Book Description
Believers universally affirm that evangelism is a vital part of what God calls them to do, but very few make a practice of doing it. They feel awkward and ill-equipped, either because they've never been trained, or because their lack of interaction with non- Christians prevents them from using and developing the skills they do have. Bill Hybels addresses these concerns and signals the next era in personal evangelism with Just Walk Across the Room. Drawing on fresh perspectives from the author's own experiences, as well as time-tested and practical illustrations, Just Walk Across the Room encourages and equips readers to routinely initiate spiritual conversations with those who don't know Christ.
Customer Reviews:
The Way Evangelism Should Be.......2007-09-30
This is the way I have always thought evangelism should be. Other methods of sharing the Gospel always seem canned or like a "project". This is an active take it or leave it approach. This book is easy to read and contains plenty of real life application examples for everyone.
Half the Gospel is no Gospel at all.......2007-08-21
I have just read this book at my Pastor's encouragement. He bought a large box of them and passed them out after church. The book is easy to read and shares many "salvation" experiences which are exciting to read. The book does encourage us Christians (Christ followers in the book) to get out of our comfort zones and build relationships with others with the purpose of sharing Jesus with them and this is something we as the body of Christ need to do.
My problem with the book is this, there is no stressing a repentance from sin. Just basically, believe in Jesus. This is a half a gospel. You must believe in Jesus, but you must be born again, ie, you must repent from your sin. The theme of repentance is throughout the Bible. John the Baptist proclaimed it and there was none greater amoung men. It is one of the last things told us in the end of Revelation. Repent for I am coming quickly.
This book is a soft sell of the gospel so people can avoid the old fashioned truth that they are a sinner in need of a saviour. And sins need to be repented of. To really believe in Jesus is to take the whole Bible and believe it and do it. Hell is real and the unrepentant will go there.
Folks, there is something wrong if a hell bent sinner can attend church week after week and feel comfortable. I'd say the pastor is not doing his job. The great commission is about making disciples not "casual believers." The martyrs of our faith didn't die so we could cop out teaching a "Jesus" that is not the real Jesus of the Bible.
While you are out walking across the room, remember the lost are going to hell and need not only to believe on Jesus but repent of their sins. Lets not neglect such a great truth as this.
Practical anecdotes.......2007-08-06
The most valuable part of this book is not that it teaches something new about evangelism, which essential it doesn't. In fact, it really dresses up some basic and obvious ideas about evangelism that have been stated elsewhere, but with the catchy new slogan, that one needs only "walk across the room" to affect someone else. What is most valuable is that it lets the church-world in on the heartbeat of Willow Creek, the uber-mega-church outside of Chicago. Hybels, their lead pastor, here spells out his passion for sharing his faith and calling others to faith, the one thing that defines Willow Creek.
The book is filled with stories of the experiences of Hybels in others in making that effort to talk to someone about the Christian faith. He recommends three important steps in doing so: developing friendships, discovering stories (meaning discover the other person's background), and discern next steps (such as offering resources for them to read or planning further times to meet them). He also recommends having a before-and-after story of your own coming to faith, and in fact had his congregation write out their own stories and email them in to the church for an editorial review. He discourages us from being "avoiders" who are not persistent with evangelism or "erupters" who impatiently over-share stories of faith to people who aren't interested. And he cautions that personal, mystical experience are not primary material for evangelism. As for theology to be shared in evangelism, he reproduced what is basically the Four Spiritual Laws tract.
All of this is very practical for someone learning the value of evangelism and the importance of sharing their faith. That's a necessary part of the life of faith. However, there is a dramatic and overlooked drawback to the book. The book is really a purpose-driven book, but "driven" should be in all caps. Hybels does not seem to rest peacefully in God's sovereignty. He does say early on in the book that calling people to faith is the Holy Spirit's work, but he also says that our choosing to share our faith affects someone else's eternity. Hybels does not sound like a rested man. In the opening story, he describes a day in which he was on a boat and his heart "was in a posture of worship." Then he realizes he is near the campground where he became a Christian and decides to spend the day taking a cab to go see this spot. I get the sense he was too restless to stay in the posture of worship. While learning to articulate the faith is an important part of spiritual growth, learning how to enjoy God and creation without the necessity of production is perhaps more so.
Nonetheless, as a stepping stone along the way, I would recommend this book, especially for discussion among church small groups.
Friendship only -- NOT evangelism.......2007-08-03
What's good about the book:
- Hybels encourages people to have more concern for the lost (though he calls them merely the "unconvinced").
- He rightly points out that the time is very short and the need is urgent.
- He suggests relying on the Holy Spirit in our witnessing.
What's bad about the book:
He follows through on none of this advice.
I was shocked that he was content to "be friendly" to those who are headed for hell, usually for 5 or 10 years, before "feeling the freedom" to invite them, not to the Savior, but to church! In example after example, he tells of people who ask directly about God, admit they are confused about spiritual matters, are dealing with death, etc., and still he fails to utter the gospel message--the only thing that is the power of God to salvation.
The only message he shares with the lost (after several years, if at all) is merely one of life enhancement--come to church/Jesus for a better life--rather than the biblical gospel of repentance and faith.
In one shockingly frank example, Hybels tells of a man who's been attending his church since its beginning. After attending Willow Creek FOR A COUPLE DECADES, the faithful member "met Christ." The man says, "I probably would have accepted Jesus Christ much sooner if someone had explained the gospel to me" (p. 129). Amen! Amazingly, this example is given as a success story of the "friendship evangelism" promoted by the book. What a sad admission. May our churches not be filled for decades with false converts, but with born-again believers who faithfully share the biblical gospel!
Yes, we do need to be kind and loving toward all people, but this is not evangelism; this is just obedience in living a holy, God-honoring life.
Yes, we must rely on the Holy Spirit in our witnessing--that's why we are given the Holy Spirit in the first place: we receive power to obey the commands to "be witnesses to Me...to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8) and to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). If we're relying on the Holy Spirit, this is what we'll be doing.
Hybels not only consistently fails to get any kind of soul-saving, eternity-changing message into people's hands, but much worse, he never misses a chance to mock and belittle those who have enough compassion for the lost to actually verbalize the gospel message.
In addition, the book is littered with biblical errors: Hybels states "Jesus left his bodily form on earth and ascended to heaven" (p. 36); His death "declared amnesty for everyone" (p. 24); after seeing the blinding light, Paul mystically "sensed Jesus Christ in the brilliant blaze" (p. 68; Scripture says Paul asked who it was and Jesus identified Himself); he repeatedly calls the lost "God's kids" (the Bible calls them "children of the devil" and "children of wrath"); etc.
In conclusion, I agree wholeheartedly with Hybels' statement in the book: "When eternity is at stake for our listeners, I argue that we must do a better job of telling them." Please, if you truly love the lost and want to reach them, don't waste your time reading this book. Learn to share the gospel simply, inoffensively, effectively, and biblically--invest your time in reading "The Way of the Master" by Ray Comfort, and reap eternal results.
