The Heart of Evangelism (Paperback)

~ (Author) "In the four Gospels and in the first chapter of Acts we have the privilege of listening in to Jesus' conversations with various people..." (more)
Key Phrases: reluctant evangelist, Jesus Christ, Old Testament, New Testament (more...)

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Product Description

All Christians are called. Called to love God with all that we are. Called to serve Him. Called to reach out to the lost. However, if we are honest, the majority of us would admit that we find this last calling the most difficult. While we gladly support the evangelistic ministries of others, many of us feel discouraged by our own attempts at witnessing because our memorized approaches don't seem to work.

This biblical study of evangelism gracefully reminds us that the New Testament model of witnessing is not a one-size-fits-all methodology. With compassion for the lost filling every page, Jerram Barrs shows the variety of approaches used in the New Testament—where the same uncompromised Gospel was packaged as differently as the audience—and calls you to follow its example.

You can learn to witness comfortably in your particular circumstances so that sharing Christ doesn't feel like a chore. And as you watch God work in the lives of others and see the great blessings He brings, you'll discover what a privilege it is to live out the heart of evangelism: truly loving others to Christ.

About the Author

Jerram Barrs is the founder and Resident Scholar of the Francis Schaeffer Institute at Covenant Theological Seminary. He also teaches apologetics and outreach, among other subjects, as Professor of Christianity and Contemporary Culture at Covenant. He and his wife were on staff at English L’Abri for many years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books (February 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581347154
• ISBN-13: 978-1581347159
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #124,826 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fruit of Prolonged Meditation, August 20, 2004

By	M. P. Ryan (Bowen Is, BC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Heart of Evangelism (Paperback)

With new books on evangelism appearing almost every week, I sometimes wonder why I should read any particular one over another. (Usually it is because of the author. Rarely is it because of some genuinely new insight into the evangelistic task.) But in the case of this new work, the answer is immediately plain. It is both the absence of hype and the author's unwillingness to exalt technique. Like the evangelical church itself, too many books on evangelism exhibit an over reliance on the tools and insights of psychology and marketing strategy. While this is not all bad, yet the biblical and theological foundations on which the ensuing `latest techniques' and `most dynamic strategies' rest are often superficial at best. In contrast to this kind of focus, The Heart of Evangelism serves to remind us of what is truly essential to evangelism: a humble dependence on God that is matched by faithfully doing what is ours to do.

Beyond its tone and basic thrust, another reason for reading this particular work lies in the author's intention and content. Concerned that Jesus and the apostles inform our practice of evangelism, close attention is paid to their instruction and example. Committed to recovering a New Testament pattern of evangelism, the body of this work opens (not unexpectedly) with a study of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:6-11). Its different horizons are discussed, as is what this commission means for our own prayers and daily lives.

Turning from our responsibility to the role of the Great Evangelist Himself, this work makes much of God and the infinite variety of means He employs to draw people to Himself. First, the account of the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) is employed to counter any sense of God being reluctant to save. Then, Namaan the Syrian (2 Kings 5), the Widow of Zarepath (1 Kings 17), King Manasseh of Israel (2 Kings 21:1-18; 2 Chronicles 33:1-20), and the author's own testimony (pp.116-125), are all utilized to exemplify the diverse manner in which God works in people's lives.

Having established that God is not reluctant to save, what follows is an investigation of some of the barriers that stand in the way of our working to complete the Great Commission. Barriers within ourselves (like guilt, fear, uncertainty and over commitment), and barriers erected between the church and the world are examined and ways of dismantling them suggested. Furthermore, it is within this context that some of the peculiar stumbling blocks of postmodern culture are treated and a broad means of Christian response outlined.

The final section looks at the principles of communication that characterized the evangelistic ministry of the apostle Paul. Distilled from several Pauline messages delivered in various settings (Acts 13:14-52; 14:8-18; 17:16-31), and focused by the apostle's ardent desire to be all things to all men (1 Corinthians 9:22), the author articulates seven principles which ought to govern our presentation of the Gospel. Combined with the previous section, what these principles really provide is an approach that advances evangelism beyond that of a series of raids on enemy lines and the carpet-bombing of total strangers with memorized Gospel outlines. Rather, having broken down the "Us" versus "Them" mentality, evangelism is once again made to center around the establishing of meaningful relationships and the purposeful, personal communication of the good news.

The obvious fruit of prolonged meditation on the ministry of Jesus and on Paul's endeavor to imitate Christ, this volume represents a biblically grounded, God-reliant and honestly achievable means of practicing evangelism. A satisfying and freeing work, The Heart of Evangelism, shows the evangelistic task to be something we engage in in partnership with God and in reliance on His grace. It portrays our involvement in the Great Commission not as a chore to be `over and done' with, but as an invitation to grow in our relationship with God and man, even as God works through us to reach and bless the lives of others.

5.0 out of 5 stars the Heart of Evangelism, September 24, 2009

By	AnnaJoy - See all my reviews

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I like this book even though I don't agree doctrinally with everything the author seems to believe. We do share many beliefs. If you are really into the evangelism topic you might want to start with the 20th chapter and read to the end and then go back and read the beginning. The first part was trying to convince me that the 'great commission' was for everyone, and I am already convinced of that fact.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is, "...each biblical summary of our faith is different because each time that truth is made known, the situation is different. When we are communicating the Gospel to someone we know and love, or even to someone we meet for the first time, our communication is not merely to be a matter of stating the central truths of the Gospel in some form that we can readily memorize....The focus in evangelism is not to be whatever is easy for us, but the particular person to whom we are speaking . Communicating the Gospel is a personal endeavour, one person to another, and therefore we must be prepared to be flexible." Anyway, I recommend the book!

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Launch Pad for Relevant Evangelism, February 16, 2009

By	A. W. White "Covenant Holder" (Columbus, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Jerram Barrs writes a great book to give anyone a good foothold and foundation in evangelism. Many times in our culture we view a good evangelism book as one with a step by step method or many great trivia-facts that will impress or convince those we are speaking to. Professor Barrs takes another route - and a better one I believe. In The Heart of Evangelism he seeks to find common ground in the way that God is already working in an individual's life through God's common grace. He focuses on how Jesus goes about his ministry here on earth. There is a strong focus on love, hospitality and genuine care for the person.
This book is made up of very short chapters (maybe on 3-6 pages each). I would view this book as a great devotional style book, or one that can be used easily for discipleship and small group settings. There is much to chew on in this book, so slow down and meditate on the nuggets of wisdom Prof. Barrs gives you.