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This term as we learn about Jesus from John’s gospel account, we have heard just how BIG Jesus really is! He is Israel’s great I AM of the Old Testament, the bread of life, the source of living water, and the light of the world. Jesus speaks with all the authority of God and clearly tells his hearers that they have a choice to make: to “believe in the one [the Father] has sent” (Jn 6:29) or to “die in your sins” (Jn 8:24).

Nicodemus reminds us not to “…judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does” (Jn 7:51); and indeed, Jesus’ followers are later instructed (with God’s help) to testify about what they have seen: “but when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness…” (Jn 15:26-27).

As followers of Jesus, we are likewise to share our testimony about him! But how should we go about this? “I’m no good at evangelism”, you might say. “I wouldn’t know what to say”, or, “what if I fail?” If this sounds like you (I certainly resonate with these sentiments too!) then here are 2 very helpful, mercifully succinct (I began reading on Tue, and wrote these reviews Thu morning!) and wonderfully accessible books to equip you for telling others about our great big God in the flesh, Jesus!

Honest Evangelism

How to talk about Jesus even when it’s tough
by Rico Tice

If you’ve ever shared about your faith in Jesus with others, even only a few times, you’ll be aware of just how challenging it can often be. We feel like we don’t know the right words to say, that we make an utter fool of ourselves, and that the hearer is no closer to trusting Jesus as their saviour.

Rico tells it like it is, sharing his own hardships in evangelism “you will get hit”, yet reminding us: “Hostility and hunger: that’s what you’ll find as you tell others about Jesus […] you have to risk the hostility to discover the hunger”. People are out there ready, willing, and needing to hear Jesus’ words of life: “It’s no accident that you know the people you do […] They need the gospel. You know the gospel. […] God has already written them into [your] schedule.”

Rico first reminds us of the motivators for evangelism: how Jesus’ glory, the guarantee of new creation, and the grim reality of death and hell ought to move our hearts to tell others. As we speak, we trust in God’s sovereignty, grace, and power. Rico then shares his practical advice for evangelism: to shape our message around Jesus’ Identity (who he is), Mission (why he came), and Call (what he wants from us). He shows how we can learn from Bible characters to lean into our own personality strengths as we speak about Jesus, and also describes contemporary blockers to receiving the gospel.

Finally he encourages us to just pray and go! Crossing the “pain line” is hard, but our great big God can certainly be at work through us.

How to Talk About Jesus (Without Being That Guy)

Personal evangelism in a skeptical world
by Sam Chan

Building off Rico’s contemporary analysis, Sam identifies that our culture has drifted from being “Christianised”, to having clear “defeater beliefs” (e.g. “What about other religions? What about science? What about evil”), to now seeing Christianity as culturally irrelevant. When we talk about Jesus, it can be like we’re speaking an utterly foreign language. Often people around us may have simply never met another Christian.

Sam shows that one of the best ways to share the gospel is personal evangelism: invite non-Christians into your social sphere, and introduce them to other Christian friends. Make genuine friendships and listen to understand their worldviews. Move conversations from “Coffee (interests) → Dinner (values) → Gospel (worldview)”. In the past, our cultural trend moved from Truth, to Belief, to Living it out. But often those around us will see that the way we Live as Christians works, making it Believable, leading them to consider the Truth. We can share the gospel in relevant ways and provide a better, more hopeful way to those who need to hear.

This book focuses on pragmatic steps to be a light for Jesus in the world, primarily on long-term evangelism to our friends and colleagues. Sam outlines simple attitudes that we can adopt, and I was encouraged by how natural and achievable these are. He identifies helpful gospel connections and examples of personal evangelism in practice. Yet he reminds us that even as we “build the altar”, God sends the fire (cf. 1 Kings 18). This book is a great companion to Rico’s Honest Evangelism.

As people who have put our trust in Jesus, we have all the credentials we need to evangelise [“share good news”] to others! Yet I pray that these books will provide you with Biblical motivation and some useful tips to put into practice.

Nicholas Morley

Ministry Intern