Ephesiology: A Study of the Ephesian Movement
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
The city of Ephesus was the site of the most significant church-planting movement in the early church, with 40 percent of the New Testament texts relating to it. What made that city the epicenter of the movement? And how can we replicate sustained movements in a world that feels so different? This is not another methodology or attempt to re-contextualize evangelicalism. Rather, it is a journey from the launch of the church in Ephesus as it became a movement grounded in God’s mission and led by those who multiplied generations of disciples. Michael T. Cooper focuses on Paul and John as missiological theologians who successfully connected Jesus’s teaching with the cultural context and narrative of the people in Ephesus. Their ability to relate the God of all creation to a people who sought him in vain resulted in “the Way” transforming the religious, intellectual, economic, and social fabrics of the Ephesian society. Ephesiology offers a comprehensive view of the redemptive movement of the Holy Spirit in this city and compels us to ask the question: how can we effectively connect Christ to our culture? Through this study of a movement, discover how the Holy-Spirit still changes lives, cities, and the world.
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- Explores the tension between the first Chirstian movement and modern movements or the lack thereof in Western context
- Applies a missiological-theism as a foundational practice and underpinning to the purpose and mission of every disciple of Jesus Christ
- Seeks to stand in the gap of the broad spectrum of Chistian ecclesiology, explores its roots in the New Testament and remails committed to historic orthodoxy
- Introducing Ephesiology
- Church Planting Movements in the Book of Acts
- Launching a Movement I: Missiological Exegesis
- Launching a Movement II: Missiological Reflection
- Launching a Movement III: Missiological Theology
- Grounding a Movement: Missiological Theology II
- Leading a Movement
- Multiplying a Movement
- Sustaining a Movement
- The Anatomy of a Movement
I am convinced that Jesus has designed his church for world transformation--that world impact is baked into the very nature and design of the church. Michael Cooper knows this and has focused his scholarship on trying to figure out the the inherently movemental nature of the church. Ephesiology is precisely the kind of reflection on the missional potential of the NT church that is needed in our time. It deserves to be widely read.
—Alan Hirsch, Award winning writer on movemental theology, spirituality, and leadership including books like The Forgotten Ways and The Permanent Revolution. Founder of Forge Missional Training Network, 100 Movements, and The 5Q Collective.
I am presently working alongside several CP movements in Africa and the leaders of these movements are beginning to struggle with the tension between movement and institution. The American church watches and marvels at these movements but remains asleep as to their own condition. This book has the potential to challenge and clarify the changes needed in America and offer warning and help to the global movements!
—Rev. Rick Burke, Associate Director of Global Equipping, Unreached People Initiative, Reach Global - EFCA
Who better to dig into the model of Ephesus than a missionary church-planter, turned missiologist, turned mission leader? Michael Cooper brings helpful breadth and depth to this work. His extensive experience and ongoing exposure to the church and the need around the world give him a unique platform. After decades of pragmatic, programmatic models, the church needs an exegetically-driven path forward.
—Rev. Kerry Doyal, District Superintendent, Allegheny District - EFCA
Dr. Cooper's proposal is creative and the book should make a good contribution to existing literature on the theology of church planting movements. Among its merits is the fact that the book combines research in New Testament with current issues and realities in church planting movements worldwide, drawing upon Dr. Cooper's extensive experience in this area. I think the book will be welcomed by missiologists and church planters and it should find its place as a text in Bible colleges and seminaries.
—Dr. Harold A. Netland, Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Intercultural Studies, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Author of Christianity and Religious Diversity