Customer Reviews

The Unexpected Adventure: Taking Everyday Risks to Talk with People about Jesus

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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The Unexpected Adventure has been riveting! This book has re-opened my eyes to the potential for life-change all around me. Strobel and Mittelberg write in a conversational, story-telling manner about their personal efforts in telling others about their faith. Their chapters were concise and on-point.

I expected that every chapter would end with the "success" of someone becoming a Christian because of their perfect efforts--but I was wrong! These men were self-effacing about their mistakes, empowering with their suggestions, and envisioning with their passion.

Bottom line: this is clearly the best book I have read on sharing one's faith in Christ. I have already begun recommending it to every Christian I can think of that they need to get and read this book this summer. I believe that this book has the potential to assuage the fears and fire up the apathy and of Christians who have been silent too long!

The Unexpected Expected Adventure by Lee Strobel and Mark Mittleberg


I was a bit reluctant when I first picked up this book. There have been so many books already published on the topic of evangelism and outreach, how could The Unexpected Adventure be any different? Thankfully, I was surprised by this book and its compelling message of how sharing the Christian Faith should be exhilarating and adventurous. So often for many Christ followers evangelism is just one item on a long list of Christian duties that we must perform in order to be considered a "good follower".

This book was easy to get drawn into because of its unique primary objective of sharing real life stories to convey the message of the of the book instead of giving the message of the book and using the stories for illustration purposes. The Unexpected Adventure has 42 real life stories divided between both of the authors. My personal favorite was "Day 5", where Mark Mittleberg shared about an adventure in England where he was doused with a bottle of champagne while having dinner with an immigrant family he was seeking to share Christ with. This account had me almost falling off the couch laughing, but it also showed well how God redeems embarrassing moments to use for kingdom purposes.

In addition to this book focusing on sharing real life stories of what a life of natural evangelism looks like, the book also has a much needed message regarding the method of evangelism. So often evangelism is presented as a special shpeel we have to memorize to bring people to a point where they will pray a prayer of personal salvation. This book focuses on the need for life change starting with each individual Christian. True life change happens when Christ followers are infused with the power of the Holy Spirit to make a difference in the world. God is the evangelist! We are merely the tools he uses. Our role is to be ready and willing because God is always able. As we partner with God, His mission of redeeming the world will happen, one individual at a time.

The Unexpected Adventure poignantly reminds us that our focus in evangelism is to be alert for opportunities around us and to be sensitive the prompting of the Holy Spirit. If we are able to do this we will find appropriate ways to engage people in a natural conversation about Jesus and his transforming power. We need not worry about being perfect, God will use our meager efforts and turn them into something good.

Sharing our faith sounds so easy, yet many of us find it awkward, difficult and challenging at best. We wonder what to say, how to say it, and how we're coming across as we say it. When is the right time? How can we share effectively? What happens when the person with whom we're sharing looks at us like we're from a different planet?

Bestselling authors Lee Strobel and Mark Mittleberg believe that sharing our faith is essential to unlocking the adventure that God has designed for us. In THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE, they offer an engaging guide to evangelism. Rather than write a book of "How to's" and "7 easy steps," they draw on their own adventures in sharing their faith.

They write: "Two of the greatest impediments to diving into the adventure of evangelism are believing you have to be like someone else and thinking you have to do everything on your own. Neither is true. You can be yourself, using the unique style and personality God gave you. And you can partner with other Christians in your church or small group, praying and working together to try to more effectively reach all of your family members and friends for Christ."

The book is designed like a devotional with 42 days of adventure. Each entry begins with a personal story from the lives of Strobel or Mittleberg of an attempt to share their faith. Sometimes their stories describe an incredible immediate transformation in the listeners' lives, but other times there's little to no transformation or even a negative response. Yet that's one of the most endearing features of the book: the stories are accessible to all of us, and some will make you laugh out loud. Following the story is a brief action principle, followed by a "Stepping into the Adventure" teaching section. The entries conclude with a scripture intended for "Inspiration for the Journey."

Throughout the book, the authors regularly describe and suggest resources that can equip readers to go further in their personal study and understanding of evangelism. They do this in a non-promotional, sincere way. They also encourage Christians to know what they believe and why they believe it. If you're going to share your faith, then you need to do your homework. They write, "Self-assurance doesn't come vicariously from others or through intellectual osmosis. You've got to get it the old fashioned way: through serious study."

Overall, THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE is not only easy to read but also fun to read. It is ideal for small groups or studies who need a jolt to begin looking for opportunities to grow in evangelism and experience the adventure of sharing one's faith with others. Reading this book will go a long way in helping to prepare and equip you to share your faith with others and answer spiritual questions from the curious neighbor or fellow traveler you happen to encounter.

--- Reviewed by Margaret Oines

There could be no two better servants of God, than Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg, to teach us how to reach people with the message of Christ. They have chosen to share some of their most fantastic evangelistic experiences through, "The Unexpected Adventure." What the authors show us is that this journey of faith will bring amazing "unexpected" encounters when we're trusting in God to use our lives for His purposes.

With incredible transparency and subtle humor, the authors present a wide range of unexpected encounters throughout their lives that have brought lost souls to a place of surrender. The Great Commission is not to be taken lightly; it is our responsibility as Christians to be vessels of God. But, too often, we get comfortable in our "religious" ways; reading our Bible, attending church, and serving in the community--we believe that surely that is enough to live a life of faith. We fail to take the extra step of evangelism because fear stands at our door. Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg use their experiences to show us that there are no boundaries to how God can use you in any given situation to bring the message of the Good News to those who are lost.

