"Reviving Mission" (Linson Daniel, Jon Hietbrink, and Eric Rafferty)

TITLE: Reviving Mission: Awakening to the Everyday Movement of God
AUTHOR: Linson Daniel, Jon Hietbrink, and Eric Rafferty
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2024, (240 pages).
 

Are missions outdated? Does God still speak today with signs and wonders? Is there any similar outpouring of the Spirit like the 20th-century Azuza Street revival? Are revivals a thing of the past? Are revivals in general considered anomalies? Inspired by the Asbury revival of 2023 which spread to several campuses in America, the authors of this book excitedly proclaimed that mission can be revived. This book is about reviving: a) our conceptions of mission; b) the impact of mission on the people we are sent to; and c) the impact of mission on the people who are sent. Instead of jettisoning the old ways of mission, the authors urge us to renew our old ways in terms of re-contextualization. Go back to Jesus as the root of all missions. Follow the ways of Jesus in everyday living. Be Christlike to all. Claiming that "The Old Way is an Everyday Way," they encourage us to follow Jesus' ordinary life in an ordinary society. Once we recognize the many similarities of first-century culture and our modern society, we can breathe new life into the ordinary. 

"The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation" (Kevin DeYoung)

TITLE: The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation
AUTHOR: Kevin DeYoung
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2024, (48 pages).

Many churches are clamouring for more young people in their congregations. The average age of a North American Church today is above 40, and greying fast. This is a statistical parallel to an aging society. That is why many Church leaders desire young people to step up in leadership for the next generation and beyond. Desires however is one thing. Designing an appropriate strategy is another. Along with that is the inter-generational gaps that often lead to clashes and misunderstanding between the young and the old. Whether it is about the worship wars, traditional vs contemporary music, the generational makeup of leadership boards, the various programs for the young and not-so-young, the common theme is similar: Reaching the next generation is easier said than done. Is there a secret to doing that in the first place? Author and pastor Kevin DeYoung realizes that there is no simple answer to that important question. In trying to explain his strategies that to him is not so secret, but not to others, he titles this book with a catchy "not-so-secret" secret.

"The Sacredness of Secular Work" (Jordan Raynor)

TITLE: The Sacredness of Secular Work: 4 Ways Your Job Matters for Eternity (Even When You're Not Sharing the Gospel)
AUTHOR: Jordan Raynor
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: Waterbrook & Multnomah, 2024, (224 pages).
 

One of the most popular resources for Christians is to find meaning in everyday work. The interest revolves around questions about practicing one's faith in the world. What does faith in the marketplace mean? How do we live the spiritual life in an increasingly secular world? What does it mean to be a Christian in the workplace? What should we do if our workplaces forbid us from practicing our faith? Does our work really matter? What does gospel living look like? In this book, author Jordan Raynor asserts that our work not only has "instrumental value" on earth, it also has "eternal intrinsic value" to God. "By "instrumental value," it means our work matters because it can be an opportunity to explicitly share the gospel with people we work with. "Intrinsic value" refers to how our work matters even when we are not explicitly sharing the gospel. The Great Commission should not be the "only" commission in life as it might give us a flawed sense of living as a Christian in an unChristian world. The primary reason is that though He lived with the gospel in mind, Jesus never turned everything into a "Great Commission" act. Many of his simple acts are that of care, compassion, care, and common living. One observation that the author makes is how the focus on the Great Commission Only is only a recent phenomenon. The Early Church did not have that distinction between sacred and secular lives. In fact, the words "Great Commission" did not even show up until the 1800s. In other words, the reason why so many today are asking how our work matters to God, is due to the mental separation of sacred and secular worlds. After listing the five ways we have misapplied the Great Commission, Raynor also enlarges the understanding of work beyond mere paid careers. This forms the major part of the book that looks at how we can live out the gospel in 99% of the time when we are not explicitly "sharing the gospel."

"No Shortcut to Success" (Matt Rhodes)

TITLE: No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions (9Marks)
AUTHOR: Matt Rhodes
PUBLISHER: Wheaton IL: Crossway Publishers, 2022, (272 pages).
 

