Hell's Best Kept Secret [Paperback]

Ray Comfort (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1989

Evangelical success is at an all–time low. Why are so many unbelievers turning away from the message of the gospel? Doesn't the Bible tell us how to bring sinners to true repentance? Using lively anecdotes from his own experiences, evangelist Ray Comfort presents the key that unlocks the door of men's souls. If you're experiencing evangelical frustration over lost souls, unrepentant sinners, and backslidden "believers," then look no further. This radical approach could be the missing dimension needed to win our generation to Christ. Discover the secret to leading others to genuine repentance, and make each moment of your life count for the kingdom of God!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

How many souls have you won to Christ? How many are still walking with the Lord? All, some, a few?

The facts are:

* Evangelical success is at an all–time low.
* We're producing more backsliders than true converts.
* The fall–away rate––from large crusades to local churches––is between 80–90 %.

Why are so many unbelievers turning away from the message of the gospel? Doesn't the Bible tell us how to bring sinners to true repentance? If so, where have we missed it? The answer may surprise you.

One hundred years ago, Satan buried the crucial key needed to unlock the unbeliever's heart. Now Ray Comfort boldly breaks away from modern tradition and calls for a return to biblical evangelism.

If you're experiencing evangelical frustration over lost souls, unrepentant sinners, and backslidden "believers," then look no further. This radical approach could be the missing dimension needed to win our generation to Christ.

About the Author

Ray Comfort, a native New Zealander, began his ministry with a burden for his lost friends. After attending the funeral of a fifth friend who had died from a drug overdose, Ray published an eight page pamphlet called My Friends Are Dying. This pamphlet gained substantial publicity and was later expanded to a paperback book. As a result, Ray received many opportunities to speak to youth about the ultimate answer to the drug problem–Jesus Christ.

Shortly after this, Ray began praying for an opportunity to share his faith publicly. He soon learned his hometown, Christchurch, had recently legalized public speaking in the local square. Ray began preaching the gospel outdoors, and this became the daily focus of his ministry.

Ray has written more than 35 books and spoken at almost 700 churches. His ministry has included pastoring a church, hosting a Christian radio program, writing a newspaper column called Words of Comfort, and serving as a regular platform speaker at Southern Baptist State Conferences.

Ray lives in Bellflower, California, with his wife, Sue, and their three children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 768 pages
• Publisher: Whitaker House (May 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0883682060
• ISBN-13: 978-0883682067
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,205 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Evangelism > General
  • #81 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > General

More About the Author

Ray Comfort is the best-selling author of more than 70 books, including The Evidence Bible (2002 Gold Medallion Book Awards finalist). He is the co-host of an award-winning television program (with actor Kirk Cameron), blogs daily to hundreds of atheists at "Atheist Central" (http://raycomfortfood.blogspot.com), has debated atheistic evolution on ABC's Nightline and on the BBC. His "Atheist Test" booklet has sold more than one million copies. He lives with his wife, Sue, in Southern California where they have three grown children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There Is No Good News without Bad News, May 17, 2001

By 

Laszlo Pasztor, Jr. (Carlisle, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hell's Best Kept Secret (Paperback)

Without conviction of sin there is no confession of sin; without confession of sin there is no repentence of sin; without repentence of sin there is no salvation from sin. Faithful to the Bible, Ray Comfort, practices and in Hell's Best Kept Secret promotes a radical form of evangelism that begins with the premise that the Law of God condemns to eternal damnation those who are yet under the mastery of our sins. Without this conviction, why should there be any imperative to believe the good news that Jesus Christ died so that we can be forgiven, through faith in Him, for our sins and that He arose from the dead so that we too can have eternal life? Ray is grieved by the shallowness of many cheap, easy-believer, feel-good temporary professions of faith that are in response to a watered-down Gospel. As an counterpoint, he does not mince any words with his accurate and comprehensive restatement of Christ's authentic Gospel. This book is refreshing in its tough honesty. Because it conforms to Biblical truth, it is powerful in its conclusions. Hell's Best Kept Secret is the most convicting, provoking and reassuring book on evangelism I have read.

