Publisher's Synopsis
Called to Reign is a study of who we are as the people of God, what He has in store for us, and how we are to live in this age. It is a call for Christians to live as the Bride of Christ, but it's also a call for the local church to teach the story of God's kingdom deliberately and strategically.For many, the Bible is little more than an ancient collection of random stories that are disconnected and largely irrelevant. Church educators and Christian publishers often foster this misconception (inadvertently) by developing curriculum plans that study isolated biblical texts but never consider the broader narrative of the Bible.Edwards, a pastor, publisher, and Christian educator, argues that the ancient Hebrew wedding, as understood by Jesus and the biblical writers, provides a model for understanding the biblical story and, consequently, all of human history. If this is true, then, according to Edwards, "the primary metanarrative of the Bible is an epic and royal love story that is extremely relevant to every person who ever lived but especially relevant to Christians."When we begin to understand the 'wedding plans' that define the biblical story," Edwards writes, "we can better understand who we are as the people of God and what it is He expects from us now and in the age to come. This understanding should influence ongoing discipleship efforts in the church as well. We need to be strategic in our efforts to teach learners of all ages the biblical story not merely as a string of historical events but as a comprehensive kingdom love story that reveals the loving character of our royal Groom, the intimate nature of the relationship He desires with us and, finally, our present and future responsibilities as His sweet and beloved bride."In Called to Reign, Edwards draws the following conclusions from a broad study of the sweeping biblical narrative...1. The story of God's people is a single story about a single people.2. The people of God are the Bride of Christ.3. The biblical story is the story of the Bride of Christ.4. The story of the Bride of Christ is the story of God's kingdom.5. The story of God's kingdom is an unending story.6. The Bride of Christ finds expression in and through the local church.7. The Bride of Christ has been called to reign with Christ now and in the age to come.8. God's people reign in this age as they exercise sacrificial love in the relationships of their lives."Many good works have been written to well demonstrate the prominence of the wedding motif and its significance in the Bible," Edwards says. "I hope to build on that work and demonstrate that this familiar motif reveals a driving purpose through the entire biblical story, stretching from before creation into the timeless future. I invite you to join me in a study of this divine story."
