Exodus is More Than Escape: An Endorsement of Exodus and the Mission of God’s Holy People by Brian Russell
September 29, 2026
I had the privilege of reading an advanced reader’s copy of Exodus and the Mission of God’s Holy People by my mentor, friend, and seminary professor Dr. Brian Russell. I highly recommend this amazing work from Dr. Russell, published by Invite Press.
Dr. Russell is one of the top Wesleyan scholars in biblical studies. If you are not able to take a class with him, this is the next best opportunity. It is classic Dr. Russell in which he clearly explains the text and takes us even deeper.
Exodus and the Mission of God’s Holy People points out how most of us, including me, view Exodus: as the story of leaving Egypt.
Dr. Russell points out, “…Israel is free from Egypt by Exodus 15:21. The giving of the Ten Commandments occurs in Exodus 20. Yet there are forty chapters in the book… The true climax of the book of Exodus is the Lord’s glory filling the Tabernacle and God’s presence in the cloud and fire leading the redeemed and holy people of God into the world as witnesses.”
He goes on to say, “…it was easier for God to get Israel out of Egypt than it was for God to get Egypt out of Israel.”
Dr. Russell goes on to discuss key interpretive issues in Exodus such as why God elevates Israel, whether Pharoah has free will, and how we wrestle with slavery in the scriptures. Most importantly, we see how the call to be holy for Israel is also the call for all Christ-followers today.
Preachers, as you plan your small groups and programming for next year, I highly recommend considering this as a resource.
Small-group and bible study leaders would find this very helpful. Invite Press and Dr. Russell has a workbook scheduled for a release in early November, and I am making my pre-order today.
Lovers of the Scriptures will find this an accessible book which can be formative for devotional reading.
One final note: Dr. Russell is rumored to be willing to join a study via Zoom or make a clip and send your group a video. I highly recommend you reach out to him for this, his coaching services, or just to follow his blog, podcast, and future publishing.
Brian Russell Information
- The New Book: Exodus and the Mission of God’s Holy People
- Brian’s Website
- Brian’s Books
- Brian’s Podcast
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About David Wesley Donnan
I write online about Methodism, devotional insights, and personal reflections. My primary goal is to organize my thoughts and explore meaningful topics. Along the way, I hope my writing inspires and encourages others on their journey.
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What I Read to Prepare for General Conference
August 26, 2026
Later this month, the Global Methodist Church will gather in Johannesburg, South Africa, and I have the privilege of serving as a delegate to this important and historic meeting.
In anticipation of the gathering, I directed some of my reading toward this special event. Here’s what I read.
📖 #1 — Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
This is a powerful and heartbreaking story about a rural pastor who travels to Johannesburg in search of his son, who is in serious trouble. Along the way, he also tries to reconnect with other members of his family.
Set in South Africa in the mid-20th century, the novel offers insight into the cultural and racial tensions of the time—many of which still resonate today.
📖 #2 — Africa Is Not a Country: Notes on a Bright Continent by Dipo Faloyin
This book offers a wide-ranging overview of the African continent. It surveys its many geographical regions, cultures, and people groups while taking a hard look at the lasting problems caused by colonialism.
I especially appreciated how it challenged the tendency to speak of Africa as though it were one place with one story. It also offered an optimistic outlook for the continent’s future, along with helpful thoughts on how Westerners can contribute without causing further harm.
📖 #3 — Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
Other than seeing a few clips on social media, I wasn’t overly familiar with Trevor Noah. I picked up this memoir expecting it to focus mainly on his rise to fame. Instead, it is almost entirely about his upbringing in and around Johannesburg—and what it meant to be born at a time when his very existence was evidence of a crime that could have sent his parents to prison.
This memoir blew me away. It was exactly what I wanted as I sought to understand what growing up in this part of South Africa might have been like.
It was also surprisingly—and deeply—religious. Don’t expect a Christian book, and be aware that there is plenty of strong language. But Noah offers fascinating reflections on prayer, spiritual warfare, and the ways church experiences differed according to race and class. Early in the book, we learn that Trevor attended three services at three different churches every Sunday!
📖 #4 — For a Faithful Future: The Global Methodist Church—Essays on the Mission of the Church, a book honoring Keith Boyette, edited by Jessica LaGrone
This collection of essays offers valuable insight into the Global Methodist movement. If you are new to Global Methodism, I especially recommend the chapter by Walter Fenton.