In a quick-fix society, people want fast results and easy solutions. If there are short-cuts, take it. If not, make one. This has unfortunately impacted the philosophy of Christian missions. Thinking that modern methods could spark a quick and easy approach toward missions, many people are looking for ways to bypass traditional approaches by adopting quick-fixes and practices. This has appeared in various forms that seem logical at a superficial level but lack foundations. Author Matt Rhodes gives a critical analysis on the popular shortcuts being adopted in many modern approaches to missions. Some feel that professionalism is to be avoided in favor of relational skills. Others prefer speed or silver bullet strategies. Still there are some who are skeptical of anything too "intellectual" or "academic." The temptations are real. Just hearing about "amazing successes" from anecdotal sources might scupper any attempts to be trained in the traditional ways. Such sources tempt planners with numbers like some success story. Rhodes critiques the Church Planting Movements for their overemphasis on rapid growth instead of biblical shepherding. He questions the notion of a DNA for rapid growth, saying that they prioritize sociology over theology. In a nutshell, such approaches tend to be based on management over biblical principles; numbers over patience; results over means; and human expectations over spiritual movements. 

"Turning Points in the Expansion of Christianity" (Alice T. Ott)

TITLE: Turning Points in the Expansion of Christianity: From Pentecost to the Present
AUTHOR: Alice T. Ott
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2022, (320 pages).

Ever since Mark Noll published his classic work "Turning Points" over two decades ago, it has become a popular framework to study the history of Christianity. Such "turning points" are essentially significant moments in time that have changed the course of history. In Noll's book, some significant moments include the Fall of Jerusalem (AD70); the Formation of the Council of Nicaea (AD325); the Monastic Period (AD530); the Coronation of Charlemagne (AD800); the Great Schism (AD1054); Rise of Protestantism (AD1521); The Second Vatican Council (AD1962-5); etc. These significant events helped shape the Church into what it is today. For all his valiant efforts, even Noll's latest edition of his classic only touches the tip of the iceberg of history. It will take many more volumes to uncover the multitudes of decisions that have shaped the many developments throughout the history of the Church. Using Noll's framework that covers events from AD70 to the 1970s, author and professor Alice Ott boldly apply the same methodology to events from Pentecost to the Present age. She defines her turning point as both the beginning of a "new trend" as well as the "climax and culmination" of mission work outreach. Some of the unique features in this book include:

• Anecdote or illustration to introduce readers to the impact of the turning point
• Five chapters cover Christian influence before the Protestant Reformation
• Seven chapters cover the turning points after the rise of the Protestant movement
• Additional material on East Syrian and Roman Catholic missionaries
• Themes of missiology, theology, and history highlighted throughout the book
• Methods and strategies for evangelization
• ...

"A History of Evangelism in North America" (Thomas P. Johnston)

TITLE: A History of Evangelism in North America
AUTHOR: Thomas P. Johnston
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2021, (352 pages).

What is evangelism like in the past in North America? How could the past shed light on how we could do evangelism in the future? What can we learn about evangelism that we could use today? Scanning the past centuries in North American evangelism efforts, author Thomas Johnston brings together 21 professors to write on "evangelistic movers and shavers" who had influenced the North American cultural landscape. More importantly, it showcases how the Great Commission had been practiced by many in the past. Using a chronological progression, readers will learn about the history of key evangelists from the 18th Century to the 21st century. From Jonathan Edwards to Billy Graham; Bill Bright to John Piper's Reformed movements, the purpose of this book is to provide us a "biographical approach to evangelism," that the practice of evangelism is connected intimately to the personal lives of the evangelists. We learn of how Jonathan Edwards preached so passionately to convert rather than instilling fear. We see how David Brainerd, who lived for only 29 years, dedicated his life to minister to the Native American Indians. His perseverance in spite of great discouragement ought to provide a glimmer of hope for many modern evangelistic efforts. The 18th Century First Awakening was also impacted by the preaching efforts of two persons: George Whitefield and John Wesley. After John Wesley, Francis Asbury was instrumental in spearheading the Methodist movement in North America. While Asbury was not as eloquent as Wesley, he was an organizational genius, showing us that evangelism is more than speaking via the pulpits. In the 19th Century, we read about the Camp Meeting Revival Movement, in particular, in Cane Ridge Church where many churches and Christian communities started praying for revival to be just like Cane Ridge Church. That revival has been hailed as the greatest outpouring of God's Spirit since the first Pentecost in the Early Church. We see the impact of the Bible societies in America, laying the foundations for the Second Great Awakening. In the 20th Century, the key figures include John Mason Peck (and Rock Springs Seminary), Henrietta Mears (and the Sunday School movement), Dawson Trotman (and the Navigators), Billy Graham (and YFC), Bill Bright (and Campus Crusade), James Kennedy (and Evangelism Explosion), the Jesus Movement, and many more. 

