In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Defining and applying missional hermeneutics to Biblical text.

Resources & Links:

Proposals for a Missional Hermeneutic by GR Hunberger

Reading the Bible Missionally by Michael W. Goheen

Follow Mission ONE on Instagram | @partnerwithmissionone

Learn more on mission1.org 

Show Notes:

How can we use hermeneutics to see the Bible through new eyes? Today, we are analyzing GR Hunsberger’s Proposals for a Missional Hermeneutic article in order to fully explore four different approaches to interpreting the Bible missionally. We’ll apply these four aspects to a missional reading of scripture as we weigh their individual advantages and disadvantages. What is the difference between interpreting text with missional direction and missional purpose? How does culture and location affect missional hermeneutics? Why is it important to have conversations like these, and what do they achieve? Our goal this episode is to bring you one step closer to missions & missional theology, to the authority of scripture, and to the word of God! Join us in finding different ways to read and enjoy the Bible!

00:00 What are four different approaches to interpreting the Bible missionally?

02:00 How did you interpret the article?

04:30 Defining missional hermeneutics to distinguish “mission” and “missions”.

08:00 Can mission be considered an attribute of God? Why or why not?

12:35 Are Hunsberger’s four hermeneutical approaches sequential?

14:00 How can we use missional direction to interpret the Bible missionally?

17:20 What are the advantages of missio Dei language?

19:20 What is the power of the story?

23:05 How can we read scripture with missional purpose?

26:25 Does this perspective keep us at a self-help level?

28:20 Analyzing the link between missional purpose and missional story.

31:35 How is the Bible interpreted with cultural context?

35:00 Does this give people permission to ask non-interpretive questions outside of their community?

37:00 What is the effect of community, culture, and location on Biblical interpretation?

39:45 What is limiting about localizing interpretation?

43:40 How does the Bible engage culture?

46:25 What is the difference between this approach and the first approach? 

49:50 How does having various perspectives and interpretations bring us closer to the universal demands of scripture?

51:45 Why do conversations like these help us in missions?

53:35 How does this conversation reinforce the authority of scripture relative to the mission of the church?

55:15 What book do we recommend for more missional hermeneutics?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• The difference between systematic theology and Biblical theology, and its impact within the church of India.

Resources & Links:

Follow Mission ONE on Instagram | @partnerwithmissionone

Learn more on mission1.org 

Show Notes:

Are you ready for a trip around the world? This episode features Dr. Bobby Gupta, the President of the Hindustan Bible Institute and College, here to share in our conversation of contextualization, missions, and theology in the church of India. Our podcast today will focus on the contrast between systematic theology and Biblical theology and its impact within the church in India. What does the church in India look like? Why has Biblical theology played such a crucial role in disciplining India? What is the response to Biblical theology in India?

Afterwards, we explore effective gospel contextualization in the context of Indian culture, and its role in spreading the word of God in India. Along the way, we’ll discuss indigenizing missions in the church of India, linear thinking versus cyclical thinking, the challenges of spreading theology in Eastern nations, and much more! Join us as we figure out the key to discipling the nations!

0:00:00 Meet today’s special guest, the President of the Hindustan Bible Institute and College with a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Seminaries, Dr. Bobby Gupta!

0:03:30 What is the story of Bobby Gupta?

0:08:10 What is the profile of diversity in India?

0:10:20 How can we engage with unreached peoples in India?

0:14:00 What are the strengths and weaknesses of the church in India?

0:16:50 How would you define systematic theology?

0:20:30 How would you define Biblical theology?

0:25:10 Mission ONE midroll ad.

0:26:15 What category do most systematic theologies start with?

0:29:00 Why was the contrast between Biblical and systematic theology key to discipling India?

0:33:15 Linear thinking versus cyclical thinking.

0:37:20 What is the intersection of linearity and cycles within the Bible?

0:40:15 How have you seen the word of God impact someone from a Hindu background?

0:46:10 How does Biblical theology relate to effective gospel contextualization?

0:48:25 What are some examples of this?

0:51:15 Why is effective gospel contextualization beginning from Biblical theology crucial in the context of India?

