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Re-Imagining Evangelism Book Discussion

You're invited! Read this thoughtful, impactful book > on sharing your faith by Rick Richardson -- 1 chapter a week -- and share your thoughts here. Of course, if you don't read the book, you can still add to others' thoughts... but isn't it more fun and stretching to actually do the growth work?!  Join the conversation.

 

Chapter 1
Salespeople or Travel Guides?

 

When I talk with friends about sharing their faith, the idea conjured up by most folks involves air-tight arguments, philosophical proofs, and aggressive tactics to coerce our friends across a line of faith.  But the reality is, Jesus didn't send apostles and disciples to close the deal on sales call.  He sent them to bear witness to the one who saves, loves, redeems and renews. He sent them to relate to people in their own language and embody the good news they proclaimed.

 

When you think evangelism (literally, the act of sharing the good news), think: travel guides: friends along the journey of life who point our friends toward a direction, in this case, toward a person: Jesus, and toward a reality: the Kingdom of God.

 

What does it look like to be a travel guide? Richardson references this scene > from Lord of the Rings. Gandalf entered into and responded to Frodo's worldview and questions. A travel guide looks for clues of where God is at work in a friend's life, pays attention to their questions, and makes suggestions.  A guide would make comments like, "I wonder if your spiritual doubts and struggles and experiences are a clue to something bigger that is at work in your life. What do you think? If so, how will you respond?"

 

A spiritual travel guide leads with vulnerability and authenticity: you're invited to share questions and weaknesses, and share how you relate to God in the midst of them.  Richardson notes, "Our weakness, our story of struggle, even the truth about the cost of our choice to follow God—these are the greatest gifts we have to give to others on their journey."

 

Richardson references another scene > from Lord of the Rings in which Samwise Gamgee is being a faithful friend to Frodo by locating his immediate circumstances in the context of the Great Story, the larger narrative of reality that makes sense and gives a new reference for their immediate sense of confusion and defeat.  A spiritual travel guide tells the larger story of God's creation, fall, redemption, and renewal, and invites friends to find themselves in that story.  Ask questions like: What do you make of the claim that a good God created the world, and has not abandoned the work of his hands? What if Jesus really did rise from the dead? What do you think about the claim that you are more broken than you want anyone else to know, and at the same time you are more beloved and accepted than you dared to imagine?  What keeps you from taking next steps of faith toward Jesus?

 

It's your turn: Please comment on the first chapter! And if you haven't already, order the book!

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