58 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interested in Evangelism? Read this book!, December 4, 1999

By 

Stephen T. Smith "smithworks.org" (Jacksonville, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hell's Best Kept Secret (Paperback)

I was talking to a friend whose church has recently begun using the Law out on the streets, and receiving the backlash for it. Christians scream at them for condemning sinners and not being kind...all because they do not understand the purpose of the Law.
In Hell's Best Kept Secret, Ray Comfort will teach you the purpose of the Law and how to use the Ten Commandments when speaking to a sinner so that he sees himself as he really is: a condemned sinner. Not condemned by you or me, but condemned by his own actions.
Ray will also teach you how to approach a person using the RCCR Principle - Relate, Create, Convict, Reveal - based on John 4.
I first read this book in late 1989, and it revolutionized the way I witness. The message contained in this book is so important that I've shared it on three continents, plus with people all over the world through the internet. One read of the book, and you'll find yourself wanting to purchase other copies to give to friends. The teaching is THAT important.
For more practical advice about witnessing, you may also want to purchase Ray's "How to Win Souls and Influence People." For more understanding of the purpose of the Law, you may want to purchase his soon to be re-released "God Has A Wonderful Plan for Your Life: The Myth of the Modern Message." And coming soon, "The Evidence Bible." Sorry for sounding like a commercial, but Ray's stuff is important for the Church. You can find out more by visiting his website.

85 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Do NOT read this book!" - Satan, November 28, 2001

By 

Christian Lee "Cristiano" (Seoul, Korea) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hell's Best Kept Secret (Paperback)

Satan does not want you to read this book! Though it has been out for a decade, it has really been continually suppressed by the Devil. Not anymore! With the Internet as a resource, as long as there are brothers like myself who are convicted of God's word, I will make sure that this secret is no longer kept hidden!

After four years of frustration in Campus Crusade using the Four Spiritual Laws to share the Gospel, I was greatly delighted to find Ray Comfort's audio message at his web site (raycomfort.com)! The issues I had seen in conversions were never dealt with since I became active in evangelism. No one wanted to touch it, everyone just encouraged me to continue sharing "God is love", "He offers a wonderful plan for you", and "make a decision for Christ!". But I knew what I saw. A lot of ppl were praying to receive Christ, but none of them were keeping in the faith (followup didn't work either). And then Ray Comfort hit the nail right on the head! I felt God placing an urgency in my heart to research this message and check it to Scripture so I ordered the book, video, whatever I could afford. And I can say that everything is Biblical... in fact, Ray Comfort stands on a cloud of witnesses that have gone before him with the same message!

John Wesley, the renown and highly successful open air preacher wrote to a young colleague of his, "Preace 90% law, 10% grace!" Martin Luther taught, "The first duty of the Gospel preacher is to declare God's law and show the nature of sin." In "Hell's Best Kept Secret", Ray Comfort has not invented a brand new concept, but he has rediscovered a secret to reaching the lost that has been suppressed by Satan in the last 100 years. He writes with conviction, Biblical insight, and wit!

It's time for followers of Christ to wake up, I think it's time for you to get this book! You can discover the same secret by reading through the many sermon notes and pages of books written by John Wesley, Martin Luther, Spurgeon, Charles Finney, and Jonathan Edwards... but it may serve your wallet and schedule right to just buy this (...) book (you can listen to him preach about it on his web site). Ray Comfort has done the research for you and with 15 years of daily open-air preaching/evangelism under his belt, he knows what he's talking about. He doesn't just talk the talk like most Christian authors do today... he walks the walk! He shares valuable insight that cannot be known without the vigorous evangelism he has done. But don't take my word for it, get the video by the same name, it contains videos of his open-air preaching sessions and interviews with pedestrians that really amplify the truth of the message.

Before you can tell someone of the cure, or even tell them about the impending death, you must convince them that they have a disease. Only God's law can convince and convict the sinner of His sin before God.

Press on Mr. Ray Comfort, I just shared the Gospel using the new Biblical approach and brought my cousin to Christ after Thanksgiving day! Someone who would've never responded to a 4 Spiritual Laws presentation! Hallelujah!