Practice
A New and Ancient Evangelism Rediscovering the Ways God Calls and Sends Judith Paulsen Evangelism has a bad reputation. It’s been loaded with sales tac- tics, market analysis, and high-pressure psychology, an approach that often flattens other cultures and dishonors those we want to reach. Evangelizers are encouraged to believe that everything depends on their understanding of the gospel and their powers of persuasion. No wonder so few people want to become involved in sharing the faith. A New and Ancient Evangelism recovers the ancient tradition of the church’s evangelism, rooted in the conversion stories of the Bible, to offer a truly biblical understanding of evangelism. Drawing on twenty-five years of experience teaching evangelism to laypeo - ple and ministry students, Judith Paulsen shows that God uses ordinary people of faith within their everyday spheres of influence to draw people to himself. She guides readers in sharing the good news in a way that is authentic, respectful, and ideally suited to the cultural dynamics of today’s world. Above all, she places the real work of evangelism where it belongs: with the God who is still at work calling people to himself. Discussion questions are included. “Whether used as a textbook for courses in evangelism, as a study guide for small groups, or as a helpful catalyst for individual Chris- tians, I believe this book will help equip the church for its mission of introducing people to Jesus and the life that can only be found in and through him.” —ED STETZER, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
JUNE 2024 • 224 pp. • paper • $23.99 • 9781540967060
Judith Paulsen (DMin, Fuller Theological Seminary) has served for over a decade as professor of evangelism at Wycliffe College, Uni- versity of Toronto. She previously directed the Institute of Evange- lism at Wycliffe. A daughter of missionaries, Paulsen lived her early childhood years in northwest India. She served for fifteen years as a priest in the Anglican Diocese of Toronto and currently works with congregations and denominational groups across North America to cultivate a richer understanding of, and enthusiasm for, the calling of evangelism.
CONTENTS
Introduction
1. The Conversion of Someone Who Had Never Seen 2. The Conversion of a Seeker Cut Off from God 3. The Conversion of Friends, Family, and Students 4. The Conversion of a God-Fearing Outsider 5. The Conversion of a Desperate General 6. The Conversion of a Prison Warden 7. The Conversion of a Child Prophet 8. The Conversion of a Religious Extremist 9. The Conversion of a Successful Businessperson 10. Conversion within a Crowd 11. The Conversion of a Tormented Soul 12. The Great Commission Revisited 13. How and Why Jesus Sends Us Out as His Church Appendix: Experiments for Your Church to Try Indexes
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