This episode ends season 8 of Strike the Match. Revelation not only concludes the New Testament, but takes readers back into the Old Testament. John draws deeply from Torah and the Prophets to provide a vision of what was and is to come. Churches were struggling to remain faithful to the mission of God. They […]

Few scholars have written on the topic of mission in the General Epistles. In this episode, I discuss how these epistles address the mission of God to bless the nations. These writings offer a glimpse into some of the struggles of the early Church. The authors were much concerned with the holiness and righteous living […]

The Pauline literature is a deep reservoir of information related to God’s mission in the world. I continue in this episode with the discussion of mission in the Pauline Literature. Here we encounter additional sub-themes of how God brings blessing to the nations with: 1) A Plan – Planting Local Kingdom Communities; 2) A Process […]

In part one of this two-part study, I address mission in the Pauline Literature. Pauline Literature is a deep reservoir of information related to God’s mission in the world. This episode addresses four sub-themes related to mission. The blessing of the nations comes through: 1) A Man – Paul’s Conversion and Calling; 2) A Message […]

In this episode, I address the mission of God in Acts. This book reveals how the story of God’s glory through relationship and blessing continues, starting with the Jews and extending to the Gentiles. The Messiah ascends. The Spirit is poured out. The last days arrive. Jew and Gentile must repent and believe before the […]

The fourth Gospel has a great deal to say about mission. One scholar noted, “the Fourth Gospel’s focus is not on God’s mission per se, but on his mission through Jesus and on Jesus’ mission through his followers.” In this episode, the blessing of the nations shows up in three manifestations. John notes the blessing […]

In this episode, I address the theme of mission in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is important to understand the Synoptics provide a continuity between the Old Testament and New Testament. When we arrived at the New Testament, 400 years have passed since the conclusion of the Old Testament. In the Synoptics, the blessing of […]

The Writings comprise the latter section of the Hebrew Scriptures and attempt to show how the people of God were to live in a variety of circumstances. The mission of God saturates the books of Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles. In this episode (Season 8, Ep. […]

This episode continues the second discussion of God’s mission in the Prophetic Literature. An examination of the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The Twelve), reveals several sub-themes related to the blessing of the nations. Here we find God works to bless the nations through: Judgment (Israel in Diaspora and Day of the Lord); Restoration (Israel’s […]

In this episode, I address a theology of mission by examining the mission of God in the Prophets. The methods by which the nations move into relationship with the nation of Israel and her God has been described as historical incorporation and eschatological ingathering. The Former and Latter Prophets address both and how blessings come […]

I conclude the discussion of mission in Torah. God’s mission to bless the nations primarily happens through: 1) A Person (Abraham); 2) A People (Israel); and 3) A Place (Tabernacle). While the previous episode addressed God working through Abraham, this session draws attention to the latter two categories. Israel was chosen to be a “kingdom […]

In this two-part episode, I continue the series on theology of mission with the discussion of God’s mission in Torah. Throughout these five books, God’s glory among the nations comes through three particular means: 1) A Person: Abraham; 2) A People: Israel; and 3) A Place: Tabernacle. Abraham, and Israel, quickly learn God’s election is […]

The biblical storyline reveals a God who remains faithful to His promises which require the ongoing sending of Himself and His servants into a tragically suffering and deeply needy world to accomplish His mission of redemption and restoration. Mission began with God, is sustained by God, and will culminate with God. The blessing of the […]

Today is the first day of Season 8 of Strike the Match! Over the past seven seasons, I have addressed a variety of topics related to missions, innovation, and leadership, but we will focus on one topic this season: theology of mission. Earlier this year, I published Theology of Mission: A Concise Biblical Theology and […]

This episode of Strike the Match concludes season 7. In this podcast, I take a journey down memory-lane. What are the 10 most downloaded episodes of Strike the Match over the years? Think you can guess which ones made the list? Listen in as I provide a top-ten countdown along with commentary on each episode. […]

How can ordinary followers of Jesus be transformed into extraordinary disciple makers? That is the topic of discussion on this episode of Strike the Match. George Robinson is my guest and serves as a professor of global disciple making at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He has recently published the book […]

I go solo on the mic in this episode and share the big announcement that Apostolic Imagination and Theology of Mission were recently published. Every book has a story, and you will hear why these were written. I address the general contents of the books and do a little reading from Apostolic Imagination. As you […]

Polycentric – a word quickly growing in popularity in missiological circles. It describes the concept of having more than one center. When applied to leadership, it reflects a growing model in ministries and mission agencies. My guest on this episode, is Dr. Joe Handley. Joe is the president of Asian Access and Co-Catalyst for Leadership […]

In a recent gathering of United Methodists, an African leader addressed his Western brothers and sisters when he said, “The gospel you brought to us one hundred years ago is not the same gospel you proclaim today.” The United Methodist Church is facing a denominational split that will affect global mission. In this episode, Paul […]

Craig Ott is my guest in this episode. He is professor of mission and intercultural studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and author of a new book Teaching and Learning Across Cultures: A Guide to Theory and Practice. Craig is an expert in the field, and his book will become the definitive work on the […]