The Way of the Master
The Best in Personal Evangelism.......2007-07-22
This is the finest book on personal evangelism that I have read in the 36 years I have been actively involved in the Church. Poignant, profound yet simple to understand and a delight to read, this book compel you to rethink your hestitancy to begin to share your faith with others - a real challenge from start to finish!
Book Description
Unbinding the Gospel: Real Life Evangelism is a book for church groups to study. It's a book for pastors who want the truth about the state of our churches. It presents a clear-spoken, hopeful vision for a future of sharing our faith in Christ. It gives us a way to get there--without formulas, but hand-in-hand with God!
Easy to read, witty, thoughtful and genuinely spiritual, Unbinding the Gospel is based on a four-year research project on superb evangelism. Author, pastor, and lawyer Martha Grace Reese interviewed more than 1,000 people in some of the most successful evangelistic congregations in the country.
Grounded in thorough research, the book sparkles with practicality. It is enthusiastically endorsed by Brian McLaren, John Thomas, George Hunter, Todd Hunter, Sharon Watkins, Wes Granberg-Michaelson and Cliff Kirkpatrick. Richard Peace, professor of evangelism at Fuller Theological Seminary says, "This should be required reading in all mainline churches. Our continued existence may depend upon it!"
Customer Reviews:
Unbinding The Gospels - easy to read.......2007-09-17
Our Regional Office for Oregon (Christian Church-Disciples of Christ) recommended this book for Pastors, Elders and Congregational study for 2007-2008. It is simply an easy guide to the Gospels and well worth a read for anyone!
Useful Work.......2007-08-23
Unbinding the Gospel is a very useful book in a field overfull with relatively theoretical books. It is fact filled, starting with a base in a solid survey of growing churches. But it gets to real issues of parish ministry and outreach. The survey asked the right questions about how to engineer any kind of growth in a more main-line culture and theology, in which, specifically, it is NOT asumed that eternal damnation is at stake.
Ms. Reese and her associates designed a telling survey. They discovered that only a small percentage of churches "so conceived and so dedicated" have experienced significant growth. That is the bad news. But then they delved into the culture, leadership, spirituality and experience of those churches. Very good news here!
Conclusions? The book is designed primarily to be read with a group in a parish. The conclusions reached are best implemented in small goups. Simply stated, the growth of these more open churches was related in each case to a sincere spirituality. The experience of God is paramount, and crosses theological and cultural boundaries. While it may be too simplistic to say that where there is real prayer, churches will grow, it is a clear conclusion that where there is no prayer -- where there is no experience of a living God, churches will wither. And virtually each of the interviewed leaders, while diverse in ministry style and tradition, rooted their ministires in prayer and spirituality.
These are stories of churches doing the possible: of committing to six months of prayer before launching any outreach program, of reaching out to a small rural and demographically static community, of actually growing a congregation!
Very encouraging and helpful work.
A helpful guide to Evangelism .......2007-08-05
This book is especially helpful for those who have been life-long members of the church and who don't realize how different life is for those who have no relationship with God.
Readable, practical, grounded in facts.......2007-07-29
"One hundred years ago you would have had to search hard to find someone who didn't know the Christmas story. Today all we have to do is walk into the local high school."
This book is a very readable, practical, grounded-in-facts report of what Ms. Reese learned from a 4-year study of Evangelism in mainline American churches. This book looks at the realities and offers an analysis of what works and what falls short.
It's a very good book that I would recommend to anyone interested in where churches will be in America in just 20 or 30 years.
Review from Congregations Magazine - Summer, 2007.......2007-07-25
Unbinding the Gospel
REAL LIFE EVANGELISM
Martha Grace Reese
St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 2006
"For the purpose of this book," writes Martha Grace Reese, "evangelism is anything you do to help another person move closer to a relationship with God, or into Christian community." With those freeing words, the Gospel already feels a little more unbound, and likely so will anyone who reads Unbinding the Gospel. Throughout this engaging book, the author relies on a combination of creativity, humor, straight talk, keen organization, and most importantly, the power of prayer to help us reframe what it means to be faithful disciples through evangelism. She reveals the heart of what it means to share good news with others.
Based on a four-year evangelism research project that included 150 churches and more than 1,000 interviews, the book is written in three parts. The first examines the state of evangelism in mainline churches today, the second provides examples of "great churches sharing their faith," and the third explores what Reese describes as "the possibilities God has in mind for you." Each part carries a helpful reminder of where one is in the "map" of the book, imparting Reese's clear sense of direction and purpose in writing the book in the first place.
Though an excellent and practical study book for an evangelism team, it would be a shame if this volume gets pigeonholed as one more book about technique. In the end, Reese helps us take a long, hard look at what it really means to be church--to be the living, breathing, effective body of Christ in the midst of a world so desperately in need of the kind of peace Christ gives.
The overall feeling one gets from reading Unbinding the Gospel is that of having a real heart to heart conversation with the author, one that is long overdue. Her delightfully conversational style is so punctuated with exclamation points that from time to time I had the feeling I was reading Mark's gospel. But her sense of urgency is well-founded, as she illustrates. Citing sobering statistics, such as the fact that "in 2000 there were only half as many mainline Protestants as there were 40 years before," Reese prepares us for a hard landing by putting the numerical losses in human terms. In the next decades, she says, millions more will join the ranks of those who have never attended a church. "They won't have memories of a Christian grandmother, father, or next-door neighbor. The thought of `going back to church' when they're in trouble will never occur to them, because they have never been inside a church building in the first place. For them, a church is an alien, possibly intimidating place--not a cradle of comfort and hope."
But if you think this is another shrill warning of the ecclesial sky falling, it's anything but. With a great deal of optimism, hope, and honesty, Reese helps us sort through the tangle of issues surrounding evangelism and distills one poignant question for us to ponder: What difference does it make in your own life that you are a Christian? Reese believes this is the pivotal question for those who follow the Risen Christ and is the foundation on which any evangelistic efforts must stand. For, if we don't know or can't articulate what is profound and transformational about Jesus in our own lives, how and, more crucially, why would we tell others?
Reese has written a deeply insightful book that isn't simply another set of pages to chew on and place on one's bookshelf with the afterthought, "Well, now, that was interesting." Instead, what one finds in Unbinding the Gospel is a spiritual workbook, a comprehensive manual for those wanting to begin or jump-start the intentional work of equipping people to tell the gospel news in word and in deed.
Evaluative criteria, practical measuring sticks, and provocative questions at the end of each chapter draw us deeper into the serious consideration of becoming bold witnesses. With clarity and sound theological grounding, we are invited into a grand adventure, one in which, Reese promises, the Spirit will be faithful.