"Tongue-Tied" (Sara Wenger Shenk)

TITLE: Tongue-tied: Learning the Lost Art of Talking About Faith
AUTHOR: Sara Wenger Shenk
PUBLISHER:  Harrisonburg, VA: Herald Press, 2021, (256 pages).

Why are people "tongue-tied" about religion? Probably, it is due to the lack of Evangelism and evangelistic fervor. Maybe, there are many layers of reasons ranging from disinterest to downright persecution. Perhaps, our culture has become increasingly anti-Christian and it is no longer "safe" to just speak about religion. As author Sara Wenger Shenk notes, "faith talk rarely shows up unless we’re at church." We have lost the art of sharing faith in the public arena. We need to recover not just the skills of sharing the gospel, more importantly, we need to bring back the conviction that the Great Commission is what Jesus has called us to do. We need to recover the language of love. Addressed primarily to her peers in North America, Shenk hopes that we will not let any spiritual malaise or apathy make God into our own image. Instead, we are encouraged to intentionally cultivate a "heartfelt, biblically enriched, and morally grounded faith" that will influence others for Christ. 

"Models of Evangelism" (Priscilla Pope-Levison)

TITLE: Models of Evangelism
AUTHOR: Priscilla Pope-Levison
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2020, (208 pages).

How do we do evangelism? What does it mean to be an evangelist? Are we all called to evangelize like the famous evangelists in history? What is evangelism? In this book that takes us back to the very basics of evangelism and the different methods in which we can share the gospel, readers learn biblical ways to share Jesus practically without compromising theological principles. The key thesis in this book is that evangelists come in all shapes and sizes; and we are all evangelists. All we need is to find the right combination of evangelism models and our own style of sharing the gospel. The author does that by first showing us a few real-life examples of the different models at work. In fact, the models were drawn out of these experiences. Each chapter beings with an anecdote following by a description of the biblical principles behind the method. Each model had at least two theological themes to anchor each model. The historical background helps us appreciate the past notable practitioners for simply wanting to reach people with whatever they know. I like the critical appraisal of  each model that points out the strengths and weaknesses of each method. At the end of each chapter, the author gives readers a chance to wrestle with five reflective questions. The eight models range from one-to-one personal evangelism to larger corporate events such as mass revival meetings and mass media. 

"Not Done Yet" (Elizabeth Donigan Seversen)

TITLE: Not Done Yet: Reaching and Keeping Unchurched Emerging Adults
AUTHOR: Elizabeth Donigan Seversen
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020, (250 pages).

Every generation comes with their own sets of challenges. Put together multiple generations and the challenges are multiplied. As the Boomer generation ages, the Millenials and the Gen Zs are starting to take center-stage in many parts of society. The same applies to churches as well. Here is the problem. More of the younger generation are either "nones" or "dones." The former are those who claim to believe but do not state any church affiliation. The latter are those who are pretty fed up with Church per se and seek to find new and greener pastures. Worse, the numbers for both "nones" and "dones" are growing. In this hopeful book, the author and scholar Elizabeth Donigan Seversen believes that there is still hope for those in churches before they become a "done." The way is to learn from churches who have successfully reached out to the younger generation in their communities. The author hopes to help us see and understand emerging generation of adults, especially those who have never stepped foot into a Church. She compiles "nine initiatives" that we can all benefit from.

"A Public Missiology" (Gregg Okesson)

TITLE: A Public Missiology: How Local Churches Witness to a Complex World
AUTHOR: Gregg Okesson
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2020, (272 pages).

Has the Western Church becoming too individualistic for her own good? Can a privatized religion do justice to the very identity of the Church? How relevant is missiology to ecclesiology? What does it take for the Church to live out an integrated sense of mission instead of delegating the work of mission to outsiders? These are some of the issues discussed in this book. The main thesis of this book is to rouse up the sleeping Church to move from passive talk about mission to active witness. Some people used to say that we can change the world one person at a time. In this book, the focus is not on that one person, but on the "we" as a community or congregational witness. This is because our vision of the gospel has become too self-limiting, to the point that it has made people hesitant about public witness.  He says that the "thinness of our faith struggles to penetrate the thickness of the public realm." In other words, we cannot evangelize on our own. We need to evangelize as a community. Whatever negativity that has been associated with Church cannot be allowed to undermine the calling of the church. Do not throw out the proverbial baby (Church) with the bathwater (negative perceptions). Author and Professor Gregg Okesson integrates three key things in his model for public missiology: Congregations, Publics, and Witness. After some qualification, he then defines a public missiology as "congregational witness that moves back and forth across all “spaces” of public life in order to weave a thickness of the persons of the Trinity for the flourishing of all of life." 

