Customer Reviews

The Way of the Master

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This book was a little bit of a challenge to get through...not because it was hard to read (it is very straightforward), but because it convicted me of my failure to tell people the whole counsel of God and also of my lack of love for others (in that I haven't been sharing the Way with others a whole lot lately.). Read this only if you want your hardened heart broken and hurting for the lost. Buy this book.

Wow! Like shining a light in dark place. This book is so wonderful in illuminating the Gospel that it should be required reading for all believers, whether new to the faith or well seasoned. Understanding correcly the use and purpose of the Law in God's plan is so fundamental to understanding the entire Bible and ALL other doctrines of faith. The Law is a revelation of the character of a holy and just God. Any person unable to see themselves in truth as God sees them, as a sinner in desperate need of a Savior, is unable to truly repent and believe the Gospel, as we are commanded to. Instead, they remain deluded by pride and self righteousness, and remain, perhaps for decades, in a state of false conversion. Without conviction by the Law, the doctrine of grace and mercy has no real impact on a sinner. The cross makes no sense to him. What a tragedy. While this book is focused on using the Law as the means to evangelize, it is very effective in conveying theological doctrine as well. If the believer gets a handle on this theme, they will clarify their understanding in such a fundamental way as to be changed for good. Repentance will come, rebirth and true conversion will result; and the herd heading for hell, whether churched or not, will be culled. Get your doctrine fundamentally right so you can be used by Him to reach a lost and dying world.

I have over 1000 books on evangelism and revival in my personal library, and this is the clearest, most biblical and best presentation of the "how to" and principles of witnessing and evangelism, in print. Ray Comfort not only writes about evangelism - he lives it. I like books by people who actually practice what they preach - and Ray does. The recovered Biblical key of using the law of God (the 10 commandments) in evangelsim really works. I have personally used this principle as a pastor while witnessing in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas. Once 2 girls were weeping so profusely from conviction of sin, that they had to hold on to a parking meter to keep from falling down. Read this book and practice it. I witnessed to a flight attendant on a flight to LA - and she told me that Kirk Cameron had talked to her about her soul, and had given her some "religious pamphlets" (her words) on a flight a week earlier. It seems he also practices what he preaches. Jesus commanded all believers to be a witness - and Ray and Kirk not only tell us how, they also live it.

This book is a response to why some 90% of those who claim to accept Christ end up leaving the church. The auther, Ray Comfort, makes a good case for what he sees as the reason: in the last century or so, the presentation of the gospel has been watered down by evangelicals so that there is very little talk of the fear of the Lord, hell, sin, repentance or the lordship of Christ. The gospel is generally presented as a life-improvement scheme, whereby it seems that Christ's main purpose in living as a man, being brutally beaten and then crucified, bearing our sins upon the cross and enduring the wrath of the Father, then rising from the dead was basically so that we can be happier people. (In a youth Sunday school class that I taught yesterday, I asked why Christ came and died. The answer that was given: so that we could have a better life.)

As receiving Christ so often does not result in "a happier life," it is no wonder that people don't stick around. The reality is not what they were offered and it isn't what they want.

Comfort argues that people need to be made aware of the justice of God and the fact that they are going to be judged by a holy and just God according to whether they have obeyed God's law or not, as "sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3.4). Citing the methods of many past evangelists and preachers such as Luther and Spurgeon, he argues that it is fundamental to lay the groundwork of the Law as summed up in the Ten Commandments before presenting the gospel because, as the Bible says, the functions of the Law are to 1) to shut the mouths of sinners in justifying themselves, 2) show people what sin is and 3) show people their need for Christ (Rom. 3.19-20, 7.7; Galatians 3.24). Once people have seen their need for Christ, they will be ready to truly accept God's grace, repent of their sins and receive Christ as their Savior and Lord, even if that means going through difficulties as a result.

However, Comfort argues, the failure of the church to help people see what terrible sinners they are and what a horrible thing it is to be judged by a just and holy God leads to false conversions. He discusses the parables and passages that show there are many false Christians in the church. So, why is there such an alarming number of people who backslide and leave the church? Because they haven't really undergone a true conversion to begin with. And unfortunately, as a result, their hearts are often hardened to the gospel in the future.