Reese has called upon her parish ministry experience as well as her work as a lawyer, consultant, and coach to produce what very well could be a watershed book for mainline Protestantism. "The holy is encased in the pragmatic," she writes, regarding strategies for evangelism. It's not a bad description of her wonderful book, either. Readers will come away feeling nourished and inspired.
Rev. Rebecca Gummere
Grace Lutheran Church
Boone, North Carolina
Customer Reviews:
love it.......2007-08-24
the books came very quick very happy with the books
thinking about ordering more
perfect little book anytime and anyway .......2007-06-30
Awesome little book that fits in purse. Comes in handy when you just need some quick encouragement from God! This makes a great little gift as well for anyone. Just so delightful to have!
The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word.......2007-05-07
This is a terrific little book that contains scripture quotes that you can speak out to God under for any circumstance or need. The alphabetical listings of topics make it simple for anyone to instantly find God's Word for whatever you need to hear and or speak back to the Lord. Thank you, Joyce Meyer
So User Friendly!!!!.......2007-04-11
This is one of my favorite books! My first copy was a gift. I purchased an extra so I am never without in case my hubby takes one on the road with him! We LOVE Joyce Meyer!!! This book is so easy. You can access scripture you need immediately since it is separated by catagory! Enjoy!
If you have the purple book, you won't need the pruple pill........2007-03-11
Want to change your life? For the better? The purple book is small enough to take with you. When you need to do "battle", there are the scriptures or weapons ready and categorized for you. This book will help you change your life, all you need to do is what the cover says!
Book Description
Release your fears about reaching out to others and try the easy ideas proposed by three authors who know what works. Each holds different views on effective evangelism, but the result is a synthesis that wins hearts. You'll learn how to genuinely love your friends and family members into an intimate and life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ without being pushy or obnoxious. Great primer for those who've tried servant evangelism and don't know what to do next!
Customer Reviews:
Evangelism.......2007-08-13
There are no secrets in this book. It is an intersting read, but it takes the same approach that many are using today - developing relationships and using those relations to share Christ. However, the cautions make the book especially worthwhile.
Such a Deal! More Clubs for Your Golf Bag.......2006-03-31
I / we wrote this important book with the idea in mind that far too many of us who passionately care about sharing our faith in Christ (studies show that aournd 3% of all Christ-followers will at any point share their faith with anyone in their lifetime) - that of that very small percentage, the vast majority confine their style of sharing to just one approach. Outreach effectiveness is all about us just being ourselves. It's not about us putting on, as they say, "Saul's armor," but just being who we are, being 100% naturally who we are.
The mainstay of Irresistible Evangelism is the introduction of a number of creative approaches ("golf clubs" to follow the analogy) that have worked over several decades for us in naturally connecting with people who are "not-yet believers." We, probably like you, are completely skeptical of programs that are designed to take someone through a certain number of weeks of learning this or that and that promise that at the end of that trail of memorized conversations, verses, etc... "YOU TOO WILL BE EFFECTIVE AT SHARING YOUR FAITH!" Been there, done that, got the tee-shirt... but unfortunately programs just don't work... Never have, never will. People are far too complex to boil down into a programatic approach and then predict how they will respond. Anyone over 30 years old should be able to see that truth. If the people who put those programs together were to actually talk to not-yet believers they would discover that those people can detect a "program" that is being sprung on them from a mile away and they close up instantly. Hello? Anyone out there? Am I right? I talk to, no kidding, on the average, of 5 or so not-yet believers a day (I get out a lot). I've been doing this for many years. It's just the way I live. I call it "seed flinging" (ala Matt. 13 and the farmer). This simple little book is the condensing of lessons I and my two friends have learned from flinging our seeds over the past couple of decades - not programs, but natural bridge building skills that will help anyone - introvert or extrovert alike - to become a better "golfer."
Here's the deal with this book: If you read it and find it a waste of your time and money I will personally pay you back for your purchase of the book. I am not allowed to put my personal information on this site, but if you put my name into Google you can find my info pretty quick. Either call me or email me - I'm good for it.
On the other hand if this is helpful as I believe it will be - don't just buy one, buy several and pass them out to decision makers in your circle of friends / leaders / speakers / pastors / teachers / you get the drill.
Irresistible Evangelism: Natural Ways............2005-10-28
Absolutely the best book ever written on individual evangelism. Very concise and easy to follow. Filled with helps and ideas in presenting the Gospel. Excellent book.
Evangelism in a post-modern world.......2005-08-26
This book gives you nothing new or radical. It simply shares, with great stories and illustrations, the fact that evangelism involves loving people where they are, not dragging them to where you would like them to be. This book takes seriously the fact that no two people are in the same place in their spiritual journey and that each person comes to a relationship with God by a unique path. As evangelists, we are not answer-givers or persuaders, but merely witnesses to what God has done in our own lives. Sometimes we may be called upon to pray with a person as they make a commitment to Jesus Christ, but only when they are led by the Holy Spirit to that point.
The book begins with brutal honesty. Evangelism as it has been practiced most often in our culture has probably driven more people away from God than it has brought to God. We still suffer from the "Gospel Blimp" mentality in most of our churches and wring our hands in bewilderment when no one responds or worse, no one takes us seriously. It confronts us with the seven deadly sins of evangelism (which made me fall on my knees screaming "mea culpa!" more than once). Then the three authors gently begin to put us back together by helping us to understand that we can repent and even recover from these sins, and with a little Biblical understanding we can actually be "effective" witnesses for the gospel of Jesus Christ in this strange place we live in called the Post-modern World.
Also, if you are using this book to teach discipleship or evangelism in your churches, the golf club analogies makes far more sense than some of the other models that have made their appearance from time to time.
For me, this is the best book of its kind. I highly recommend it to churches serious about evangelism.
A balanced approach to evangelism.......2005-05-02
Steve Sjogren has written extensively on his experiences with Servant Evangelism, a style he characterizes as "High grace, low risk." In this book, Irresistible Evangelism, he teams up with Dave Ping and Doug Pollock to consider the broader picture of evangelism, showing how servant evangelism can fit into the total evangelistic ministry of the church.
The authors recognize that many have set out to do evangelism - from a variety of motives - but have often found their work unproductive In fact, many of the things Christians do in their attempt to evangelize lead people away from Jesus rather than toward him. They identify 7 "deadly sins" in particular:
· Scheming - Using slick marketing and "bait and switch" methods to bring people to Jesus
· Scalp Hunting - Out for numbers; highly impersonal
· Screaming - Self-righteously afflicting people with the gospel
· Selling Jesus as if He's a Juicer - Jesus as a fix-it man for life's every difficulty
· Stalking - Giving people no space; suffocating them with the blessing of your witness
· Sermonizing - Offering all the answers before you hear any questions
· Spectating - So paralyzed by fear you do nothing
If these are practices to avoid, what ought we to do? First, we ought to have a better understanding of what evangelism is. When I teach on the subject I teach that evangelism has three components: (1) What we say; (2) What we do; (3) Who we are - and each of these three components needs to be done by Christians as individuals as well as in groups. The authors say something similar. As they put it, "True evangelism is not merely proclaiming a message of good news; it is becoming a living representative of God's heart toward people." That is very well put. As a consequence of this understanding of evangelism, they emphasize that it is something we do not merely with designated unbelievers, but with everyone we encounter. God want to use us to help all people move closer to Him.