"Mission 3:16" (Paul Borthwick)

TITLE: Mission 3:16: God's One-Verse Invitation to Love the World
AUTHOR: Paul Borthwick
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020, (176 pages).

Sermons have been preached about it. Conferences have been organized to promote it. Books have been written to describe it. Yet, nothing beats a one-verse definition of the mission of Christ. Arguably the most famous verse in the Bible, we are talking about John 3:16 as that one verse definition of God's mission to love the world. It is the gospel wrapped up in one crisp and concise statement. Author Paul Borthwick calls it Jesus' "Elevator Speech." In order to understand that verse in context, he takes us through chapter three of John's gospel, and points us to the larger picture of God's love. There are themes of "born again," "light," "life," "the world," which all are linked together in John 3:16. God is the initiator and motivated by His love for all the world. His love is so deep that He offered the deepest expression of love, his sacrificing his only Son. The beneficiaries are the world at large, that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have everlasting life.

"Rogue Saints" (Jerry Herships)

TITLE: Rogue Saints: Spirituality for Good-Hearted Heathens
AUTHOR: Jerry Herships
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2019, (114 pages).

His first book, "Last Call" was about his personal journey from an altar boy in Church to show business, gigs, bars, and various game shows to make ends meet. He returns to the ministry albeit with a difference: going out people who congregate at bars and pubs. He shares his story of "from serving drinks to serving Jesus." In this follow up book, Herships continues by giving us a closer look at what his unconventional ministry looks like. More importantly, he tries to help us find out our big purpose in life through connection and community. He tells stories of people who would be considered "misfits" in many churches. Just knowing that there are people with bigger problems than our complaints about life, will easily put our worries in perspective. In an uninhibited "in the face" manner, the author makes it clear that he does not stand for rules and restrictions about how to do ministry. He even admits to wanting to bash "shitty church." Preferring to let the ends justify the means, he kicks off by reminding us that our starting point for theology should not be "original sin," but "original blessing." We don't start off by thinking how bad we look but how good we have been created. We are created in the image of God. He does several counter-intuitive things such as labeling people as "heathens," choosing unbeliever to be part of his leadership team; even adding in cocktail mix at the end of each chapter. The objective of the book is to help us find a way to serve God through meaningful connections with the community around us, especially in the uncommon places.

"Messiah in the Passover" (edited by Darrell L Block and Mitch Glaser)

TITLE: Messiah in the Passover
AUTHOR: edited by Darrell L Block and Mitch Glaser
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2018, (384 pages).

The Passover was a significant event in the history of Israel. It was a demonstration of God's final straw for Pharaoh who refused to let the enslaved people of Israel go. It represented the night when the angel of death passed over any home their front doors painted with the blood of the lamb. It was a time where the firstborn of every Israeli slaved lived while the firstborn of every Egyptian family died. After this Passover, Israel was free to begin their journey to the promised land. Since then, the importance of the Passover had been written in the first five books of the Old Testament, the Torah where it remains one of the seven great festivals of the Jews. The Passover is about deliverance, freedom, community, hope, life, prophecy given, prophecy fulfilled, and much more. This book gives us more, especially about Christ the Messiah. The five parts of the book are as follows:

1. Biblical and Theological Foundations of the Passover
2. Passover and Church History
3. Jewish Tradition and Passover
4. Communicating the Gospel Through the Passover
5. Celebrating Messiah in the Passover

"The Power of the 72" (John Teter)

TITLE: The Power of the 72: Ordinary Disciples in Extraordinary Evangelism
AUTHOR: John Teter
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2017, (176 pages).