I still have a few essays left to finish. If I don’t get to them in time, perhaps I’ll run up to the contributors at General Conference and ask each of them for a summary.
Seedbed generously donated a copy for us to give away at the South Georgia Annual Conference—and then promptly sold out of the book.
Seedbed, let’s collaborate! Give me a promo code to share. More people need to read this book.
🔥 Bonus — Faith and Fire: Methodism as a Movement of the Holy Spirit by David F. Watson and Kevin M. Watson
I also want to give a shout-out to my friend Dr. David Mills, who gave every member of our delegation a copy of this book. I haven’t gotten to it yet, but I wanted to express my gratitude to him.
David Watson and Kevin Watson are gifts to this movement, and I can’t wait to read it—hopefully before the end of 2026!
Have you read any of these? Did you enjoy them? Comment below
Join me in praying for a great General Conference and that God would be glorified!
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I may receive a small commission if you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!
About David Wesley Donnan
I write online about Methodism, devotional insights, and personal reflections. My primary goal is to organize my thoughts and explore meaningful topics. Along the way, I hope my writing inspires and encourages others on their journey.
More From David
Follow Me on Social Media
Editor’s Note: This episode was originally recorded in the summer of 2025. Some event references are now dated, but the conversation and theological content remain timeless.
Listen here, or iTunes, YouTube, or Spotify.
In this episode of The David Donnan Podcast, I sit down with renowned New Testament scholar Dr. David A. deSilva for a wide-ranging conversation about Scripture, theology, discipleship, and the life of the Church.
Our discussion begins with Dr. deSilva’s contribution to Five Views on the Gospel (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology), where he presents the Wesleyan understanding of the gospel. We explore what makes the Wesleyan vision unique, why it remains deeply biblical, and how it offers a compelling framework for understanding salvation, holiness, and the Christian life.
We also discuss Dr. deSilva’s work on Christian Faith and Doctrine: An Annotated Catechism for the Global Methodist Church, examining the importance of catechesis, theological formation, and helping believers grow in both knowledge and faithful discipleship.
From there, we turn to archaeology and the world of the New Testament through his book Archaeology and the Ministry of Paul: A Visual Guide. Dr. deSilva shares how historical discoveries enrich our understanding of Paul’s missionary journeys and help modern readers better appreciate the context of the biblical text.
Along the way we also discuss his notes in The CEB Study Bible with Apocrypha, his recent appearance on Disciple Dojo with James M. Smith, my blog post Should Global Methodists Pray for Pope Leo?, and his upcoming Journeys of Paul Cruise through Greece, Turkey, and Italy.
Whether you’re a pastor, Bible student, or simply someone who loves thoughtful conversations about Scripture and theology, this episode will deepen your appreciation for the richness of the Wesleyan tradition and the world of the New Testament.
In This Episode
- The Wesleyan understanding of the gospel
- Why Wesleyan theology still matters today
- Five Views on the Gospel and the Counterpoints series
- The Global Methodist Church’s Annotated Catechism
- Catechesis and Christian discipleship
- Archaeology and the ministry of the Apostle Paul
- Reading Scripture in its historical context
- The Apocrypha and The CEB Study Bible
- Dr. deSilva’s appearance on Disciple Dojo
- Should Global Methodists pray for Pope Leo?
- The Educational Opportunities “Journeys of Paul” Cruise
Books and Resources Mentioned
- Five Views on the Gospel (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology)
- Christian Faith and Doctrine: An Annotated Catechism for the Global Methodist Church
- Archaeology and the Ministry of Paul: A Visual Guide
- The CEB Study Bible with Apocrypha
- Dr. David A. deSilva’s faculty page
- Educational Opportunities – Journeys of Paul Cruise
- Disciple Dojo with James M. Smith
- “Should Global Methodists Pray for Pope Leo?” (David Donnan)
About Dr. David A. deSilva
Dr. David A. deSilva is one of today’s leading New Testament scholars and serves as the Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous books on the New Testament, early Christianity, biblical theology, and the Apocrypha, and is widely respected for making rigorous biblical scholarship accessible to pastors, students, and the Church.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I may receive a small commission if you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!
About David Wesley Donnan
I write online about Methodism, devotional insights, and personal reflections. My primary goal is to organize my thoughts and explore meaningful topics. Along the way, I hope my writing inspires and encourages others on their journey.
