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

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 isnt worried about the future of the world, nor is God merely bringing minor changes. Behold, I make all things new, says the Lord. The coming kingdom brings total transformation, metamorphosis. Whats more, God doesnt 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 Gods 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 Gods mission in the world. I originally wrote Beyond Duty to help liberate mission fanatics like me from enslavement to a humancentered 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 Gods 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 Gods 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 worldmany 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 Gods kingdom, not to ourselves or our service for God in that kingdom. To make anything other than loving God and living in Gods love for our neighboreven something as good and noble as Gods mission in the worldthe central passion and commitment of our life is just plain old idolatry dressed in Christian clothing. Ive lived much of my life seeking to serve in Gods mission, but I wonder at times for whom I am really working. My suspicion is that sometimes Ive spread the unpleasant aroma of my need to make a difference in the world more than the sweet aroma of Christ. In my more honest moments, I admit that some of my mission was to reinforce my sense of significance. Its 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 Gods encompassing love. We neednt live from the burdensome center of me. Its not about my mission, ambitions, work and weaknesses. We can live as grateful participants in Gods 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: A refreshing departure from usual mission books. Emmanuel Katongole I am pleased to recommend this book to you. Bill Hybels This may be the most important book I've read all year! Steve Haas An excellent, practical tool for churches. Ron Sider Read this rich reflection and serve with freedom. Mark Labberton Inviting, full of stories, Christcentered. Steve & Sharol Hayner Substantial and practical. I commend it warmly. Vinay Samuel This is a wise guide. Tom Theriault