Once we understand evangelism as God's action through us, what next? The authors suggest that discover each person's "spiritual address." They identify four levels of needs: Physical, Emotional/Relational, Directional, and Spiritual. We all have these needs, but respond differently to messages and actions addressed to each, depending on the situation. They observe that, "we subconsciously evaluate whether what's being communicated connects to any of our basic needs. If it doesn't, we will choose to turn away and ignore it. If it does connect, we'll begin to turn toward it and give it more attention. Once we begin turning toward the message and have started to understand it somewhat, the second set of choices kicks in. Based on a largely intuitive appraisal of the potential threats involved, we'll choose either to begin to embrace or to reject the message." We usually only let these needs-meeting messages into our lives when we trust the messenger. Obviously, therefore, one of our primary needs as witnesses is to prove ourselves safe and trustworthy people.
Over the next several chapters Sjogren et al. address four methods to address these four kinds of needs:
· Active Kindness (Servant Evangelism) - meets physical needs of people, showing them God's love in a practical way. Evangelists working at this stage need to avoid an instrumentalist approach: I'll love you if you respond to my love. Rather, true servant evangelism is done "with no strings attached;" it's offered freely. Does Servant Evangelism "work?" We pragmatic Americans always want to know if something works; too often we decide whether something is true, good, or to be done solely on the basis of whether it works. Sjogren's Cincinnati church provides strong evidence that Servant Evangelism is a factor in reaching people for Jesus. He says, however, that it doesn't work quickly. A church needs to keep at it at least a year before assessing effectiveness. He has three further suggestions for using it in the church: (1) Keep it simple so more people can participate; (2) Do it regularly - treat it as an ordinary part of the Christian life; (3) Be friendly - count the relational aspects as essential to the process.
· Active Friendship - Learning to pay attention to people and engage with them; the varieties of Friendship evangelism come in here. Take time to get into their lives and discover what matters to them. If you find that they're sinners - with sinful desires and motivations - don't reject them. Seek to understand them and love them where they're at. Let friendship - loving them as Jesus would - be your main agenda item.
· Active Wondering - Creatively looking at the message of Jesus and connecting it with people's lives. Apologetics fits in here, and can be mistakenly standardized in a one-size-fits-all approach. The key method they advise in this part of the process is asking open-ended questions (they provide 99 sample questions) probing their understanding of life in a non-threatening, non-judgmental way.
· Active Sharing - Helping people discover the "how to" of becoming a follower of Jesus; an essential part of evangelism, but too often the only focus of training in evangelism. In their chapter on this part of the process, they look at how the sharing process works in different kinds of relationships.
The final chapter of their book, "An Arsonist's Guide to Evangelism," presents 5 "fuelish" ways to "ignite ordinary church members with a passion for introducing their family, friends, neighbors, and complete strangers into life-changing relationships with Jesus Christ." These five "fuels" include: Kindness, Fun, Generosity, Humility, and Prayer & Worship. At the same time we need to remove the "asbestos" items from the church: Fear, the idea that evangelism is something only for the experts, apathy and self-centeredness.
If you're looking for help in developing a well-balanced approach to evangelism in your church, this book would be worth considering.
Book Description
In recent years, the Share Jesus without Fear book and its growing family of ancillary products have sparked a faith-sharing movement that continues to gain momentum. It began with the jaw-dropping story of William Fay, once a money-driven businessman with Mafia ties who ran a house of prostitution until it was raided by police. Facing the threat of jail time, Fay turned to Jesus Christ for redemption and ever since has been turning others to Him as well.
Now featuring a fresh new cover design, Share Jesus without Fear relays Fay's passionate, effective instructions on how to share the love of Christ with anyone--without feeling intimidated on either side of the conversation. Bold and joyful, the outreach movement continues without fear.
Customer Reviews:
Makes it simpe for everyone.......2006-11-04
Evangelism doesn't have to be scarey and Bill Fay keeps it simple. No memorization or lengthy speeches...just straight forward presentation of the gospel of Jesus. If you get the chance look up Bill's testimony!
Bill's methods really work........2006-08-19
I know Bill Fay personally, and I have been with him many times when he was evangelizing. I have personally watched him leading dozens of people to Christ.
The material in his book is not oversimplified or rationalized; Bill personally uses the methods he teaches. Everything in his book has been tested and refined in the crucible of experience. I have seen him successfully use the things he teaches over and over again in real-world evangelism.
What readers of the book need to understand is that Bill treats each person he talks to as if he or she is the most important person he has ever met. There is nothing rotely formulaic in his approach - people respond to him because they see that he cares, and that he truly means and believes everything he says. Bill combines his straightforward methodology with a very personal approach. He genuinely cares about the people he evangelizes, and that shines through everything he says and does.
When he asks people if they were wrong, would they want to know it, and they reply, No, he really does walk away. Yes, most of them call him back, but when they don't, he keeps walking. It's not a gimmick. Bill means exactly what he says. If Bill has a "secret," that's it - he genuinely cares about people, and absolutely believes and means what he says.
Most effective tool for helping others share thier faith!.......2006-08-19
I will have to say that this has been the most effective tool I have used to help others share thier faith in Christ. Many of us are unsure how to share Christ with others while we know it is our responciblity as a believer. I don't think you will find a more effective means of sharing Christ than the method here!
Fantastic tool.......2006-05-30
Have you ever regreted sharing Jesus with someone because you were afraid?
Have you ever been asked How do God let bad things happen to good people, and had no answer?
If you answered 'yes' then you certainly need to read this book. If you answered 'no' you need to read the book to enhance the skills you already possess.
Share Jesus without Fear equipps the reader to effectively communicate your faith in SIMPLISTIC terms with the utmost confidence and fear.
For years I thought it was my job to bring others to Christ after reading this book it reiterates what Jesus already said (John 6;44) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him"
My outreach ministry is about to blow up - Thank you Mr. Fay
Missy
Terrific Book .......2006-02-25
The best book I've read on how to clearly and comfortably share the Gospel.
Book Description
Personal evangelism is the foundation for all church growth. If the Kingdom of God is to expand, individual Christians will have to learn to communicate their faith story in a way that is engaging, personal, and relevant to the listening culture today.
