Blaufuss Mary Schaller - The 9 arts of spiritual conversations: walking alongside people who believe differently

Here are fresh and practical insights into how to engage people in spiritual discussions that are authentic and compelling. Its a must-have guide to becoming stronger salt and brighter light in the twenty-first century!

LEE STROBEL

Bestselling author of The Case for Christ and professor of Christian Thought at Houston Baptist University

Go and make disciples. That was one of the commands Jesus gave to his followers, but it often ranks low among American Christians priorities. Thats why churches, small groups, and those who consider themselves to be disciples of Jesus should read this book. The9 Arts of Spiritual Conversations is an essential resource for accomplishing the mission Christ gave his church.

RICH STEARNS

President of World Vision US and author of The Hole in Our Gospel and Unfinished

The nine arts are a culmination of years of real-life stories. If you want tried-and-true concepts that will become reality for you and your friends, I highly recommend this unique resource.

HUGH HALTER

Author of Flesh, Brimstone, and The Tangible Kingdom

John and Mary present a compelling case for how to maximize moments for Kingdom good. This book will profoundly alter the way you engage with humanity. Its a must-read for anyone who is serious about having spiritual conversations!

STEVE CARTER

Teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church

When you cant put a book down, you know that you are on to something important. As I read The 9 Arts of Spiritual Conversations, I found myself simultaneously instructed, challenged, inspired, and equipped. I was given hope that I could actually engage people in a way that could lovingly bring them to Jesus over time. The ministry of Young Life has popularized the phrase that we need to earn the right to be heard. This book puts flesh on that phrase like nothing else I have ever read.

GREG OGDEN

Writer, speaker, teacher on discipleship, and author of Discipleship Essentials

Fear of rejection and a lack of understanding on how to communicate the gospel has shut the mouths of many sincere Christians for too long. The 9 Arts of Spiritual Conversations is a shot of encouragement for all of us who want to live and proclaim a gospel that is truly good news!

CAESAR KALINOWSKI

Author of Transformed and Small Is Big, Slow Is Fast

For introverts like me, the first four arts (Noticing, Praying, Listening, and Asking Questions) are especially helpful. Gifted extroverts can help us with the other five! I am impressed with the vitality and deep faith of the authors: They really want to help us reach out for Christ, and they do so winsomely.

FREDERICK DALE BRUNER

Author of commentaries on the Gospel of Matthew (2004) and the Gospel of John (2012)

In The 9 Arts of Spiritual Conversations, John and Mary make the art of connecting with the people whom Jesus misses most doable, human, and fun. Put these arts to work in your church today and watch evangelism move from being a gift shared by only a few to a practice shared by everyone.

JIM HENDERSON

Author of Jim and Casper Go to Church, executive producer at Jim Henderson Presents

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The 9 Arts of Spiritual Conversations: Walking Alongside People Who Believe Differently

Copyright 2016 by Q Place, Mary Schaller, and John Crilly. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph copyright Nemanja Glumac/Stocksy.com. All rights reserved.

The poem titled Love and Praise the Lord is copyright by H. H. Used by permission of H. H. All rights reserved.

The poem titled Loaves and Fishes is taken from David Whyte, The House of Belonging (Langley, WA: Many Rivers Press, 1996). Loaves and Fishes is copyright 1996 Many Rivers Press, Langley, WA, USA. Printed with permission from Many Rivers Press, www.davidwhyte.com.

Lyrics from the song titled Changed are copyright 2003 by AARONieq Music. Used by permission of Aaron Niequist. All rights reserved.

Some of the material in this book previously appeared in The Arts of Spiritual Conversations: Beyond the Basics, copyright 2013 by Q Place. Used by permission.

Edited by Karin Stock Buursma

Designed by Daniel Farrell

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015. (Some quotations may be from the 2004 version of the NLT.) Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Schaller, Mary.

Title: The 9 arts of spiritual conversations : walking alongside people who

believe differently / Mary Schaller and John Crilly.

Other titles: Nine arts of spiritual conversations

Description: Carol Stream, IL : Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2016. |

Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015038074 | ISBN 9781496405760 (sc)

Subjects: LCSH: Interpersonal relationsReligious aspectsChristianity. |

Oral communicationReligious aspectsChristianity. | Christianity and

other religions. | Witness bearing (Christianity) | Apologetics.

Classification: LCC BV4597.52 .C75 2016 | DDC 248/.5dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015038074

ISBN 978-1-4964-1236-2 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-4964-0577-7 (Kindle); ISBN 978-1-4964-1237-9 (Apple)

Build: 2016-01-22 15:45:19