Jun. 2025
Missional Bible Reading
By, Ahn Geon-sang
1. The author’s life and writing intention
The author was graduating from seminary, he became addicted to the dream of missionary work and left for Africa as an age of 40. There, he met God’s people and he was challenged even more. As a missionary, pastor, and research professor, he lectures on missiology and biblical hermeneutics with his academic work that integrates mission and biblical hermeneutics, and lives as a researcher at Fuller Theological Seminary.
2. Purpose of the book
The ordinary church members will read the Bible missionally and live a missional life.
3. Configuration
(1) Contents
There is a saying that “the Bible interprets the Bible by itself.” This is the principle of biblical interpretation, and this book is faithful to this principle.
(2) Readers
The author identifies the intended audience as “ordinary laypeople who like to read the Bible who want to live a missional life in their daily lives.
(3) Missional Interpretation
In particular, the Bible does not define ‘mission’ and ‘church’ in detail in detail, but it is enough to interpret mission with images and metaphors. Therefore, the message claimed in the entire Bible is mission, and therefore the Bible must be interpreted missionally.
(4) Interpretation of the Gospel of Matthew
The author refers to the Gospel of Matthew, which connects the middle between the Old Testament and the New Testament, as a missional Bible. “The Kingdom of God,” plays an intermediate role that connects theory and practice. A life that shows the identity of salt and light is a missionary life.
4. Misconceptions about discipleship programs
The author presents chapters 4 and 5 of Matthew as the practical principles of mission, and 28:19-20 as a code of conduct for mission.
However, it also describes the author’s personal misconceptions about “discipleship” in Church programs. “Missional discipleship” (132) and “Discipleship training as a means of Korean revival.” (132) “Many of the programs in the church today have lost their meaning” (136).
The author uses the concept of proper discipleship as “all disciples of Jesus are missionaries” (135), and practice and training are the way of life that God’s people should live. “The church is a community that practices and trains together in order to make disciples and disciples of all nations” (136). Therefore, although the church conducts discipleship with pure and correct intentions, the form of life accepted and lived by ordinary believers may be different from the purpose of education. Therefore, we should not misunderstand the original purpose of discipleship training by looking at the phenomenological sid
선교적 성경읽기 (안건상)
1. 저자의 삶과 집필 의도
저자는 신대원을 졸업하고 선교의 꿈을 갖고 40살의 독신으로 아프리카로 떠났다. 그 곳에서 핍박과 박해에도 굴하지 않는 하나님의 사람들을 만나 더욱 도전 받았다. 선교사로, 목회자로 그리고 연구 교수로 선교학과 성경 해석학을 강의하며 Fuller Theological Seminary와 한국 총신대학원에서 연구자로 살고 있다.
2. 저서의 목적
교회의 평범한 성도들이 성경을 선교적으로 읽고 선교적 삶을 실천하며 살아가길 바램이다.
4. 저서의 구성
(1) 내용
“성경이 성경을 스스로 해석한다”는 말이 있다. 이 말은 성경 해석의 원리이며 본 서는 이 원리에 충실하였다. 따라서 저자는 성경 전체가 선교 이야기인 것을 성경을 통해 해석하였다.
(2) 독자
저자는 예상 독자를 “일상에서 선교적 삶을 살아 가길 원하는 성경 읽기를 좋아 하는 일반 평신도”라고 서문에서 밝히고 있다.
(3) 선교적 해석
저자는 성경 66권을 관통하는 의미의 Key Word를 ‘선교’라고 주장한다. 특히 성경에서 ‘선교’와 ‘교회’를 구체적이고 자세히 정의하고 있지 않지만 이미지와 은유 등으로 선교를 충분히 해석하고 있다고 한다.
(5) 마태복음의 해석
저자는 구약과 신약의 중간을 이어주는 마태복음을 선교적 성경이라 말하고 있다. 성도는 소금과 빛의 신분을 나타내는 삶이 선교적 삶이다.
