Reviving Evangelism

Christians need a compelling way to share their faith that combines the timeless practices of Jesus with timely perspectives about our post-everything era. In a post-Christian, post-modern, post-truth society where Jesus followers aren't often well regarded, modern evangelism methods and efforts are eroding and increasingly ineffective. Christians often talk more than we listen, confront when we should converse, and demand that people believe before they belong. Author and Executive Director of Alpha US Craig Springer believes that reaching non-Christians is possible, but only if we are willing to shift our perspectives, abandon ineffective methodologies, and consider the unique cultural moment in which we live. In How to Revive Evangelism, he shares the often-overlooked evangelistic approaches of Jesus himself and demonstrates how returning to these fundamentals are the key to reviving evangelism in the 21st century. Incorporating groundbreaking and often startling data, Springer offers Christians seven shifts in how to share their faith--with friends and family members, neighbors and coworkers--that create greater potential for life change and interest in Jesus.

Help your church thrive in a post-everything world. The world is a very different place from what it was just a few years ago. Today's post-everything world is arguably more divisive, political, indifferent, and impatient than ever. While many believe that the best course of action is to find a way back to how things used to be, is that actually the best way forward? Given the many ways that our world has changed, it's time for Christian leadership strategies to change, and for churches to approach making disciples, evangelism, and preaching differently than yesterday. The Discipleship Opportunity is a powerful tool for church leaders seeking to navigate the challenges of our rapidly evolving, post-pandemic, post-Christian, and post-everything world. In this helpful resource, Daniel Im equips readers with practical ways to: reach those who are spiritually asleep in your church and community, disciple your church to know Jesus deeply, and preach differently in today's post-everything world. Discern your church's path forward by learning how to diagnose which shifts to make. Learn disciple-making principles that are as straightforward as they are timely. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out, don't miss this opportunity to emerge as a stronger, healthier, and more evangelistic church.

Since the first century, believers have worked diligently to find the most effective means of evangelizing. In every age there have been great teachers who have excelled in their abilities to show others how best to communicate the good news of Christ. Roy Fish, Professor of Evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, has inspired generations of evangelists who have learned his balanced, biblical methodology. These essays written in his honor discuss personal evangelism, preaching, discipleship, great spiritual awakenings, contemporary spirituality, worship, mission work, and related topics. Included are contributions by scholars and preachers such as Jimmy Draper, Calvin Miller, Robert Coleman, and Rick Warren. This collection is a must for evangelists, students of theology, pastors, Bible teachers, or anyone interested in effective outreach.

Essential guidance for a lifestyle of sharing God's good news with a lost world. What exactly does it mean to "evangelize" in a Christian sense? And how is such evangelizing supposed to be done? Longtime pastor, evangelist, and professor of evangelism Timothy K. Beougher answers these questions and more from theological, historical, and practical perspectives. Beougher demonstrates God's goodness in evangelism through relatable anecdotes, Bible teaching, and encouraging instruction. Invitation to Evangelism welcomes believers into the experience of stepping out in faith of behalf of people God loves. Most Christians know that they should be sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with nonbelievers, and most also know they aren't witnessing very well, or even at all. They need help internalizing the content of gospel proclamation and identifying the best way to go about making evangelism a natural part of their lives. Invitation to Evangelism guides readers through the essential issues of the gospel message, evangelism methods, and witnessing models so they are ready and excited to move out in faith as everyday evangelists. Beougher's biblical, theological, historical, and practical teaching revolves around following essential aspects of being an evangelist: Having compassion as the motivation for evangelism Understanding the good news of Jesus Christ Seeing lost people as persons God loves Relying on the power of the Holy Spirit Paving the way for new believers to share their faith eagerly with others

This pathbreaking book by Richard T. Hughes chronicles the history of Churches of Christ in America from their inception in the early nineteenth century to the 1990s, taking full account of the complexity of their origins, the mainstream of their heritage for almost two hundred years, and their voices of protest and dissent, especially in the twentieth century. From The Critics "Hughes...here provides the definitive history of the Churches of Christ from their beginnings in the Stone-Campbell movement of the early 19th century through the split with the Disciples of Christ at the turn of the century and all the way into the 1990s. Central to this richly detailed and highly readable narrative is Hughes's assertion that this religious movement has evolved from a 19th-century sect into a 20th-century denomination." - Choice "Because of Hughes's elegant writing and his awareness of the social history surrounding the developing denomination, this study transcends mere denominational history and should be read as cultural history. It should remain the standard volume on the subject for years to come." - Publishers Weekly "Hughes provides a clear, balanced account of an American religious movement that has heretofore received insufficient scholarly attention." - Journal of American History "An excellent denominational history of Churches of Christ.... Richard T. Hughes, who admirably balances an empathy born of his lifelong membership in the denomination with the standards of a professional historian, labored on this book for a decade and a half, and the result is a study both thoroughly researched and clearly written." - American Historical Review "Hughes is the foremost interpreter today ofthe Churches of Christ, as this book illustrates.... Well written and meticulously documented, this book could serve as the definitive history of this movement for a generation." - Religious Studies Review

"Argues that a dynamic concept of God as articulated in open theism better serves the evangelistic mission of the church than does conventional theology."--Back

BLESS is a simple, biblical, and relational set of 5 practices that everyone—young and old—can use every day to reach their neighbors, show them love, and change their world! From the beginning of the Bible, God’s has spoken of blessing. Throughout the gospels, Jesus blessed others through his life and leadership. This book will break down the Bless principles, and help Christians engage in a relational form of evangelism. Readers will learn the five practices of BLESS: Begin (with prayer) to discover your personal mission Listen to others Eat with others and build the relationship Serve others Tell you Story. By establishing a relationship, and investing in others, opportunities will arise to share your story of God’s influence upon your life.