0:55:15 What has been the response to Biblical theology in India?

1:00:20 What are the challenges of spreading theology in Indian culture?

1:04:30 What is essential to healthy contextualization?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Contextualization of Paul’s letter to Romans.

Resources & Links:

Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes by Jackson Wu

Defending Shame by Te-Li Lau

Reading Romans Backwards by Scot McKnight

Follow Mission ONE on Instagram | @partnerwithmissionone

Learn more on mission1.org 

Show Notes:

How did Paul reframe humanity’s universal problem in his letter to Romans? Today we’ll be taking a lens to Romans in order to contextualize the text for the present day. We’ll break down all the ways that Paul relativized, reframed, and re-narrated ideas of collective identity and status within Romans. Then, we use this perspective to explore status & identity in our modern culture in comparison to the Biblical world. Join us for a compelling journey of contextualization throughout Romans!

00:50 How does Paul frame his letters to the Romans? 

03:05 Why is Paul’s mission to Spain the driving force behind his letter?

05:20 How did the Greeks dishonor God through their prejudice against barbarians?

07:00 Where does status come from?

09:15 How does Paul renarrate status and collective identity?

12:30 Why is it helpful to understand collective identity status in Biblical context?

15:35 What is the common dynamic between Romans 3:9 and 10:12?

17:15 What is Paul trying to say about collective identity?

19:15 Honor-shame values within collective identity.

23:00 What makes status and identity challenging in our own culture?

25:45 Polarization in the modern world and in the Bible.

29:05 What is the universal problem of humanity? How does Paul reframe this in Romans?

31:55 What leads to eternal life in Romans 2?

34:30 What other resources merge missions and theology in Romans?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Honor-shame values during the time of Christ.

Resources & Links:

Family Relations in the Gospel of Mark by Narry F. Santos

Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes by Jackson Wu

Honor, Shame, and the Gospel by Christopher Flanders

Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes by E. Randolph Richards

Follow Mission ONE on Instagram | @partnerwithmissionone

Learn more on mission1.org 

Meet Narry:

Narry F. Santos is Assistant Professor of Practical Ministry and Intercultural Leadership at the seminary of Tyndale University in Toronto, Canada and Vice President of the Evangelical Missiological Society Canada. He completed a PhD in New Testament from Dallas Theological Seminary (1994) and another PhD in Philippine Studies (including anthropology and psychology) from the University of the Philippines (2006). He wrote several books, including Family Relations in the Gospel of Mark (Peter Lang) and Slave of All: The Paradox of Authority and Servanthood in the Gospel of Mark (Sheffield Academic Press), edited books like Mission and Evangelism in a Secularizing World: Academy, Agency, and Assembly Perspectives from Canada (Pickwick Publications), and contributed chapters in edited books and academic journals. He currently serves as part-time Senior Pastor of Greenhills Christian Fellowship (GCF) Peel and GCF York. He recently planted Saddleback South Manila and was its pastor for three years. Before Saddleback Church, he ministered at GCF in different pastoral responsibilities for 20 years, including helping plant six churches in Canada and four in the Philippines

Show Notes:

How did Mark reverse honor and shame during the death of Jesus? To answer this question, Dr. Narry Santos will be joining us today to help us better understand honor and shame during the time of Christ. Dr. Santos has two PhDs, one in the New Testament and another in Philippine Studies, and currently works as the Assistant Professor of Practical Ministry and Intercultural Leadership at Tyndale University. He will utilize his knowledge to break down and examine the dynamic of honor-shame as presented in the gospel, and how Mark reverses honor and shame during the climax of his chapters. We will also speak on relativization versus the natural family, the transformation of values, and how to identify honor-shame reversal and its patterns. Join us as we take a look at how the New Testament reverses shame to bring honor to God!

0:00:00 Meet Dr. Narry Santos, Assistant Professor of Practical Ministry and Intercultural Leadership at Tyndale University and Vice President of the Evangelical Missiological Society!

0:02:20 Who is your family?

0:04:40 How do your two PhDs influence your work?

0:07:25 What are some key points in your journey of learning about honor and shame?

0:09:20 What were your motivations for writing your second book?

