Alvin Reid - Evangelism Handbook: Biblical, Spiritual, Intentional, Missional

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Copyright 2009

by Alvin Reid

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-8054-4542-8

Published by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification: 269.2

Subject Heading: EVANGELISTIC WORKHANDBOOKS, MANUALS, ETC.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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

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

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are from the Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version.

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Foreword

It is the best of times for evangelism in America, and it is the worst of times. It is the best of times because there is a high receptivity to the gospel. According to our research, four out of ten non-Christians in the United States would welcome a conversation about Jesus with a Christian. That means that over 60 million people who are lost and without hope would like to know how to be saved and filled with hope. What a great opportunity! What a mission field!

But its the worst of times as well. The American church is in serious decline. The passion for evangelism is less evident each year. Many church-going Christians will never share with an unbeliever the truth claims of the Savior. Never. Not one time. And many pastors and other church leaders are moving evangelism to the backburner of priorities. In fact, in one study we completed a few years ago, we found that 53 percent of senior pastors had not shared the gospel even one time in the previous six-month period.

It is the best of times, and it is the worst of times. The mission field is filled with opportunities for the message of the gospel to be heard, received, and affirmed. But the American church is largely and sinfully silent.

The publication of Evangelism Handbook could not be timelier. The need for every word in this volume could not be greater. And the priority for the message of this book could not be more urgent.

I have known Alvin Reid for years. We have been on the same platform in conferences. Our writings often end up in the hands of the same people. The courses we have taught are similar. And more than any of these, Dr. Reids passion for the sharing of the gospel is what I admire about him the most. This man is not merely writing a book from the wealth of his intellectual expertise. He is writing a book from the passion of his heart. I love this quote directly from Dr. Reid in the book: for me evangelism is not a job, it is the passion of my life. And the need of the hour is for the church to become more missional in its focus, a challenge for which I will give the rest of my life.

Dont think for a moment that Evangelism Handbook is just filled with passion and void of solid content. To the contrary, this book offers one of the best overviews of the discipline of evangelism that Ive ever read. The first part is an incredible overview of evangelism from both a biblical and historical perspective. We are able to see why the message of the gospel is so important and why that message must be theologically and biblically sound. And we are able to walk through the history of the Church, looking at her evangelistic victories and her evangelistic mistakes.

The second part of the book reminds us of the critical need to be spiritually empowered to do evangelism. Dr. Reid powerfully examines how the spiritual disciplines can make a believer effective in sharing the message. In other words, he reminds us that, while the message is vital, the role of the messenger cannot be overlooked.

From history and theology and spiritual power, the book turns to the practical application of evangelistic approaches. And in the final section, Dr. Reid examines the missional focus of the church, offering incredible insights on how each local church should view its community from the same perspective as a missionary on a foreign field.

So there are many great truths, many great facts in Evangelism Handbook. But one thing that stands out in the book is Dr. Reids passion for evangelism. That heartbeat, that spirit, permeates every part of the book.

The late Dr. Lewis Drummond, my mentor and my evangelism professor, said repeatedly, Men and women, evangelism can be taught. Its truths are timeless. But more than anything, evangelism must be caught. It is that passion that Alvin Reid brings to this book, a passion that is caught.

I have read this book. I have caught the passion. May many more do likewise.

Thom S. Rainer

President and CEO

LifeWay Christian Resources

Acknowledgments

I never dreamed of becoming an author. During my freshman year in college, I received a B+ on every theme paper I wrote, convincing me I would never excel as a writer. Then a seminary professor wrote a comment on a term paper: You are a very good writer. That statement changed my perspective, even though to this day I often question its accuracy! I enrolled in a writers conference held at my seminary and published an article soon thereafter. I have been writing ever since.

I share this little glimpse about my writing for three reasons. First, it illustrates the power of words. The things we read do affect our lives. We can make a difference through what we write! Second, it shows an individual can change. My perspective about my ability to write changed through a simple comment. I pray that the words of this book will convince you that you can make a difference in evangelismand, if you are not confident in your ability, that you can change. Third, we can misjudge our abilities. I do not consider myself a great writer, but I believe I can write. I had misjudged myself. Whether you are a pastor or a deacon, minister or layman, student or teacher, if you have doubts about your ability to make an impact for the kingdom of God, read on. You might discover that you, too, have misjudged yourself and the God who has called you to follow Him.

This book builds on my Introduction to Evangelism released in 1998, on the eve of my fortieth birthday. I turned fifty as this revision and major expansion was coming to completion. A conversation a few years ago began my journey that has become this book. My former student and current colleague Bruce Ashford and I enjoyed breakfast one day in my tenth year at Southeastern. He asked me a question that I could not let go. What do you teach differently now about evangelism than when you taught me almost 10 years ago? he asked. I mumbled something to the effect that I taught essentially the same. But inside my head I already had ideas spinning, motivated by troubling thoughts about the way the Western Church has practiced evangelism, about our failure to reach the hard-core unchurched, and about how we were losing youth faster than we could win them. This book culminates much of what I have thought about and learned over the last 10 years.

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