Marks of the Messenger
Knowing, Living and Speaking the Gospel
J. Mack Stiles
Foreword by Mark Dever
www.IVPress.com/books
InterVarsity Press
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Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
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2010 by J. Mack Stiles
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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Design: Cindy Kiple
Images: Man walking through fog: John Warden/Getty Images
Jesus walking: Peter Brutsch/iStockphoto
ISBN 978-0-8308-6715-8
To
David and Kris Lawrence
Brian and Joanne Parks
Colaborers and lifelong friends
Contents
Dont Peddle the Gospel
Dont Add or Subtract from the Gospel
Dont Assume the Gospel
Living the Implications of the Gospel
The Gospel and Social Change
Understanding True Biblical Conversion
Slaying the Fear Factor When Sharing Our Faith
Mistaking the Worlds Love for Gods Love
The Church
Taking Action
F OREWORD
Books on evangelism are either discouraging or encouraging.
Think about it.
Few topics are more discouraging when talked about vaguely and guilt-inducingly than evangelism. How many people have you led to Christ? This week? Why didnt you share the gospel with that new guy at work? You can only share the gospel correctly if you do it like this. If you really believed this... Never mind. You get the idea.
And yet, few topics are more encouraging when talked about with biblical wisdom, practical insight and genuine excitement. Stories of evangelism done faithfully, accounts of peoples conversionsthese are conversations that kindle my affections for Christ and stoke my enthusiasm to share the good news about him with others.
But, I have to say honestly, most books on evangelism are more of the discouraging variety. This book is different.
Not only is this book one of those rare encouraging books on evangelism, but it is one of those even more rare instructive books on evangelism. Think Packer or Metzger, only with more transparent passion and punch.
This book is like its author. Ive known Mack for over twenty years. And reading this book is a lot like listening to him talkan enjoyable experience, where excitement and wisdom mingle freely. Lots of Bible. Lots of stories. Stories, it has to be said, that are right next door to incredible.
If you wonder if these stories could really be true, let me just add my witness to at least some of themMack has a memory like an elephant and lives life in vivid colors. For decades now, Ive seen Mack do exactly the kind of stuff that he talks about on these pages.
Mack is one of those peoplelike Spurgeon or Hudson Taylor
to whom amazing things happen. Why do all of these things happen to him? Thats a question that only God can certainly answer. Is it because he is so careful to note, to remember, to recount, and so to encourage Christians and bring God more glory? Mack remembers so many stories. He remembers stories about my life better than I do! And he uses the great acts of God in his own experience to illustrate biblical truthstruths that are important for us to be reminded of.
In this book, we are given biblical clarity on the gospel, with extraordinary experience in evangelism. The result is an instructive expos, a warning about where too many of us are today, about how weve become fuzzy around the edgesand sometimes even near the coreof the gospel. In this book, Mack puts the evangel back in evangelism. If we read it praying for Gods Spirit to help us apply its truths to our own evangelism, we may do the same.
Mark Dever, Senior Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.
Director, 9Marks.org
A CKNOWLEDGMENTS
I owe a special thanks to my family: Leeann, Tristan, David and Isaacfountains of great joy. Thanks to those who believed in this project from the start: Issa, Nigel, Ray, Jyothi, Onsy and Biju. Many thanks to Ted Callahan and his late wife, Judi, and to Tom Dupree and his late wife, Clara. Thanks also to B. Ray, Juann and daughter Adella. Special thanks to United Christian Church of Dubai, especially the Friday Foundations Class, and John and Keri Folmar. Also, thanks to the great folk at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, to whom I own such great debts: the entire concept of healthy marks, for one. Im grateful especially to Mark and Connie Dever, and Michael and Adrienne Lawrence. Ross and Kathy Durham have been a help over the years in pointing me to the centrality of the gospel. Im grateful for Jim and Beth Reed and their friendship, love and support. Im grateful for the entire MENA team, especially Jamil, Hussam, Shaher, Zaher and Ellie, who graciously put up with an American in their midst. And the entire FOCUS team who cheerfully picked up the slack when I was hidden away writing, especially Joanna, Nisin, Adrian and Sara. Words cant express my gratitude to Lindsay Brown and his endless vision for the kingdom. Thanks also to the Swiss ski team friends, especially Piers. And the folks at Quest, especially Pete and Jackie, John and Helen, and Billy. And, of course, thanks to faithful and longtime editor, Andy Le Peau. Many others to whom gratitude is due are quoted in this book.
Dubai
August 2009
R OGER'S Q UESTION
Dont Peddle the Gospel
Years ago my boss, Roger, asked me, Mack, who do you want to be?
He could tell I bristled at the administration required by my overly administrative job. I think he actually meant dont complain. But I took him more seriously than he intended. So a couple of months later, after mulling that question over in my head, I decided to quit that job, pack up the family and move to the Middle East.
Roger thought Id lost my mind.
We spent a year in transition and preparation and then, just as we readied to depart, 9/11 happened.
Still, I banged the For Sale sign in the front yard of my house the next day, so convinced was I that this was the very opportunity for me to be who I was meant to be. To join in the call of Christ that was wild and free and wonderful. To live the gospel with love and boldness. To show the world that the churchs response to the horrific events of 9/11 were not military, but missionary.
