Motus Dei: The Movement of God to Disciple the Nations

by Warrick Farah

Publisher:

William Carey Library

, 2021

Overview

Discover Your Place in the Movement of God

An incredible breakthrough in missions history is taking place as disciples of Jesus make more disciples of Jesus around the globe, particularly among the least-reached. But what exactly are these church planting or disciple making movements? Where are they occurring and what are their unifying features? How are they manifesting in diverse populations? And can you or your organization be instrumental in catalyzing more movements? Motus Dei, Latin for “movement of God,” seeks to answer these questions and more.

Warrick Farah has expertly synthesized an extensive conversation between mission practitioners, scholars, and seasoned movement leaders from around the world. The resulting in-depth analysis of movements provides a multi-disciplinary academic investigation of an emerging “movements missiology,” highlighting the importance of theology, social sciences, ethnology and anthropology, communications theory, leadership theory, and statistical analysis. Motus Dei locates the current Church Planting Movement (CPM) phenomenon within modern history, while tracing its roots back to the first century, and articulates a missiological description of the dynamics of Disciple Making Movements (DMMs) in Asia, Africa, and diaspora contexts in the Global North.

Offering over thirty first-hand accounts of indigenous churches planting churches among the nations, Motus Dei provides a seedbed for growing movements in diverse contexts. There are lessons to be learned here by anyone seeking to participate in the movement of God.

Key Features

• Provides a clear snapshot of the current "state of movement missiology"
• Helps the reader envision how a fresh movement can arise in their own neighborhood, city, or people
• Brings together theologians, historians, missiologists, and practitioners around the important topic of the movement of God

Contents

The Big Picture of Movements

• Movements Today: A Primer from Multiple Perspectives
• Observations Over Fifteen Years of Disciple Making Movements
• Addressing Theological and Missiological Objections to CPM/DMM
• How Exactly Do We Know What We Know about Kingdom Movements?
• How Movements Count

Missional Theology of Movements

• A Biblical Missiology of Kingdomization through Disciple Multiplication Movements of House Church Networks
• The Word Spread through the Whole Region: Acts and Church Planting Movements
• God’s Expanding Family: The Social Architecture of Ekklesia Movements
• John’s Missiological Theology: The Contribution of the Forth Gospel to the First-Century Movement in Roman Asia
• Households of Peace: Relationships, Boundaries, and the Gospel

Movement Dynamics

• Why Movements Rise and Fall
• From Her Perspective: Women and Multiplication Movements
• How Ethnodoxology Drives Movements
• Media to Movements: A Church Planting Fusion
• Terra Nova: Opportunities of Movement Work in Diaspora Contexts

Case Studies

• The Way of Life: Transference of Spiritual DNS within Movements in East Africa
• Bhojpuri Case Study
• A Thai Multiplication Movement
• Movements in Iran and Algeria: The Second-Generation Challenge

Movement Leadership and Next Steps

• The Profile of an Effective Movement Catalyst
• Pursuing Movements: An Organizational Paradigm Shift
• Maturing the Missiological Discourse on Discipleship Movements

Praise for Motus Dei

God is working in remarkable ways in parts of his world. Yet terms like Church Planting Movements and Disciple Making Movements have stirred strong debate in mission theology circles. Are we talking about the Spirit, who "blows where he wills," or cultural captivity to technique, strategy, speed, and scale? This book is important, whatever your perspective. And perhaps there is a third way. Despite the fact that God has chosen to work through movements at different points in history, the missiology of movements is relatively underdeveloped. The multiple authors in this volume help us take a step back from the slogans and action and ask, "What is actually going on here?" This reflective work is vital if we are to join in God's transforming work with humble boldness and find that third way.

Paul Bendor-Samuel, MRCGP, MBE, Executive Director, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies

There are more than three hundred thousand churches in the United States; that is twenty-three churches for every Starbucks. With so many good churches, most American pastors have never seen a movement of thousands of non-Christians becoming Christians. I wonder if that is why some church leaders have spoken out against movements. I listened as one critic referred to movements as "diabolical." He should not have said that. I forgave him. Another referred to the work of some missionaries as "gimmicks." I forgave him as well. But in non-Christian countries, we are praying for movements. Movements are always an answer to prayer. I think of Samuel Zwemer, the great "apostle to Islam," who thanked God for five converts in his lifetime. Zwemer's prayer was Luke 5:5-"Lord, we have fished all night and caught nothing, but at your word we will let down our nets again." By a miracle, great numbers of fish filled the nets. Today, in a few parts of the non-Christian world, we are seeing what Zwemer longed to see. Let's keep praying to the Lord of the harvest. This is what Motus Dei is all about. Warrick Farah tells the story of movements in this superb book.

Robert A. Blincoe, PhD, President Emeritus, Frontiers US

As a local church missions pastor seeking to equip and send workers to the fields that are ripe for harvest, I find much of the movement literature communicates a simplistically formulaic methodology. This is not what you will find in Motus Dei. I am excited for this volume, which brings together theologians, historians, missiologists, and practitioners around the important topic of the movement of God.

Rev. Dave C., Global Pastor, Park Community Church, Chicago, IL

Issues surrounding movements have risen to the forefront of missiology, creating a need for a more robust theology of movements. Motus Dei is a window into the dynamic discussion that is reshaping how the global church is fulfilling the Great Commission. If there was any one book that provides the clearest snapshot of the current "state of movement missiology," this is it.

Ted Esler, PhD, President, Missio Nexus

Any phenomenal movement of God that emerges with force and scale will attract both interest and critique. This volume is a comprehensive and reasoned response from a sterling collection of scholar-practitioners. Together they establish not only the plausibility of these ecclesial movements on the edges of God's kingdom, but help the reader envision how a fresh movement can arise in their own neighborhood, city, or people.

Brad Gill, Editor, International Journal of Frontier Missiology

Product Details

• Title: Motus Dei: The Movement of God to Disciple the Nations
• Author: Warrick Farah
• Publisher: William Carey Library
• Print Publication Date: 2021
• Pages: 376
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• ISBNs: 9781645083481, 1645083489
• Resource ID: LLS:MOTUSDEI
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T01:35:48Z

About Warrick Farah

Warrick Farah serves with One Collective as a missiologist and theological educator in the Middle East. He holds a doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary. His research interests include Muslim studies, frontier missiology, integral mission, and discipleship movements. He has published in journals such as EMQ, IJFM, and Global Missiology and coedited Margins of Islam: Ministry in Diverse Muslim Contexts (2018). Warrick is the founder and a facilitator of the Motus Dei Network.