0:10:30 How does your methodology differ from other works on honor-shame?

0:13:00 What is the thesis of your book? How can it be misinterpreted?

0:15:25 Explaining the ethical side of honor.

0:17:15 What were the honor-shame values during the time of Christ?

0:19:10 Understanding the phrase “blood is thicker than water” from an honor-shame perspective.

0:20:30 What does “relativizing” mean? How does it relate to Chapter 3 of Mark?

0:24:30 How does the ingroup language mark relations?

01:25:40 Is Jesus advocating we throw away our natural family?

0:28:30 Why is Jesus relativizing the family actually good for the family?

0:30:10 How did Jesus relativize family honor in Chapter 1 of Mark?

0:32:45 The practical effects of relativization.

0:35:45 What is the significance of the transformation of our values?

0:36:10 What are the challenges Jesus gives the disciplines to transform?

0:42:05 How do you see honor-shame reversal in the climax of Mark?

0:47:20 Is this honor-shame reversal unique to Mark?

0:49:40 How can people identify honor-shame reversal more easily?

0:54:25 How can these ideas help make the gospel relevant?

1:00:20 What do you wish theology would learn from missions and what do you wish missions would learn from theology?

1:03:00 What is your wish for missiology?

1:03:50 What resources do you recommend for people to learn more?

1:06:00 Do you have anything coming up?

1:07:05 What final words do you have for the audience?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Honor-shame culture in the Muslim world and how Jesus speaks to it.

Resources & Links:

Covered Glory by Audrey Frank

Try Me, I Am Jesus by Syed Ibn Seyd

Defying Jihad by Esther Ahmad

Follow Mission ONE on Instagram | @partnerwithmissionone

Learn more on mission1.org 

Meet  Audrey:

Audrey Frank is an author, speaker, and true-story teller. She and her family have spent over 20 years serving Muslims overseas and the in the US. Audrey is a popular international speaker on the honor-shame worldview and its impact on the Muslim woman’s journey to Christ. She trains women and men in the global mission community to engage the unreached with the Gospel of Christ. Audrey has a BS in Communication Disorders, an MA in Speech-Language Pathology, and a BA in Biblical and Intercultural Studies, but her greatest credential is that she is known and loved by the One who made her

Show Notes:

How does Jesus speak in Muslim culture? To find out, we have guest author and speaker, Audrey Frank, who spent over two decades serving Muslims internationally and within the US! She will be sharing her experience living overseas in Muslim communities in order to give us a clear understanding of the honor-shame dynamic. What does honor-shame culture look like overseas? What is the role of men and women within this paradigm? How is it different from a Western point of view?

We’ll explore various types of honor, including how to identify counterfeit honor, define ascribed honor, find achieved honor, and understand real honor. Then, we’ll also talk about the impact of Jesus and scripture on Muslim communities, especially within the hearts and minds of Muslim women. How do Muslims view their relationship with God? What is the effect of this on the way they view and uphold honor-shame? Find out how the voice of God speaks to all of us, here and on the other side of the world!

00:00 Meet Audrey Frank, author and international speaker who has spent over 20 years serving and working with Muslims worldwide!

03:35 What made you change your worldview on Muslim culture?

05:45 Honor-shame in Muslim communities.

07:15 What was your first moment of spiritual solidarity among women?

11:20 When did you realize your stories were all woven together? 

15:00 What was your experience with shame overseas?

16:30 How would you describe positional shame?

19:15 Fixing identity within honor-shame culture.

25:20 What roles do men and women play in the honor-shame paradigm?

28:30 How can women gain honor?

30:40 How do Muslims understand sin and the relationship between God?

33:45 What is the impact of the story of Mary and Joseph on Muslim communities?

35:40 What is counterfeit honor and how do we identify it?

38:10 How does Jesus speak to honor and shame in the Muslim world?

42:10 What is ascribed honor?

45:05 How did Jesus restoring the woman in the Bible relate to your real life experiences?

47:30 Removing social and theological obstacles in your relationship to God.

49:55 How does Jesus cleanse us?

53:30 What resources would you recommend?

