Stephen Bevans and Roger Schroeder have given theologians, missiologists, and historians of Christianity a volume marked by both erudition and clarity. Treating ancient Asian and Western church development and subsequent Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Pentecostal, and Evangelical mission work and theology, Constants in Context is the most up-to-date and comprehensive book of its kind.

Beginning with the Luke-Acts construction of the mission of the church as the Spirit leading Christians to become a movement that is "missionary by its very nature," the authors then identity six "constants" of mission and three "types" of mission theology. These they trace deftly down through the ages, ending with an balanced, magisterial treatment of mission in the contemporary era as participation in the "mission of God"; as liberating service of the reign of God; as professing Jesus Christ as universal Saviour; and as prophetic dialogue involving witness and proclamation; liturgy, prayer and contemplation; work for justice, peace, and the integrity of creation; as interreligious dialogue; as inculturation; and ultimately as reconciliation of all in God's plan for peace in total unity in diversity of all creation.