The Bethlehem Story: Mission and Justice in the Margins of the World
Ebook
Overview
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but why Bethlehem? Why should God purpose to become man somewhere so marginal, so insignificant? This book follows the unfolding story of Bethlehem through the Bible, from the death of Rachel to the birth of Jesus, uniquely combining four perspectives: a) the Bible as one developing story, b) the Bible as a Middle Eastern book, c) insights from contemporary Palestinians from Bethlehem, and d) what this means for mission. Suffering Rachel, refugee Rahab, vulnerable Ruth, overlooked David all have a connection with Bethlehem. If Bethlehem shelters refugees, then so must we. If Bethlehem welcomes strangers, so must we. If Bethlehem weeps at injustice, and takes a stand against empire, so must we. What we see in Bethlehem’s story, we apply to our own stories. We enter into Bethlehem’s story with as much cultural and geographical colour and flavour as we can muster in order to feel the crises, taste the dust, hear the lambs bleating on the hillside. And there we find the Christ-child, son of David, the Good Shepherd, Lion of Judah, Bread of Life, Lamb of God, fulfilling all the recurring themes, taking his inevitable place as rightful king.
“A thoughtful, provocative, and sometimes beautiful study of
Bethlehem in the Scriptures, in which missional, practical, and
biblical theology come together in fruitful and often challenging
ways.”
—Andrew Wilson, teaching pastor, King’s Church London
“Writing with an insight built on deep knowledge of the Bible and
the Middle East, Andy McCullough has shown us a new way of reading
the story of salvation. Time and again, God chooses to work in the
people of an in-between place, a marginal and hospitable place—a
‘little town,’ rather than the centers of power. Andy reminds us
that God undermines the expectations of empire, surprising the
world with inclusive and self-giving grace.”
—Sue Barclay, lecturer and tutor, All Nations Christian College,
Easneye, UK
“In this well-thought-out book, McCullough takes the role of a
pilot and flies us to places that portray the locations,
characters, and history in a sensible and originative way. The
integration of both historical and biblical facts alongside
theology makes it a distinctive and one-of-a-kind book. I highly
recommend it!”
—Rajai Samawi, pastor, Upper Nazareth Baptist Church, Israel
“In this excellent book, Andy McCullough shows us that the
Bethlehem of the Bible reflects the heart of the kingdom of God—a
place in the margins where the stranger is welcomed, shame is
removed, injustice is confronted—and God’s redemption plan for
mankind is unveiled.”
—Steve Tibbert, senior pastor, King’s Church London
“Andy McCullough’s tour guide for Bethlehem has a time machine. You
will visit the Bethlehem of Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and many
surprising others. You will learn God’s preference for Bethlehem
over Jerusalem, the ordinary over the impressive. How God uses the
marginalised to bring about his purposes. Let this experienced
missionary show you how Bethlehem threads through Scripture and has
much to teach us today about God’s ways.”
—E. Randolph Richards, provost and professor, Palm Beach Atlantic
University
- Title: The Bethlehem Story: Mission and Justice in the Margins of the World
- Authors: David Devenish, Andy McCullough, Jack Sara
- Publisher: Resource Publications
- Print Publication Date: 2021
- Logos Release Date: 2021
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781725269286, 9781725269262, 9781725269279, 1725269287, 1725269260, 1725269279
- Resource ID: LLS:9781725269286
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T20:23:16Z
Andy McCullough is teaching pastor at Reading Family Church, UK.
He has an MTh in Contextual Theology with Mission and is the author
of Global Humility: Attitudes for Mission (2017).