In this episode, we talk about:

• Mina’s refugee journey from Afghanistan to America. 

Resources & Links:

Dancing in the Mosque: An Afghan Mother’s Letter to her Son by Homeira Qaderi

Follow Mission ONE on Instagram | @partnerwithmissionone

Learn more on mission1.org 

Show Notes:

In this episode, we meet an Afghan refugee named Mina, who currently attends ASU. Mina shares about her upbringing in Afghanistan. She shares her educational experiences and the culture of her people. She explains the history of her country and the current state of affairs. Mina tells her story of coming to America from Afghanistan and what it’s been like to be immersed in a new culture and country. 

This conversation is so important to clear up misconceptions that Americans may have about Afgani people because the news and media isn’t able to portray the full picture of what has been happening in Afghanistan. This conversation is also important to educate people on ways we can listen and learn from each other. There are ways to support and help refugees, but most importantly, we can love them, pray for them, be their friend, and keep sharing and learning from one another.

0:00:30-Mina’s Intro.

0:02:00-What was it like to grow up in Afghanistan?  

0:02:30- What type of education did she receive?

0:02:45- What was your University experience?

0:03:30- How was your education affected by Covid in 2020?

0:04:25- How did things escalate to chaos so quickly with the pandemic & the peace negotiation in Afghanistan? 

0:06:00-What precautions were taken to protect the girls?

0:09:00- What precautions did people take to protect their families from the Taliban and how did it backfire on them?

0:10:45- Why would the Taliban disapprove of artwork?

0:14:00- What does the Quran teach about artwork & how are its teachings different from the Taliban’s beliefs? 

0:15:45- How does being a minority in Afghan society increase your risk for conflict with the Taliban?

0:16:00-How many ethnic tribes, different  languages, & religious beliefs are there in Afghanistan?

0:17:50- What is the relationship between the Pashtuns and Hazaras?

0:20:50- Who does the name/Title of Afghans apply to?

0:21:35- What has been the result of the ongoing war of 35+ years? 

0:22:30- Where did most of the Hazaras go to escape the war or as a result of the war?

0:23:30- When was slavery aboloished of the Hazaras people?

0:24:45- What caused the civil war?

0:25:00- What has been the result of the civil war for the Hazaras people?

0:26:30- Why is education a top priority for Hazaras families?

0:29:15- What was the only option for Hazaras’ children?

0:29:40- What misconceptions do Americans have about Afghan women?

0:32:30- What are the differences in daily life in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over? 

0:37:15- How did the Taliban recently trick the Afghan women?

0:39:45- What are the practical effects of women’s rights being taken away?

0:45:00- What has been happening in the Hazaras community educational centers and why?

0:46:30- What has been the political analysis on girls and education since the Taliban permitted them to attend schools again?

0:49:30- What dreams do you have for yourself and your country? What hope do you have?

0:51:15-Who is carrying out this genocide against the Hazaras community?

0:52:15- What do you want Americans to know about Afghanistan?

0:56:15- How can people help refugees?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Defining and exploring the deep complexity of individual, cosmic, and collective sins.

Resources & Links:

Missing the Mark: Sin and Its Consequences in Biblical Theology by Mark E. Biddle

Follow Mission ONE on Instagram | @partnerwithmissionone

Learn more on mission1.org 

Show Notes:

How can a deeper perspective of sin help us triumph over evil? Today, we are taking a long, insightful look into defining and understanding sin. We’ll discuss sin on an individual, cosmic, and collective scale, and the theological implications that come with it. What is cosmic and collective sin? What causes people to get caught up in it? How can we use this understanding to find victory over sin for not only ourselves, but our community as a whole? We talk about unwillful sin versus willful sin, the dark, non-human forces and their role in human corruption, how scripture treats sin in comparison to our modern lens, and even more! Join us in learning the key to honoring God and taking one step closer to salvation!

00:00 Why do we need to talk about sin?

02:00 What is the definition of sin?

04:30 What would we add to this definition?

06:35 How does scripture treat sin?

09:10 How would ancient peoples view our modern concept of sin?

12:35 The distinction between willful sin and unwillful sin.

15:25 What is cosmic sin?

