Nations | 135

Conclusion | 147

Appendix: The Apostolic Evangelistic Preaching Pattern | 153

Endorsements

"Regardless of where you live or what culture you’re from, everyone is a theologian. Therefore, it is vital that theology informed by Scripture is not divorced from missions but is the fuel that drives all missionary gospel endeavors. In Missions by the Book, Alex Kocman and Chad Vegas weave together a thoroughly biblical argument for why all missionary efforts and practice must have a comprehensive theology at their core. Missionaries, students, and pastors alike will benefit from this clarion call to restore theology to its rightful place." - Dustin Benge | Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality and Historical Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY.

"Some books lay out the foundational biblical teachings that must guide our missionary labors. Some books bring the sharp edge of God’s Word to contemporary controversies in missions. Remarkably, this book does both! Highly recommended for missionaries, pastors, and all who care about fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission." - Dr. Joel R. Beeke | President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan

"Missions by the Book may well become the standard text on God-honouring, Bible-shaped gospel mission to the thousands of unreached people groups scattered throughout the world. Kocman and Vegas challenge the methodology of many mission groups that downplays Scripture as regulating how we are to take the gospel of the God of grace to all the nations. Without denying the powerful, present ministry of the Holy Spirit, Missions by the Book seeks to take seriously the transgenerational wisdom of God’s Word in understanding how the church today is to seek to reach and win the lost in every age. The addition after each chapter of a series of questions makes the book an ideal resource for churches as well as individuals to study this most vital of gospel imperatives. I commend this work without reservation." - Ian Hamilton | President, Westminster Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Newcastle, England

"Missions and good theology began as good friends but have gone through a rocky period the last sixty or so years. All manner of lone-ranger missionaries, speed-based methodologies, and bad hermeneutics have found great traction in the present missions world. Vegas and Kocman have brought back a refreshingly clear and biblical understanding of our Triune God’s desire and plan for all nations. It is my fervent hope and prayer that it is embraced widely by pastors, Christian leaders, and those who will take the gospel of our Lord to the ends of the earth." - Brooks Buser | President, Radius International