Michael Spencer and Coffee Cup Apologetics

Posted by Joe Thorn - 06/08/08

Michael Spencer’s most recent podcast focuses on suburban evangelism in which he gives sub•text a shout out. Be sure to check out Internet Monk’s Coffee Cup Apologetics 46.

Gospel Connections in Suburbia

Posted by Joe Thorn - 03/08/08

I do not have the gift of evangelism, though I do share the gospel. Once a person decides the evangescript is not the best way to approach evangelism in their community the question then becomes, “How can I take a natural conversation about common things and connect it to the gospel without it coming off like an abrupt topic change?”

Any time we take the initiative to share the gospel with someone there is always a leap that has to be made to the gospel. Sometimes the leap is short and easy. Suppose you’re discussing the difference between Catholics and Protestants — getting to the gospel is easy. Sometimes the leap is long - very long, like when you try to move from your favorite Starbucks drink (Grande Americano) to the cross of Christ. The longer the jump, the more unnatural the transition, and the more awkward the conversation. So the key is having natural conversations that transition more smoothly to the gospel (smaller leaps).

To state it simply, the better you understand the gospel the easier the transitions become. If you are trying to share the gospel you will still sometimes make huge leaps that do not work. Sometimes the conversation will only connect to the Christian faith in part, without getting directly to the gospel. Sometimes it will all come together the way you imagine. The more you know the gospel (its essence and effects) and the more you practice this discipline the easier making comfortable transitions to the gospel will become. I have been asked a few times what this would look like practically, so here are 8 examples of topics that make for shorter leaps to the gospel or Christian faith.

8 topics that can naturally connect to the Christian faith…

Read the rest at sub•text

Dever’s 12 Step Program

Posted by Joe Thorn - 26/03/08

Last night while waiting for a meeting I finally started in on Mark Dever’s The Gospel and Personal Evangelism. So far, really good stuff. Encouraging. In the first chapter Mark gives us 12 steps that can help us begin to shake off the complacency and begin sharing the gospel. I’ll summarize them, but you’d do better to read it for yourself.

1. Pray.
Our weakness is evangelism is often related to an absence of prayer. When we neglect praying about evangelism we see the task as too big for us, or opportunities too scarce. Mark says if we pray for opportunities we’ll be amazed at the ways God answers.

2. Plan.
Because we don’t plan to evangelize it generally doesn’t happen. Many of us tend to think we are presently too busy, and think time will materialize later. It will not. Make time, develop a plan.

3. Accept.
We have to accept that God has given us the responsibility of sharing the gospel. It is not the calling of a few, not limited to the “gifted.” Mark says, quite dodging your responsibility and make the necessary adjustments.

4. Understand.
Part of the problem for many is a misunderstanding of what makes our evangelism effective. Success in evangelism is related to faithfulness, not fruit. Fruit is the work of God, not man.

5. Be Faithful.
Mark says, “Maybe we are too polite to be faithful to God in this area. Maybe we are more concerned about people’s response than God’s glory.” For many the desire to be polite and not offend people (or in my case, not wanting to come off like a salesman) is an excuse to remain unfaithful to the call of God.

6. Risk.
Some people are shy. We often do not know what a person’s response will be when we present the gospel. In my own recent experience, I fear losing a potential relationship by throwing out the gospel too soon, or too awkwardly. We will often have to risk (a relationship, embarrassment, etc.) in order to be faithful to God.

7. Prepare.
Give your evangelistic work some thought. What potential objection or question might your hear? You are more likely to engage if you have prepared yourself in advance.

8. Look.
Apathy, laziness and busyness can keep us from seeing the opportunities God provides. So can unbelief. Pray for opportunities and then anticipate God’s provision.

9. Love.
If we love people we will seek their good, and this of course includes sharing the gospel with them.

10. Fear.
- of God, not man. When we refuse to share the gospel with others we “are not regarding him or his will as the final and ultimate rule of our actions.”

11. Stop.
Mark says, “We should stop excusing ourselves from evangelism on the basis that God is sovereign. We should not conclude from his omnipotence that our obedience is therefore pointless.” We must affirm both God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility as it relates to conversion and evangelism.

12. Consider.
Pointing to Hebrews 12:3 Mark points us back to the gospel itself. He says that when we aren’t considering the cross of Christ we lose the heart to proclaim the good news. True gospel-centeredness will compel us to evangelize.

Proselytizing vs Evangelizing

Posted by Joe Thorn - 10/03/08
Proselytism and evangelism are not the same thing. To proselytize is to convert somebody else to our opinions and culture, and to squeeze him into our mould; to evangelize is to proclaim God’s good news about Jesus Christ to the end that people will believe in him, find life in him and ultimately be conformed to his image, not ours. The motive behind proselytism is concern for the spread of our own little empire; the motive behind evangelism is concern for the true welfare of men and thereby for the name, kingdom, will and glory of God

- John Stott, Christ the Controversialist (173, 174)

The Heart of Evangelism

Posted by Joe Thorn - 21/02/07

How can I summarize my thoughts about a book on evangelism with 38 chapters? Let me start by saying that The Heart of Evangelism is an excellent resource for those who want to disciple others or develop personally in the area of evangelism. This books comes from a Reformed perspective, is practical, broken into short, easy to read chapters, and built solidly upon numerous passages of Scripture. There are so many books on the same subject I was happy to read something that is different from the typical fare. How is it unique? Here are a few of the things that sets it apart from most other books on evangelism:

He discourages dependence on programs and pre-packaged approaches to evangelism and instead pushes us to depend on God, commit ourselves to prayer, live lives of integrity, love and hospitality. This is essential to our evangelistic work and more important than memorizing diagnostic questions.

He reminds us that God is more interested in the salvation of the world than we are, something that gets lost in much of our evangelism, and that God uses a great variety of means in bringing people to Jesus.

The third section ( chapters 20-26) focuses on the barriers we face when communicating the gospel. This is a helpful section that uncovers the barriers we have in ourselves (false guilt, lack of confidence, etc.) and the barriers that exist in our culture (certain aspects of modernity and postmodernity).

The prophets and Apostles are humanized, shown not to be superheroes, but fallen men who sought to faithfully serve Christ. These are men with whom we can identify.

He takes aim at the pride and self-righteousness that is common in us and hurts our evangelistic work.

The gospel is shown to be more full and complex than the simple “You’re a sinner, Jesus died for your forgiveness, repent and believe” paradigm. This is something I have blogged on before, and it is nice to see someone lay it out in a book on evangelism in such a helpful way. (Also see Hal Poe’s book, The Gospel and It’s Meaning.)

He explains that evangelism is often a slow process; one that requires patience on the part of the evangelist.

He lays out 7 principles to help us effectively communicate the gospel. Great stuff here.

1. Show respect.
2. Build bridges.
3. Learn what others believe.
4. Speak the language of the people.
5. Utilize reasoned persuasion.
6. Clarify the good news.
7. Challenge the heart and mind.

This really is a good book that lays a foundation for the discipline of evangelism that will not fail. It does not provide easy answers or a program to follow, but it does give Christians a better perspective and method for engaging our neighbors with the gospel.

Jerram Barrs is Professor of Christian Studies and Contemporary Culture and Resident Scholar of the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

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