The Gospel of Our King: Bible, Worldview, and the Mission of Every Christian

This accessible overview shows how the Bible--with its 66 books, dozens of authors, and multiple genres--comes together to provide an overarching story about God the King and explains how the Christian gospel and mission address the totality of human life.Written by a biblical scholar and a theologian, The Gospel of Our King shows how any account of gospel and mission can only be understood in light of the whole biblical testimony. The authors help us understand the Bible's overarching narrative as the story that encompasses everything. This story, revealed by God and centered on Jesus the King, enables us to know and love God and to fulfill his purpose for our lives. It is the framework within which we come to understand the Christian worldview, the Christian gospel, and the Christian mission. When we understand how the whole Bible fits together to shape the totality of a Christian's life, we will be prepared to show the goodness of Christ and the gospel to others in our personal, social, cultural, and global contexts.From the Back Cover"A creative, accessible, and eminently practical work""What do you get when a top-notch biblical scholar and a public theologian join forces to write on the gospel and the church's mission? A book that not only is sensitive to the finer elements of the biblical story line but also guides you through its theological implications for our present cultural moment. Highly recommended."--Joshua Chatraw, director, New City Fellows; theologian-in-residence, Holy Trinity Church, Raleigh, North Carolina"This book is a glorious reminder of the fact that, as believers, we serve the King of all. Ashford and Thomas remind us that God is King over creation, culture, politics, education, and our individual lives. Their robust theology seasoned with wise understanding makes me want to bow down before this King again and again."--Karen Swallow Prior, author of On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books"Western Christians today need to become much more rooted in the whole Bible story as active participants in its great drama. And we need to open our eyes to recognize and renounce the false gods and idols that masquerade within our culture. This book helps us do both."--Christopher J. H. Wright, Langham Partnership; author of The Mission of God"If you are looking for an effective survey of the whole biblical narrative that connects directly to the gospel message and spills forth naturally into Christian living in the twenty-first century, this book is for you."--Douglas S. Huffman, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University"The Gospel of Our King is a sheer delight. This is what happens when you bring together close attention to the Bible as a whole, worldview, and mission, just as they should be, with the overarching focus on the glory of God. A creative, accessible, and eminently practical work."--Craig G. Bartholomew, director, Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics, Cambridge"A wonderful book. Ashford and Thomas take us to the heart of the Christian faith. Their writing is engaging and the idols they challenge are timely, making this a book full of insight for faithful Christian living today."--Michael W. Goheen, Missional Training Center, Surge Network of Churches-Phoenix, and Covenant Theological SeminaryAbout the AuthorBruce Riley Ashford (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is provost, dean of the faculty, and professor of theology and culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He has written a number of books, including Letters to an American Christian and Every Square Inch: An Introduction to Cultural Engagement for Christians. Ashford has been featured on NPR, Fox News, and The Gospel Coalition and in the New York Times and USA Today.Heath A. Thomas (PhD, University of Gloucestershire) is dean of the Herschel H. Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry, associate vice president fo