17:05 What does “cosmic” mean?

21:15 Why should we be aware of and understand cosmic sin?

23:20 How does individualism cause us to misread the scripture?

27:35 What is collective, social sin?

30:30 What is the physiology behind collective sin?

34:30 The corruption of power and environment.

37:20 What are the theological implications of cosmic and collective sin?

41:35 How does collective sin force us to recognize sin in our own lives?

43:35 How does it affect our view of salvation?

45:20 What is the impact of this view of sin on the ministry?

47:50 How can we find victory over sin?

49:20 Addressing systemic sin in our cultures.

52:30 How should we rethink discipleship?

53:50 What is our definition of sin?

55:20 How can we better understand the theology of sin?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Travel in the ancient world; what it looked like, the perils and dangers early Christian faced, and its ties to the spread of Christianity.

Resources & Links:

Paul and First-Century Letter Writing by E. Richards

Saved by Faith and Hospitality by Joshua Jipp

Follow Mission ONE on Instagram | @partnerwithmissionone

Learn more on mission1.org 

About Jason Borges:

Jason Borges works at the Asia Minor Research Center in Antalya, Turkey, where he does biblical research and training. He is a PhD candidate under John Barclay at Durham University, studying early Christian travel.

Show Notes:

Have you ever wondered what travel looked like in the New Testament? In this episode, we have Jason Borges, currently working at the Asia Minor Research Center where he does Biblical research and training! He is a PhD candidate at Durham University studying early Christian travel. Today, he’ll be sharing his knowledge of travel in the ancient world, as we take a deep dive into how travel relates to Christian identity, connections, and social networks of the era.

We also explore honor-shame in relation to travel, the concept of travel in the New Testament, as well as travel’s function in both ministry and theology. Then, we take a closer look at the significance of hospitality and how it helped to shape a collective identity in Christ for early Christians. What were the dangers early travelers faced? How can travel help us understand the text in a better perspective? Why was travel key to the spread of faith and community? We’re answering all these questions and more! Join us as we take a journey into the past and walk the roads forged by our early Christian predecessors!

0:00:00 Meet Biblical researcher Jason Borges, working at the Asia Minor Research Center in Antalya, Turkey!

0:01:50 What made you want to study under John Barclay?

0:02:55 How did you start studying travel in the ancient world?

0:05:00 What has been written on the topic so far by Chrstian scholars?

0:08:35 How did the Roman Empire’s infrastructure help spread Christianity?

0:11:30 What did travel look like in the ancient world?

0:14:30 The dangers of traveling.

0:15:15 How was travel viewed back then?

0:17:35 What precautions were taken when people would carry money?

0:19:05 What are some major Roman roads that still remain today?

0:21:25 Were there any forms of identification?

0:23:15 How does honor-shame relate to travel?

0:25:45 New Testament hospitality.

0:28:00 What were the benefits of this hospitality to travelers?

0:30:15 How does travel impact Philemon?

0:33:55 How did travel connect Paul and Philemon?

0:38:40 Why does Paul need to welcome Onesimus back?

0:41:25 What was the hierarchical shift between Onesimus and Philemon?

0:43:10 Where is travel significant to help understand the text?

0:47:25 What were unique challenges women faced when traveling?

0:48:15 What did patronage mean in a Biblical sense?

0:49:50 How does travel function in ministry and theology?

0:53:10 What should contemporary Christians be more aware of concerning travel?

0:56:10 The relationship between travel and early Christian identity.

0:58:35 What do missions need to learn from theology, and what does theology need to learn from missions?

1:00:15 What resources do you recommend?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• The doctrine of horizontal atonement, reconciliation, and salvation.

Resources & Links:

Follow Mission ONE on Instagram | @partnerwithmissionone

Learn more on mission1.org 

Show Notes:

Do you know how to honor God in a unifying, fulfilling way? Our guest today is Kristin Caynor, a researcher working on the Ephesians 2 Gospel Project! Kristin has her MTS from Duke Divinity and is currently working on her PhD at Trinity College as she dedicates her life to serving the global church the best way she can. She will be sharing her knowledge of Biblical text as we examine Ephesians 2 and its doctrine to horizontal atonement and salvation. We will discuss the beliefs and traditions of the early church in comparison to the modern church as we take a look at the text from the early church fathers’ eyes.