Customer Reviews:
Easy to read overview of the task of personal soul winning.......2005-04-24
Synopsis
The Art of Personal Evangelism is an easy-to-read overview of the task of winning family, friends, and acquaintances to saving faith in Jesus Christ. McRaney approached the task of evangelism from the standpoint of a well-informed practitioner. His desire was to point out the scarcity of quality evangelism in North American churches, provide a theology of evangelism, outline theories of communication, and overview techniques for effective witnessing.
The three chapters comprising part 1 provide a summary of the theology of evangelism with respect to God's involvement, the role of the witness, and the nature of salvation. Evangelism begins within the heart of God who has a desire to see all persons come into a restored relationship with himself through their faith in the reconciling sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God is at work. He works in the life of the witness and in the life of the lost person through the superintending activity of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers the witness and enlightens the understanding of the lost person. While the Holy Spirit will empower the witness, the evangelist must take responsibility for adequately preparing for the task. The witness must understand the role of evangelism in the economy of God, the essential elements of the gospel message, and the nature of various evangelistic encounters. McRaney wrote that the witness "should prayerfully and persistently pursue the presence of lost people, then proclaim and persuade at the prompting and in the power of the Holy Spirit" (73).
The lucidity of part 1 gives way to the tedium of communication theory in the three chapters of part 2. McRaney summarized the nature of communication with respect to effectively presenting the gospel within the postmodern context. As many others have noted, the American culture has recently experienced a dramatic shift from modernity to postmodernism. This cultural shift necessitates a change in evangelism communication techniques. Whereas modernity defined truth as that which was provable, postmodernism defines truth experientially. Thus, the Christian witness in the postmodern context must emphasize intentional relationship building with lost people so that he or she can experience the truth of the gospel as it is lived out in the life of the witness. The witness must seek to understand the context of the prospect with respect to age, social position, and worldview. McRaney noted, "An essential element of effective communication is to understand something of the lost person's culture in order to make sense of the gospel from the lost person's perspective" (157).
The final three chapters provide a summary of tips and techniques for conversing with lost persons. McRaney summarized how to deal with various objections that may arise during the evangelistic encounter and detailed how to remove the internal and external barrier to effective witnessing. In the last chapter, McRaney provided guidance for understanding the different ways men and women process information and make decisions. Sensitivity to these differences will require gender-specific approaches to presenting the gospel. McRaney properly noted that the evangelist's job does not end with the convert's commitment to Christ. Thus, McRaney provided helpful guidance for following up with a person who makes a profession of faith. Evangelism must naturally flow to discipleship where the convert becomes the witness.
Critical Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses
McRaney rightly began his book with the theological foundations for evangelism. He reminded the reader that salvation is the activity of God. God took the initiative in the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ's propitiatory sacrifice. God takes the initiative in the process of awakening the prospective convert to the truth of the gospel message. The witness joins with God's activity by offering a clear and culturally meaningful presentation of the gospel. The strength of the theological aspects of salvation are tempered by McRaney's definition of successful witnessing as both faithfulness and fruitfulness (47). There is sufficient biblical and experiential information to demonstrate that the witness cannot control the fruitfulness of the evangelistic encounter, only the faithfulness. A witness never knows if he or she is planting the initial seed or supporting the efforts of previous evangelists. A witness may never experience the joy of helping a prospect cross the line of faith. The responsibility of church leaders is to prepare members to actively engage their circle of influence with God's message of salvation as God provides opportunities.
Perhaps the most helpful aspect of the book is McRaney's comparison and contrast of modernism and postmodernism. Those Christians over the age of forty have realized that the world in which they grew up is not the same world they live in today. Readers in this age group will benefit from chapters 3 and 4. Younger Christians, though, are more likely to have been raised with a postmodern worldview without understanding why the world is the way it is. They will benefit from an examination of postmodernism's assumptions and biases, many of which younger Christians share. McRaney's presentation on postmodernism will challenge younger Christians to compare their own culturally influenced assumptions by the standard of God's Word.
Finally, McRaney presented the job of evangelism as the responsibility of every Christian, not just the trained professional. He demystified the task of evangelism for the average Christian by promoting relationship evangelism. Most all believers have formed relationships with non-Christians. By building friendships, the wise witness gains credibility and trustworthiness to share spiritual insights with seekers. Additionally, credibility provides an opening for more hardened unbelievers to seek spiritual counsel when they experience a critical transitional point. Some may see the chapters on communication as too academic and off-putting, however, most readers will benefit from McRaney's thoughtful reflections.
Evaluation of Author's Objective
McRaney sought to present the task of evangelism as the only viable way to stem the tide of church decline in America. He chose to achieve his objective by examining the theological foundations for evangelism and by exploring the art of communicating the gospel message within the context of postmodernism. He has done both very well.
Lessons Learned
This reviewer has learned that witnessing in the postmodern world is a time-intensive activity. As such, prospects will rarely come to Christ at the first evangelistic encounter. In order to build relationships with lost people, this reviewer must find opportunities to engage in activities where lost people are most likely to be found--quite a challenge for a pastor who spends 99 percent of his time with church people doing church-related activities. Additionally, this reviewer wonders how he can finding opportunities to build relationships with lost people without compromising his responsibilities to minister to those who sign his paycheck.
The challenge of evangelism in the postmodern world calls into question the outreach strategies traditionally employed by this reviewer's rural program-based church. The door-to-door cold call approach is dead. Non-Christians see a Baptist witnessing team no differently than Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons knocking at their door. The lesson for this pastor is to challenge the church to examine its outreach program in light of the changing culture and needs of the community and to devise strategies befitting the ministry setting.
The Personal Evangelism Primer for Today's Church.......2003-08-13
McRaney, Will H. Jr. The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing Culture. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003.
Will McRaney is an Associate Professor of Evangelism at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served in several positions such as pastor, church planter, and professor. In addition to his work at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, McRaney also leads a church growth consulting ministry called Ministry Enhancement Group.
McRaneyýs book, The Art of Personal Evangelism, emphasizes the importance of personal evangelism for both the Christian and the church. While a large percentage of Christians do not practice personal evangelism, McRaney points out that ýeverything begins with personal evangelism.ý The purpose of his book is to review the biblical doctrines of evangelism and to provide assistance in bridging the timeless message with the postmodern culture. McRaney achieved this task by dividing the book into four sections: the first section reviews the foundational elements of personal evangelism; the second section discusses communication theory as it relates to personal evangelism; the third section provides practical application aids in personal evangelism; and the fourth section is comprised of five appendices to aid the reader in further research.
