Evangelism Through the Local Church

By Michael Green

Book Overview

Michael Green draws from a lifetime's experience in this seminal work on the theory and practice of evangelism. The best means of communicating effectively the good news of Christ is through the local... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0840791593
• ISBN13: 9780840791597
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc
• Length: 590 Pages
• Weight: 2.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 2.3" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

An Exhaustive Discussion of Evangelism; perhaps too exhaustive

In this book Evangelism through the Local Church, Michael Green delivers what his subtitle promises: "A comprehensive guide to all aspects of evangelism." I cannot think of a single element of personal or church evangelism that Green has neglected this ultimate resource on the topic. Green includes in-depth writing about the biblical basis for evangelism and the church's historical evangelism from the early church to the modern church. He teaches about evangelizing in the secular, pluralistic culture in myriad arenas including citywide events or one-on-one conversations. He guides readers on apologetics, sharing the gospel for the purpose of decision for Jesus, how to share a testimony and what it means for someone to become a Christian. The appendices include step-by-step practical guides for doing evangelization in methods such as small groups, church missions, drama or sports evangelism. From the big picture to the smallest elements of evangelism, Green covers it in this book. He writes from his firm conviction that, "We need a thoughtful, sustained, relevant presentation of the Christian faith, in word and in action, embodied in a warm, prayerful, lively local church that has a real concern for its community at all levels." (xiii) Green believes that through the local church such evangelism is not only necessary but possible and adventurous. While his demands of the church may intimidate his reader at first, his careful instructions will set him or her at ease, as Green points to God as the ultimate resource and necessary element to evangelism. Evangelism is the work of God in which we are privileged to share. Green begins by defining evangelism. For Green, Jesus is the supreme and perfect example for evangelism. Green explains, "His social concern and His spiritual concern went hand in hand. His presence embodying the kingdom of God was matched by His words explaining the kingdom." (5) These are themes that Green covers throughout the book in several ways. Evangelism includes caring for the well-being of people holistically and always includes the message of the gospel in one form or another. He will repeatedly turn to the example of Jesus illustrated in the Bible of how to evangelize. Green unpacks the gospel stories of the women at the well (John 4), Zachaeus (Lk 19), and Nicodemus (Jn 3), among others that allow him to identify the evangelistic style and methods of Jesus. There are three definitions of evangelism that Green has found helpful and on which he reflects: 1. Overflow - when someone is so full of the joy of Jesus Christ that it overflows to others. 2. Spurgeon's definition of evangelism being "one beggar telling another beggar where to get bread." 3. William Temple's definition - "To evangelise is so to present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, that men shall come to put their trust in God through him, to accept him as their Saviour, and serve him as their King in the fellowship of the church.