For many of us, evangelism is a scary topic. How do we share the gospel with an increasingly secular world that is sceptical of the Christian faith? It’s a big question that is core to our very calling as followers of Jesus to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19-20). Do you ever feel overwhelmed, lost, or just plain terrified at the thought of evangelism?
If you do, I recommend Sam Chan’s amazing book, How to talk about Jesus (without being that guy).
Chan (PhD) is an Australian evangelist whose previous book Evangelism in a Sceptical World was a bit technical but transformed my outlook on reaching people for Jesus. His follow up book is more accessible and is full of profound-yet-simple advice (just the way I like it) for sharing our faith with the people around us.
You should read this book if:
- You want to know why evangelism is so scary and awkward, and why what worked in the past during the age of Christendom doesn’t seem to work in our post-Christian world.
- You want to understand the three key areas (known as “plausability structures”) in which we build our belief systems.
- You want to cultivate deep relationships with your non-churched friends.
- You want practical, down to earth tips for having powerful conversations about the good news of Jesus.
A bit of a pastoral caveat here: this is simply a guide. It’s not a “follow these steps and you’ll change the world” manual, for two reasons:
1) God is the one who brings salvation, not us. Without the Holy Spirit working through us (and despite us), people will not be truly saved.
2) Every context is different. These are broad, helpful tips, but we need to be sensitive to the needs and situations of every person we encounter. There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution!
With these caveats in mind, this book is incredible and has the potential to transform our evangelistic culture at Trinity completely. I’d love to encourage you to check out How to talk to Jesus (without being that guy).