The first section of the book deals with foundational elements of personal evangelism. These elements consist of the theological doctrines of evangelism, including Godýs role, the Christianýs role, and the content of the gospel message. Godýs role in evangelism is defined as the instigator and agent of conversion. God desires a relationship with mankind for both His pleasure and for the benefit of His people. It is because of this desire that God created a means of salvation through the cross. This salvation is accessible only through Jesus Christ and the moving of the Holy Spirit. However, God uses His people as the messengers of the gospel. It is our role as His people to effectively communicate ýthe essential gospel message with the view toward seeing people supernaturally become followers and imitators of Christ.ý Types and methods of evangelistic encounters vary, but the message and the goal of evangelism remains the same in all cases ý to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all the Christ has commanded.
The second section of the book discusses communication theory as it relates to personal evangelism. McRaney covers three main areas of communication as it relates to evangelism. These include making the gospel make sense, communicating inside your context, and communicating outside your context. There are three primary styles of communication: self-centered, message-centered, and other-centered. We must communicate the gospel with a loving nature as God communicates. There are many facets of communicating with people inside our context. We must understand our culture in order to communicate effectively with the people within it. We must understand that there is a shift from modernism to postmodernism, and then we need to understand what this shift means for sharing the gospel message. Communicating Christ outside our context entails sharing the gospel with people of different age groups (children, youth, and seniors), and with people of different cultures. Sharing the gospel outside our context demands that we understand who we are talking to before we attempt to share the gospel.
The third section is comprised of three chapters that supply practical application for the principles covered in the first two sections. These include conversation aids, removing barriers, and the final chapter consists of a miscellany of items. The chapter on conversation aids covers such items as assessing readiness to hear the gospel or make a decision, answering objections, and how to transition to a spiritual conversation. Also, there are internal and external barriers prohibiting the Christian from witnessing. These include: fear, relational distance, isolation, intellectual, informational, and pragmatic barriers.
McRaneyýs book, The Art of Personal Evangelism, is an incredible primer on the spiritual discipline of personal evangelism. This is an excellent book for pastors, church members, or students of evangelism. He does a wonderful job in highlighting the fact that personal evangelism is the key to kingdom growth, as well as providing the proper tools to equip the reader to take up the task. Strengths of this book include the thorough description of the theology of personal evangelism, and the practical application section is invaluable. I found the communication theory section helpful as well. There are a few weaknesses in the book, though. First, the editing of the book leaves a lot to be desired. There were several errors that were missed. Fortunately, McRaney deals with this by providing additional information on his website: www.megnet.org. Also, McRaney seems to focus his writing for a reader in the United States. Yet, these principles are just as applicable in Europe, Australia, Africa, or Asia. With the current cultural phenomenon of globalization, it would have been a stronger book if McRaney did not focus so intently on the United States. An example of this is found on page 62. McRaney is talking about being an expert on World Religions, yet the first sentence discusses the plurality of the United States. Despite these minor weaknesses, McRaneyýs book is a must read for any and all Christians. If the reader does not have a heart for personal evangelism before he reads the book, he will once he has finished it ý and he will have the skills necessary to do it.
Product Description
The Way of the Master gives light to an almost forgotten biblical key that has the power to unlock the door of the human heart. This is the proven and effective way of making the gospel make sense to the unsaved. It is so rooted in the Scriptures, once you see it, you will forever wonder how you could have missed it. It is the biblical principle of bypassing the intellect (the place of argument) and speaking directly to the conscience (the place of the knowledge of right and wrong) the way Jesus did.
Its anecdotal, loaded with commentary and remarks that are more conversational than academic. Its an easy read with a hard message that has already changed the face of sharing faith.
Customer Reviews:
This will change your life.......2007-09-13
Although I am confident in my conversion, I am not an evangelist by nature. This book has caused me to examine the teachings of the church, evaluate the conversion of my loved one, and inspired me to win souls.
Pray for these People.......2007-08-17
People will always believe in hell, and in a God who would send them there, as long as they believe that God is like man--ruthless, self-serving, unforgiving, and vengeful.
Dear God Please protect us from these misguided, ignorant, Christians. Keep them out of our government and schools. Protect us against this dark negative force.
The 67th book of the Bible?.......2007-07-20
While this book fails the canon of scripture, it is still the 67th most important book in the world. This book combines quotes and experiences from hundreds of the greatest theologians ever to live; but more importantly it expounds on scripture to show how people were saved in Biblical accounts. This book could be called a Bible study, a lesson in Hermeneutics, an examination of false gospels, a devotional to Christ, assurance for salvation, a continuity in theologians, but most importantly, a foundation for evangelism. If you're not a believer, read this book to see what historical Christianity believed, if you are a believer read this book to learn how to make more believers. Through it all, this should be the book you read to understand how to approach the Bible's narratives, what the Bible says, and how to use the Bible in Evangelism. If the Bible is a two-edged sword, then "The Way of the Master" is a whet-stone. As an itinerant minister I've purchased 85 of these books so far and never have difficulty handing them out. Where this book goes, revival is sure to follow.
How can any Christian claim Christ doesn't make your life better?.......2007-07-10
I was repelled by the seemingly common Christian method of scaring people out of hell (which is the theme of this book based on my observation) and considered myself Agnostic for over two decades. I had given up on Christianity and its seemingly fierce approach of beating down people like myself who were already on the floor. I don't believe introducing non-Christians and skeptics to Jesus with a hard-line technique works. It didn't with me and I needed God in my life as much as anyone else but didn't know it. Jesus did not minister like this and while he was clear about the consequences of sin he also healed, loved, and inspired.
Perhaps some lazy materialistic Christians who erroneously think they are followers would benefit if they ever really believed at all - which is mentioned in the book and I agree with that. But for those of us who already feared hell and connected God with hell more than we connected demonic forces, methodologies used in the Way of the Master (which are not new) only made me more convinced that the Christian God and his angry Son were vengeful and waiting to punish.
Only through the ministry of an ex-heroin addict turned pastor who explained his conversion occurred because Jesus helped him in THIS life and from there he was able to relate to Christ's critical role in our NEXT life was I able to understand Jesus just isn't there to open heaven's door for those who follow Him but to also show us His light in this world as well. The Way of the Master gives the impression that Jesus does not improve people's earthly existence - I may still be raped, murdered, chopped into little pieces and eaten by bears and perhaps even my Golden Retrievers in a time of famine (I wouldn't put it past them). Life is tough, even brutal.
And by the way, this great minister died of liver cancer after suffering for years and still inspired me with his optimism in Christ, speaking to me one week before he died. He died and suffered, and fully in Christ.
However most skeptics and secular folks in this life (at least in America) will never experience the gruesome scenarios described in horrific sadistic detail in this book (9/11 attacks and gang rapes among others). Instead they will live relatively comfortable lives with the common losses we all experience and will relentlessly seek materialism and things of the flesh because while they have their wants met, their needs are not. Those are the people this book leaves in the dust. I know this because I was one of them. I had money, a career, a nice home but hated my life. And Jesus came to me and made what was once a meaningless life a purposeful one. Only when I knew God and Christ loved me unconditionally was I able to admit I was a sinner and begin the long road to repentance.
