Jim Peterson aggrees! - the event probably is for someone else. That, however doesn't mean that we're not supposed to move people to Christ, nor does it excuse us from the process. His book, Living Proof, lays out a conceptual framework of a normal, part of your life, process of taking people from where ever they are to Jesus.
How? Read the book. I will tell you, however, that I've got a non-Christian couple in a John study with my wife and I, and a couple more of our friends moving in that direction. Check it out.
First off, the book is well researched. The author does not just give his opinion on how Christians should try to share their faith. Instead, his recommendations are based on many surveys, studies, and his personal experiences over the past few decades. Some of the statistics that he sites in the book will really open your eyes about the challenge today's church faces when it comes to evagelism. Despite the existence of numerous "Mega-churches" across America, we are still failing to reach a majority of the population who have no idea what Christianity is all about.
Secondly, I liked the book, because the author sticks to the basics, and avoids denomination bias. He uses a simple formula when it comes to evagelism. We need to help others understand the Gospel, not the specifics of our denomination, but the fundamentals. Christ crucified for our salvation is our bottom line, and the Bible is our primary source.
Thirdly, the author takes a realistic approach to evagelism, so that everyday Christians (myself included) are not overwhelmed by our role in the great commission. Mr. Petersen makes it very clear that not everyone is ready to receive Christ as his or her personal savior. That the process of conversion may take some time, and our role when talking with others (and living our life before them) may be just to help them find the truth of the Gospel out for themselves.
Lastly, I liked the fact that this book is filled with practical advise. The author does not just talk about evagelism, but he offers many practical ways to get started in this area. Before reading this book, I always thought that eveagelism was better left in the hands of others. I did not feel like I had the skills required to help others understand the message of the Gospel. Having finished this book- I come away thinking that I can do this, and should get involved.
I highly recommend this book to any Christian who is trying to better understand what evagelism is all about. It is an easy read, and will help answer many questions you may have about how to help further the Kingdom of God.
Do you have a hard time sharing your faith with others? It's no wonder. Our society is growing more secular, and most people don't like to talk about spiritual things. But that doesn't mean they're beyond the reach of the gospel-it just means we must learn to communicate it in a way they can understand.
"Simply verbalizing the message is not enough," writes Jim Petersen. "We've got to make sure they understand what we're saying, and that often means demonstrating it by living a natural, friendly, Bible-centered lifestyle in their midst. We then become living proof of our message."
In Living Proof (Evangelism as a Lifestyle and Evangelism for Our Generation combined and revised), Jim Petersen shares what he's learned from over 25 years of working with the unchurched. He shows that, although many people don't want to hear about our faith, they will talk about their own felt needs-needs that can only be met in Christ.
Living Proof will show you how to develop relationships with the unreached, model the Christian message, and eventually present the Bible's claims in a non-threatening manner.
By outlining where secular society stands, and offering many practical guidelines for reaching out to the unchurched, Jim Petersen will help you learn to share your faith naturally, and as a result, more effectively.