I have come across books about the 12 disciples, the 12 tribes of Israel, and songs about the 12 sons of Jacob. In the book of Revelation, there is the usage of 144,000 servants of God who were sealed. Symbolically, 12 is likened to a complete number, a total collection. In this book about the 72 evangelists sent out two by two, we also see it as a multiple of 12. Based on Luke 10:1-20, author John Teter expounds this text to showcase 72 unnamed disciples evangelizing everywhere they go. Calling himself "one of the 72," Teter sees himself in the text as a convicted evangelist. In fact, the gospel of Luke has defined his ministry setting. The mission statement comes from Luke 4; the one-verse vision from Luke 10:2; the evangelism model on Luke 10; and letting the gospel of Luke master him. He also makes an interesting interpretation that the 72 could also mean the known number of countries at that time, which he then extrapolates to mean evangelism for the whole world. I am not sure about that literal stretch, but that does not change the heart of Christ for the whole world. Indeed, the gospel is for all, and the hope is that all would come and believe in the gospel. Jesus called, trained, and sent the 72 out on this evangelistic outreach. What and where exactly is this power? It is that conviction by the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers, that the gospel is for all. In this book, Teter seeks to do four things:

1. Provide a clear theological foundation for evangelism, preaching first to the poor
2. Present theory of process conversion
3. Proficiency in four ministry tasks
4. Prepare for daily rejection with a focus on eternal joy

"The Way to Brave" (Andy McQuitty)

TITLE: The Way to Brave: Shaping a David Faith for a Goliath World
AUTHOR: Andy McQuitty
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2018, (224 pages).

It is no secret that Christians nowadays live in a hostile world. As society becomes more secular and religions being seen as nothing more than simply motivation for good works, it is harder for Christians to live in this pluralistic culture. If we are content to just get-along with anything and everything in our culture, we would be left alone. What if we decide to stand up for our historical faith, the biblical principles and truth of Jesus? It would be an uphill task, given the way atheism and secularism had taken hold of all parts of society. Public schools forbid any talk about religion. Businesses generally discourage any discussions about faith matters. Any hint of religion in the public square would trigger push-backs from skeptics and secularists everywhere. The example of Russ Vought being ridiculed before the US Senate Committee for his Christian position is a case in point. On the other hand, violent programming and the sexually charged entertainment options continue to go unabated. Will Christians have courage to stand up against the tide of hostility? What can believers do in the midst of many obstacles that seemed so insurmountable? What does it take to shape a "David faith for today's Goliath World?" That is the crux of the book, which begins with a paraphrase of the biblical story of David vs Goliath in 1 Sam 17. The author writes this book hoping to encourage Christians not only to be courageous in a big way, but to do it in the right way and for the right reason. Courage don't just happen. They are strengthened with challenges. They go through a period of preparation. They stem from the conviction that God is love and God's love overcomes all.

"Stay in the City" (Mark R. Gornik and Maria Liu Wong)

TITLE: Stay in the City: How Christian Faith Is Flourishing in an Urban World
AUTHOR: Mark R. Gornik and Maria Liu Wong
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 2017, (95 pages).

There was a time in which many Christians flood the suburbs as the city becomes either too expensive or over-populated. Some see the city as too secular for their comfort. Others deem the city a lost cause due to the rising levels of crime and social ills. For young families, it is also increasingly difficult to afford to live in cities where the cost of living rises each year. Yet, the city continues to hold a strange attraction for many. Going downtown or uptown is also a popular choice among young people. What if all Christians vacate the city? Where then would gospel witness come from? Even in an age of Internet and social media connections, there is still a need for face to face interactions and communications. The authors of this book believe that Christians have a calling to stay in the city as a gospel witness. They provide encouraging stories of the many creative witness happening in major cities such as the City of Refuge in Brooklyn that offers refuge for the homeless. Over in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a terribly expensive city, a young couple made their home so hospitable that teenagers loved to pop in for a snack and where parents could drop off their kids for a few hours. Other stories of hope and mercy fill the pages of this very engaging book about how Christians are making a difference in the cities. This book is a companion volume to "Sense the City." The latter goes more in depth about the skills and the practical things needed. This book shows forth the stories and the reasons why Christians ought to continue to be engaged in the work of the gospel in the city. Why? There are many reasons. More and more people are living in cities. Much of the need for the gospel are in cities and urban areas. In fact, cities are creeping into suburban lands and not the other way round. Cities are also hubs of opportunities, given the many resources and growth activities in them. There is also global migration to keep track of.

"Questioning Evangelism" (Randy Newman)

TITLE: Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People's Hearts the Way Jesus Did
AUTHOR: Randy Newman
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2017, (280 pages).

