Dever - The Gospel and Personal Evangelism (Foreword by C. J. Mahaney)

Mark Dever persuasively covers in this well-written book the basics of reaching the lost with the gospel. Refreshing in its simplicity and practical application.

ROBERT E. COLEMAN, distinguished professor of evangelism and discipleship, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Few men have the heart and scholarship to speak so scripturally to the subject of evangelism as my friend Mark Dever. We will all be better evangelists having read and reflected on the theological truths of this great book.

JOHNNY HUNT, pastor, First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Georgia

The author led me to Christ more than a decade ago. He knows whereof he speaks. Hes the only Christian I know who once led a college atheists group for evangelistic purposes! This bookfilled with practical insights about how to obey the Great Commissionshould spur us on, both individually and as churches, to shine like stars in the universe.

JOHN FOLMAR, pastor, United Christian Church of Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Our theological lenses vary, but this we all still see the same: the fulfillment of the Christian life and the vocation of the church is to share in Gods redeeming work in the world. And whatever your tradition, there is something in this book that will help you understand and do that better. In the thirty years I have known Mark Dever, he has always been studying and practicing what he writes about here. Read, grow, and go!

DAVID R. THOMAS, senior pastor, Centenary, A United Methodist Congregation, Lexington, Kentucky

Marks deep felt desire to see people come to Christ combined with a rock steady commitment to Biblical evangelism has birthed an important book for our times; a book that everyone who desires to share their faithfaithfullyshould read.

J. MACK STILES, general secretary, IFES, Dubai; author, Speaking of Jesus

THE GOSPEL & PERSONAL EVANGELISM

Crossway Books by Mark Dever:

The Message of the Old Testament: Promises Made

The Message of the New Testament: Promises Kept

Nine Marks of a Healthy Church (New Expanded Edition)

The Deliberate Church:

Building Your Ministry on the Gospel (co-author)

What Is a Healthy Church?

THE GOSPEL &
PERSONAL EVANGELISM

Mark E. Dever

Foreword by C.J. Mahaney

CROSSWAY BOOKS
WHEATON, ILLINOIS

The Gospel and Personal Evangelism

Copyright 2007 by Mark Dever

Published by Crossway Books
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible:New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

Cover art direction: Josh Dennis

Cover design: Luke Daab

Cover illustration: Bridgeman Art Gallery

First printing 2007

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Dever, Mark.

The Gospel and Personal Evangelism / Mark E. Dever; foreword by C.J. Mahaney.

p. cm.

1. Evangelistic work. 2. Witness bearing (Christianity) I. Title.

BV3790.D4765 2007

248'.5dc22

2007016748

CH 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07

15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

With thanks to God
for his faithfulness
in fruit given through evangelism,
now precious friendsJohn, Karan, Ryanand in
friends whove taught me about evangelism:

JIM PACKER
WILL METZGER
MACK STILES

and
SEBASTIAN TRAEGER

Contents

One of the first things I discovered about my very good friend Mark Dever is that he walks as fast as he talks. It was over ten years ago that I drove from my home church in the suburbs of Washington DC to meet Mark at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, where he serves as senior pastor. It was a pleasant day, so Mark suggested we walk the short distance from his churchs historic building to a nearby Subway restaurant. Even though I usually walk at a brisk pace myself, I had trouble keeping up with Mark.

Moments before entering the fast-food establishment, Mark explained that he ate there often, not because of the fine cuisine, but for the purpose of sharing the gospel. Inside, he greeted the ownersa Muslim couple from Indiaby name and engaged them in friendly conversation.

As we sat down, I began to quiz Mark about his heart for unbelievers and his strategy for sharing the gospel. He told me that he intentionally frequents the same restaurants and businesses so he can develop relationships and hopefully create evangelistic opportunities.

Since that day, Ive attempted to follow Marks example and had the joy of sharing the good news with many people I meet along the seemingly uneventful route of daily life.

If you, like me, have walked through entire days unconcerned and unaware of the lost sinners all around you, or if you desire to share the gospel but are unsure how to build a relationship or start a conversation, The Gospel and PersonalEvangelism will encourage and equip you. As you read, you will catch Marks contagious passion to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and receive practical instruction in personal evangelism.

While this book is for all Christians, it is also a gift to pastors. Cultivating evangelism in the local church is one of a pastors most important responsibilities and difficult challenges. Perhaps the most difficult. However, through the pages of TheGospel and Personal Evangelism, Marks wisdom, teaching, and experience will support you in this vital work of ministry.

Thats why, for many years now, Ive been pestering Mark to write this book. Its so that by the grace of God, church members and pastors and you and I will notice those we once ignored. Its so that we will befriend sinners who are without hope and without God. Its so that we will share with them the good news of Jesus Christs substitutionary sacrifice on the cross. Its so that someday those lost souls might turn from their sins and trust in the Saviors death and resurrection on their behalf. And then, there will be some serious rejoicingon earth and in heaven (Luke 15:10)!

Mark, thank you for writing The Gospel and PersonalEvangelism. Thank you even more for your compelling example of compassion for the lost and for your faithfulness to proclaim Jesus Christ and him crucified. May there be many gospel conversations and abundant evangelistic fruit as a result of this book.

Im looking forward to our next lunch together, my friend. Lets walk to Subway.

C.J. Mahaney
Sovereign Grace Ministries

Let me tell you an amazing story about a person you want to be like. And please hang in there through some of the details. I cant tell stories any other way.

John Harper was born in a Christian home in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1872. When he was about fourteen years old, he became a Christian himself, and from that time on, he began to tell others about Christ. At seventeen years of age, he began to preach, going down the streets of his village and pouring out his soul in passionate pleading for men to be reconciled to God.

After five or six years of toiling on street corners preaching the gospel and working in the mill during the day, Harper was taken in by the Reverend E. A. Carter of Baptist Pioneer Mission in London. This set Harper free to devote his whole time and energy to the work so dear to his heartevangelism. Soon, in September 1896, Harper started his own church. This church, which he began with just twenty-five members, numbered over five hundred by the time he left thirteen years later. During this time he had been both married and widowed. Before he lost his wife, God blessed Harper with a beautiful little girl named Nana.