I emphatically disagree that Christ does not make your life better and happier. Yes bad things will happen as this is our flawed world but I promise ANYONE that no matter WHAT happens, that if you place your faith in Christ, you will be gently guided and embraced with Jesus's worldly hand that this book claims does not exist.
Very good!.......2007-05-14
This book is very good at explaining why we should use the law to explain the need for a Savior. Please take a look at this book!
Book Description
"Eightyeight percent of children raised in evangelical homes leave church at the age of eighteen never to return."Nothing is more important than where your kids will spend eternity. As a parent you don't want to suffer the heartache of your children rebelling against their Christian upbringing. In this practical book noted authorevangelist Ray Comfort counters the unscriptural belief that a child can be saved merely by "asking Jesus into his heart" and shows parents and children's workers how to guide their children to experience genuine salvation and avoid the pitfall of rebellion. Filled with creative ideas for family devotions tips for safeguarding kids from harmful influences and great suggestions for helping kids learn Gods holy standard the Ten Commandments.
Customer Reviews:
What a Great Read for Christian Parents!.......2007-07-06
I enjoyed this book, because it showed me how to make sure that my precious children are truly saved. There are a lot of good examples on how to teach each of the 10 commandments in it, as well. This book will help you raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I highly recommend it.
Great book!.......2007-03-09
This is a great book for parents who wish to bring up their kids biblically! The problem with children is because of Syndrome Infantile Negativity (S.I.N.) and not because of ADHD. The book is clear and concise, and offers a lot of real examples that Ray has applied in his own family. If you want to train your children in a godly way, buy this book!
FABULOUS! Eye-Opening and Very Convicting!!!.......2006-04-19
Are you concerned about your children's salvation? This is the book for you! Having children myself, I went searching for a book that would address whether their salvation was, in fact, true. Of course, while God only knows their hearts, I still felt that I would not be fulfilling my parental duty if I didn't do my homework.
I found this book very easy-to-understand, profound and convicting! There is a chapter at the end of the book that addresses the outside influences we allow into our childrens' lives. This was painful to read as I realized how subtle the enemy is, and how easy it is to be conformed to the standards of the world.
I believe this will change your whole way of witnessing to your own children. I've already begun using this book as a guideline on talking to my children about their salvation.
awesome book.......2006-03-12
I read this book and handed it out like candy to my friends. He explains that it's not a guarantee to keep your children, but adds that we need to balance the love of Christ and the Fear of God so that they know they will still be accountable to someone even when no body is looking-because God is. He stresses and gives practical examples on the 10 commandments to teach our children about them and how to remember them. Another book to read to children is The Way of the Master for Children. Good beginning for preschool and the rest of the book to give children a firm foundation why they believe in God. Both awesome books!
Great read!.......2005-10-10
If you are interested in learning how to give your child all of the gospel story, this is the book for you. Not to mention, you will learn from it yourself. I would recommend it to anyone who has children.
Book Description
In this book, Roland Muller removes the mystique from shame-based cultures. Using the Bible, he introduces us to honor, shame, and fear-based cultures, illustrating their development over the years and demonstrating their influence on our understanding of the gospel message. Muller goes on to illustrate how the 10/40window is made up almost exclusively of shame-based cultures. He then examines the way we traditionally present the gospel, and the difficulties this poses for those from a shame/honor worldview.
We are then presented with a case study based on the Muslim cultures of the Middle East, where Roland examines Islam in the light of shame and honor. In conclusion we are presented with the three-fold message of the gospel which is understandable in whatever cultural setting we may work in.
The materials in this book are original and thought provoking. Discover why so many people are excited about the new concepts and challenges this book presents.
Honor and Shame is book three in a powerful trilogy on ministering to Muslims. Book one is the story of Abdalla Hawatmeh, a Jordanian Muslim who discovers the truth in Jesus Christ and then sets out to minister to his own people. Book two, Tools for Muslim Evangelism looks at the tools and techniques used by successful evangelists to Muslims in the Middle East.
Customer Reviews:
Taqiyya in Islam (i.e., the ends justify the means).......2007-06-07
The reader above needs to understand the concept of taqiyya in Islam. Hamid Enayat, Muslim historian at Oxford, writes taqiyya has "in practice become the norm of public behaviour among all Muslims... whenever there is a confilice between faith and expediency." In other words, it's OK to lie, if there is a goal to be acheived. Even more, one hadith says that Mohammed said lying is allowed in three cases: when a man speaks to his wife to please her, in war, or to put things right between people. The first allowance shows a deep disrespect for women - but of course, feminists are NOWHERE to be seen on this... just like for Juanita, Paula, Gennifer, Kathyrn and Monica. Come feminists... do something useful - for ONCE! Q2:195 states "and make not your own hands contribute to (your)destruction but do good" - this verse also is seen as supporting taqiyya. As the Barnabus Fund says, taqiyya in Islam allows all kinds of dissimilitude, as long a Islam is being furthered. So, a Muslim can lie about Islam due to taqiyya, if there is an end to be gained for Islam. E.g., Hamid Ali, who ran the Ad Madina mosque in Beeston, UK, publicly condemned the July 2005 bombings in London - however, a Bangladeshi reporter later secretely taped a conversation with him in which he said the bombings were "good" and praised the bombers.
More taqiyya: There was interfaith harmony in Islamic Spain. Well, sure... if you converted or agreed to be a super-taxed dhimmi (read that: 3rd class citizen). Muslims invented science - well, not exactly. Our numerals came west via the Arabs, but they cobbed them from the Syriac Christians. Same thing with "science": Yes, much of the science was **written** in Arabic - but the writers themselves were Christians and Jews. E.g., the first Arab medical book was written by a Christian priest and then put by a Jewish doctor into Arabic in 683 AD, and the vast mass of science was simply appropriated from the Nestorian Christians by the Muslims.
Oh well, the list could go on, but just like those that were "useful idiots" for Lenin and Stalin, we have the politically correct types today doing the same thing. Ya gotta wonder how happy the radical leftists and gays will be when Muslims march in and take over San Francisco, dont you!
Rings true, but could use more support for the ideas........2006-10-28
This book contains some good thinking and useful pictures and principles. Numerous times I said, "Yes, that's how it is!" I have seen these things play out in many different countries.
On the other hand the book has several limitations, most of which come from its method of publication. XLibris is what we would have once called a "Vanity Press," offering printing more than editing. Those kind of things are more mainstream than they once were, but they keep a book from being the best it could be. Having an editor is a good thing! This book would be more helpful and more influential if someone academic had held the author's feet to the fire and made him give credit to his sources through footnotes, etc. There is a good bibliography/suggested resources section, though.
For such a small volume it is rather expensive as well.
Muller has come out with a new book that combines these ideas and those from several other books he has written; I wonder if he has addressed some of these weaknesses?
