The Core of the Christian Faith

Discover a powerful approach to Christian formation and missional living

Internationally renowned author and speaker Michael Goheen offers a roadmap for Christian discipleship in today’s complex world. In this accessible and transformative book, Goheen provides church leaders, pastors, and Christians with a comprehensive framework to:

• reclaim the full power of the Gospel
• understand the Bible as a unified narrative of God’s redemptive plan
• develop a deep missional identity
• navigate cultural challenges with biblical wisdom

Drawing from years of speaking and writing experience, Goheen unpacks four critical components of Christian formation that equip believers to stand firm against cultural pressures, embrace their unique role in God’s kingdom, and live out a holistic faith.

Accompanying videos make this book ideal for group study and personal reflection. Whether you’re a new believer or a seasoned Christian, The Core of the Christian Faith will challenge and inspire you to live out your faith with renewed purpose and conviction.

1. An Opening Appeal
2. Reading the Bible as Jesus Did

Part 1: The Gospel of the Kingdom
3. What Is the Gospel?
4. The True Context of the Gospel
5. The Whole Truth of the Gospel
6. Continuing in the Gospel

Part 2: The Biblical Story
7. Israel’s Story, Part 1: The Book of Moses
8. Israel’s Story, Part 2: Life in the Land
9. The End of the Story, Part 1: Jesus
10. The End of the Story, Part 2: Mission and Consummation
11. The Urgency of Reading the Bible as One Story

Part 3: God’s Missional People
12. The Missional Vocation of God’s People
13. A Missional People Today, Part 1: Scattered Life
14. A Missional People Today, Part 2: Gathered Life

Part 4: A Missionary Encounter with Culture
15. A Missionary Encounter with Western Culture Today
16. The Story of the West
17. The Spirit of Postmodernity
18. The Spirit of Economic Modernity
19. The Spirit of Consumerism
20. A Closing Appeal

In an age overflowing with discipleship and spiritual-formation resources, Goheen has written a book that stands out as essential for Christians today. By focusing on the heart of the Christian faith, this accessible book offers both clarity and practical guidance on how the church can embody a missional, counter-formative presence in our cultural moment. As I read, my heart was stirred for Christ and my imagination ignited with fresh ways to faithfully participate in God’s mission today.

• John Crawford, executive pastor of formation, Redemption Tempe

Michael Goheen’s The Core of the Christian Faith is a rare and essential work that masterfully weaves together missiology, theology, worldview, and ecclesiology to equip the church for its missional calling. It challenges God’s people to bear witness to his kingdom in every sphere of life and culture, inspiring the church to live as a faithful presence in the world God loves and is renewing for his glory. This book’s wide-ranging insights, delivered in an engaging and memorable style, will make this my top recommendation for anyone in our church seeking to integrate their faith into every aspect of their life.

• David Fairchild, lead pastor, Christ Community Church of Houston; Texas regional director, Acts 29 Network

In this book, Mike Goheen distills a lifetime of pastoral and academic wisdom into a compelling vision for the church’s role in God’s redemptive mission. Built around a fourfold core for discipleship—the gospel, the biblical story, the identity of a missional people, and a missionary encounter with culture—it offers a practical and profound framework for faithful living. A timely and Spirit-filled invitation, this work will inspire congregations to embrace their vocation for the sake of the world.

• Summer Montoya, director of spiritual formation, Redemption Church Gilbert

A powerful presentation of what it takes for a missional church in the twenty-first century to be ‘a light to the nations.’ Compelling and persuasive!

• Gerald Anderson, director emeritus, Overseas Ministries Study Center

A much-needed and well-crafted basic text for the biblical study of the missional church.

• Darrell L. Guder, Princeton Theological Seminary

Here is the biblical depth needed for the contemporary church’s reflection on and practice of its missional identity.

• Richard Bauckham, University of St Andrews, Scotland (emeritus)

A must-read for anyone who wants a fresh, relevant, challenging vision for the church today.

• Sue Russell, Asbury Theological Seminary

One of the most down-to-earth, practical guidebooks I have read on how all so-called ordinary Christians can and should be playing their part in God’s mission.

• Christopher J. H. Wright, Langham Partnership, author of The Mission of God

This book represents the fruit of a long pastoral and academic journey. I will turn seventy years old around the time that this book is published. Its content is the culmination of over forty years of pastoring and teaching aimed at forming congregations that faithfully live the gospel for the sake of the world. It is a concentrated and popular summary of what I believe to be the very core of the Christian faith that has the power, by the Spirit, to form and shape God’s people for their vocation.

After wrestling with the question of which audience I should address, I decided finally to write a shorter book at a more popular level for the serious church member. Moreover, I have designed it as one component of a discipleship tool that can be used in local congregations. There are four parts—on the gospel, the biblical story, God’s missional church, and the missionary encounter with culture—that make up the core of our theological education at the Missional Training Center. Accompanying this book are a series of videos and other materials that can be used together in small groups as part of the formation process in local congregations. I am thankful to Cory Willson for securing the funds for these videos. These materials can be found at www.missionworldview.com and the videos on Calvin Seminary’s Youtube channel.

There are two people that I want to single out to thank. The first is Jim Kinney, executive vice-president at Baker Books. He commissioned and edited the first book I published along with Craig Bartholomew—The Drama of Scripture—over twenty years ago. This is the ninth book that I have worked on together with Jim. He has been wise and patient, and I am thankful for the role he has played in my academic and publishing career. The second is Doug Loney. Doug was my academic dean many years ago at a university where we were both faculty members. Since then, Doug has played a role in editing and wordsmithing a number of my books. I wanted this book to read well at a popular level, and Doug has immersed himself in the material of this book to help me with this task. His work has been sacrificial and important. I consider both men friends and am thankful for their selfless ministry.

At this point in my career, with many more years behind me than ahead of me, I find myself reflecting often with gratitude on those who have mentored and formed me either personally or by their writing. Of those still living whose work has shaped this book, I mention Al Wolters, Tom Wright, Richard Bauckham, Norman Shepherd, Michael Williams, Chris Wright, and Jim Skillen. Their influence on this book will be evident. I often tell my students that we are all formed intellectually by trusting someone. These are some of the people I have trusted to form me. And of course, the most important place goes to my wife Marnie, who has truly been my partner in ministry for forty-six years.

Over the past twelve years we have welcomed over 160 church leaders into our living room at Missional Training Center (Phoenix) to wrestle with the issues contained in this book. Further, we have been able to spend extended times of leadership training in Brazil, Hungary, and Chile with gifted leaders there also discussing all the issues in this book. Different cultural contexts bring fresh insight and wisdom. I consider it a tremendous privilege to learn from all these fine committed leaders who have so much wisdom in what is needed to nurture faithful congregations. I have been formed more by them than they have been by me. Much of what is written in this book is the fruit of interacting with and listening to them.

I am grateful for those in the body of Christ who steward their gifts and resources to serve Christ and his people faithfully. Andre and Barb Van Ryk are a couple who do this well. I am thankful for the way they bless our local congregation in Surrey, B.C., and also for their friendship, selfless love, and wise counsel to our family. I am honored to dedicate this book to them.

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