What, in your opinion, are the major developments in the practice and theology of evangelism in past 50 years? What do you think are the most significant books on the subject written in recent times? What are the key issues with which students of evangelism in western culture ought to grapple?
What d’ya reckon?
5 comments:
Not sure I can answer all those questions, but there is a new book called Inside Alpha: Explorations in Evangelism
http://evangelicalhistoryandthought.wordpress.com, to go alongside Hunt's The Alpha Enterprise.
Booker & Ireland's Evangelism - which way now?
There does seem to be a shift in language from evangelism to mission, we get nervous by evangelism, but are happy with talking mission.
Not sure I can give good answers on resources, but I feel that it's really important for them to get a real grasp on the changing shape of family and the issues that stem out of that, both practical and ethical when it comes to evangelism. The Parenting and Family Institute new publication on the way family's are changing and the way they are likely to change over the next decade would probably be a good starting point.
Yeah, likewise technological advances in communications are worth spending time on. Not just in terms of ways we can best utilise them, but rather considering the affect they have on how we relate and ways we enact community. As well as that, what about the things our use of such mediums says about how we (as Christians, and 'we' as wider society) feel about community and relationships.
I think any mission module should start with students listening to what people beyond the church say about life, the universe and everything.
There are some good reports that would be essential reading such as the IPPR's Freedom's Orphans: Raising youth in a modern world and the Tomorrow Project books, Changing Lives, Changing Buisness and Going Global (I assume they'd be doing one post-credit crunch).
I'd recommend Thomas Friedman especially his latest book Hot, Flat and Crowded. He's one of the sharpest commentators on globalisation and its discontents. I'd also recommend John Gray.
Christian stuff that's good would have to include Alan Hirsch and Mike Frost - their solo and joint works - but you know that already!
Evangelism has always been about presenting the gospel message, integral to which is the doctrine of sin and its consequences.
Evangelism must be about presenting God's view of human beings and their activities, regardless of the medium used in the presentation of the message.
Avoid presenting a 'social' gospel. Concentrate on the message as it is in the Bible, regardless of how unpopular it is, or how offensive many people find it.
Always present the gospel message in love: that is, God's love, not human love.
Seek to be relevant, but don't seek for popularity, as the Bible warns us that as Christians we are the smell of death to those who are on their way to a lost eternity.
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