Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable

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Most Christians already know that they should be telling their friends about Jesus. But they have been poorly equipped with methods that are no longer effective in today's post-Christian world. As a result, many people become frustrated, blame themselves, and simply give up. Evangelism in a Skeptical World is a textbook on evangelism that is ideal for the church or the classroom to equip Christians with the principles and skills they need to tell the unbelievable news about Jesus to friends in a skeptical world.

Many of the older principles and methods of evangelism in the twentieth century no longer work effectively today. In a post-Christian, post-churched, post-reached world we need new methods to communicate the timeless message of the gospel in culturally relevant ways. Dr. Chan combines the theological and biblical insights of classic evangelistic training with the latest insights from missiology on contextualization, cultural hermeneutics, and storytelling. Every chapter is illustrated with real-world examples drawn from over fifteen years of evangelistic ministry. These are methods that really work - with university students, urban workers, and professionals - getting past the defensive posture that people have toward Christianity so they can seriously consider the claims of Jesus Christ.

Field-tested and filled with unique, fresh, and creative insights, this book will equip you to share the gospel in today's world and help as many people as possible hear the good news about Jesus.

Reviews

This practical guide not only provides a biblical description of evangelism but also includes helpful strategies for gospel sharing in everyday situations. This book will be helpful for all who desire to see those who are hostile to God become followers of Jesus. * ED STETZER, Billy Graham Distinguished Chair, Wheaton College *
Every Christian has an implicit theology: a set of beliefs about God and about what God was doing in Jesus Christ. To communicate this good news---the gospel---to others is every believers privilege and responsibility. Sam Chans book helpfully shows how to do this in a way that fits our twenty-first-century multicultural contexts. * KEVIN J. VANHOOZER, Research Professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School *
If you are looking for an evangelism textbook with biblical foundations, strong theology, real-life illustrations, passion for the heart of God, and tools to move people out into a skeptical world with the good news of Jesus, look no further. Sam has done a masterful job of taking evangelism from concept and theory to practice and action. * REV. DR. KEVIN G. HARNEY, author, Organic Outreach trilogy; founder and visionary leader, Organic Outreach International *
This is an important book. In it, one of Christianitys smartest voices, Sam Chan, shows us how to bring our secular neighbors into a lifegiving encounter with the gospel. Highly recommended for use in universities, seminaries, and churches. * BRUCE RILEY ASHFORD, provost and professor of theology and culture, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary *
Sam Chan has written the evangelism manual weve needed. Evangelism in a Skeptical World combines cultural understanding, theological acumen, and practical apologetics to equip the church to bear witness to the gospel in a secular age. It is lucidly written and full of real-world wisdom. I expect it to be a featured text for ministry students for many years to come. * JOSHUA D. CHATRAW, executive director, Center for Apologetics and Cultural Engagement, School of Divinity, Liberty University *
This book provides readers a comprehensive theological overview of evangelism, challenges outdated high-profile models, and offers new models centered in Scripture and applicable to multiple contexts. A masterful contribution. * TOM STEFFEN, emeritus professor of intercultural studies, COOK School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University *
How do we express a transcultural gospel to an enculturated audience in postmodernity Chan provides a biblical foundation with more than forty different means to engage communities, contexts, and common grounds. This is a superb work, undergirded by Scripture, rich in relevant methods, and impressive in contextual scope of audiences. Finally, we have a go-to resource in the twenty-first century. * REV. SAMUEL E. CHIANG, president and CEO, The Wycliffe Seed Company *
Chan has written a helpful resource for sharing the gospel in our world. He helps students of evangelism think through ways to present the good news, as well as means to handle skeptics objections. His stories and insights show that his words are more than theory; he has practiced this! I recommend this contribution to the literature on evangelism which every serious student should read. * DAVID M. GUSTAFSON, chair of mission and evangelism department, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School *
This is one of the most thoughtful books on evangelism Ive read. It is both theologically sound and informed by practice. Chan avoids oversimplifying the gospel. At the same time, he never makes evangelism feel complex and cumber- some. His approach is balanced and flexible. If I could recommend just one book on evangelism, this would be it. * JACKSON WU, seminary professor; author, One Gospel for All Nations *
This book is a brilliant and practical explanation of how to show the beauty of Jesus gospel to a world that thinks it has moved on. From understanding the many aspects of the gospels engagement with a dying world to the practicalities of shaping a gospel talk, this book will help the pastor, the evangelist, and any Christian to speak about Jesus in a way that can be heard by people who have become deaf to a message they consider irrelevant. * AL STEWART, City Bible Forum, Australia *

Author Bio

Sam Chan (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; MBBS, University of Sydney) is a public evangelist with City Bible Forum in Sydney, Australia, where he regularly shares the gospel with high school students, city workers, doctors, and lawyers. He is the author of the award-winning book Evangelism in a Skeptical World and regularly speaks at conferences around the world on the practice of evangelism in a post-Christian culture. Sam blogs at espressotheology.com.