Then, it’s time to explore the Biblical basis behind cosmic and demonic powers at play in our world. We also talk about unity within the church and embracing a multi-cultural doctrine to bring glory to God. Why has Ephesians 2 been overlooked for so long? How does culture and context play a big role in how we interpret scripture today? What did the first 300 years of the church look like, and what has changed since then? By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to see an oft-overlooked text in a new light and new appreciation, so you can bring glory to God in a whole new way!

00:00 Say hello to researcher Kristin Caynor working on the Ephesians 2 Gospel Project!

02:20 What is the Ephesians 2 Gospel Project?

04:55 Examining the horizontal reconciliation in Ephesians 2:14-16.

06:40 What is significant about this collective reconciliation?

09:50 How did the early church fathers view this text? 

10:50 How did Kristin get involved in the Gospel Project?

13:20 Why do you think this text was overlooked for so long? How is the Project helping people to see it in a new perspective?

15:10 What did the first 300 years of the early church look like?

19:25 Why do we think differently about salvation compared to the early church fathers?

22:40 How has our culture affected the way we view and read the text of Ephesians 2?

24:15 Extrapolating the reconciliation of the Jews and gentiles.

28:10 What did slavery look like in the early church?

30:30 How did Gregory of Nyssa view slavery?

35:40 What scriptures tell us about the cosmic powers?

38:50 What is the Biblical basis behind demonic forces?

41:40 The mystery of the gospel.

43:30 How does God show his glory in Ephesians 2?

46:20 What do the early church fathers have to say about this?

51:10 How does disunity in the church dishonor God?

54:20 What do you hope people take away from this episode?

In this episode, we talk about:

What whiteness is and how it impacts us all.

Questions to bring awareness to how you see white theology.

Action steps we can take to break out of white theology thinking.

Books that have impacted our thinking and awareness.

About Tim Gombis:

Tim Gombis (Ph.D., University of St. Andrews, Scotland) is a former professor of New Testament at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, in Grand Rapids, MI. His publications include The Drama of Ephesians: Participating in the Triumph of God and Mark: The Story of God Bible Commentary (2021).

Resources & Links:

Check out this book mentioned in today’s episode:

The Christian Imagination by Willie James Jennings

Race: A Theological Account by J. Kameron Carter

Can “White” People Be Saved by Love L. Sechrest

Reading While Black by Esau McCaulley

I Bring the Voices of My People by  Chanequa Walker-Barnes

Follow Mission ONE on Instagram | @partnerwithmissionone

Learn more on mission1.org 

Show Notes:

We all see the world through our own unique lens, and there is so much to be gained by connecting with our brothers and sisters of different backgrounds. In this episode we’re discussing how whiteness and white theology impact everyone. It’s about having self awareness around your own identity and biases to understand how that impacts your relationship with christ, the church, and your brothers and sisters in the world. The goal is to honor each other’s unique experiences while simultaneously seeing each other as created in the image of God. We’re so honored to have Tim join us on the podcast to discuss this topic, and gain some insight that impacts each of us and theology on an individual level.

01:30 Meet Tim Gombis!

03:20 How does race help you explore your identity in Christ?

07:45 Approaching discipleship with conviction and curiosity.

12:00 What is whiteness?

17:50 Do I see everyone as the image of god?

22:30 How can we gain awareness not just about the issues in our country but globally?

28:40 How are we being affected in our country by unresolved trauma?

30:00 What is white theology?

33:30 Do you think the construction of whiteness makes the idea of color blindness impossible?

35:40 How the idea of colorblindness is ungodly.

40:00 Is white theology more about what’s selectively emphasized and minimized?

47:50 How do we break out of these white theology categories?

52:30 What are we missing by not asking ourselves the questions our brothers and sisters are asking?

59:00 How does a white biased view of theology affect our view of sin?

01:03:30 What are some books you recommend?

01:08:30 What does theology have to learn from missions, and what does missions have to learn from theology?