I’ve asked a friend of mine, Dr. Scott E. Kaufman, to choose four books he believes will be great reads for our people and to write a review on each of them for your encouragement. Afterward, Scott will critically evaluate a fifth book that has received much attention lately. I trust that you’ll be edified and encouraged by these five book reviews.

Scott serves as our Director of Healthcare Ministries at the Church at Pinnacle Hills. This cutting-edge ministry reaches people in the medical field and trains them to incorporate their faith with work. Scott holds a Master of Theology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Nursing degree from the University of Arkansas, and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UAMS. This will be a unique opportunity to hear from a great minister and medical professional. — Ronnie Floyd

Today’s Book Review:

The Gospel & Personal Evangelism

(Mark E. Dever. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, ©2007, 124 pp., List price: $9.99)

Author. Dr. Mark E. Dever is the senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., and founder of 9Marks Ministries.

Synopsis. The Gospel & Personal Evangelism is a book that clearly and concisely addresses core issues in personal evangelism with a view toward helping Christians share their faith in Christ more confidently and faithfully. It is certainly one of the most helpful and encouraging books you’ll find on the subject. The chapter titles provide a good summary of what the book is about:

(1) Why Don’t We Evangelize?         (6) What Should We Do After We Evangelize?
(2) What Is the Gospel?                   (7) Why Should We Evangelize?
(3) Who Should Evangelize?            (8) Conclusion: Closing the Sale [we are not salesmen]
(4) How Should We Evangelize?      (9) Recommended Reading
(5) What Isn’t Evangelism?              (10) Appendix: A Word to Pastors

As Christians, we must work to develop a “culture of evangelism,” which Dever defines as “an expectation that Christians will share the gospel with others, talk about doing that, pray about it, and regularly plan and work together to help each other to evangelize. We want evangelism to be normal-in our own lives and in our churches” (p.17).

Highlights. This little book is concise, readable, and eminently practical. Early on, Dever tackles and disarms common hindrances and excuses that keep us from sharing our faith, such as fear of others, selfishness, apathy, etc. I appreciated the way that Dever draws from his own reservoir of experience, using vivid illustrations that include examples of both success and failure. Other strengths of the book include (1) its differentiation between evangelism and the fruits of evangelism, and (2) its clarification of what the gospel is and is not. When we share the good news of Christ, we must “set the story straight; we want to get the news right.” But not only must we clearly proclaim the essentials of the gospel, we must also do it conversationally: “Don’t tell people something; talk with them. Have a conversation.”

Why You Should Read This Book. The Gospel & Personal Evangelism is a gem for those who struggle with sharing their faith. The essential elements of motive, message, and method are all covered in an honest, engaging, and encouraging way. While there are many books available on this topic, this is one of the most balanced, practical, and complete you’ll find of similar length (just over 100 pages). Each chapter is short enough to make a good daily reading for personal edification or reading for a group study. All of these combine to make this book a useful tool for helping Christians who recognize the need to be more faithful in their task as personal witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Take Home Point for the Day. Personal evangelism is the inalienable responsibility of every Christian man and woman. “The call to evangelism is a call to turn our lives outward from focusing on ourselves and our needs to focusing on God and on others made in His image who are still at enmity with Him, alienated from Him, and in need of salvation from sin and guilt.”

Look for opportunities to share your faith today!