"The Unexpected Adventure" is not a book that you read cover to cover in a few sittings. It is truly a devotional type book and an incredible resource that provides even further resources within it to help you through your own adventure. This book filled me with conviction by the Holy Spirit that the time is now and I must do more to reach those who are lost with the message of Christ. "The Unexpected Adventure" has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and move to the front lines in my journey of faith. Strobel and Mittelberg show us that there's nothing to fear, we've got "Spiritual back-up!" Through this book, you will learn that God is behind the scenes of your adventure with plans and purposes that reach far beyond all that you can dare to hope for or imagine!

Well, thanks to Zondervan, I wasable to once again pre-screen a book due out this month. This book is Lee Strobel's latest, a work co-authored by Mark Mittelberg. It comes out in May, 2009. The Unexpected Adventure is primarily about how to naturally, organically, and intentionally share your faith with others.

It is an evangelistic book, and a very entertaining one at that. Instead of simply giving strategies or analogies to use, Strobel and Mittelburg have a nuanced view of what it means to talk to others about Jesus. I am not much of an evangelist myself, so I found many of the chapters to be very challenging. Each chapter is brief (four or five pages), and is a principle hidden within an anecdote. The vast majority of the book is personal stories from the two authors, who take turns writing chapters, which are expounded on to demonstrate the principle within. It is a very engaging way to promote an idea, through personal testimony. As Tod Hunter said, "people observe their way into the Kingdom."

It is intended to be a six week long book, reading one chapter a day. After about week two, the book becomes repetitive. While I appreciate this approachable view of evangelism, The book simply became dull after a while, because there are three emphases that repeatedly come out: 1) evangelism should be natural, but needs to be practiced to become so. 2) evangelism must come from a base of relationship. 3) You will play one part in the long journey from disbelief to belief, so don't get worked up when someone doesn't commit to Christ then and there.

There are different ways of expressing these points, but they are the keys to the book, and are well-illustrated.

Does the book serve a purpose? Yes. Is the book "inspiring"? More less. Is the book the next hot thing? Maybe within traditional evangelical circles and megachurches, but it's no Shack (tic). If you are specifically looking for a story-based approach to sharing your faith and how to practically do so, it might be worth a look. 4 out of 5 stars simply because it is easily approachable and not dull (for the first half of the book).

I liked the approach of this book. For someone like me, who really shies away from talking about their faith, it was a good encouragement--both to do so when the opportunity arises and to realize that you don't have to be an expert to do it. I particularly liked the stories that showed that people could authentically share their faith with others without having all the answers. That was great to hear--since I sure don't have them!

I really enjoyed this book. It gave me a new perspective on sharing my faith with others. I plan to get additional copies to share with my friends.

A terrific down-to-earth book that is also very useful as the basis for adult Sunday School classes and other church-related small-group discussions.

Just this past week, I picked up a copy of The Unexpected Adventure: Taking Everyday Risks to Talk with People about Jesus. I simply needed something to read on the airplane and chose this one. Since I read widely in this field in personal evangelism, I wasn't expecting anything new or great, just another book on how to share your faith.

I was wrong. It wasn't the familiar blah-blah read I was expecting to pass the time.

The only word I can find to describe this book is Riveting!

For example, this morning, I wanted to read the only next chapter of The Unexpected Adventure: Taking Everyday Risks to Talk with People about Jesus in my devotional time.

Several chapters and 90 minutes later, I found myself yearning for more those type of stories to happen in my life.

This book is a collection of individual real life stories from the authors about their experiences in personal evangelism. Conversations, turning points, failures, struggles, successes -- all laid out in a brief daily reading type format.

Several of these stories had me laughing with them at their mistakes, errors, and fumblings. At the same time, I found myself rejoicing at how God's sovereignty still brings people to faith through their efforts.

Each daily reading has a story, an encouragement to try something different that day, an action principle, and a closing scripture verse.

In many first hand stories, Strobel and Mittelberg relate how evangelism can be a normal everyday occurance in a person's life.

They tell their fears in the particular moment, their joys at seeing the fruit of their obedience, and their annoyances at having their days interrupted with strangers initiating conversation.

One key theme running through the book is learning to see those God given moments as divine appointments, where you might have the opportunity to help someone make another step forward in their spiritual journey.

Another consistent theme in the book is that evangelism is a process, that your conversation may be just one link in the chain.

You might be afraid of sharing your faith, thinking that you need to be some skilled evangelist. In 42 personal stories, Strobel and Mittelberg show you a way to view evangelism differently.

Instead of making sure we have mastered every cranny of gospel information and philosophical argument, our focus in to be alert for the prompting of the Holy Spirit to engage people the He underlines for us.

If we are able to do this we will find appropriate ways to engage people in a natural conversation about Jesus and his transforming power.

Perfection not required.

-- Reviewed by EvangelismCoach

This is a powerful, fun, and life changing book.

When I started this book, I did not really expect that much. It sounded a bit farfetched to me that personal evangelism would be an adventure. I could not have been more wrong.

Co-written by well known author Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg, this is literally an adventure in evangelism. The authors show how sharing the Gospel is not only life changing for the recipient, but for the sharer as well. Most 'evangelical' Christians may think it is important to share their faith, but many fewer do it on a regular basis. I would guess that far less would think of it as exciting.

As Mr. Strobel says, 'This is the missing ingredient in so many Christian lives.' He makes a great case for all that it can add to one's existence and meaning.

The book is designed to be read a chapter a day. The book is so good and so exciting that it is very difficult to do that. I did end up reading it that way and I am glad that I did. It spread the pleasure out longer and gave me much more time to ponder its contents.

The authors give many examples from their personal experiences that will encourage and embolden readers. I have been telling one of my friends about several of the stories as I have gone through it. I had planned to give the book to him when I finished. I decided that I could not do that. I love this book so much, that I decided to buy another copy to share with him and others. I did not want to take a chance of not getting it back.

This is a fantastic book. Every Christian should read it and share it with others.