There was a time in which evangelism is about declaring the gospel outright, spouting out the promises of faith and the perils of non-belief. Then comes the popularity of apologetics where the skills of defending the gospel take on a more prominent role. The ministries such as RZIM and Lee Strobel's Reason for Faith help to fill in the increasing demand for training in defending the gospel. Building upon these two core skills of declaring and defending the gospel in evangelism, author Randy Newman zooms in on a third core skill appropriate for a postmodern climate: dialogue. It is about engaging people where they are. It asks the tough questions of life and goes beyond mere defending toward greater understanding. It prompts people to know that even Christians ask the same set of questions. Legitimate questions are never bounded by faith positions. In fact, learning to ask questions and to respond to them well is key to engaging people these days, just like Jesus did during His days. Use these questions as bridges to foster dialogue and sustain meaningful conversations.

Newman shares about the power of questions even as he deals with basic words such as "God," "love," "sin," etc. We tend to be easily frustrated when we struggle with finding out pin-point answers to complex questions. We can learn from the way of "Rabbinic Evangelism" where we respond to questions with questions. It is not simply to give a logical, rational answer, but to open up the conversation for open learning by all. We learn about Solomon's four lessons:

1. Avoiding arguments
2. Recognizing a fool
3. Remembering people are people
4. Remembering the power of the tongue.

Evangelism is not about winning arguments. It is about winning souls. Even though questions may not give us answers, they can pave the way for meaningful responses. Newman gives us five principles and five operative questions to help us along. They cover a wide variety of possibilities which would open up the conversation. Through the process, we can also uncover important questions asked by many in the secular and atheistic culture:

• "Why are Christians so intolerant?"
• Why does a good God allow evil and suffering?
• Why does God allow 9/11 to happen?
• Why should anyone believe in an ancient book?
• "Why are Christians so homophobic?"
• "What's so good about marriage?"
• "If Jesus is so great, why are some of His followers such jerks?"
• ...

Many of these questions are also difficult for Christians to deal with directly. Sometimes, the best answer when we don't know how to respond is to admit we don't know. The final part of the book touches a little bit about that when questions and answers alone are no longer enough. It is good to be able to dialogue in the open, but there are journeys in which every individual would have to take and decide for themselves. Such questions include matters of the will rather than reason or in matters of the heart instead of the head. There is also a time where the best thing to do is to be quiet. Notice how Jesus refused to answer some of the taunts and jests by the religious leaders of His day? Throughout the entire book, Newman gives us examples of how Jesus had dealt with opposition and issues during His day. Jesus uses a host of skills to deal with threats and traps. He uses Rabbinic style of replying to questions with questions. He often points people toward the more eternal things of life. He does not mince his words when proclaiming truth. The author believes that the way of "Questioning Evangelism" is essentially the way of Jesus. Jesus adopts all forms of declaration; defending; and dialogue.

There are many issues addressed in the book. One of the main areas is how to respond to skeptics and critics in an increasingly hostile climate. One can respond to the hypocrite charge with a simple question, "Do you seriously think that ALL Christians are hypocrites?" One can seek to understand the reasons behind the charge through questions that open up bridges of understanding. There is no need to jump to any defense because truth can defend itself. When dealing with questions that have no immediate answer, we could approach it with compassion. One of the most moving parts of the book is in how we differentiate anger from contempt. Newman quotes Dallas Willard's brilliant take on the Sermon on the Mount:

"In anger I want to hurt you. In contempt, I don't care whether you are hurt or not. Or at least so I say. You are not worth consideration one way or the other. We can be angry at someone without denying their worth. But contempt makes it easier for us to hurt them or see them further degraded."

There are many other examples on how to deal with our angry self and when we simply have no words to say. In our day and age, books like this will increasingly be relevant. No longer are people open to unilateral declarations of the gospel. They want their voices to be heard. They are not content to simply hear the gospel proclaimed but to deal with the bad news occurring all around us. They are more open to conversation with people who care to listen. This book paves the way for us to do just that.

Randy Newman is the senior teaching fellow for evangelism and apologetics at the CS Lewis Institute in Washington DC. After serving over thirty years at Campus Crusade for Christ, he started Connection Points to equip Christians on matters of evangelism. He specializes in helping people of diverse backgrounds on issues of faith.


Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Kregel Publications as part of their blog tour event without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Letting Go" (David T. Harvey and Paul Byron Gilbert)

TITLE: Letting Go: Rugged Love for Wayward Souls
AUTHOR: David T. Harvey and Paul Byron Gilbert
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016, (192 pages).