I found the book to be very soundly reasoned and very biblically based. The version I got had comments by Kirk Cameron inserted within the text. At times the comments were a bit annoying as they could interfere with the flow of the text, but sometimes they were useful. Overall, this is a message that is much needed by the church today and I would encourage everyone, especially pastors, to read it and carefully consider its implications for their particular church.

Just now finished the book; wish I could give it more than 5 stars. Ray Comfort lays a FIRM foundation as to WHY the 10 commandments SHOULD be used in witnessing. I thought it was very thorough in this and undisputable, extremely Biblical. THEN, he gives you literal step by step help as to HOW TO DO IT YOURSELF. Excellent layout, although I couldn't wait to get to the step 123 chapter, the prior was mandatory. Easy to read. Nothing complicated, only simple WIEGHTY truths.

The book was given to my husband from a new member at our small (200 member) church. Never heard of Ray before or his teaching. Praise God He brought it to us becuase I never would have looked ! I now hand out tracks every time I leave the house (mostly checkout clerks, make the swap when I get my reciept). My husband HIGHLY recommends his teachings on "true and false conversion" also (I havn't seen/read them yet).

If your wondering if you should buy the book, you should, no question. You're clearly searching for help in sharing your faith - this is it, look no further if you want BIBLICAL ! :) Praise Jesus.

This is the best book on evangelism I have ever read. I have taught this method at my church and I use the 10 commandments almost every time I witness.

If you can only buy one Ray Comfort book, this is the one. It will change your life. You will never look at lie the same way after this, a must buy.

As far a a review goes, I ordered a case of these books.
I will be using them in our Evangelism classes at Church.
I read the first book last year, and just finnished reading this new up-dated version last week. I did not think their could be any improvment over the original, but I was way wrong.
This is a hands on, put the tires to the pavement, way to start applying what God tells us to do. It is just awesome.

Ray Comfort leads the way in evangelism and clearly shows you right from scripture how Christ reached people with the gospel. Next to the Bible, this book has bolstered my personal ministry unlike any other. It's very practical and straight-forward.

This book is no joke. In "The Way of the Master", Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron tell you the secret of Biblical evangelism, the type of evangelism that the modern church is so hesitant to practice because...well, it shows the importance of the lost being aware of and admitting how utterly helpless, sinful, wicked, and dependent we are. It doesn't skip, as the cheapened, feel good, health and wealth gospels being preached worldwide today do, the absolutely necessary aspect of the gospel, that we are sinners and are in desperate need of redemption before a perfect, holy, gracious and loving God. The focus of this book is showing the lost to what extent they fall short of the glory of God by way of something as simple as, yet as profound as the Ten Commandments. Often, it is only when the lost become aware of their completely depraved, sinful human nature, that they show an interest in and feel the need for considering Jesus as their savior. This book shows why the watered down gospel that is being preached in today's churches doesn't produce any fruit, because it promises things that Jesus never promised us in the first place. Jesus did not promise us financial abundance. He did not say that God has a wonderful plan for our lives. You know what he promised us? Suffering. We are promised suffering, and persecution for following Jesus. Jesus did not die on the cross for us to have a nice day. Jesus did not give us the Great Commission to make people happier. Jesus died on the cross so we could be saved from the lake of fire in which we deserve to be thrown for the infinite number of ways and forms we have committed sin against our perfect and holy God.

This book really, really convicted me. There is absolutely no excuse why I am not sharing the gospel with my parents, my brother, my friends, my neighbors, and complete strangers!! How much do I love my family, my friends? How much do I love people? Ultimately, how much do I love God? How am I doing with the Great Commission? What do I treasure over doing my part in God's plan to save millions and millions of hell bound souls? The lack of me sharing my faith and bringing others to faith in Christ shows that I treasure comfort, I treasure my comfort zone, I treasure being thought well of, I treasure having a good reputation, I treasure being thought of as normal in this world, I treasure my pride, I treasure my life, my desires, myself, over playing a part in the saving of souls from the eternal fire of hell. This is a reality, a reality we must face. How much of our unbelief is going to keep us from doing what we know matters?

This is not our life. It has been purchased with a price. A great price.