OpenTheo

What Is the Mission of the Church? with Brian DeVries

Life and Books and Everything — Clearly Reformed

What Is the Mission of the Church? with Brian DeVries

December 11, 2024
Life and Books and Everything
Life and Books and EverythingClearly Reformed

Mission is one of those words that Christians use all the time. So are words like “missions” and missionaries.” But what do they mean? Is “mission” even the best word to use to describe what Christians should be doing in the world? In today’s episode, Kevin talks with fellow Michigander, Brian DeVries, about his new book You Will Be My Witnesses. Brian has led church planting teams in South Africa and currently serves as a pastor and a seminary president in South Africa. He’s written an insightful and helpful book calling church and Christians to be witnesses for Christ in speaking, in living, in defending the faith, in working for church growth, and in suffering well.

Chapters:

0:00 Sponsors

1:51 Introductions

11:29 The Book and the Mission of the Church

25:19 The Concept of Witness

32:15 Five Witness Themes

39:17 Sponsor Break

41:00 On Evangelizing

52:35 The Church As Hospital, Temple, Embassy, School, and Fortress

58:07 Stop DoingThis, Start Doing That

Books & Everything:

In the Lord I Take Refuge: 150 Daily Devotions Through the Psalms

Desiring God | Great Joy

Puritan Treasures for Today

Westminster Theological Seminary Biblical Language Certificate

You Will Be My Witnesses: Theology for God's Church Serving in God's Mission

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditCopy Link

Transcript

More From Life and Books and Everything

It’s Christmastime with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
It’s Christmastime with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
Life and Books and Everything
December 18, 2024
We’ve all been waiting, and it’s finally here: the annual Christmas LBE. Listen in as the three amigos talk about Christmas movies, favorite books, wh
A Life of Hope and Hurdles with Andre Levrone and Sydney McLaughlin Levrone
A Life of Hope and Hurdles with Andre Levrone and Sydney McLaughlin Levrone
Life and Books and Everything
January 10, 2025
How can you shine as a Christian in the world of professional sports—when sometimes your dreams come true and often they don’t? What does it take to b
A Very Special Episode with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
A Very Special Episode with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
Life and Books and Everything
January 16, 2025
There has been some concern that Justin and Collin have been kept out of the “very special guest” designation. In order to make up for past offenses,
Evaluating the Thought of Cornelius Van Til with Keith Mathison and James Anderson
Evaluating the Thought of Cornelius Van Til with Keith Mathison and James Anderson
Life and Books and Everything
November 27, 2024
It is hard to exaggerate the influence of Cornelius Van Til (1895–1987) in conservative Reformed circles over the past hundred years. And yet, there c
The Life and Ministry of R.C. Sproul with Stephen Nichols
The Life and Ministry of R.C. Sproul with Stephen Nichols
Life and Books and Everything
November 21, 2024
Recently, Steve Nichols spoke at the Faithful Conference, an annual conference for Christ Covenant Church. After giving a lecture on R.C. Sproul, Stev
Everyday Gospel with Paul Tripp
Everyday Gospel with Paul Tripp
Life and Books and Everything
November 6, 2024
Most Christians in conservative churches are familiar with Paul Tripp’s books. He’s one of the most popular authors in the church today, with a knack
More From "Life and Books and Everything"

More on OpenTheo

Leisure: the Basis of Culture (with Christian Leithart and John Ahern)
Leisure: the Basis of Culture (with Christian Leithart and John Ahern)
Alastair Roberts
February 18, 2025
Christian Leithart and John Ahern join me for a discussion of Josef Pieper's essential essay 'Leisure: the Basis of Culture': https://amzn.to/4317bzk.
Is It a Sin to Remove Someone from Life Support?
Is It a Sin to Remove Someone from Life Support?
#STRask
February 3, 2025
Questions about whether it’s a sin to remove someone from life support, whether it would be morally wrong to attend a legal assisted suicide of an unb
How Should I Pray About Big Decisions If I Can’t Expect a Confirmation from God?
How Should I Pray About Big Decisions If I Can’t Expect a Confirmation from God?
#STRask
January 2, 2025
Questions about how we should pray about big decisions if we can’t expect to hear a “yes“ or “no” from God, what Greg means by “listening prayer,” and
How Can Those Who Are Happy with the Election Results Show Compassion to Those Who Are Devastated?
How Can Those Who Are Happy with the Election Results Show Compassion to Those Who Are Devastated?
#STRask
January 16, 2025
Questions about how those who are happy with the election results can show compassion to those who are devastated, navigating a relationship with an a
Are All Sins Equal to God?
Are All Sins Equal to God?
#STRask
January 9, 2025
Questions about whether God looks at all sins as being equally severe, how to reconcile Jesus’ statements that judgment will be degreed with the idea
The Most Influential Family in America with Obbie Tyler Todd
The Most Influential Family in America with Obbie Tyler Todd
Life and Books and Everything
February 13, 2025
Before the Bushes or Clintons, before the Kennedy or Kardashians, there were the Beechers—a sprawling family of preachers, suffragists, abolitionists,
If Christians Believe God Answers Prayer, Then Why Do They Buy Health Insurance?
If Christians Believe God Answers Prayer, Then Why Do They Buy Health Insurance?
#STRask
February 13, 2025
Questions about why Christians buy health insurance if they really believe God answers prayer and whether or not one should end all prayers about desi
Preaching and Pastoral Ministry with John Piper
Preaching and Pastoral Ministry with John Piper
Life and Books and Everything
February 20, 2025
In this wide-ranging interview, recorded live at Christ Covenant Church in conjunction with the Coram Deo Pastors Workshop, Kevin asks John about ever
Making the Most of Your Youth
Making the Most of Your Youth
Knight & Rose Show
December 20, 2024
Wintery Knight and Desert Rose offer advice to children, teenagers and young adults about how to get the most out of their young years. They talk abou
A Very Special Episode with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
A Very Special Episode with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
Life and Books and Everything
January 16, 2025
There has been some concern that Justin and Collin have been kept out of the “very special guest” designation. In order to make up for past offenses,
Can a Christian Pretend to Denounce His Faith to Save His Life?
Can a Christian Pretend to Denounce His Faith to Save His Life?
#STRask
January 30, 2025
Questions about whether pretending to denounce your faith to save your life will cause you to lose your salvation, whether lying to save others’ lives
Did David Rape Bathsheba?
Did David Rape Bathsheba?
Alastair Roberts
December 20, 2024
Within this podcast, I mention the following article: Ezra Sivan, 'The King’s Great Cover-Up and Great Confession': https://thelehrhaus.com/scholarsh
Our God Contracted to a Span
Our God Contracted to a Span
Alastair Roberts
January 2, 2025
The following was first published on my Substack: https://argosy.substack.com/p/43-our-god-contracted-to-a-span. Follow my Substack, the Anchored Arg
Symbolic History in the Gospels
Symbolic History in the Gospels
Alastair Roberts
January 23, 2025
The following was first published on my Substack: https://argosy.substack.com/p/19-symbolic-history-in-the-gospels. Lydia McGrew, 'Explaining away an
What Tactical Approach Should I Take with Someone Who Says the Trinity Isn’t Biblical?
What Tactical Approach Should I Take with Someone Who Says the Trinity Isn’t Biblical?
#STRask
January 20, 2025
Questions about a good approach to take with someone who says the Trinity isn’t biblical, how to respond to Jehovah’s Witnesses who say Jesus received