Conversational Evangelism: How to Listen and Speak So You Can Be Heard - Softcover

Geisler, David; Geisler, Norman

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0736923993 ISBN 13: 9780736923996

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers, 2009

Synopsis

Witnessing used to involve laying out the truth and guiding a person to understand and accept it. But the awareness of basic Christian principles has changed and so have the needs of pre-believers. With a passion for people, authors David and Norman Geisler share an engaging, conversational approach to evangelism as they address:

• What makes old models of witnessing ineffective in today's culture
• Why evangelism must start with relational pre-evangelism
• How to ask questions, listen attentively, and understand what someone believes
• Ways to identify the real barriers to belief in order to build a bridge to truth
• How to keep dialogue going with different personality types

This refreshing, practical resource is ideal for churches and individuals. Readers will discover how God uses their everyday encounters for great things when they switch from trying to witness effectively to effectively being a witness through communication and compassion.

About this title

About the Author:

David Geisler (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary, DMin in apologetics, Southern Evangelical Seminary) has been involved in church and parachurch college ministry for more than 25 years both in the East and the West. He is an internationally recognized speaker and the founder and president of Meekness and Truth Ministries (Charlotte, NC), which provides valuable tools to aid missionaries in more effectively reaching the skeptics, pluralists, and postmodernists of our day.

Review:

"I believe that every church would benefit by integrating the concepts of Conversational Evangelism into its existing evangelistic programs and strategies!"
--Josh McDowell, Josh McDowell Ministry

"Conversational Evangelism is a winsome and effective presentation of how skeptics perceive the Gospel and how we might help them discover its truth for themselves. While recognizing the vital role of the Holy Spirit in the process, the Geislers illustrate how asking probing questions and pointing out the inconsistencies between belief and behavior till the ground and help remove long-entrenched barriers to the Gospel. I enthusiastically recommend their pre-evangelism methodology."
--Ravi Zacharias, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries

"Conversational Evangelism hits the mark! Similar to leading seeker small groups, this approach--asking relevant questions so seekers can discover biblical truths for themselves--is one of the most effective and powerful ways to reach out and help seekers cross the line of faith."
--Garry Poole, evangelism director at Willow Creek Community Church and author of Seeker Small Groups

"Conversational Evangelism is refreshing in its format and content. I have not found anything that comes close to dealing with the legitimate barriers that most people have before they can give the Gospel a hearing."
--Erin Kerr, evangelism pastor, Saddleback Church

"Conversational Evangelism is a fantastic way for bringing apologetics to our nonbelieving friends, colleagues, and neighbors. With very little work, those with a basic knowledge of apologetic topics can now enjoy applying that knowledge more than ever. I know of no other program quite like it."
--Mike Licona, apologetics & interfaith evangelism, Director North American Mission Board (SBC)

"Truth is best communicated in the realm of interpersonal relationships. And the best conduit for establishing relationships is the fine art of soul-searching conversation. As such, Conversational Evangelism is a vital tool for communicating the Gospel in a nonthreatening, pre-evangelistic manner. This fresh pre-evangelism model is seeker-sensitive, Word-centered, and purpose-driven. It is designed to win a hearing, much as Jesus did when He engaged in conversational evangelism with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well (John 4)."
--Rev. Edmund Chan, senior pastor Covenant Evangelical Free Church, Singapore, and author of Built To Last and Growing Deep in God

"Most courses on evangelism teach us how to harvest, which creates a mentality that is very event and closure driven. Yet in real life, conversion is much more a process that takes place over time. Conversational Evangelism opens our eyes to the amount of work we have to invest in understanding a person prior to the time that we can really present the gospel. We look forward to turning it into a core course we will encourage all our members to attend."
--Peter Lin, congregational pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Singapore

"One of the burdens of pastors is how to motivate their congregation to share their faith. Norman and David Geisler have come up with an approach that I strongly commend to help train and spur our people to win the lost amongst us."
--Dan Foo, senior sastor, Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church, Singapore

"This is the first time I have seen apologetics being used as a significant tool for personal evangelism. It has altogether reshaped my understanding of apologetics and evangelism. I wholeheartedly recommend this training to any Christian or church committed to soul-winning."
--Rev. Ng Koon Sheng, Anglican minister, Saint Andrews Cathedral, Singapore

"Norman and David Geisler have done the Body of Christ a tremendous favor with their book, Conversational Evangelism.  It is long  overdue...For those who are Christ's witnesses in postmodern times, Conversational Evangelism is a must read."
--Bill Perry, Chief of Staff, Director of Training Materials InterFACE Ministries

About this edition

• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0736923993
• ISBN 13: 9780736923996
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224