4. 제자 훈련 프로그램에 대한 오해
저자는 “제자 훈련”에 대한 오해도 기술하고 있다. “선교적 제자도”(132), “제자 훈련을 한국식 부흥의 수단으로 이용하려 한다.”(132), “오늘날 교회에서 시행되는 많은 프로그램은 그 의미를 상실했다”(136) 고 한다.
저자는 올바른 제자에 대한 개념으로 “예수님의 모든 제자가 선교사다”(135) 실천과 훈련은 하나님의 백성이 살아가야 할 삶의 방식이다.” “교회는 제자가 되고 모든 민족으로 제자 삼기 위해서 함께 실천하고 훈련하는 공동체이다”(136)라고 주장한다.
May. 2025
Why Is It a “Scandal”? — The Kingdom of God We’ve Overlooked
Jesus showed little interest in promoting His own name. In fact, He often told people not to speak about Him. Despite this, news about Him spread rapidly. Dallas Willard contrasts today’s church evangelism (or marketing) with Jesus’ own approach. While modern churches plead, persuade, and appeal to people, Jesus said things like, “Don’t follow me,” or “Tell no one what I did.” Sometimes, He even discouraged followers by highlighting the cost of discipleship, such as having nowhere to lay His head (Matt. 8:20).
The irresistible yet uncomfortable appeal of Jesus lay in how He unsettled people. Unlike today’s churches, which often aim to remove discomfort and fit societal preferences, Jesus associated with tax collectors, sinners, and prostitutes — relationships that scandalized His contemporaries. He Himself said, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Matt. 11:6), and Peter described Him as a “stone of stumbling” (1 Pet. 2:8). So what was it about this discomforting Jesus that still captivated hearts?
“Mindset That Cultivates Growth”
The author categorizes three types of mindsets that adults adopt when interacting with young people:
- The Coercer Mindset: Adults with this mindset set high standards but fail to provide adequate support to help the youth meet those expectations. They may express belief in someone’s ability but don’t offer the specific guidance needed. This can lead to burnout, as young people feel pressured without the resources to succeed. Many churches fall into this mindset, expecting youth to serve without offering proper mentorship or support for growth.
- The Protector Mindset: These adults, fearing the harshness of high standards, prioritize self-esteem over achievement. They encourage safe choices and provide unconditional support to avoid failure. While this provides comfort in the short term, it prevents young people from facing challenges and limits their growth opportunities. Youth raised with this mindset may struggle with decision-making and responsibility, often feeling discouraged by even minor setbacks.
- The Mentor Mindset: The ideal mindset, according to the author, is a balance of high expectations and high support. Mentors not only offer advice but actively help young people achieve success, proving their value. They communicate with empathy and encouragement, saying things like, “You may face difficulties, but I will help you overcome them,” or “You can grow, and you are not alone.” This approach helps youth understand the value of challenges while ensuring they don’t feel isolated.
“Weaknesses of Bill Gates Yet His Remarkable Life”
Bill Gates is a polarizing figure—some admire him, others don’t. However, no one can ignore his influence, which surpassed that of many nations. He played a key role in making personal computers accessible to the masses during an era dominated by large, fixed computers. At one point, 90% of the world’s PCs ran his operating system. Additionally, he is one of the world’s top philanthropists, having donated over $20 billion. We can learn valuable lessons from his life.
Firstly, effort: Many people romanticize the genius and inspiration of highly successful individuals. But Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, known for his work on “flow,” argued that creativity is not about romantic inspiration but the result of relentless effort and focus. Beethoven’s piano keys were worn down by years of practice. Bill Gates, too, was known for his intense focus on reading and his passion for computers.
Secondly, overcoming weaknesses: Despite his genius, Bill, like everyone, had many weaknesses. He was labeled “odd” by those around him and considered to have traits akin to autism. Additionally, he struggled with sales and management. Weaknesses can lead to failure, but when aligned with God’s grace, they can become spaces for growth and collaboration. Bill acknowledged his shortcomings and valued those who could complement him in his endeavors.
Lastly, God’s grace: As Bill aged, he often expressed gratitude for his good fortune. He recognized that if he had been born in a poor, war-torn country, his life could have been very different. He acknowledged his luck and viewed it as a form of divine grace, always thankful for the blessings he received.