"Christians and
non-Christians have something in common," writes Rebecca
Pippert.
"We're all uptight
about evangelism."
So begins the
bestselling book on evangelism as a lifestyle. Through stories, biblical
insight and plain common sense, Pippert helps us feel relaxed and enthusiastic
about sharing our faith. She offers an inspiring view of what effective, engaging
evangelism might look like – for individuals as well as for churches through
memorable stories, like this one:
When I first
came to Portland, Oregon, I met a student on one of the campuses where I
worked. He was brilliant and looked like he was always pondering the esoteric.
His hair was always mussy, and in the entire time I knew him, I never once saw
him wear a pair of shoes. Rain, sleet or snow, Bill was always barefoot. While
he was attending college, he had become a Christian.
At this time a
well-dressed, middle-class church across the street from the campus wanted to
develop more of a ministry to the students. They were not sure how to go about
it, but they tried to make them feel welcome. One day Bill decided to worship
there. He walked into this church, wearing his blue jeans, T-shirt and of
course no shoes. People looked a bit uncomfortable, but no one said anything.
So Bill began walking down the aisle looking for a seat. The church was quite
crowded that Sunday, so as he got down to the front pew and realized that there
were no seats, he just squatted on the carpet – perfectly acceptable behavior
at a college fellowship, but perhaps unnerving for a church congregation. The
tension in the air became so thick one could slice it.
Suddenly an
elderly man began walking down the aisle toward the boy. Was he going to scold
Bill? My friends who saw him approaching said they thought, You can't blame him. He'd never guess
Bill is a Christian. And his world is too distant from Bill's to understand.
You can't blame him for what he's going to do.
As the man kept
walking slowly down the aisle, the church became utterly silent, all eyes were
focused on him, you could not hear anyone breathe. When the man reached Bill,
with some difficulty he lowered himself and sat down next to him on the carpet.
He and Bill worshiped together on the floor that Sunday. I was told there was
not a dry eye in the congregation.
The irony is that probably the only one who failed to
see how great the giving had been that Sunday was Bill. But grace is always
that way. It gives without the receiver realizing how great the gift really is. As this man walked alongside of his
brother and loved him with all that he had received from Christ's love, so must
we. This man was the Good Samaritan.
He made Bill feel welcome, feel as if he had a home. So he also knew the secret
of the parable of the prodigal son: there finally is a homecoming, because we
really have a home to come to.
This thoroughly
revised and expanded edition of Out of
the Saltshaker is now even more valuable, with new chapters on the natural
stages of evangelism (cultivating, planting and reaping), new stories of God's
work in people's lives and added material on meeting the challenges of the new
competitors to Christian faith. Out of
the Saltshaker is more than ever a rare book – one that is both fun and
deep, light and life changing.
[Taken from: http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=2220]
Get
You Copy of Out of Saltshaker & Into the World: Evangelism as a Way of Life
For this
month of February 2015: Free Monthly
Book, I would like to offer two new books for serious
students and disciples of Jesus & for those who want evangelism as a way of
their lives. Do these: comment below “I
want to read this book because…” (no less than 10 words). E-mail me your
name, phone no. and postal address for me sends the book. This offer is
available until 28th February 2015.
THINK
BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.
No comments:
Post a Comment