You've tried your best. You've gone over and beyond your call of duty. You've ran the second mile, gave till it hurt, and turned the other cheek. Yet the one you loved had turned away and left you. What then do you do? Answer: Learn to let go. The parable of the Prodigal Son is one classic story to bring us into what the loving father felt at the time when he needed to let go. For some of us, the biblical story remained a story until it hits home up close and personal. Questions would fly at us fast and furious. What do we do with a rebellious child? How can we solve a relational problem? What do we do when someone doesn't listen to advice despite our best intentions? According to authors Dave Harvey and Paul Gilbert, we need to practice the wisdom of letting go without losing hope. The two basic truth we need to acknowledge from the Bible is:

1. This world is broken, and this leads to lots of pain and hurt;
2. We need God's grace in order to move from despair to hope.

"Understanding the Culture" (Jeff Myers)

TITLE: Understanding the Culture: A Survey of Social Engagement
AUTHOR: Jeff Myers
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook Publishers, 2017, (576 pages).

This book is the third of a trilogy of books about understanding the world we live in.  The first is "Understanding the Faith" which deals with a survey of Apologetics, about how we can share the faith with others. It helps us to understand the place of theology and apologetics.The second is "Understanding the Times" which deals with the various popular worldviews existing today. Not only does it help us understand the different religious and existing worldviews, it gives us a chance to appreciate the biblical Christian worldview more. This is the third book which deals with specific topics regarding culture. It deals with common needs that we encounter every day. Topics like:

• Technology
• Arts and Entertainment
• Value of Human Life
• Sexuality
• Marriage
• Creation Care
• Politics
• Religious Freedom and Persecution
• Poverty Care, Poverty Cure
• Use of Force
• Justice
• Community Renewal

"Gospel Fluency" (Jeff Vanderstelt)

TITLE: Gospel Fluency: Speaking the Truths of Jesus into the Everyday Stuff of Life
AUTHOR: Jeff Vanderstelt
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017, (224 pages).

How can we speak the truth of Jesus into our everyday life? Being fluent is like the ability to communicate well in a particular language. The four basic language skills to measure competence are reading; writing; speaking; and hearing. As far as the gospel is concerned, this is what we all should strive to achieve, according to author Jeff Vanderstelt. He begins by declaring that all believers are in one way or another 'unbelievers.' It does not mean we do not believe. It simply means that there are pockets in various parts of our lives that we do not believe. That's the reason why we need Jesus. Using this fluency metaphor, Vanderstelt speaks gospel throughout the book. Whether it is flushing out unbelief or instilling greater belief, he passionately believes in the power of the gospel to heal and to reconcile people to God, and people to people. The gospel message begins right from Genesis and ends in Revelation. It deals with the creation of mankind and the fall due to sin. He describes the way God has spoken to us through the many people through history. The gospel saves and the salvation is through faith in Jesus.

From the gospel story, we learn about the Gospel in every one of us, that we all yearn for good news. In order to talk about the One we love, we need to be loved by the One who came to us. We need to watch our mind to know that it is the battlefield of many competing worldviews. Gradually, Vanderstelt shows us what faith in us can do to our lifestyles. By the fruits we will know the result of the gospel. Thankfully, we are not alone. So passionate is Vanderstelt about the gospel that he relates how he wishes he was a believer much earlier. Whether we are going through hard times at work or school; home or office; or any where else, we need to be reminded that Jesus is better that all of the solutions to them, combined. He talks about a gospel community who will do much better than to complain about their work or jobs. He challenges us to ask:

1. How does the gospel speak good news into the situation?
2. What about the gospel that we need to hear right now?
3. What gospel have we forgotten?
4. How is Jesus better than our wants?

By regular reminder about what Jesus means to us, we can learn gospel fluency. Like living waters, gospel fluency is about letting the gospel touch us in every way possible that we can live out the gospel in every way possible. Just like his previous book, Saturate, this book essentially continues the saturation process by creating a lasting vision in every one of us to be gospel-saturated in thought, word, and in deed. From beginning to end, this message is consistent. I read this book with an amazed WOW. Vanderstelt means what he says and lives what he writes. 

Jeff Vanderstelt is visionary leader of the Soma Family of Churches and Saturate. He is also the lead pastor of Doxa Church in Bellevue, WA. He has previously written books like Saturate. This latest book is his third. His website is at www.jeffvanderstelt.com

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Crossway Publishers and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.