Seeing Beyond Our Cultural Eye-Glasses.......2005-08-25
I read this book after it came highly recommended by the president of the Evangelical Missions Society, and several college professors - and I do not regret it in the least. Rolland Mueller enables us to see beyond our cultural eye-glasses by laying out the anthropological concept of guilt based, fear based and shame based societies.
As Westerners shaped by logic, philosophy, rhetoric and a theological system developed by lawyer/theologians, our views are based on guilty vs. not guilty. Our presentation of the Gospel thus is laid out in legal system terms- guilt, redemption, paying the price for iniquity, etc. However, the rest of the world thinks much differently: Asian and Middle Eastern societies tend to focus on shame and honor, African and many tribal cultures focus on fear.
The author then proceeds to demonstrate that God is not only concerned with humanity's guilt, but that salvation was meant to resolve our problems of guilt AND shame AND fear. A portion is dedicated to viewing the effects of the fall through the three cultural mindsets (sin brought guilt, shame and fear into the world), which is Biblically rooted. The book shows how Christ's death on the cross was meant to redeem mankind from their guilt, shame and fear and bring them into a correct relationship with God in each of these areas. Finally, special notes are made concerning how these truths relate to evangelism and missions. An excellent book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who knows a person from a different culture!
NO FOOTNOTES!.......2003-07-02
It is unfair to present material as important as this without footnotes. A reader should be able to verify information an author presents, especially when the author claims that lying is an important part of Arabic culture.
PS I did investigate this claim, and it is true that Muslims are allowed to lie in certain situations, but it would have been easier to verify if I had known from the start where Muller gets his quotes of Middle Age Muslim theologians such as Al-Ghazali (read Ghazali's "Reliance of the Traveller").
Book Description
Mark Cahill, one of America's most effective evangelists, tells how to witness to others.
Customer Reviews:
Put the tires to the pavement!!!.......2007-07-31
This is a book that you will find difficult to put down. Perhaps you have read through the Bible, been in Bible study, help in some Church activities, and you just cannot put your finger on what is missing. What am I missing? All these activities and you just cannot put your finger on why... What you read in the Bible... doesn't match with what you are living out.
This is a rare opportunity to see how to put the tires of faith to the road of life.
I am so glad I was able to get this book and not only absorb what has been written, but to put it to practical use almost everyday.
Mark has a unique way of just down to earth sharing how and why to evangelize.
I have marked most every page for future reference as I got information overload while reading. What I mean by that is that I had to stop many times and not only ponder, but check with the Bible and find out just how scriptural this book follows what Gods word is telling us to do.
This should be a must read for every Bible Study.
Written so that you can do the one thing you can't do in heaven.......2007-05-25
Every page oozes with Mark's passion to reach people for Christ. He rightfully points out that if you are a beliver in Christ, then this is the one thing you ought to do. He clearly shows that evangelism is not a burden but a privilege. When you share your faith in Christ with others, that is always a winning proposition. It doesn't matter if you get rejected. You have sown seeds that can be harvested later.
An Excellent Challenge to Tell Others the Good News About Jesus Christ!.......2007-04-25
Mark Cahill has written what I think is an excellent challenge to Christians to tell others about Jesus Christ while they still have time. While there are several exhortations to accept the challenge, Cahill also writes of practical ways to share the gospel with others. The most often method is using the 10 Commandments to show how futile it is to try to earn our way into heaven and instead rely on Jesus Christ's death on the cross for our sins to provide the way for the free gift of salvation.
Among the important points covered in the book include:
1. People are hungrier for the gospel than we realize - Indeed, we seem to hear from the people who don't like Christians sharing the gospel while we miss the many who desparately want someone to talk to them about eternity.
2. Reasons why we don't witness to others - Many reasons have to do with fear of what others think and our own spiritual complacency.
3. Ask God for creative ways to share the gospel - I have done this myself and it works!
4. Don't worry about pleasing others - Jesus Christ was perfect and yet He was still nailed to the cross! How can we expect to escape persecution and hard times when we witness to others?
5. 4 thought provoking questions to ask when witnessing to others - What do you mean by that? How do you know that to be true? Where do you get your information? What if you are wrong?
6. Common questions and objections and how to overcome them - Some questions are honest while others are meant to distract us.
7. Be bold while we still have time - Compared to eternity in heaven, the temporary pain we may feel when rejected pales in comparison!
All in all, an excellent challenge and encouragement to keep witnessing until we either pass from this earth or until Jesus Christ comes back for His children!
Read and enjoy. Highly recommended.
A must read for all Christians.......2007-02-12
Essentially it is an easy-to-read book that contains convicting truths that each of us is commanded to share our faith. It then proceeds to show you how to witness, with numerous examples and a wealth of knowledge that can make you a bold speaker for the Lord. God bless you as you read it.
A Great Guide to Taking Your Friends and Family to Heaven with You!.......2007-01-26
As Christians, it's not enough to believe in and accept Jesus, repent of our sins, and become a new person in God. We also have to surrender to Christ. Part of that surrender is to share our faith with others. While there's a simple prayer to become born again when your heart is ready, learning to witness takes some practice.
If your church offers classes in how to witness, by all means that those classes and practice what is shared with you.
But if you have no such classes readily available, I suggest you read, re-read, and keep re-reading Mark Cahill's excellent book in which he describes the kinds of conversations he has with non-believers to help then learn about salvation. From these conversations, you'll quickly realize that you don't have to know as much as your pastor does to be an effective witness. That will give you confidence to try.
I was pleased to see how Mr. Cahill recommends that you break the ice from having a casual conversation to discussing what happens after we die for all eternity. Anyone could feel confident using this approach for the first time.
I recommend that you keep notes about your conversations so you can study what your experiences have been. We all have different styles of speaking with others, and such notes can help you identify what works best for you.
The book is also very helpful in citing tracts to use, legal resources to get answers to questions, and addressing common questions that many non-believers will raise.
But most of all, the book will encourage you to witness by making you realize that there's benefit . . . no matter how the first conversation turns out.
If you have a sense of humor (as Mr. Cahill obviously does), I'm sure you'll soon be finding unique ways to share God's word. I was chuckling for several pages as I read about how he inserts Bible tracts into six-packs and cases of beer in the store.
May God bless you, your family, your witnessing, and all you do!
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- Mid-Course Correction: Toward a Sustainable Enterprise: The Interface Model
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- Notes from the Hyena's Belly: An Ethiopian Boyhood
- Parenting With Grace: Catholic Parent's Guide to Raising Almost Perfect Kids
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Books Index
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Faith
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| Christianity
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Communicating for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication
Holy Discontent: Fueling the Fire That Ignites Personal Vision
The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church
Simple Church: Returning to God's Process for Making Disciples
Becoming A Contagious Christian
